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obama <tsp> first lady michelle obama is in china for an official visit to expand sino-american relations , but she will refrain from talking about political differences . mrs. obama , who flew wednesday from washington , d.c. , is making a week-long trip to three chinese cities and will speak with children at several schools about the importance of education and youth empowerment . the u.s. first lady has several activities and events scheduled friday with chinese first lady peng liyuan . her visit and her agenda sends a message that the relationship between the united states and china is not just between leaders , it 's a relationship between peoples , ' said deputy national security adviser ben rhodes . that 's critically important , given the roles that our two countries are going to play in the 21st century , that we maintain the very regular contacts that we have at the leader-to-leader level , but that we 're also reaching out and building relationships with people , particularly young people . ' president barack obama is expected to meet with chinese president xi jinping next week during the nuclear security summit at the hague . white house officials told reporters on a conference call that issues on which the u.s. and china differ , such as human rights and trade , will be discussed directly between the two leaders and other representatives of the governments . we do n't expect the people of china to agree with all of our policy positions at any given moment , but the more they understand the united states , the more they understand the president and the first lady and their values and their priorities , we think the better it is for both of our countries , ' rhodes added . mrs. obama plans to visit the cities of beijing and chengdu , where she will speak to students and discuss cultural exchanges and the benefits of studying abroad . china is the fifth most popular country for american students studying abroad , and more students from china study in the united states than from any other country . beyond her message on education , mrs. obama will join madame peng in a tour of the forbidden city and the great wall . mrs. obama will then travel to xi'an to see the terra cotta warriors . in chengdu , she will tour the chengdu panda base , which houses approximately 50 pandas . the first lady will be accompanied by her mother , marian robinson , and her daughters , malia and sasha , something that white house officials believe will resonate with the chinese people . i think they understand the significance as well of family and of three generations of family traveling together , which i think the chinese will appreciate , and will appreciate the ties and the bonds that the obama family have with one another across generations , ' said the first lady 's chief of staff , tina tchen . this is a great opportunity for the obama family to experience that , and i think for the chinese to see that as well in an american family . ' | mrs. obama wo n't be talking politics during her week-long visit to three chinese cities |
mladic <tsp> ( cnn ) -- ratko mladic , the onetime bosnian serb commander accused of presiding over europe 's worst massacre since world war ii , was in custody thursday after more than 15 years in hiding , serbia 's president announced . mladic was the highest-ranking war crimes suspect to remain at large from the wars that accompanied the breakup of yugoslavia in the 1990s . he was arrested in the serbian town of lazarevo after a three-year investigation , president boris tadic said in a dramatic and hastily announced news conference in belgrade . all war criminals must face justice , ' tadic said . he refused to give more details about the operation but said serbian authorities continue to probe who aided and abetted mladic ... and those people will face justice . ' mladic , now 69 , led bosnian serb forces during the 1992-95 war that followed bosnia-herzegovina 's secession from yugoslavia . the international criminal tribunal for the former yugoslavia has charged him with leading a genocidal campaign against bosnia 's muslim and croat populations and with having direct involvement ' in the 1995 killings of nearly 8,000 men and boys in the muslim enclave of srebrenica . he was transferred from lazarevo , about 80 km ( 50 miles ) north of belgrade , to courthouse in the capital for a preliminary hearing after his arrest , and the tribunal said it looked forward to his expeditious transfer ' to the hague , netherlands , for trial . once there , he will be allowed to enter a plea to the charges against him , which include genocide , crimes against humanity and violating the laws of war , according to a statement from the court . the arrest of mladic is a milestone in the tribunal 's history and brings the institution closer to the successful completion of its mandate , ' the tribunal said . the sole remaining fugitive from the court is former croatian serb leader goran hadzic , and the tribunal hopes he will be arrested in the very near future . ' mladic is accused of leading a campaign of ethnic cleansing , ' widespread killing , forcible deportations , torture , forced labor and physical , psychological and sexual violence during the bosnian war . but he remains a hero to some of his former soldiers , said david owen , a former european union envoy to yugoslavia , suggesting that his supporters had sheltered him in serbia . the international police agency interpol praised the arrest as a triumph for international justice . ' interpol officials had met with tadic in january to discuss closer cooperation in the hunt for war crimes suspects , the organization 's secretary-general , ronald noble , said in a statement on mladic 's capture . after today 's arrest , no one should doubt serbia 's commitment to the rule of law and justice , ' noble said . tadic said the arrest will help the process of reconciliation throughout the balkans and should pave the way for serbia 's entry into the eu . james ker-lindsay , a senior research fellow at the london school of economics and political science , called thursday an incredibly important day for serbia . ' ratko mladic was the person to get hold of . this totally transforms serbian prospects for getting into the european union , ' he said . eu foreign policy chief catherine ashton hailed the arrest as a victory for the rule of law in serbia ' and praised tadic and his government for this courageous action . ' ashton called for the quick transfer of the suspect to the netherlands for trial . but tadic declined to say how long the extradition would take , explaining it was not up to him . mladic had been on the run since the war in bosnia and herzegovina ended in 1995 . the croatian newspaper jutarnji list was the first to report his arrest , saying police were doing dna tests on a suspect to determine whether he was the notorious former commander . mladic was the last fugitive from a triumvirate of serbian leaders accused of genocide against muslims and croats as the three populations fought a brutal war over yugoslav territory . former yugoslav president slobodan milosevic was toppled in 2000 and sent to face charges in the hague . he died in 2006 while the trial was still going on . bosnian serb leader radovan karadzic was arrested in july 2008 and is now on trial in the hague . karadzic was removed from power under the dayton peace accords that ended three years of brutal fighting . he went into hiding , grew a full white beard and long hair , and was working in an alternative medicine clinic in belgrade -- right under the noses of authorities -- when he was captured . karadzic has insisted on defending himself at the hague . prosecutors accuse him of deliberately obstructing the trial with delaying tactics , and judges have threatened to impose a defense lawyer on him if he does not cooperate . the bosnian war was the longest of the conflicts spawned by the breakup of yugoslavia in the early 1990s . backed by the milosevic government , bosnian serb forces seized control of more than half the country and launched a campaign against the muslim and croat populations . the united nations declared srebrenica to be a safe haven , and tens of thousands of bosnian muslims flooded in , expecting protection . but a small contingent of dutch u.n. peacekeepers , lightly armed and aware that no reinforcements were coming , stood aside and allowed mladic 's troops to overrun srebrenica , leading to the slaughter . nato intervened in the conflict , bombing bosnian serb military positions . the united states brought the leaders of the warring factions to an agreement in dayton , ohio , in 1995 , bringing the violence to an end . cnn 's joe sterling , moni basu and lateef mungin contributed to this report . | mladic was wanted on charges of genocide , extermination and murder |
mladic <tsp> ( cnn ) -- ratko mladic , the onetime bosnian serb commander accused of presiding over europe 's worst massacre since world war ii , was in custody thursday after more than 15 years in hiding , serbia 's president announced . mladic was the highest-ranking war crimes suspect to remain at large from the wars that accompanied the breakup of yugoslavia in the 1990s . he was arrested in the serbian town of lazarevo after a three-year investigation , president boris tadic said in a dramatic and hastily announced news conference in belgrade . all war criminals must face justice , ' tadic said . he refused to give more details about the operation but said serbian authorities continue to probe who aided and abetted mladic ... and those people will face justice . ' mladic , now 69 , led bosnian serb forces during the 1992-95 war that followed bosnia-herzegovina 's secession from yugoslavia . the international criminal tribunal for the former yugoslavia has charged him with leading a genocidal campaign against bosnia 's muslim and croat populations and with having direct involvement ' in the 1995 killings of nearly 8,000 men and boys in the muslim enclave of srebrenica . he was transferred from lazarevo , about 80 km ( 50 miles ) north of belgrade , to courthouse in the capital for a preliminary hearing after his arrest , and the tribunal said it looked forward to his expeditious transfer ' to the hague , netherlands , for trial . once there , he will be allowed to enter a plea to the charges against him , which include genocide , crimes against humanity and violating the laws of war , according to a statement from the court . the arrest of mladic is a milestone in the tribunal 's history and brings the institution closer to the successful completion of its mandate , ' the tribunal said . the sole remaining fugitive from the court is former croatian serb leader goran hadzic , and the tribunal hopes he will be arrested in the very near future . ' mladic is accused of leading a campaign of ethnic cleansing , ' widespread killing , forcible deportations , torture , forced labor and physical , psychological and sexual violence during the bosnian war . but he remains a hero to some of his former soldiers , said david owen , a former european union envoy to yugoslavia , suggesting that his supporters had sheltered him in serbia . the international police agency interpol praised the arrest as a triumph for international justice . ' interpol officials had met with tadic in january to discuss closer cooperation in the hunt for war crimes suspects , the organization 's secretary-general , ronald noble , said in a statement on mladic 's capture . after today 's arrest , no one should doubt serbia 's commitment to the rule of law and justice , ' noble said . tadic said the arrest will help the process of reconciliation throughout the balkans and should pave the way for serbia 's entry into the eu . james ker-lindsay , a senior research fellow at the london school of economics and political science , called thursday an incredibly important day for serbia . ' ratko mladic was the person to get hold of . this totally transforms serbian prospects for getting into the european union , ' he said . eu foreign policy chief catherine ashton hailed the arrest as a victory for the rule of law in serbia ' and praised tadic and his government for this courageous action . ' ashton called for the quick transfer of the suspect to the netherlands for trial . but tadic declined to say how long the extradition would take , explaining it was not up to him . mladic had been on the run since the war in bosnia and herzegovina ended in 1995 . the croatian newspaper jutarnji list was the first to report his arrest , saying police were doing dna tests on a suspect to determine whether he was the notorious former commander . mladic was the last fugitive from a triumvirate of serbian leaders accused of genocide against muslims and croats as the three populations fought a brutal war over yugoslav territory . former yugoslav president slobodan milosevic was toppled in 2000 and sent to face charges in the hague . he died in 2006 while the trial was still going on . bosnian serb leader radovan karadzic was arrested in july 2008 and is now on trial in the hague . karadzic was removed from power under the dayton peace accords that ended three years of brutal fighting . he went into hiding , grew a full white beard and long hair , and was working in an alternative medicine clinic in belgrade -- right under the noses of authorities -- when he was captured . karadzic has insisted on defending himself at the hague . prosecutors accuse him of deliberately obstructing the trial with delaying tactics , and judges have threatened to impose a defense lawyer on him if he does not cooperate . the bosnian war was the longest of the conflicts spawned by the breakup of yugoslavia in the early 1990s . backed by the milosevic government , bosnian serb forces seized control of more than half the country and launched a campaign against the muslim and croat populations . the united nations declared srebrenica to be a safe haven , and tens of thousands of bosnian muslims flooded in , expecting protection . but a small contingent of dutch u.n. peacekeepers , lightly armed and aware that no reinforcements were coming , stood aside and allowed mladic 's troops to overrun srebrenica , leading to the slaughter . nato intervened in the conflict , bombing bosnian serb military positions . the united states brought the leaders of the warring factions to an agreement in dayton , ohio , in 1995 , bringing the violence to an end . cnn 's joe sterling , moni basu and lateef mungin contributed to this report . | new : the balkan war crimes tribunal praises mladic 's arrest |
mladic <tsp> ( cnn ) -- ratko mladic , the onetime bosnian serb commander accused of presiding over europe 's worst massacre since world war ii , was in custody thursday after more than 15 years in hiding , serbia 's president announced . mladic was the highest-ranking war crimes suspect to remain at large from the wars that accompanied the breakup of yugoslavia in the 1990s . he was arrested in the serbian town of lazarevo after a three-year investigation , president boris tadic said in a dramatic and hastily announced news conference in belgrade . all war criminals must face justice , ' tadic said . he refused to give more details about the operation but said serbian authorities continue to probe who aided and abetted mladic ... and those people will face justice . ' mladic , now 69 , led bosnian serb forces during the 1992-95 war that followed bosnia-herzegovina 's secession from yugoslavia . the international criminal tribunal for the former yugoslavia has charged him with leading a genocidal campaign against bosnia 's muslim and croat populations and with having direct involvement ' in the 1995 killings of nearly 8,000 men and boys in the muslim enclave of srebrenica . he was transferred from lazarevo , about 80 km ( 50 miles ) north of belgrade , to courthouse in the capital for a preliminary hearing after his arrest , and the tribunal said it looked forward to his expeditious transfer ' to the hague , netherlands , for trial . once there , he will be allowed to enter a plea to the charges against him , which include genocide , crimes against humanity and violating the laws of war , according to a statement from the court . the arrest of mladic is a milestone in the tribunal 's history and brings the institution closer to the successful completion of its mandate , ' the tribunal said . the sole remaining fugitive from the court is former croatian serb leader goran hadzic , and the tribunal hopes he will be arrested in the very near future . ' mladic is accused of leading a campaign of ethnic cleansing , ' widespread killing , forcible deportations , torture , forced labor and physical , psychological and sexual violence during the bosnian war . but he remains a hero to some of his former soldiers , said david owen , a former european union envoy to yugoslavia , suggesting that his supporters had sheltered him in serbia . the international police agency interpol praised the arrest as a triumph for international justice . ' interpol officials had met with tadic in january to discuss closer cooperation in the hunt for war crimes suspects , the organization 's secretary-general , ronald noble , said in a statement on mladic 's capture . after today 's arrest , no one should doubt serbia 's commitment to the rule of law and justice , ' noble said . tadic said the arrest will help the process of reconciliation throughout the balkans and should pave the way for serbia 's entry into the eu . james ker-lindsay , a senior research fellow at the london school of economics and political science , called thursday an incredibly important day for serbia . ' ratko mladic was the person to get hold of . this totally transforms serbian prospects for getting into the european union , ' he said . eu foreign policy chief catherine ashton hailed the arrest as a victory for the rule of law in serbia ' and praised tadic and his government for this courageous action . ' ashton called for the quick transfer of the suspect to the netherlands for trial . but tadic declined to say how long the extradition would take , explaining it was not up to him . mladic had been on the run since the war in bosnia and herzegovina ended in 1995 . the croatian newspaper jutarnji list was the first to report his arrest , saying police were doing dna tests on a suspect to determine whether he was the notorious former commander . mladic was the last fugitive from a triumvirate of serbian leaders accused of genocide against muslims and croats as the three populations fought a brutal war over yugoslav territory . former yugoslav president slobodan milosevic was toppled in 2000 and sent to face charges in the hague . he died in 2006 while the trial was still going on . bosnian serb leader radovan karadzic was arrested in july 2008 and is now on trial in the hague . karadzic was removed from power under the dayton peace accords that ended three years of brutal fighting . he went into hiding , grew a full white beard and long hair , and was working in an alternative medicine clinic in belgrade -- right under the noses of authorities -- when he was captured . karadzic has insisted on defending himself at the hague . prosecutors accuse him of deliberately obstructing the trial with delaying tactics , and judges have threatened to impose a defense lawyer on him if he does not cooperate . the bosnian war was the longest of the conflicts spawned by the breakup of yugoslavia in the early 1990s . backed by the milosevic government , bosnian serb forces seized control of more than half the country and launched a campaign against the muslim and croat populations . the united nations declared srebrenica to be a safe haven , and tens of thousands of bosnian muslims flooded in , expecting protection . but a small contingent of dutch u.n. peacekeepers , lightly armed and aware that no reinforcements were coming , stood aside and allowed mladic 's troops to overrun srebrenica , leading to the slaughter . nato intervened in the conflict , bombing bosnian serb military positions . the united states brought the leaders of the warring factions to an agreement in dayton , ohio , in 1995 , bringing the violence to an end . cnn 's joe sterling , moni basu and lateef mungin contributed to this report . | new : mladic has been transferred to a courthouse in belgrade |
gatwick <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- britain 's competition watchdog has ordered airport operator baa to sell three of its seven airports , including two in london . baa must sell gatwick airport first . baa must sell gatwick and stansted airports in london and either edinburgh or glasgow airports in scotland within two years , the competition commission said thursday . in publishing its decision thursday , the commission said the sale of the airports will encourage competition where today there is no competition at all . ' baa owns seven airports in the united kingdom , including london 's heathrow , gatwick and stansted . the competition commission says there are competition problems at all seven airports , with adverse consequences for passengers and airlines . finding new owners for the three airports will result in lower prices and improved customer service , said christopher clarke , chairman of the study . all three must have separate buyers , the commission said . the precise pace and the precise ways in which the benefits from such competition will emerge may be uncertain , but we are confident that the benefits will build over time , driven by the momentum of the development of competition , and will be significant , ' clarke said . in london , for instance , baa 's ownership of three airports prevents them from building more capacity and keeps prices high , the commission said . the intensity of price competition may initially be limited by current capacity constraints and price controls , but these constraints are themselves at least in part the result of common ownership , ' the commission said . baa said it acknowledged the need to change but did not agree with all of the commission 's findings . we believe the commission 's analysis is flawed and its remedies may be impractical in current economic conditions , ' baa said in a statement , adding it needs more time to consider the report before responding further . carrier virgin atlantic , a longtime critic of baa 's ownership of the airports , welcomed the commission 's decision . it will undoubtedly benefit consumers , ' said airline spokesman paul charles . better airport facilities in the uk and lower prices will be the result . ... the important next step is to ensure that there is adequate oversight of the divestment process . ' baa must sell the airports in sequence , beginning with gatwick -- which went up for sale in september -- then stansted and then either edinburgh or glasgow , the commission said . the competition commission is an independent public group that investigates mergers , markets and regulated industries . the office of fair trading , a government department , asked the commission to look into airport competition in march 2007 . the once-state owned baa , which used to be known as the british airports authority , was privatized in 1986 and floated on the stock market in 1987 . it is now owned by spanish property group ferrovial . | baa must sell airports in sequence , beginning with gatwick then stansted |
abell <tsp> ( cnn ) -- apple is getting pushed around a lot these days . digerati reaction to the iphone 5 was meh , ' response to the ipad mini was akin to it 's about time ' and we are all more excited about unicorn-like products such as an iwatch and itv than the things you can buy right now . apple 's strength is its achilles'heel : we expect it to reinvent on schedule and when , in our infinite wisdom , we believe it is not , we treat it like the kid who no longer belongs in our clique . some of this is to be expected when a company with as incredible a recent track record as apple 's seems to be resting more on its laurels than finding new battles to win . since the quixotic introduction of the imac in 1998 -- reinvigorating the desktop computer well into the age of portables -- apple has been on a tear : • the ipod ( 2001 ) • the itunes store , allowing the purchase of single music tracks ( 2003 ) • the apple retail store ( 2004 ) • the iphone ( 2007 ) • the ipad ( 2010 ) and you can add to list that steve jobs'revitalization of the animated feature film through his acquisition of pixar . that 's a lot of imagination in a very short time . apple has n't just dominated the story for a decade : it has written the story of the past decade . that is a lot to live up to . most companies ca n't . it 's particularly brutal for tech ( as opposed to , say , shampoo ) companies , which at best can usually hope to set the pace for only about generation until they settle into a comfortable middle class . call it the microsoft curve . microsoft dominated through the red-hot '90s , the height of the pc era . it is n't going anywhere . it still prints money by selling ms-office and windows licenses . but look at a five-year stock price chart , and you 'll see it has gone exactly nowhere . the only people dancing for joy about owning a windows computer seem to be in those surface pro tv ads . at the bottom of the pile there is the sad tale of palm -- the hottest tech company on the planet for far too brief a time . palm pilots were once everywhere . but the company stumbled by failing to recognize quickly enough that , in the age of the internet , no one wanted a portable device that could n't get online . how samsung is out-innovating apple another hard luck case is research in motion -- now blackberry . that company did get the portable device memo , but it spectacularly misjudged the smartphone revolution sparked by apple . now apple is this unfamiliar territory : successful on paper , products seen everywhere , macbooks and iphone placed in seemingly every tv show and movie and yet ... the cool factor is cooling off . there is a big difference between atmospherics and actuality , of course . but nobody wants to be thought of as a has-been in the making . the lesson of tech history is that smart companies crash when they believe what they have already done is all they need to do : that doubling-down and trash-talking the competition is what it takes . exhibit a ? microsoft ceo steve ballmer himself , whose initial public reaction to the iphone was that business customers would n't want it because it does n't have a keyboard , which makes it not a very good e-mail machine . ' this would be a good time to mention that increasingly large numbers of these business customers ' now want an iphone at work , challenging microsoft at what has been its enterprise stronghold . apple 's search for its next billion-dollar product success is never assured , but it can only be extended only two ways : if you corner the market , impossible in the uberdisruptive tech space , or if you are unabashedly willing to question everything , all the time . facebook began life as the world 's most exclusive private social network -- only harvard students need apply . but it became a public company worth $ 68 billion because it decided instead to become the world 's least exclusive private network . even palm 's trajectory might have been different if it had inverted its thinking in time : imagine a palm pilot not as a personal information manager with connectivity , but a connected device with pim applications , and you have described exactly what the smartphone is today . there is no reason to think apple wo n't thrive financially for years to come , just like microsoft . but its continued reputation as the chief arbiter of cool is being challenged . apple may still have the best-selling smartphone in the world , but the many others powered by rival google 's android operating system -- and especially those made by samsung -- far exceed the iphone . for years , tech writers reviewed each new smartphone on a simple grading scale : is this the iphone killer ? none has been , but collectively the point has been made : no phone has killed the iphone , but plenty of them co-exist just fine , thank you very much . we expect the unexpected from apple , and the company does nothing to tamp down these expectations . so when it does n't dazzle us , ennui begins to creep in . apple is also burdened by what i called at the time the meaningless milestone of having become the biggest company ever . where do you go from there ? you are either still the biggest , or slipping . consolidating your lead is fine and all , but it is n't sexy . my own prediction of apple 's prospects is that needs to worry about becoming a mid-packer only after the ceo tim cook and designer jony ive -- the other tow members of the triumvirate headed by steve jobs -- are no longer with the company . until then , perhaps a decade from now , you bet against apple at your own peril . the opinions in this commentary are solely those of john abell . | abell : apple 's being ganged up on , but it will stay strong for at least 10 more years |
abell <tsp> ( cnn ) -- apple is getting pushed around a lot these days . digerati reaction to the iphone 5 was meh , ' response to the ipad mini was akin to it 's about time ' and we are all more excited about unicorn-like products such as an iwatch and itv than the things you can buy right now . apple 's strength is its achilles'heel : we expect it to reinvent on schedule and when , in our infinite wisdom , we believe it is not , we treat it like the kid who no longer belongs in our clique . some of this is to be expected when a company with as incredible a recent track record as apple 's seems to be resting more on its laurels than finding new battles to win . since the quixotic introduction of the imac in 1998 -- reinvigorating the desktop computer well into the age of portables -- apple has been on a tear : • the ipod ( 2001 ) • the itunes store , allowing the purchase of single music tracks ( 2003 ) • the apple retail store ( 2004 ) • the iphone ( 2007 ) • the ipad ( 2010 ) and you can add to list that steve jobs'revitalization of the animated feature film through his acquisition of pixar . that 's a lot of imagination in a very short time . apple has n't just dominated the story for a decade : it has written the story of the past decade . that is a lot to live up to . most companies ca n't . it 's particularly brutal for tech ( as opposed to , say , shampoo ) companies , which at best can usually hope to set the pace for only about generation until they settle into a comfortable middle class . call it the microsoft curve . microsoft dominated through the red-hot '90s , the height of the pc era . it is n't going anywhere . it still prints money by selling ms-office and windows licenses . but look at a five-year stock price chart , and you 'll see it has gone exactly nowhere . the only people dancing for joy about owning a windows computer seem to be in those surface pro tv ads . at the bottom of the pile there is the sad tale of palm -- the hottest tech company on the planet for far too brief a time . palm pilots were once everywhere . but the company stumbled by failing to recognize quickly enough that , in the age of the internet , no one wanted a portable device that could n't get online . how samsung is out-innovating apple another hard luck case is research in motion -- now blackberry . that company did get the portable device memo , but it spectacularly misjudged the smartphone revolution sparked by apple . now apple is this unfamiliar territory : successful on paper , products seen everywhere , macbooks and iphone placed in seemingly every tv show and movie and yet ... the cool factor is cooling off . there is a big difference between atmospherics and actuality , of course . but nobody wants to be thought of as a has-been in the making . the lesson of tech history is that smart companies crash when they believe what they have already done is all they need to do : that doubling-down and trash-talking the competition is what it takes . exhibit a ? microsoft ceo steve ballmer himself , whose initial public reaction to the iphone was that business customers would n't want it because it does n't have a keyboard , which makes it not a very good e-mail machine . ' this would be a good time to mention that increasingly large numbers of these business customers ' now want an iphone at work , challenging microsoft at what has been its enterprise stronghold . apple 's search for its next billion-dollar product success is never assured , but it can only be extended only two ways : if you corner the market , impossible in the uberdisruptive tech space , or if you are unabashedly willing to question everything , all the time . facebook began life as the world 's most exclusive private social network -- only harvard students need apply . but it became a public company worth $ 68 billion because it decided instead to become the world 's least exclusive private network . even palm 's trajectory might have been different if it had inverted its thinking in time : imagine a palm pilot not as a personal information manager with connectivity , but a connected device with pim applications , and you have described exactly what the smartphone is today . there is no reason to think apple wo n't thrive financially for years to come , just like microsoft . but its continued reputation as the chief arbiter of cool is being challenged . apple may still have the best-selling smartphone in the world , but the many others powered by rival google 's android operating system -- and especially those made by samsung -- far exceed the iphone . for years , tech writers reviewed each new smartphone on a simple grading scale : is this the iphone killer ? none has been , but collectively the point has been made : no phone has killed the iphone , but plenty of them co-exist just fine , thank you very much . we expect the unexpected from apple , and the company does nothing to tamp down these expectations . so when it does n't dazzle us , ennui begins to creep in . apple is also burdened by what i called at the time the meaningless milestone of having become the biggest company ever . where do you go from there ? you are either still the biggest , or slipping . consolidating your lead is fine and all , but it is n't sexy . my own prediction of apple 's prospects is that needs to worry about becoming a mid-packer only after the ceo tim cook and designer jony ive -- the other tow members of the triumvirate headed by steve jobs -- are no longer with the company . until then , perhaps a decade from now , you bet against apple at your own peril . the opinions in this commentary are solely those of john abell . | john abell : reactions to iphone 5 and ipad mini were , for new apple products , lukewarm |
abell <tsp> ( cnn ) -- apple is getting pushed around a lot these days . digerati reaction to the iphone 5 was meh , ' response to the ipad mini was akin to it 's about time ' and we are all more excited about unicorn-like products such as an iwatch and itv than the things you can buy right now . apple 's strength is its achilles'heel : we expect it to reinvent on schedule and when , in our infinite wisdom , we believe it is not , we treat it like the kid who no longer belongs in our clique . some of this is to be expected when a company with as incredible a recent track record as apple 's seems to be resting more on its laurels than finding new battles to win . since the quixotic introduction of the imac in 1998 -- reinvigorating the desktop computer well into the age of portables -- apple has been on a tear : • the ipod ( 2001 ) • the itunes store , allowing the purchase of single music tracks ( 2003 ) • the apple retail store ( 2004 ) • the iphone ( 2007 ) • the ipad ( 2010 ) and you can add to list that steve jobs'revitalization of the animated feature film through his acquisition of pixar . that 's a lot of imagination in a very short time . apple has n't just dominated the story for a decade : it has written the story of the past decade . that is a lot to live up to . most companies ca n't . it 's particularly brutal for tech ( as opposed to , say , shampoo ) companies , which at best can usually hope to set the pace for only about generation until they settle into a comfortable middle class . call it the microsoft curve . microsoft dominated through the red-hot '90s , the height of the pc era . it is n't going anywhere . it still prints money by selling ms-office and windows licenses . but look at a five-year stock price chart , and you 'll see it has gone exactly nowhere . the only people dancing for joy about owning a windows computer seem to be in those surface pro tv ads . at the bottom of the pile there is the sad tale of palm -- the hottest tech company on the planet for far too brief a time . palm pilots were once everywhere . but the company stumbled by failing to recognize quickly enough that , in the age of the internet , no one wanted a portable device that could n't get online . how samsung is out-innovating apple another hard luck case is research in motion -- now blackberry . that company did get the portable device memo , but it spectacularly misjudged the smartphone revolution sparked by apple . now apple is this unfamiliar territory : successful on paper , products seen everywhere , macbooks and iphone placed in seemingly every tv show and movie and yet ... the cool factor is cooling off . there is a big difference between atmospherics and actuality , of course . but nobody wants to be thought of as a has-been in the making . the lesson of tech history is that smart companies crash when they believe what they have already done is all they need to do : that doubling-down and trash-talking the competition is what it takes . exhibit a ? microsoft ceo steve ballmer himself , whose initial public reaction to the iphone was that business customers would n't want it because it does n't have a keyboard , which makes it not a very good e-mail machine . ' this would be a good time to mention that increasingly large numbers of these business customers ' now want an iphone at work , challenging microsoft at what has been its enterprise stronghold . apple 's search for its next billion-dollar product success is never assured , but it can only be extended only two ways : if you corner the market , impossible in the uberdisruptive tech space , or if you are unabashedly willing to question everything , all the time . facebook began life as the world 's most exclusive private social network -- only harvard students need apply . but it became a public company worth $ 68 billion because it decided instead to become the world 's least exclusive private network . even palm 's trajectory might have been different if it had inverted its thinking in time : imagine a palm pilot not as a personal information manager with connectivity , but a connected device with pim applications , and you have described exactly what the smartphone is today . there is no reason to think apple wo n't thrive financially for years to come , just like microsoft . but its continued reputation as the chief arbiter of cool is being challenged . apple may still have the best-selling smartphone in the world , but the many others powered by rival google 's android operating system -- and especially those made by samsung -- far exceed the iphone . for years , tech writers reviewed each new smartphone on a simple grading scale : is this the iphone killer ? none has been , but collectively the point has been made : no phone has killed the iphone , but plenty of them co-exist just fine , thank you very much . we expect the unexpected from apple , and the company does nothing to tamp down these expectations . so when it does n't dazzle us , ennui begins to creep in . apple is also burdened by what i called at the time the meaningless milestone of having become the biggest company ever . where do you go from there ? you are either still the biggest , or slipping . consolidating your lead is fine and all , but it is n't sexy . my own prediction of apple 's prospects is that needs to worry about becoming a mid-packer only after the ceo tim cook and designer jony ive -- the other tow members of the triumvirate headed by steve jobs -- are no longer with the company . until then , perhaps a decade from now , you bet against apple at your own peril . the opinions in this commentary are solely those of john abell . | abell : apple a prisoner of its reputation ; we expect new products in quick succession |
missouri <tsp> phoebe connolly , a possible victim of game where teenagers appear to sucker-punch strangers , is encouraging people to think critically about how such attacks can be stopped . connolly was biking in the columbia heights area of washington this month when she was struck . she had passed through a group of teenagers , she said , when one of them reached out and punched me in the face . ' the whole group of kids laughed , ' connolly told cnn 's anderson cooper 360 ' on tuesday night . she was not seriously injured . though connolly had never heard of the knockout game ' before the november 15 attack , she may be a victim of it . and she 's not the only one . another woman was attacked in the same area one day earlier . she , too , sustained minor injuries and was not knocked out , according to washington police . a police spokeswoman said authorities are investigating the two attacks as simple assaults . the reason that i called the police was because my understanding of teenagers is they just do n't always think about the ramifications of their actions , how they can hurt people , how they can cause problems for the rest of their lives , ' said connolly , who works on youth programs . she found fault with the popularity of so-called knockout ' videos . instead of constantly replaying them on media , or on youtube , or whatever it is , you know i really feel like that 's just creating more of a culture of fear and polarization -- instead of actually spending time thinking about why it is that people are choosing to do this and how can it be stopped and prevented , ' she said . authorities have reported similar incidents in new jersey , new york , illinois and missouri . one of the latest attacks happened in new york , according to police commissioner ray kelly . a woman in her 70s was punched in the face by a man with whom she had no known previous contact or connection . she was treated and released from the hospital . authorities are working to determine whether she is a knockout ' victim , kelly said . despite the recent assaults , police in new york say they have n't yet seen evidence of a trend , though they are not ruling out the idea . the press has named it the so-called knockout game . we do n't discount that that exists . it 's a possibility . we 've investigated and will continue to investigate , ' kelly told reporters tuesday . police keep close eye on reports of disturbing'knockout'game | authorities have reported similar incidents in new jersey , new york , illinois and missouri |
the book of mormon <tsp> ( ew.com ) -- for broadway producers , thanksgiving brought some extra trimmings this year . according to figures from the broadway league , a dozen broadway shows topped $ 1 million at the box office for the week ending nov. 25 — the first time that 's happened all year . perennial musical hits led the list : wicked ' ( $ 2.3 million ) , the lion king ' ( $ 2.1 million ) , the book of mormon ' ( $ 1.8 million ) , and spider-man : turn off the dark ' ( $ 1.78 million ) . the fifth slot went to the just-opened revival annie , ' which took a stroll down easy street by selling $ 1.5 million in tickets , 105 percent of the show 's potential gross and a house record for the palace theatre . ( premium ticket charges spiked the average ticket price to $ 116 , from $ 89 the week before . ) two other new productions took advantage of seasonal enthusiasm : a christmas story : the musical , ' which opened last monday , took in $ 1.1 million for the week — though it managed to sneak in an extra ninth performance to goose its box office total . the show earned a promising 70 percent of its potential gross . another holiday-themed screen-to-stage musical , elf , fell just short of the seven-figure mark with $ 997,000 over eight performances , about 60 percent of its potential gross . filling out the million-dollar club last week : once ' ( $ 1.17 million ) , the phantom of the opera ' ( $ 1.13 million ) , mary poppins ' ( $ 1.12 million ) , newsies ' ( $ 1.11 million ) , evita ' ( $ 1.01 million ) , and jersey boys ' ( $ 1.01 million ) . the al pacino-led revival of glengarry glen ross ' earns an asterisk for the week — and not just because the high-grossing nonmusical drama is officially still in previews before its dec. 8 premiere . glengarry ' used the thanksgiving holiday to scale back its schedule to five performances ( instead of its usual seven ) . as a result , its haul last week was just $ 853,737 , down from $ 1.16 million the previous week . ew daily poll : who will win'dancing with the stars'? meanwhile , turkey time had a very different meaning for the producers of scandalous , ' the new musical biography of aimee semple mcpherson with book and lyrics by kathie lee gifford . in its first full week since its nov. 15 opening , the show scraped up a thin gruel of $ 194,511 , less than 16 percent of its potential gross , and played to houses that were less than one third full . even a presidential pardon is unlikely to save this one . see original story at ew.com . click here to try 2 risk free issues of entertainment weekly © 2011 entertainment weekly and time inc. all rights reserved . | shows like wicked , ' the lion king ' and the book of mormon ' topped the list |
mansour <tsp> ( cnn ) -- egypt is reconsidering its ties with countries that have n't been supportive of the government that the military installed after ousting the country 's first democratically elected president , the interim president said . speaking in his first televised interview since egypt 's powerful generals put him in office , adly mansour singled out turkey and qatar for criticism . both those regional neighbors have condemned a crackdown last month by egyptian authorities on supporters of the ousted president mohamed morsy that left hundreds of people dead . life during chaos : egyptians talk about coping ' our patience is running out regarding the qatari stance , ' mansour , 67 , said in the interview aired by state television tuesday . the turkish reaction has reflected short-sightedness and personal interest , not realizing the amount of cooperation between the two countries , ' mansour said , according to an account of the interview published by state-run media outlet al-ahram . tensions with turkey unlike qatar , which initially welcomed the military 's installation of mansour and his administration , turkey has been critical of the forced change of government in cairo from the start . neither ourselves nor the people of turkey expected the stance of the turkish government , which should n't have reacted based on the perspective of one faction , ' mansour said . we hope for better relations with turkey , but we do not accept interference in our internal affairs . ' egypt demonstrator : why we are willing to die mansour said that he and foreign minister nabil fahmy are strategically reviewing our foreign relations to differentiate between our real friends and those who should not be classified in that category anymore . ' he said that the positions of the united states and the european union remain unclear , but that he is starting to see indications that they will support the unelected transitional government .'no force can turn back the clock' mansour also denied that the overthrow of morsy in july had put egypt on a path back toward the police state seen under former ruler hosni mubarak , who lost his grip on power amid widespread protests in early 2011 . a court released mubarak , 85 , from prison last month , but authorities had him placed under house arrest at a military hospital while he awaits a retrial on charges of inciting violence against protesters during the demonstrations in 2011 . opinion : what mubarak 's release means ' no force can turn back the clock , neither to the former regime or the one before it , mansour said tuesday . he said that what followed the 2011 uprising -- the election of morsy and the islamist party he was aligned with , the muslim brotherhood -- was an attempt at creating a clone of the former regime but with a religious tone . ' the military removed morsy from office a year into his tenure amid large-scale street demonstrations against his government . critics accused morsy of authoritarianism and trying to force the brotherhood 's islamic agenda into the nation 's laws . but his supporters point out he was democratically elected and repeatedly offered cabinet positions to secularists and liberals . police'applied restraint' mansour , a judge who heads the country 's supreme constitutional court , defended the actions of security forces in the deadly crackdown on morsy supporters at two large sit-ins in cairo last month . i know the police faced a lot of criticism in dispersing the sit-ins , which were not peaceful , but they tried to pursue all peaceful stages and there was no response , ' he said . still , they applied restraint and committed to the international standards and legal means of clearing the sit-ins . ' the violent clearance of the camps , the bloodiest day in egypt 's recent history , was condemned by many countries . egyptian authorities followed it by declaring a one-month state of emergency and arresting more muslim brotherhood officials . in his interview tuesday , mansour defended the decision to impose the state of emergency and a curfew . there was no other alternative to confront the organized danger the nation was facing , ' he said . | mansour defends the actions of police in the crackdown on supporters of mohamed morsy |
mansour <tsp> ( cnn ) -- egypt is reconsidering its ties with countries that have n't been supportive of the government that the military installed after ousting the country 's first democratically elected president , the interim president said . speaking in his first televised interview since egypt 's powerful generals put him in office , adly mansour singled out turkey and qatar for criticism . both those regional neighbors have condemned a crackdown last month by egyptian authorities on supporters of the ousted president mohamed morsy that left hundreds of people dead . life during chaos : egyptians talk about coping ' our patience is running out regarding the qatari stance , ' mansour , 67 , said in the interview aired by state television tuesday . the turkish reaction has reflected short-sightedness and personal interest , not realizing the amount of cooperation between the two countries , ' mansour said , according to an account of the interview published by state-run media outlet al-ahram . tensions with turkey unlike qatar , which initially welcomed the military 's installation of mansour and his administration , turkey has been critical of the forced change of government in cairo from the start . neither ourselves nor the people of turkey expected the stance of the turkish government , which should n't have reacted based on the perspective of one faction , ' mansour said . we hope for better relations with turkey , but we do not accept interference in our internal affairs . ' egypt demonstrator : why we are willing to die mansour said that he and foreign minister nabil fahmy are strategically reviewing our foreign relations to differentiate between our real friends and those who should not be classified in that category anymore . ' he said that the positions of the united states and the european union remain unclear , but that he is starting to see indications that they will support the unelected transitional government .'no force can turn back the clock' mansour also denied that the overthrow of morsy in july had put egypt on a path back toward the police state seen under former ruler hosni mubarak , who lost his grip on power amid widespread protests in early 2011 . a court released mubarak , 85 , from prison last month , but authorities had him placed under house arrest at a military hospital while he awaits a retrial on charges of inciting violence against protesters during the demonstrations in 2011 . opinion : what mubarak 's release means ' no force can turn back the clock , neither to the former regime or the one before it , mansour said tuesday . he said that what followed the 2011 uprising -- the election of morsy and the islamist party he was aligned with , the muslim brotherhood -- was an attempt at creating a clone of the former regime but with a religious tone . ' the military removed morsy from office a year into his tenure amid large-scale street demonstrations against his government . critics accused morsy of authoritarianism and trying to force the brotherhood 's islamic agenda into the nation 's laws . but his supporters point out he was democratically elected and repeatedly offered cabinet positions to secularists and liberals . police'applied restraint' mansour , a judge who heads the country 's supreme constitutional court , defended the actions of security forces in the deadly crackdown on morsy supporters at two large sit-ins in cairo last month . i know the police faced a lot of criticism in dispersing the sit-ins , which were not peaceful , but they tried to pursue all peaceful stages and there was no response , ' he said . still , they applied restraint and committed to the international standards and legal means of clearing the sit-ins . ' the violent clearance of the camps , the bloodiest day in egypt 's recent history , was condemned by many countries . egyptian authorities followed it by declaring a one-month state of emergency and arresting more muslim brotherhood officials . in his interview tuesday , mansour defended the decision to impose the state of emergency and a curfew . there was no other alternative to confront the organized danger the nation was facing , ' he said . | adly mansour expresses frustration with turkey and qatar |
gop <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a massive political fight over defense spending is about to take place . if congress does not take action by march 1 , there will be $ 1.2 billion in across-the-board spending cuts that congress and president obama had agreed to as part of the debt ceiling agreement of 2011 . like with many other issues , republicans are trying to figure out what their position should be in the post-2012 election world . with two consecutive losses in presidential elections and approval ratings in the tank , the party leadership is trying to figure out how to broaden rather than contract their electoral coalition . the best evidence of this came with the bipartisan agreement on immigration reform announced last week . republicans face the same important challenge when it comes to defense . during the presidential campaign , mitt romney embraced a predictable response by warning that cuts would devastate the military and endanger american security . he often drew on secretary of defense leon panetta 's warnings to make his case . other republicans have joined the chorus of politicians who want to paint the democratic administration as weak on defense . writing for cnn.com , william bennett , who worked in president george h.w . bush 's administration , warned that the defense cuts would be the most dramatic and dangerous ' in history . likewise , south carolina republican sen. lindsey graham remarked : how do you go to somebody in the military who 's been deployed four or five times ... and say ,'for your good work over the last decade , we 're going to ruin the military . ... ' this approach to the defense cuts , insisting that they should not happen and that high levels of spending are essential to the safety of the nation , fits into the recent history of the gop . over the past four decades , republicans became increasingly hawkish on national security . skeptics of military intervention , such as sen. chuck hagel , were pushed aside as mavericks and neoconservative rhetoric became the staple for the party . when it came to defense , big government was good and any questions about military spending were in fact challenges to our security . republicans might consider tapping into a different tradition , one that grows out of their own party history , in the coming months if they want to take a more nuanced approach . for many decades , the republican party was skeptical about the expansion of military spending and national security programs . this was not about being isolationist . during the post-world war ii period , there were important voices in the party that believed the excessive growth of government on defense posed the same kinds of risks as did domestic spending growth . ohio sen. robert taft , mr. republican , ' who was the leader of the party in the upper chamber , was a well-known critic of the cold war buildup . while believing that the united states needed to be able to respond to the soviet threat , he feared that excessive military spending would lead to the creation of a garrison state ' that trampled on the very liberties that americans were trying to protect . republican president dwight eisenhower , a military hero who was instrumental in the world war ii victory , also did n't have much tolerance for endless defense spending . he spent much of his second term fighting against hawkish democrats to hold down the military budget . eisenhower , who believed as much as anyone that the united states had to be tough in the fight against communists , thought that too much of defense spending was driven by partisan interests and military contractors , having little to do with what the nation actually needed . like taft , he feared that the huge appetite of congress for rising spending was going to destroy the liberties and limited government that was at the center of what the united states was trying to protect . he also thought the expanding deficit would ultimately crush the u.s. economy . his famous farewell address about the military-industrial complex ' sent a strong warning to those who ignored this issue . but those voices were drowned out by the hawks . republicans , especially after the vietnam war , adopted a very different posture where the drive for higher defense spending became a core issue , as much as tax cuts . now that defense cuts are on the table , a better partisan debate would be over where to cut defense spending and how to make our dollars give us the best security bang for the buck . this would entail a serious look at spending that has been driven too often by the needs of legislators to satisfy contractors in their district rather than decisions about what kinds of weapons are most effective . despite all the dramatic rhetoric , the fact is that the united states spent more in 2011 ( $ 711 billion ) than did china , russia , the uk , france , japan , india , saudia arabia , germany , brazil , italy , south korea , australia and canada combined ( $ 695 billion ) . even with the sequestration , according to time , u.s spending would only decline from being 40 % of all military spending around the globe to 38 % . as lawrence korb , former assistant secretary of defense under ronald reagan wrote in u.s. news and world report , the defense budget should and can be reduced significantly without harming national security . ' korb pointed out that the cuts would only amount to 15 % a year , which would still have the united states spending much more on defense on average than the country did in the cold war . right now , republicans are not well positioned for this debate . ironically , president obama is -- given that during his first term he broke with his party with an aggressive stance toward terrorism , including the killing of osama bin laden , and potentially with picking a republican secretary of defense . he is well positioned to push for defense cuts without opening himself up to charges of being a reckless dove . republicans need to show the nation that they can engage in serious debates over the policy needs of the nation , rather than simply reiterating talking points meant to please the base . if they do n't , on this issue , like so many others , the party will stand far off center and make it that much harder for the next presidential candidate to build a winning coalition . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of julian zelizer . | he says in decades past , the gop was not an advocate for expansion of military spending |
paterson <tsp> ( cnn ) -- after eight years as senator from new york , hillary clinton is trading places , moving from congress to the incoming administration . former president bill clinton has been mentioned as a possible replacement for his wife in the senate . on monday , president-elect barack obama announced that he asked his former rival to be his secretary of state . that means the scramble begins to replace clinton on capitol hill . among those mentioned to take her seat as new york 's junior senator is her husband , former president bill clinton . at a news conference in chicago , illinois , on monday , after obama announced her selection , clinton said she wanted to thank my fellow new yorkers who have , for eight years , given me the joy of a job i love with the opportunity to work on issues i care deeply , in a state that i cherish . ' clinton added that leaving the senate is very difficult for me . ' the task of choosing a successor falls to david paterson , new york 's democratic governor . whomever he picks would serve for two years , before a special election in november 2010 to decide who fills the last two years of clinton 's term . paterson has a strong bench to choose from . there are a number of contenders , including at least eight members of new york 's delegation in the house of representatives , new york state attorney general andrew cuomo , buffalo mayor byron brown , bronx borough president adolfo carrion , nassau county executive thomas suozzi , caroline kennedy , and her cousin , robert kennedy jr. ' this is not an election . this is not a campaign . it 's a constituency of one . david paterson . it 's all about what the governor wants to do , ' said political analyst stuart rothenberg , editor and publisher of the rothenberg political report . paterson has said he would prefer someone from upstate new york , or a woman or an hispanic candidate , ' rothenberg said . as for some of the more unconventional picks , rothenberg said paterson could try to make a splash with a big name like robert kennedy jr. ' or a quirky interesting pick ' of someone like caroline kennedy , who is not a politician . but some are suggesting the former president should take his wife 's seat . in an op-ed column last week in the washington post , journalists karl meyer and shareen blair brysac urged paterson to send bill clinton to the senate . ' if that happened , clinton would become the third former president to go from the white house to capitol hill . president john quincy adams lost his re-election bid in 1828 . two years later he returned to washington after winning election as a congressman from his home state of massachusetts . he served in the house of representatives until his death in 1848 . president andrew johnson also served as a senator from tennessee in 1875 , 7 years after the senate acquitted him of impeachment charges . he died a few months after taking office . bill clinton would bring gravitas to the job , and he obviously knows his way around washington . but some democratic strategists who used to work for bill clinton do n't think the former president would want to go from leader of the free world to being the junior senator from new york . clinton 's office deferred to paterson 's office when asked for a comment . in a statement released monday in which he praised the choice of hillary clinton for the nation 's top diplomatic post , paterson said , in order to appoint the best possible candidate to replace sen. clinton , i am consulting with a wide variety of individuals from all across new york state . i expect to announce sen. clinton 's replacement when the position becomes officially vacant , ' he said . | new york gov . paterson will name clinton replacement in the senate |
walker <tsp> ( cnn ) -- some fans are upset about an auction of items alleged to have been taken from the site of a fatal crash that killed fast & furious ' star paul walker . a pair of of maui jim sunglasses purported to have been worn by walker during the crash , a fire extinguisher and and an alleged piece of debris from the accident scene have been put up for auction on bidami.com . according to a description on the site , the consigner of the lot of items up for auction was nearby when the fiery crash occurred on november 30 , 2013 , in the santa clarita , california , community of valencia . the lot consigner collected the items once the site investigation was cleared with car debris hauled away and tape taken down , ' according to the description . as the consigner walked the scene in disbelief and grief , he found a pair of sunglasses nearby in the ivy , ' a description of the auction items on the site notes . after showing one of the officers , he was waved off . the glasses were dirty so he wrapped them in a handkerchief and put them in his pocket . ' walker and friend roger rodas died after the 2005 porsche carrera gt rodas was driving slammed into a light pole and burst into flames . the new york daily news reported that a rep from the auction site said the authenticity of the glasses was determined by the company using photos of walker from the day of the crash . cnn has reached out for comment , but has not confirmed that the glasses did indeed belong to walker . the sale announcement apparently garnered so much traffic that the bidami site crashed on thursday . a change.org petition has been started to stop the sale , and some fans have reacted negatively on twitter . user chloe dawn tweeted , someone is selling the sunglasses paul walker was wearing when he died . so disrespectful ... what is wrong with people ? ' the founder and editor-in-chief of the celebrity site rickey.org tweeted , some terrible person is selling the sunglasses that # paulwalker was supposedly wearing when he died . ' la weekly reported that police are doubtful that the glasses actually are those worn by walker when he died . as a department we doubt that they are actually paul walker 's sunglasses , ' a spokesman for the santa clarita sheriff 's department told the publication . but who knows , maybe they are . right now we doubt it . ' at the time of his death , walker was filming fast & furious 7 , ' the latest in the very successful franchise that made him a star . on thursday , universal confirmed that filming of movie would resume march 31 in atlanta , georgia . the studio had earlier said they do n't plan to kill walker 's character in the movie , but will instead retire ' him . | a seller claims to have found items at walker crash site |
israel <tsp> jerusalem ( cnn ) -- israel agreed to release a notorious killer sunday in order to bring closure to the families of three missing military men , a government spokesman said . an israeli woman stands in front of posters of captured soldiers sunday in jerusalem . it 's not an easy decision , ' mark regev told cnn . one of the people being released is a brutal murderer , a man that with his own hands killed infants -- a terrible crime , but this is a nasty business . ' he was referring to samir kuntar , the longest-serving lebanese prisoner in israel , who is hailed as a hero by hezbollah . kuntar was convicted for a 1979 attack in which he shot and killed an israeli man in front of his 4-year-old daughter before smashing her head against a rock and tossing her into the sea . the victim 's 2-year-old daughter was accidentally smothered by her mother , who tried to keep her quiet as they hid from the attackers . kuntar was convicted for murdering both children in the attack , which the palestine liberation front orchestrated to protest the signing of the egyptian-israeli peace treaty at camp david the previous year . kuntar is one of five lebanese prisoners who israel will release in exchange for two israeli soldiers , ehud udi ' goldwasser and eldad regev . the lebanon-based shiite militant group kindapped the two in a july 2006 raid into northern israel that left three other israeli soldiers dead . hezbollah never gave israel any indication whether they survived the attack , which sparked a 34-day war , leaving the families in limbo . before the vote , israeli prime minister ehud olmert told his cabinet that the two soldiers are not alive , as far as we know . ' we 'll have a final answer when they are returned , ' regev said . goldwasser and regev are at the center of the landmark agreement , which has been years in the making , with both sides using the prisoners and intelligence as bartering chips . under the deal , which the cabinet approved 22-3 on sunday , hezbollah will also release information about ron arad , an israeli navigator who has been missing since he was forced to eject from his plane over lebanon in october 1986 . we have an obligation , a moral obligation to their families to bring finality , ' regev said . that if they are in fact no longer living , that their families can have a funeral , that they can have a grave , that they can know that this is over . ' israel has repeatedly attempted to get information about arad and other missing airmen by using lebanese detainees as leverage . former prime minister ariel sharon promised the arad family that kuntar will not be released unless hezbollah provides information on arad . in addition to kuntar and other lebanese prisoners , israel will also release palestinian prisoners and return the remains of dozens of border infiltrators and eight hezbollah members to lebanon , according to a statement from the government . israel will also provide information to the united nations about four iranian diplomats who disappeared in beirut during the 1982 israeli invasion , the statement said . earlier this month , israel deported a lebanese-born man who served six years in jail on charges of spying for hezbollah . in exchange , hezbollah handed over a brown coffin containing the remains of israeli soldiers killed during the 2006 war . the move was seen as a prelude to a possible prisoner swap between israel and hezbollah . cnn 's shira medding and and ben wedeman contributed to this report . | israel will release five lebanese prisoners , including convicted killer |
california <tsp> ( cnn ) -- three years ago , phillip loughlin made a choice he knew would brand him as an outsider with many of his fellow hunters : he decided to shoot green ' bullets . it made sense , ' loughlin said of his switch to more environmentally friendly ammo , which does n't contain lead . i believe that we need to do a little bit to take care of the rest of the habitat and the environment -- not just what we want to shoot out of it . ' lead , a toxic metal that can lower the iqs of children , is the essential element in most ammunition on the market today . but greener alternatives are gaining visibility -- and stirring controversy -- as some hunters , scientists , environmentalists and public health officials worry about lead ammunition 's threat to the environment and public health . hunting groups oppose limits on lead ammunition , saying there 's no risk and alternatives are too expensive . the scope of the trend is difficult to measure . americans spent an estimated $ 1.08 billion on ammunition in fiscal year 2008 , according to tax reports from the alcohol and tobacco tax and trade bureau . but the bureau does not track ammunition sales by type . industry groups are tight-lipped about their sales figures . manufacturers contacted by cnn declined to release specific numbers . barnes bullets , which manufactures copper bullets because , the company says , they perform better than lead , is seeing increased interest in its non-lead products , said jessica brooks , the utah company 's spokeswoman . loughlin , of union city , california , has noticed new manufacturers jumping into the green bullet game . they 're definitely coming out . winchester and remington , all the big-name ammo makers are loading green ammunition now , ' he said . some firing ranges are banning lead for safety reasons . lead bullets contaminate military training grounds across the country and are the subjects of many environmental cleanups . california and other state governments have taken up lead bullets as a matter of policy . they worry that lead from the bullets contaminates ecosystems and could affect people . last year , california banned lead bullets in the chunk of the state that makes up the endangered california condor 's habitat . the large birds are known to feed on scraps of meat left behind by hunters . those scraps sometimes contain pieces of lead bullets , and lead poisoning is thought to be a contributor to condor deaths . arizona , another condor state , gives out coupons so hunters can buy green ammunition . utah may soon follow suit . in north dakota , a hunter has raised concerns about lead 's potential impact on humans . dr. william cornatzer , a dermatologist and falconer , saw a presentation about the potential dangers of lead at a board meeting of the peregrine fund , a group devoted to conserving birds of prey . he decided to collect and test venison samples that were going to be donated to a local program for the hungry . about half of the 100 samples -- all shot by hunters -- tested positive for lead , he said . food banks and shelters pulled the meat from their shelves after the report . when we did this , i about fell out of my shoes , ' he said . the scary thing is these fragments are almost like dust in the meat . they 're not like metal fragments you would feel when you bite down . ' states in the area started investigating the issue after cornatzer 's findings . working with the centers for disease control and prevention , the north dakota department of health ran a test to find out the health effects of lead-shot game . the agency compared blood-lead levels of people who regularly eat meat shot with lead bullets with the levels of those who do n't eat much wild game . the results were inconclusive . those who ate the lead-shot meat had slightly higher blood-lead levels than those who did n't , but none of the 738 people in the study had levels above the government 's threshold for danger . still , the health department recommended that children younger than 6 and pregnant women stop eating venison shot with lead bullets because those groups are at particular risk for lead poisoning , even at low levels . the department also recommended lead-free bullets as the simplest solution to possible contamination . the minnesota department of natural resources followed with its own study , which found that when lead bullets explode inside an animal , imperceptible particles of the metal can infect meat up to a foot and a half away from the bullet wound -- farther than previously thought . more research is needed to tell for sure if lead-shot meat poses a risk to people , said dr. steve pickard , an epidemiologist at the north dakota department of health . but until that research is done , people should take sensible precautions , he said . there is no cause for alarm , but it is another source of lead in the environment , ' he said of lead ammunition . hunting groups say lead bullets pose no risk to people or the environment . available studies -- particularly the one from north dakota -- prove that point , said ted novin , spokesman for national shooting sports foundation . the cdc study confirmed what hunters have known for centuries : consuming game hunted with traditional [ lead ] ammunition has never been shown to pose a health risk to anyone , ' he said . pickard said novin 's group is misrepresenting science . the nssf and the national rifle association say efforts to ban lead ammunition are veiled attempts to take guns away from hunters . they also point to the fact that lead 's main alternative , copper , is more expensive and is n't available in all calibers . novin said the added expense will drive many people away from a sport that is part of american heritage . many hunters believe lead is the best metal to be used for hunting , ' he said . add into that that it [ lead ] is very affordable and it is very available . we think this absolutely should be left up to hunters . ' dr. joseph graziano , interim department chair of environmental health sciences at columbia university 's mailman school of public health , said the public should switch away from lead bullets -- even if the research is still developing . it 's hard to imagine that you could make a bullet out of something more toxic than lead , ' he said . loughlin , who switched to green ammo and blogs on the issue , said that lead should n't be banned from hunting but that hunters and the public should be more aware of lead 's potential to cause harm . lead will get into you , and we need to be working towards getting it out of the system , ' he said . i think it 's something we could do away with over time . ' | last year , california banned lead bullets in the area where an endangered bird lives |
pistorius <tsp> ( cnn ) -- south african sprinter oscar pistorius was involved in a nightclub dispute over the weekend , after another patron started to aggressively interrogate him ' on matters relating to his murder trial , his spokeswoman says . reports of the incident and subsequent tweets by pistorius -- his first activity on twitter since the one-year anniversary of his girlfriend 's death -- have grabbed headlines in south africa and around the world . pistorius , 27 , is accused of murdering his girlfriend reeva steenkamp , 29 , on february 14 , 2013 . the olympic sprinter admits firing the bullets that killed steenkamp , but denies murder , saying he mistakenly thought he was defending himself from an intruder . south african media reported monday that pistorius had been involved in an altercation saturday at the vip room in the sandton area of johannesburg . pistorius'spokeswoman anneliese burgess confirmed to cnn tuesday that her client had been at the venue with one of his cousins , sitting in a vip section , when he was approached by another patron . the individual , according to my client , started to aggressively interrogate him on matters relating to the trial . an argument ensued during which my client asked to be left alone , ' she said . oscar soon thereafter left the club with his cousin . my client regrets the decision to go to a public space and thereby inviting unwelcome attention . ' the day after the incident , pistorius tweeted a photo montage showing him with children on prosthetics or stumps . the text accompanying the photos reads , you have the ability to make a difference in someones life . sometimes it 's the simple things you say or do that can make someone feel better or inspire them . ' this was followed by a second tweet , in which the sprinter posted a photographed passage from man 's search for meaning , ' a book by holocaust survivor viktor frankl . the text says love is the ultimate and highest goal ' and describes how a man with nothing may still find bliss ... in the contemplation of his beloved . ' in a position of utter desolation , when a man can not express himself in positive action , when his only achievement may consist in enduring his sufferings in the right way -- an honorable way -- in such a position man can , through loving contemplation of the image he carries of his beloved , achieve fulfillment , ' it says . pistorius posted a third tweet monday , a prayer written across a photo of a misty river -- credited to the christian website crosswalk.com . the text reads : lord , today i ask that you bathe those who live in pain in the river of your healing . amen . ' the postings have prompted messages of support , bewilderment and condemnation on the social media site , with some twitter users questioning why pistorius had visited a nightclub while on trial . pistorius'murder trial has been adjourned until august 7 , when closing arguments are scheduled to begin . | pistorius subsequently posted a series of tweets , his first activity on twitter since february |
pistorius <tsp> ( cnn ) -- south african sprinter oscar pistorius was involved in a nightclub dispute over the weekend , after another patron started to aggressively interrogate him ' on matters relating to his murder trial , his spokeswoman says . reports of the incident and subsequent tweets by pistorius -- his first activity on twitter since the one-year anniversary of his girlfriend 's death -- have grabbed headlines in south africa and around the world . pistorius , 27 , is accused of murdering his girlfriend reeva steenkamp , 29 , on february 14 , 2013 . the olympic sprinter admits firing the bullets that killed steenkamp , but denies murder , saying he mistakenly thought he was defending himself from an intruder . south african media reported monday that pistorius had been involved in an altercation saturday at the vip room in the sandton area of johannesburg . pistorius'spokeswoman anneliese burgess confirmed to cnn tuesday that her client had been at the venue with one of his cousins , sitting in a vip section , when he was approached by another patron . the individual , according to my client , started to aggressively interrogate him on matters relating to the trial . an argument ensued during which my client asked to be left alone , ' she said . oscar soon thereafter left the club with his cousin . my client regrets the decision to go to a public space and thereby inviting unwelcome attention . ' the day after the incident , pistorius tweeted a photo montage showing him with children on prosthetics or stumps . the text accompanying the photos reads , you have the ability to make a difference in someones life . sometimes it 's the simple things you say or do that can make someone feel better or inspire them . ' this was followed by a second tweet , in which the sprinter posted a photographed passage from man 's search for meaning , ' a book by holocaust survivor viktor frankl . the text says love is the ultimate and highest goal ' and describes how a man with nothing may still find bliss ... in the contemplation of his beloved . ' in a position of utter desolation , when a man can not express himself in positive action , when his only achievement may consist in enduring his sufferings in the right way -- an honorable way -- in such a position man can , through loving contemplation of the image he carries of his beloved , achieve fulfillment , ' it says . pistorius posted a third tweet monday , a prayer written across a photo of a misty river -- credited to the christian website crosswalk.com . the text reads : lord , today i ask that you bathe those who live in pain in the river of your healing . amen . ' the postings have prompted messages of support , bewilderment and condemnation on the social media site , with some twitter users questioning why pistorius had visited a nightclub while on trial . pistorius'murder trial has been adjourned until august 7 , when closing arguments are scheduled to begin . | pistorius admits killing steenkamp but denies murder , saying he mistook her for an intruder |
pistorius <tsp> ( cnn ) -- south african sprinter oscar pistorius was involved in a nightclub dispute over the weekend , after another patron started to aggressively interrogate him ' on matters relating to his murder trial , his spokeswoman says . reports of the incident and subsequent tweets by pistorius -- his first activity on twitter since the one-year anniversary of his girlfriend 's death -- have grabbed headlines in south africa and around the world . pistorius , 27 , is accused of murdering his girlfriend reeva steenkamp , 29 , on february 14 , 2013 . the olympic sprinter admits firing the bullets that killed steenkamp , but denies murder , saying he mistakenly thought he was defending himself from an intruder . south african media reported monday that pistorius had been involved in an altercation saturday at the vip room in the sandton area of johannesburg . pistorius'spokeswoman anneliese burgess confirmed to cnn tuesday that her client had been at the venue with one of his cousins , sitting in a vip section , when he was approached by another patron . the individual , according to my client , started to aggressively interrogate him on matters relating to the trial . an argument ensued during which my client asked to be left alone , ' she said . oscar soon thereafter left the club with his cousin . my client regrets the decision to go to a public space and thereby inviting unwelcome attention . ' the day after the incident , pistorius tweeted a photo montage showing him with children on prosthetics or stumps . the text accompanying the photos reads , you have the ability to make a difference in someones life . sometimes it 's the simple things you say or do that can make someone feel better or inspire them . ' this was followed by a second tweet , in which the sprinter posted a photographed passage from man 's search for meaning , ' a book by holocaust survivor viktor frankl . the text says love is the ultimate and highest goal ' and describes how a man with nothing may still find bliss ... in the contemplation of his beloved . ' in a position of utter desolation , when a man can not express himself in positive action , when his only achievement may consist in enduring his sufferings in the right way -- an honorable way -- in such a position man can , through loving contemplation of the image he carries of his beloved , achieve fulfillment , ' it says . pistorius posted a third tweet monday , a prayer written across a photo of a misty river -- credited to the christian website crosswalk.com . the text reads : lord , today i ask that you bathe those who live in pain in the river of your healing . amen . ' the postings have prompted messages of support , bewilderment and condemnation on the social media site , with some twitter users questioning why pistorius had visited a nightclub while on trial . pistorius'murder trial has been adjourned until august 7 , when closing arguments are scheduled to begin . | oscar pistorius is accused of murdering his girlfriend reeva steenkamp in february 2013 |
oslo <tsp> ( cnn ) -- it was not a blanket of snow that fell on the northeast this past weekend . it was more like a futon of snow . a stack of futons . and not the light foam futons , but old-fashioned futons stuffed with horsehair or maybe potting soil . sodden futons stacked 3 feet high with no place to shovel them . but ignore my bitterness . i 'm old and i just got in from shoveling the part of our driveway that the next civic-minded city plow is going to refill . in truth , new england handled this snow emergency like a champ -- so much better than the blizzard of'78 in which people died stuck in their cars on the highway . but before we break out the cocoa and self-congratulations , we might want to listen to espen andersen , a norwegian in oslo who lived in boston for nine years . i blogged on saturday about how well-prepared the northeast was , and espen jumped in with a yeah , but ... ' comment . i just ca n't get used to the new england oh-my-god-here-it-comes-again-flip-to-channel-5 attitude , ' he wrote . he explained : the fact that new england panics every time there is a flurry is due to lack of preparedness at the infrastructure level . in most of norway , power and telephone lines are underground , it is illegal not to have snow tires on your car after december 1st or thereabouts ( if you go in the ditch , you are fined ) and during my own and my children 's school days we have never had a snow day or any other interruption due to the weather ( and we have plenty of weather ) . i have never been to the store to stock up on batteries and water . ... our airport does not close down for snow , though there can be delays . ' my pride makes me want to push back on the idea that we new englanders panic ' in the face of blizzards , not to mention that referring to this past weekend 's unpleasantness as a flurry ' goes beyond nordic stoicism . on the other hand , i remember being amused as a grad student watching the recent immigrants from sunny mediterranean climes spinning their tires in a modest toronto snowfall . what goes around comes around , and those mediterranean tires were going around at an unmoving 60 mph . but espen raises a valid question : why does n't new england harden the grid and communications systems , put winter tires on school buses , mandate winter tires in snowy conditions and just get rid of this stupid idea of snow days ? it is winter ; it happens almost every year . ' i 'd suggest there are two reasons we do n't . we 'd all like to see the poles and wires that blight our landscape come down . not only would this reduce power outages due to downed trees , it might also give us an opportunity to pull some optical fiber into our homes and businesses so that the united states could stop falling behind the developed world in high-speed internet access . so let 's do it . except , it 's expensive . all those trenches to dig . all those rights of way to clear . all those transformers to move indoors . the bullet to bite is so large that we 're more willing to dribble out the price of sending out repair crews , and to put up with the far more substantial costs borne by individuals and businesses that go without power for hours , days and sometimes weeks . the aggregated cost of being without electricity for the 655,000 people plunged into the cold and dark by the so-called nemo storm , are distributed among the sufferers , and thus that cost is invisible , as is everything if one closes one 's eyes hard enough . besides , massachusetts gov . deval patrick estimated that it would cost $ 1 trillion to bury all the power lines throughout the commonwealth . various experts i consulted ( via the advanced knowledge network known as mailing lists ) supplied counter guesstimates of $ 45 billion to $ 200 billion , but with caveats about everything from the frequency of buried rocks to the increased difficulty of fixing broken underground cables . still , that 's between three and 70 big digs , to use our local unit of currency . not chump change , no matter how you measure it . which brings us to the second reason we do n't bite the bullet and snow-proof our infrastructure : we think of snowstorms as emergencies that inevitably bring with them power outages and snow days , so we do n't demand a snow-proof infrastructure . yes , this is circular reasoning . we do n't demand a fix because we do n't see the system as broken . it takes a norwegian to have us wonder why we 're shutting down our cities as if it were the most natural thing in the world . even if we overcame both reasons and buried our power and communication lines , i doubt that we would escape all snow-caused work stoppages . maybe i 'm just being a panicky new englander , but when 2 to 3 feet of snow drops on your city so fast that you can practically hear the thump , i ca n't imagine how we 'd get our streets and trolley tracks cleaned fast enough to avoid a day when it 's better if everyone just stays at home , does some shoveling and watches buffy ' seasons 1-4 . for , as espen points out , if we did n't treat snow as an emergency , we would n't get our snow days . and we love our snow days . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of david weinberger . | he says an oslo commenter to his blog notes norway is more sensible about snow |
rodrigo vidigal peixoto <tsp> ( cnn ) for the first-timer , a rio sucos , or juice bar , is a little overwhelming . piles of exotic fruits , many of which you 've possibly never heard of , line glass cases , or are stacked reverently in displays that seem more like a shrine to a balinese god than a commercial enterprise . when the gringos arrive here , they go crazy when they see all the fruits displayed in the store , ' says rodrigo vidigal peixoto , whose family runs polis sucos in ipanema and several other locations in rio . according to peixoto , his father opened rio 's first juice bar in 1958 . when they see the fruit they can smell and touch , it 's incredible for them . ' the artichoke-looking thing is a fruta do conde , or sugar apple -- it 's a delicious pear-like fruit rich in antioxidants that makes one of polis sucos'most popular drinks . the little red fruits are acerola , which have one of the highest concentrations of vitamin c on the planet . the orange bell pepper-like things with the curled handle on top are caju , the cashew apple , which comes from northeast brazil and makes for a smooth , sweet blend . the handle is the cashew nut . the yellow mango-type fruits are caja , packed with vitamins a , b and c , iron and calcium . more : 10 things to know before visiting brazil bet you never heard of this fruit the daily sucos is a sacred ritual in rio , a tonic to beat the heat , get a boost of natural sucrose , antioxidants or vitamins and sample a dizzying array of blends , courtesy of the exotic fruit capital of the world . the website toda brazil lists 146 fruits grown in brazil . the count runs to 14 before you 're even out of the a 's : abacate ( avocado ) , abacaxi ( pineapple ) , abiu , abricó , açaí , acerola , akee , ameixa , amêndoa , amora , anonáceas , araçá , atemoya , avelã . you can find sucos bars on just about any street in the city 's zona sul . you can order juice with sugar or without ( sem acucar ' ) or natural , ' fresh-squeezed , instead of with ready-made pulp . many sucos also offer cheap eats , which make them a great place to save money but eat well in a city where dining can be expensive . you can get everything from omelets to meat , beans and rice combos , to an assortment of salgados , the meat and cheese pastries brazilians love . there are natural energy drinks , from guarana berries or cupuacu , an amazon fruit whose juice is a cross between pear and banana . calming beverages are made from the popular maracuja ( passionfruit ) . another favorite sucos is made with graviola , a pear-sized green fruit covered in prickly knobs that 's said to aid digestion . it has a hint of pina colada but it 's lighter and , of course , fresher . more : insider guide : best of rio de janeiro how to shop for fruit fresh-squeezed juice is the currency of the rio sucos bar . the freshness of the fruit is the secret to the best sucos , ' says peixoto . he 's a stickler for using only fruit that 's at peak ripeness . as a buyer for polis , he goes to the ceasa , the giant fruit and vegetable wholesale market in the north of rio , and picks only fruit that 's just right for juicing . he looks first for fruit that 's visually pleasing , with a healthy color . then he feels the product to see if it 's firm . it ca n't be soft , or it 's past its time . the people in other stores buy inferior fruits , less quality , ' says peixoto . they use sugar to pretend the fruit is mature and sweet , but it 's not . my juices all are ( made ) without sugar . ' some fruit is too fragile for shipping and handling , so pulp is used . polis sucos uses pulp only for graviola , cupuacu and acai , fruits from the northeast and the amazon . the deep purple acai is one of the most popular items at any sucos . the market for this superfood ' loaded with antioxidants is also booming outside brazil . it 's served as a smoothie , blended with banana or honey or mixed with granola and served in a bowl . of course , there are plenty of fruits most foreigners have heard of as well , from pineapple to mango , papaya , bananas and oranges -- and all seem to grow tastier under brazilian skies . the favorite brazilian banana , known as the silver banana , is typically firmer and sweeter than the kind americans know from central america or ecuador . they make for particularly delicious sucos blends . read : samba central : moving to the rhythms of rio 's lapa district historic decision rio 's juice bar tradition began when peixoto 's father , eduardo fernades peixoto , was working as a restaurant and bar manager . he did n't really like his job , so he was ready to take a risk when the owner suggested one day that the two of them open up a juice store in ipanema , with eduardo as a partner . eduardo eventually became the sole owner of polis suco , then passed it down to rodgrigo 's brother carlos . today , the family operates four stores , including two in barra da tijuca and one inside the headquarters of globo tv , at projac da globo . we pioneered the concept , then other people opened many other stores , ' says peixoto . people began to want a more natural , healthy life . it 's also very hot here , so people wanted something healthy that could quench their thirst . ' he recommends travelers try his mango and maracuja combo . the sweet fruit with the sour fruit is a wonderful combination . it 's very good . ' at a price of 7 reais ( $ 3 for 300 ml ) and 10 reais ( $ 4.50 for 500 ml ) , it 's a tasty deal , and one that could get to be a habit during your stay in rio . polis sucos , rua maria quiteria 70 , ipanema , rio de janeiro ; +55 21 2247 2518 more : best day trips from rio | rodrigo vidigal peixoto , whose family runs polis sucos , says his father started rio 's juice bar craze in 1958 |
brazil <tsp> ( cnn ) for the first-timer , a rio sucos , or juice bar , is a little overwhelming . piles of exotic fruits , many of which you 've possibly never heard of , line glass cases , or are stacked reverently in displays that seem more like a shrine to a balinese god than a commercial enterprise . when the gringos arrive here , they go crazy when they see all the fruits displayed in the store , ' says rodrigo vidigal peixoto , whose family runs polis sucos in ipanema and several other locations in rio . according to peixoto , his father opened rio 's first juice bar in 1958 . when they see the fruit they can smell and touch , it 's incredible for them . ' the artichoke-looking thing is a fruta do conde , or sugar apple -- it 's a delicious pear-like fruit rich in antioxidants that makes one of polis sucos'most popular drinks . the little red fruits are acerola , which have one of the highest concentrations of vitamin c on the planet . the orange bell pepper-like things with the curled handle on top are caju , the cashew apple , which comes from northeast brazil and makes for a smooth , sweet blend . the handle is the cashew nut . the yellow mango-type fruits are caja , packed with vitamins a , b and c , iron and calcium . more : 10 things to know before visiting brazil bet you never heard of this fruit the daily sucos is a sacred ritual in rio , a tonic to beat the heat , get a boost of natural sucrose , antioxidants or vitamins and sample a dizzying array of blends , courtesy of the exotic fruit capital of the world . the website toda brazil lists 146 fruits grown in brazil . the count runs to 14 before you 're even out of the a 's : abacate ( avocado ) , abacaxi ( pineapple ) , abiu , abricó , açaí , acerola , akee , ameixa , amêndoa , amora , anonáceas , araçá , atemoya , avelã . you can find sucos bars on just about any street in the city 's zona sul . you can order juice with sugar or without ( sem acucar ' ) or natural , ' fresh-squeezed , instead of with ready-made pulp . many sucos also offer cheap eats , which make them a great place to save money but eat well in a city where dining can be expensive . you can get everything from omelets to meat , beans and rice combos , to an assortment of salgados , the meat and cheese pastries brazilians love . there are natural energy drinks , from guarana berries or cupuacu , an amazon fruit whose juice is a cross between pear and banana . calming beverages are made from the popular maracuja ( passionfruit ) . another favorite sucos is made with graviola , a pear-sized green fruit covered in prickly knobs that 's said to aid digestion . it has a hint of pina colada but it 's lighter and , of course , fresher . more : insider guide : best of rio de janeiro how to shop for fruit fresh-squeezed juice is the currency of the rio sucos bar . the freshness of the fruit is the secret to the best sucos , ' says peixoto . he 's a stickler for using only fruit that 's at peak ripeness . as a buyer for polis , he goes to the ceasa , the giant fruit and vegetable wholesale market in the north of rio , and picks only fruit that 's just right for juicing . he looks first for fruit that 's visually pleasing , with a healthy color . then he feels the product to see if it 's firm . it ca n't be soft , or it 's past its time . the people in other stores buy inferior fruits , less quality , ' says peixoto . they use sugar to pretend the fruit is mature and sweet , but it 's not . my juices all are ( made ) without sugar . ' some fruit is too fragile for shipping and handling , so pulp is used . polis sucos uses pulp only for graviola , cupuacu and acai , fruits from the northeast and the amazon . the deep purple acai is one of the most popular items at any sucos . the market for this superfood ' loaded with antioxidants is also booming outside brazil . it 's served as a smoothie , blended with banana or honey or mixed with granola and served in a bowl . of course , there are plenty of fruits most foreigners have heard of as well , from pineapple to mango , papaya , bananas and oranges -- and all seem to grow tastier under brazilian skies . the favorite brazilian banana , known as the silver banana , is typically firmer and sweeter than the kind americans know from central america or ecuador . they make for particularly delicious sucos blends . read : samba central : moving to the rhythms of rio 's lapa district historic decision rio 's juice bar tradition began when peixoto 's father , eduardo fernades peixoto , was working as a restaurant and bar manager . he did n't really like his job , so he was ready to take a risk when the owner suggested one day that the two of them open up a juice store in ipanema , with eduardo as a partner . eduardo eventually became the sole owner of polis suco , then passed it down to rodgrigo 's brother carlos . today , the family operates four stores , including two in barra da tijuca and one inside the headquarters of globo tv , at projac da globo . we pioneered the concept , then other people opened many other stores , ' says peixoto . people began to want a more natural , healthy life . it 's also very hot here , so people wanted something healthy that could quench their thirst . ' he recommends travelers try his mango and maracuja combo . the sweet fruit with the sour fruit is a wonderful combination . it 's very good . ' at a price of 7 reais ( $ 3 for 300 ml ) and 10 reais ( $ 4.50 for 500 ml ) , it 's a tasty deal , and one that could get to be a habit during your stay in rio . polis sucos , rua maria quiteria 70 , ipanema , rio de janeiro ; +55 21 2247 2518 more : best day trips from rio | sucos -- or juice bars -- thrive in rio de janeiro and beyond in brazil |
brazil <tsp> ( cnn ) for the first-timer , a rio sucos , or juice bar , is a little overwhelming . piles of exotic fruits , many of which you 've possibly never heard of , line glass cases , or are stacked reverently in displays that seem more like a shrine to a balinese god than a commercial enterprise . when the gringos arrive here , they go crazy when they see all the fruits displayed in the store , ' says rodrigo vidigal peixoto , whose family runs polis sucos in ipanema and several other locations in rio . according to peixoto , his father opened rio 's first juice bar in 1958 . when they see the fruit they can smell and touch , it 's incredible for them . ' the artichoke-looking thing is a fruta do conde , or sugar apple -- it 's a delicious pear-like fruit rich in antioxidants that makes one of polis sucos'most popular drinks . the little red fruits are acerola , which have one of the highest concentrations of vitamin c on the planet . the orange bell pepper-like things with the curled handle on top are caju , the cashew apple , which comes from northeast brazil and makes for a smooth , sweet blend . the handle is the cashew nut . the yellow mango-type fruits are caja , packed with vitamins a , b and c , iron and calcium . more : 10 things to know before visiting brazil bet you never heard of this fruit the daily sucos is a sacred ritual in rio , a tonic to beat the heat , get a boost of natural sucrose , antioxidants or vitamins and sample a dizzying array of blends , courtesy of the exotic fruit capital of the world . the website toda brazil lists 146 fruits grown in brazil . the count runs to 14 before you 're even out of the a 's : abacate ( avocado ) , abacaxi ( pineapple ) , abiu , abricó , açaí , acerola , akee , ameixa , amêndoa , amora , anonáceas , araçá , atemoya , avelã . you can find sucos bars on just about any street in the city 's zona sul . you can order juice with sugar or without ( sem acucar ' ) or natural , ' fresh-squeezed , instead of with ready-made pulp . many sucos also offer cheap eats , which make them a great place to save money but eat well in a city where dining can be expensive . you can get everything from omelets to meat , beans and rice combos , to an assortment of salgados , the meat and cheese pastries brazilians love . there are natural energy drinks , from guarana berries or cupuacu , an amazon fruit whose juice is a cross between pear and banana . calming beverages are made from the popular maracuja ( passionfruit ) . another favorite sucos is made with graviola , a pear-sized green fruit covered in prickly knobs that 's said to aid digestion . it has a hint of pina colada but it 's lighter and , of course , fresher . more : insider guide : best of rio de janeiro how to shop for fruit fresh-squeezed juice is the currency of the rio sucos bar . the freshness of the fruit is the secret to the best sucos , ' says peixoto . he 's a stickler for using only fruit that 's at peak ripeness . as a buyer for polis , he goes to the ceasa , the giant fruit and vegetable wholesale market in the north of rio , and picks only fruit that 's just right for juicing . he looks first for fruit that 's visually pleasing , with a healthy color . then he feels the product to see if it 's firm . it ca n't be soft , or it 's past its time . the people in other stores buy inferior fruits , less quality , ' says peixoto . they use sugar to pretend the fruit is mature and sweet , but it 's not . my juices all are ( made ) without sugar . ' some fruit is too fragile for shipping and handling , so pulp is used . polis sucos uses pulp only for graviola , cupuacu and acai , fruits from the northeast and the amazon . the deep purple acai is one of the most popular items at any sucos . the market for this superfood ' loaded with antioxidants is also booming outside brazil . it 's served as a smoothie , blended with banana or honey or mixed with granola and served in a bowl . of course , there are plenty of fruits most foreigners have heard of as well , from pineapple to mango , papaya , bananas and oranges -- and all seem to grow tastier under brazilian skies . the favorite brazilian banana , known as the silver banana , is typically firmer and sweeter than the kind americans know from central america or ecuador . they make for particularly delicious sucos blends . read : samba central : moving to the rhythms of rio 's lapa district historic decision rio 's juice bar tradition began when peixoto 's father , eduardo fernades peixoto , was working as a restaurant and bar manager . he did n't really like his job , so he was ready to take a risk when the owner suggested one day that the two of them open up a juice store in ipanema , with eduardo as a partner . eduardo eventually became the sole owner of polis suco , then passed it down to rodgrigo 's brother carlos . today , the family operates four stores , including two in barra da tijuca and one inside the headquarters of globo tv , at projac da globo . we pioneered the concept , then other people opened many other stores , ' says peixoto . people began to want a more natural , healthy life . it 's also very hot here , so people wanted something healthy that could quench their thirst . ' he recommends travelers try his mango and maracuja combo . the sweet fruit with the sour fruit is a wonderful combination . it 's very good . ' at a price of 7 reais ( $ 3 for 300 ml ) and 10 reais ( $ 4.50 for 500 ml ) , it 's a tasty deal , and one that could get to be a habit during your stay in rio . polis sucos , rua maria quiteria 70 , ipanema , rio de janeiro ; +55 21 2247 2518 more : best day trips from rio | international travelers may be unfamiliar with many of brazil 's exotic and delicious fruits |
syria <tsp> ( cnn ) -- syria 's government is waging a war of extermination ' against its own people , the prime minister of qatar said tuesday , according to state media , hours after a failed four-day ceasefire during a muslim holiday left hundreds dead . in strongly worded comments to the al jazeera arabic network , sheikh hamad bin jassem al thani also accused foreign powers of standing by while president bashar al-assad 's forces carried out a slaughter . what is happening in syria is not a civil war but a genocide , a war of extermination with a license to kill by the syrian government and the international community , ' he said , according to the official qatar news agency . al thani , who 's also qatar 's foreign minister , said he had confidence in u.n.-arab league envoy to syria lakhdar brahimi -- but that his country did not trust al-assad 's government . brahimi had pushed for government forces and rebels to stop fighting during eid al-adha , a major muslim holiday that began friday and ended monday . but it soon became clear the violence was continuing almost unabated . syria rebels , kurdish militia discuss cease-fire ' when the syrian government announced that it would comply with the truce , it also announced that its military would respond to anything that took place on the ground , and it was clear from this rhetoric that there was no truce , ' said al thani , according to qna . everyone knows what the solution is and what the syrian people want . everything that is happening now is a waste of time and just buying time to kill the syrian people and to destroy the syrian infrastructure . ' the prime minister said he sensed a bigger awakening ' among arab nations and in the wider international community over the crisis in syria , despite moves by russia and china to block tougher u.n. security council action . but , he said , a paralysis ' would prevent action until after the outcome of the u.s. elections . a group that documents the names of those killed in syria 's conflict , the violation documenting center , calculated the total number of those killed during the failed ceasefire as 407 . the report from the vdc , which works closely with the opposition local coordination committees of syria , put the total civilian toll at 32,013 over some 20 months of violence , with 2,900 government soldiers killed in the same period . the lcc said 163 people were killed tuesday , mostly in damascus and its suburbs , and in idlib province , where airstrikes pummeled a residential neighborhood in the city of maarat-al-numan . regime forces inflicted heavy losses ' on rebel fighters in clashes in the damascus countryside and hama provinces and near the city of deir ezzor , the syrian arab news agency reported . cnn can not independently confirm reports of violence or casualties as the government has severely restricted the access of international journalists . the numbers reported by the lcc do not include deaths from security forces or the military . in other developments tuesday : general assassinated in damascus an air force general was assassinated tuesday in the syrian capital , damascus , syrian state media reported . pilot maj. gen. abdullah al-khalidi was killed by an armed terrorist group ' in the rukn-eddin neighborhood of damascus , sana said . he was shot to death as he got out of his car , sana reported . u.n. envoy visits beijing brahimi headed to beijing tuesday to meet senior chinese officials , a day after he held talks with russia 's foreign minister sergey lavrov for the first time on what to do about the syrian civil war . the state-run china daily newspaper quoted foreign ministry spokesman hong lei as saying the envoy would have in depth communication ' with chinese officials during his two-day visit . china backs brahimi 's efforts to find a political solution to the crisis , rather than the use of force , hong is quoted as saying . following monday 's meeting in moscow , russia accused the united nations of double standards for failing to condemn a car bombing in a pro-assad stronghold near the capital , damascus . syria 's foreign ministry also wrote to u.n secretary general ban ki-moon to criticize the united nation 's failure to condemn such attacks -- an omission it said encouraged terrorists to continue committing crimes against the syrian people . ' lavrov said on his own twitter feed that russia was disappointed at the lack of support for brahimi 's call for a holiday truce , but that it appreciated his efforts to try to find potential collaborative ways for the international community ' to help stabilize syria . the russian-french security cooperation council will meet in paris october 31 , the foreign ministry said . speaking after his meeting with lavrov , brahimi said neither side in syria is showing signs of backing down . the government says they are fighting terrorists and only terrorists , and that it is their duty to do so -- to protect their people . and the other side says we 're fighting a very cruel government that is persecuting us , and we 're defending ourselves , ' brahimi said after the meeting . he recalled speaking with a woman who has one son in the syrian military and another son in the rebel free syrian army . if that is not civil war , i do n't know what is , ' brahimi said . diplomacy with russia is a delicate dance . russia , along with china , has repeatedly vetoed attempts at the u.n. security council to take stronger action against al-assad . many have accused russia of backing the syrian government , but russia says it just wants a political solution for syria determined by its own people . envoy to syria meets with russian minister after truce unravels cnn 's saad abedine and laura smith-spark contributed to this report . | the crisis in syria is a license to kill by the syrian government , ' says qatari prime minister |
syria <tsp> ( cnn ) -- syria 's government is waging a war of extermination ' against its own people , the prime minister of qatar said tuesday , according to state media , hours after a failed four-day ceasefire during a muslim holiday left hundreds dead . in strongly worded comments to the al jazeera arabic network , sheikh hamad bin jassem al thani also accused foreign powers of standing by while president bashar al-assad 's forces carried out a slaughter . what is happening in syria is not a civil war but a genocide , a war of extermination with a license to kill by the syrian government and the international community , ' he said , according to the official qatar news agency . al thani , who 's also qatar 's foreign minister , said he had confidence in u.n.-arab league envoy to syria lakhdar brahimi -- but that his country did not trust al-assad 's government . brahimi had pushed for government forces and rebels to stop fighting during eid al-adha , a major muslim holiday that began friday and ended monday . but it soon became clear the violence was continuing almost unabated . syria rebels , kurdish militia discuss cease-fire ' when the syrian government announced that it would comply with the truce , it also announced that its military would respond to anything that took place on the ground , and it was clear from this rhetoric that there was no truce , ' said al thani , according to qna . everyone knows what the solution is and what the syrian people want . everything that is happening now is a waste of time and just buying time to kill the syrian people and to destroy the syrian infrastructure . ' the prime minister said he sensed a bigger awakening ' among arab nations and in the wider international community over the crisis in syria , despite moves by russia and china to block tougher u.n. security council action . but , he said , a paralysis ' would prevent action until after the outcome of the u.s. elections . a group that documents the names of those killed in syria 's conflict , the violation documenting center , calculated the total number of those killed during the failed ceasefire as 407 . the report from the vdc , which works closely with the opposition local coordination committees of syria , put the total civilian toll at 32,013 over some 20 months of violence , with 2,900 government soldiers killed in the same period . the lcc said 163 people were killed tuesday , mostly in damascus and its suburbs , and in idlib province , where airstrikes pummeled a residential neighborhood in the city of maarat-al-numan . regime forces inflicted heavy losses ' on rebel fighters in clashes in the damascus countryside and hama provinces and near the city of deir ezzor , the syrian arab news agency reported . cnn can not independently confirm reports of violence or casualties as the government has severely restricted the access of international journalists . the numbers reported by the lcc do not include deaths from security forces or the military . in other developments tuesday : general assassinated in damascus an air force general was assassinated tuesday in the syrian capital , damascus , syrian state media reported . pilot maj. gen. abdullah al-khalidi was killed by an armed terrorist group ' in the rukn-eddin neighborhood of damascus , sana said . he was shot to death as he got out of his car , sana reported . u.n. envoy visits beijing brahimi headed to beijing tuesday to meet senior chinese officials , a day after he held talks with russia 's foreign minister sergey lavrov for the first time on what to do about the syrian civil war . the state-run china daily newspaper quoted foreign ministry spokesman hong lei as saying the envoy would have in depth communication ' with chinese officials during his two-day visit . china backs brahimi 's efforts to find a political solution to the crisis , rather than the use of force , hong is quoted as saying . following monday 's meeting in moscow , russia accused the united nations of double standards for failing to condemn a car bombing in a pro-assad stronghold near the capital , damascus . syria 's foreign ministry also wrote to u.n secretary general ban ki-moon to criticize the united nation 's failure to condemn such attacks -- an omission it said encouraged terrorists to continue committing crimes against the syrian people . ' lavrov said on his own twitter feed that russia was disappointed at the lack of support for brahimi 's call for a holiday truce , but that it appreciated his efforts to try to find potential collaborative ways for the international community ' to help stabilize syria . the russian-french security cooperation council will meet in paris october 31 , the foreign ministry said . speaking after his meeting with lavrov , brahimi said neither side in syria is showing signs of backing down . the government says they are fighting terrorists and only terrorists , and that it is their duty to do so -- to protect their people . and the other side says we 're fighting a very cruel government that is persecuting us , and we 're defending ourselves , ' brahimi said after the meeting . he recalled speaking with a woman who has one son in the syrian military and another son in the rebel free syrian army . if that is not civil war , i do n't know what is , ' brahimi said . diplomacy with russia is a delicate dance . russia , along with china , has repeatedly vetoed attempts at the u.n. security council to take stronger action against al-assad . many have accused russia of backing the syrian government , but russia says it just wants a political solution for syria determined by its own people . envoy to syria meets with russian minister after truce unravels cnn 's saad abedine and laura smith-spark contributed to this report . | brahimi has met with russia 's lavrov to discuss syria , heads to china tuesday |
china <tsp> ( cnn ) -- syria 's government is waging a war of extermination ' against its own people , the prime minister of qatar said tuesday , according to state media , hours after a failed four-day ceasefire during a muslim holiday left hundreds dead . in strongly worded comments to the al jazeera arabic network , sheikh hamad bin jassem al thani also accused foreign powers of standing by while president bashar al-assad 's forces carried out a slaughter . what is happening in syria is not a civil war but a genocide , a war of extermination with a license to kill by the syrian government and the international community , ' he said , according to the official qatar news agency . al thani , who 's also qatar 's foreign minister , said he had confidence in u.n.-arab league envoy to syria lakhdar brahimi -- but that his country did not trust al-assad 's government . brahimi had pushed for government forces and rebels to stop fighting during eid al-adha , a major muslim holiday that began friday and ended monday . but it soon became clear the violence was continuing almost unabated . syria rebels , kurdish militia discuss cease-fire ' when the syrian government announced that it would comply with the truce , it also announced that its military would respond to anything that took place on the ground , and it was clear from this rhetoric that there was no truce , ' said al thani , according to qna . everyone knows what the solution is and what the syrian people want . everything that is happening now is a waste of time and just buying time to kill the syrian people and to destroy the syrian infrastructure . ' the prime minister said he sensed a bigger awakening ' among arab nations and in the wider international community over the crisis in syria , despite moves by russia and china to block tougher u.n. security council action . but , he said , a paralysis ' would prevent action until after the outcome of the u.s. elections . a group that documents the names of those killed in syria 's conflict , the violation documenting center , calculated the total number of those killed during the failed ceasefire as 407 . the report from the vdc , which works closely with the opposition local coordination committees of syria , put the total civilian toll at 32,013 over some 20 months of violence , with 2,900 government soldiers killed in the same period . the lcc said 163 people were killed tuesday , mostly in damascus and its suburbs , and in idlib province , where airstrikes pummeled a residential neighborhood in the city of maarat-al-numan . regime forces inflicted heavy losses ' on rebel fighters in clashes in the damascus countryside and hama provinces and near the city of deir ezzor , the syrian arab news agency reported . cnn can not independently confirm reports of violence or casualties as the government has severely restricted the access of international journalists . the numbers reported by the lcc do not include deaths from security forces or the military . in other developments tuesday : general assassinated in damascus an air force general was assassinated tuesday in the syrian capital , damascus , syrian state media reported . pilot maj. gen. abdullah al-khalidi was killed by an armed terrorist group ' in the rukn-eddin neighborhood of damascus , sana said . he was shot to death as he got out of his car , sana reported . u.n. envoy visits beijing brahimi headed to beijing tuesday to meet senior chinese officials , a day after he held talks with russia 's foreign minister sergey lavrov for the first time on what to do about the syrian civil war . the state-run china daily newspaper quoted foreign ministry spokesman hong lei as saying the envoy would have in depth communication ' with chinese officials during his two-day visit . china backs brahimi 's efforts to find a political solution to the crisis , rather than the use of force , hong is quoted as saying . following monday 's meeting in moscow , russia accused the united nations of double standards for failing to condemn a car bombing in a pro-assad stronghold near the capital , damascus . syria 's foreign ministry also wrote to u.n secretary general ban ki-moon to criticize the united nation 's failure to condemn such attacks -- an omission it said encouraged terrorists to continue committing crimes against the syrian people . ' lavrov said on his own twitter feed that russia was disappointed at the lack of support for brahimi 's call for a holiday truce , but that it appreciated his efforts to try to find potential collaborative ways for the international community ' to help stabilize syria . the russian-french security cooperation council will meet in paris october 31 , the foreign ministry said . speaking after his meeting with lavrov , brahimi said neither side in syria is showing signs of backing down . the government says they are fighting terrorists and only terrorists , and that it is their duty to do so -- to protect their people . and the other side says we 're fighting a very cruel government that is persecuting us , and we 're defending ourselves , ' brahimi said after the meeting . he recalled speaking with a woman who has one son in the syrian military and another son in the rebel free syrian army . if that is not civil war , i do n't know what is , ' brahimi said . diplomacy with russia is a delicate dance . russia , along with china , has repeatedly vetoed attempts at the u.n. security council to take stronger action against al-assad . many have accused russia of backing the syrian government , but russia says it just wants a political solution for syria determined by its own people . envoy to syria meets with russian minister after truce unravels cnn 's saad abedine and laura smith-spark contributed to this report . | brahimi has met with russia 's lavrov to discuss syria , heads to china tuesday |
liverpool <tsp> ( cnn ) irish betting company paddy power is backtracking after tweeting that newcastle have suffered more kop beatings over the last 20 years than an unarmed african-american male . ' the tweet , a pun on the name of the famous home end at liverpool football club , alluded to recent controversial incidents in the united states in which unarmed african-american men have been killed by police . paddy power -- well-known for its use of publicity stunts -- used it to link to a piece showing statistics for games between liverpool and newcastle united ahead of their english premier league match on monday . a paddy power spokesman told cnn before liverpool 's 2-0 victory at anfield : it was a joke , and no offense was meant . ' the tweet has since been deleted , but its removal -- along with the statement -- did little to placate social media users who condemned the organization , with some calling for the person who wrote the tweet to be sacked . in january , paddy power attracted headlines after backing david ginola 's failed candidacy for the presidency of world football 's governing body . the former paris saint-germain and tottenham player could not persuade enough fifa football associations to back his bid . he needed five to have any chance of unseating sepp blatter . paddy power started the funding for the candidacy , but its penchant for publicity stunts quickly led many people to dismiss ginola 's bid as another attempt to grab headlines . paddy power , the son of one the company 's founders and its marketing spokesman , explained : we 've been known for some mischievous activity around the world . this is not that . this is for real . ' last year , the company generated anger when it promised money back if he walks ' in relation to the trial of disgraced south african paralympian oscar pistorius . monday 's win put liverpool fifth in the table , four points behind defending champion manchester city , which holds england 's final european champions league qualification spot with six games left to play this season . young england forward raheem sterling , who has turned down a new contract , scored a fine solo goal in the first half , and midfielder joe allen 's 70th-minute strike condemned 13th-placed newcastle to a fifth successive league defeat . newcastle , which had france international midfielder moussa sissoko sent off in the 83rd minute , has not won at anfield since a 1-0 victory in the league cup in november 1995 . | tweet contained pun on name of liverpool 's kop stand |
kop <tsp> ( cnn ) irish betting company paddy power is backtracking after tweeting that newcastle have suffered more kop beatings over the last 20 years than an unarmed african-american male . ' the tweet , a pun on the name of the famous home end at liverpool football club , alluded to recent controversial incidents in the united states in which unarmed african-american men have been killed by police . paddy power -- well-known for its use of publicity stunts -- used it to link to a piece showing statistics for games between liverpool and newcastle united ahead of their english premier league match on monday . a paddy power spokesman told cnn before liverpool 's 2-0 victory at anfield : it was a joke , and no offense was meant . ' the tweet has since been deleted , but its removal -- along with the statement -- did little to placate social media users who condemned the organization , with some calling for the person who wrote the tweet to be sacked . in january , paddy power attracted headlines after backing david ginola 's failed candidacy for the presidency of world football 's governing body . the former paris saint-germain and tottenham player could not persuade enough fifa football associations to back his bid . he needed five to have any chance of unseating sepp blatter . paddy power started the funding for the candidacy , but its penchant for publicity stunts quickly led many people to dismiss ginola 's bid as another attempt to grab headlines . paddy power , the son of one the company 's founders and its marketing spokesman , explained : we 've been known for some mischievous activity around the world . this is not that . this is for real . ' last year , the company generated anger when it promised money back if he walks ' in relation to the trial of disgraced south african paralympian oscar pistorius . monday 's win put liverpool fifth in the table , four points behind defending champion manchester city , which holds england 's final european champions league qualification spot with six games left to play this season . young england forward raheem sterling , who has turned down a new contract , scored a fine solo goal in the first half , and midfielder joe allen 's 70th-minute strike condemned 13th-placed newcastle to a fifth successive league defeat . newcastle , which had france international midfielder moussa sissoko sent off in the 83rd minute , has not won at anfield since a 1-0 victory in the league cup in november 1995 . | tweet contained pun on name of liverpool 's kop stand |
afghanistan <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the united states believes that some members of pakistan 's spy service provided support for the deadly bombing last month of india 's embassy in afghanistan , a u.s. counterterrorism official told cnn friday . the indian embassy in kabul was badly damaged in the july 7 bombing . pakistan strongly denied the allegation friday , but afghanistan and india have previously accused pakistan of involvement in the attack which killed 58 people including an indian defense attache . the official told cnn the evidence was not strong enough to draw a firm conclusion but there is a strong suspicion ' the taliban was behind the attack , and that some unspecified aid came from pakistan 's directorate of inter-services intelligence , or isi . the official would not say how the intelligence was gathered , but he said the evidence was presented to senior pakistani officials by a top cia official , deputy director stephen kappes . the new york times , sourcing u.s. government officials , reported friday that the united states intercepted communications between pakistani intelligence officers and militants who carried out the attack in kabul . pakistani maj. gen. athar abbas said the report unfounded and malicious ' and an effort to malign the isi , ' -- pakistan 's directorate of inter-services intelligence . the bombing killed 58 people . the isi is a very disciplined organization , manned by military officials . it has played the most crucial role in the war on terror and apprehended members of al qaeda , the taliban , and those linked to the attack on mainland america on 9/11 , ' abbas said . abbas said despite our insistence , no evidence has been provided to us about these allegations . ' afghanistan claims pakistan informally supports militants operating from havens in pakistan 's lawless tribal regions near the porous 1,500-mile border the two countries share . earlier this month , afghan lawmakers directly accused pakistan 's isi in connection with a string of attacks in afghanistan . among these were the kabul strike and an assassination attempt on afghan president hamid karzai at an april 27 military ceremony . a senior afghan government official said the charges were based on phone intercepts of conversations of plotters in kabul with isi officers in pakistan . a u.s. government official , who would not comment on the specifics of the new york times story , said , we 've long noted the troubling reports of a relationship between the isi and the taliban , and the incident at the indian embassy seems to fit the pattern of those reports . ' india has previously blamed militants from pakistan for the july 7 car bombing at the embassy . wajid shamsul hasan , pakistan 's high commissioner to britain , and hamid gul , former head of the isi , firmly denied the agency 's involvement in the attack . watch pakistan deny the allegations » ' there seems to be a bit of sensationalism in this story , ' hasan said . he said the government has regularly denied claims that isi is involved with militants in afghanistan and noted that pakistan has been cooperating in the fight against terrorism . gul said the claims are preposterous ' and totally false , ' and cautioned that the cia has been proven to be wrong about intelligence in the past . the new york times report also sourced the u.s. officials as saying there was new information showing that members of the pakistani intelligence service were increasingly providing militants with details about the american campaign against them , in some cases allowing militants to avoid american missile strikes in pakistan 's tribal areas . ' pakistan and afghanistan have a tumultuous past . during the soviet occupation of afghanistan in the 1980s , religious schools in pakistan helped train fighters who battled the soviets . after the taliban took over afghanistan in 1996 and imposed fundamentalist rule , pakistan was one of the few countries that recognized the regime diplomatically . it dropped its support after the september 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks on washington and new york . pakistan also has a troubled history with india , and in the past india has accused the isi of supporting militant separatists in indian-administered kashmir , which has been the root of two wars between them . | india and afghanistan both accuse pakistan of role in the attack |
india <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the united states believes that some members of pakistan 's spy service provided support for the deadly bombing last month of india 's embassy in afghanistan , a u.s. counterterrorism official told cnn friday . the indian embassy in kabul was badly damaged in the july 7 bombing . pakistan strongly denied the allegation friday , but afghanistan and india have previously accused pakistan of involvement in the attack which killed 58 people including an indian defense attache . the official told cnn the evidence was not strong enough to draw a firm conclusion but there is a strong suspicion ' the taliban was behind the attack , and that some unspecified aid came from pakistan 's directorate of inter-services intelligence , or isi . the official would not say how the intelligence was gathered , but he said the evidence was presented to senior pakistani officials by a top cia official , deputy director stephen kappes . the new york times , sourcing u.s. government officials , reported friday that the united states intercepted communications between pakistani intelligence officers and militants who carried out the attack in kabul . pakistani maj. gen. athar abbas said the report unfounded and malicious ' and an effort to malign the isi , ' -- pakistan 's directorate of inter-services intelligence . the bombing killed 58 people . the isi is a very disciplined organization , manned by military officials . it has played the most crucial role in the war on terror and apprehended members of al qaeda , the taliban , and those linked to the attack on mainland america on 9/11 , ' abbas said . abbas said despite our insistence , no evidence has been provided to us about these allegations . ' afghanistan claims pakistan informally supports militants operating from havens in pakistan 's lawless tribal regions near the porous 1,500-mile border the two countries share . earlier this month , afghan lawmakers directly accused pakistan 's isi in connection with a string of attacks in afghanistan . among these were the kabul strike and an assassination attempt on afghan president hamid karzai at an april 27 military ceremony . a senior afghan government official said the charges were based on phone intercepts of conversations of plotters in kabul with isi officers in pakistan . a u.s. government official , who would not comment on the specifics of the new york times story , said , we 've long noted the troubling reports of a relationship between the isi and the taliban , and the incident at the indian embassy seems to fit the pattern of those reports . ' india has previously blamed militants from pakistan for the july 7 car bombing at the embassy . wajid shamsul hasan , pakistan 's high commissioner to britain , and hamid gul , former head of the isi , firmly denied the agency 's involvement in the attack . watch pakistan deny the allegations » ' there seems to be a bit of sensationalism in this story , ' hasan said . he said the government has regularly denied claims that isi is involved with militants in afghanistan and noted that pakistan has been cooperating in the fight against terrorism . gul said the claims are preposterous ' and totally false , ' and cautioned that the cia has been proven to be wrong about intelligence in the past . the new york times report also sourced the u.s. officials as saying there was new information showing that members of the pakistani intelligence service were increasingly providing militants with details about the american campaign against them , in some cases allowing militants to avoid american missile strikes in pakistan 's tribal areas . ' pakistan and afghanistan have a tumultuous past . during the soviet occupation of afghanistan in the 1980s , religious schools in pakistan helped train fighters who battled the soviets . after the taliban took over afghanistan in 1996 and imposed fundamentalist rule , pakistan was one of the few countries that recognized the regime diplomatically . it dropped its support after the september 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks on washington and new york . pakistan also has a troubled history with india , and in the past india has accused the isi of supporting militant separatists in indian-administered kashmir , which has been the root of two wars between them . | india and afghanistan both accuse pakistan of role in the attack |
arizona <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a coalition of civil rights organizations has filed a motion in federal court seeking to block an arizona law that requires officers to make immigration checks while enforcing other laws if reasonable suspicion ' of illegal immigration exists . the so called show me your papers ' provision is perhaps the most controversial aspect of arizona 's tough immigration law , sb 1070 . the u.s. supreme court last month , in response to a challenge by the justice department , struck down three provisions of sb 1070 , but upheld the police immigration checks . the civil rights groups asked the court to block implementation of the law while they make their case that the provision is unconstitutional . even though the supreme court upheld the provision , the civil rights organizations say they are presenting new arguments and new evidence against it . in the motion , the organizations argue that the provision in question will result in extended detentions while statuses are being checked , violating the fourth amendment protections against unreasonable searches . the motion also argues that the provision violates the equal protection clause because racial or national origin discrimination was a motivating factor in its enactment . ' it also calls for an injunction to another part of sb 1070 that makes it a state crime to harbor immigrants who are in the country illegally . in a state that 's more than 30 percent latino , requiring police to act as immigration agents is an invitation to racial profiling on a massive scale , ' omar jadwat , a senior staff attorney with the aclu immigrants'rights project , said in a statement . police chiefs and communities know these laws do n't work , and we hope that the courts will continue to block them from going forward . ' according to the aclu , the new evidence shows that lawmakers who supported sb 1070 used false statements and discriminatory language with the intention to impose a statewide practice of racial profiling . the motion was made on behalf of plaintiffs in valle del sol v. whiting , et al. , a class action lawsuit challenging sb 1070 , filed in may 2010 . in addition to the aclu , those presenting the motion include the national immigration law center , the mexican american legal defense and educational fund , and the national day laborer organizing network . earlier this month , federal officials said they had not seen a change in the number of illegal immigration checks sought by local arizona police as allowed by the partially upheld law . the phoenix police department and at least two sheriffs in arizona told cnn that the law wo n't result in great change for their departments . but tucson police chief roberto villasenor expressed concern in an interview after the ruling about whether his 950-officer agency has been dealt an impossible mandate . ' the state law allows citizens to sue his department or others if they fail to enforce federal immigration laws , the chief said . just for my agency , it will be a huge workload , just making the calls and waiting for a response on what to do , ' the police chief of arizona 's second-largest city said . i 'm not sure the federal government is capable of handling all the requests that they will be receiving , ' villasenor added . i do n't know what effect it will have on my agency . ' | a coalition of civil rights groups wants to block parts of arizona 's immigration law |
congress <tsp> ( cnn ) -- join roland martin for his weekly sound-off segment on cnn.com live at 11:10 a.m. wednesday . if you 're passionate about politics , he wants to hear from you . roland martin says voting on tuesday made sense when the day was set in 1845 , but a change is needed . now that the political parties have informally settled on their nominees , the focus turns to november 4 , when the nation will go to the polls to choose a new president . but why is election day on a tuesday ? why in the world do we continue to insist on voting on a weekday when we are supposed to be encouraging as many people to vote as possible ? most of the primaries and caucuses during the past four months took place on tuesdays , but a number went to the polls on saturdays . the puerto rico vote was on a sunday . what 's better than going to church in the morning and then making your way to the voting booth ? officially , election day is the first tuesday after the first monday in november ( depending on the year , it could be november 2 through november 8 ) . since 1845 , this has been the standard practice in the united states . congress wanted a set date to elect a president and members of congress , and because we were an agricultural society , this was the best day for farmers in rural america to get to the polls . that made a ton of sense . then . but a lot has changed in the past 163 years , and it 's time congress changed this unnecessary law . the purists are likely to argue that everyone knows that a tuesday in early november is set aside for election day . so with that in mind , just leave the election in november . sure , it would make better sense to go with a month during which it 's warm in nearly all of the usa , but the consistency argument also makes sense . but why not the first saturday in november ? if that date were chosen , the majority of voters would n't have to worry about trying to vote before going to work , hoping and praying the lines are n't too long so they can zip in and zip out . the same thing happens in the evening . folks have to hurry up and finish their work , interrupt meetings , and shut down whatever else they are doing and head to the polls . they are likely to confront long lines , and that discourages some folks from voting . ( now , i do n't have much sympathy on this one . we 'll stand in line for a concert or movie ; and that surely is n't as important as electing a president ! ) saturday is already a day of leisure , and there is no doubt that more americans would head to the polls on a traditional day off from work . because of the excitement generated by this year 's campaign , you can bet there will be long lines at the polls , and if there are not enough ballots , we can expect all kinds of delays . folks will grow frustrated , be afraid to show up to work late , and likely will leave and not come back . that 's just not good for democracy . this is one of those simple decisions that does n't require a ton of debate . i ca n't imagine there being major opposition to moving the election date . in 2004 , 71 percent of all eligible voters were registered , according to a story by the carnegie reporter , election reform : lessons from 2004 . ' but of that number , 60.7 percent voted . someone is likely to say that with the number of people voting up in 2004 from the number in 2000 , that 's not bad . but when we see 90 percent of voters in iraq voting -- and we are trying to instill democracy there ! -- it 's clear that impediments to voting in the united states are n't helpful . it would be nice to see the presidential nominees weigh in on this and pledge to change the election date . let 's see a debate moderator ask this question . instead of putting up barriers for people who want to vote , we should be the most open society when it comes to giving our citizens as many options as possible to vote , and moving election day from a weekday to a weekend makes a lot of sense . we ca n't speak of our cherished democracy around the world if we are n't willing to improve it every chance we get . roland s. martin is a nationally award-winning journalist and cnn contributor . martin is studying to receive his master 's degree in christian communications at louisiana baptist university . you can read more of his columns at http : //www.rolandsmartin.com/ . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer . | next president should work with congress to make the switch , he says |
kim kardashian <tsp> ( cnn ) -- all the world 's a stage for kim kardashian , and we are merely players . kim is everywhere . she 's on the cover of six magazines and counting : people , us , in touch , ok , star and ok ! her wedding/divorce/possible reconciliation has dominated the cybersphere and hollywood news shows : access hollywood , ' inside edition , ' e ! , tmz . this is bigger than the super bowl and christmas rolled into one . kim should not just have her own tv shows , she should have her own network : ktv , all kim , all the time . and even though the news du jour focuses on her marriage ending , which by the very nature of a marriage means two people are involved , the media barely mention her soon-to-be ex-husband . he 's just a prop . he 's akin to the brady bunch 's ' greg brady when greg was cast as johnny bravo ' simply because the ornate jacket fit . i 'll be honest , i 've been caught up a bit in the kim marriage/divorce craze myself . i 've read more than my share of articles on the most documented 72-day marriage in the history of the western world . i have to thank kim kardashian and that guy she married for giving us a brief respite from the drumbeat of the often depressing , bile-inducing news . on some level , i truly wish that kim kardashian 's exploits could be our own only concerns . would n't it be great if the universe consisted solely of keeping up with kim , her sisters , mother and her stepfather , bruce jenner , who won an olympic gold medal for the decathlon and who should also receive a medal for plastic surgery -- his face is as smooth and wrinkle-free as a honeydew melon . we would n't have to worry about the challenges of the u.s. economy , greece teetering on the verge of default ( and potentially dragging down the eurozone ) or syrian president assad 's troops killing unarmed protesters . instead , we 'd worry : does kim have to give the wedding gifts back ? will she start dating right away -- especially since the nba lockout offers her more options ? will her divorce hearings be on cable or pay-per-view ? my fear is that kim truly is our world . kim , justin and lindsey have become the trinity worshipped at the expense of following domestic and world events . i know many people might ask : why should i care about issues beyond those featured on e ! 's'chelsea lately'or tmz ? does it really impact me ? can i actually change things ? ' i do n't want to repeat clichés like one person can make a difference . ' but common sense tells me that if we do n't understand the issues facing our nation , how can we have an opinion on them ? and in turn , how can we then intelligently criticize or support decisions our government is making , from taxes to foreign policy ? leadership from we , the people ' might be the only way to push our dysfunctional congress to actually do something that helps the middle class and our economy . just last week , congress showed us what happens when we leave members to their own devices . instead of considering a jobs bill or anything else to spur our economy , the house voted to reaffirm in god we trust ' as the official motto of the united states . that should truly help the almost 14 million americans of out of work . i propose that rep. j. randy forbes , who came up with the idea for this , be required to reimburse taxpayers for any money wasted on this . regardless if you agree or not with tea partiers'stand on political issues , they clearly have impacted u.s. policy . the tea party was started by a small group of dedicated , passionate people and it has grown in a few short years to a powerful force . and while it 's too soon to tell , the occupy ' movement might also influence policy , or at least bring some issues to light . thomas jefferson 's words on the benefits of an informed electorate are still true : whenever the people are well-informed , they can be trusted with their own government ; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice , they may be relied on to set them right . ' i 'm not saying we should n't keep up with the kardashians , but let 's also keep up with the issues facing our nation . we deserve better than what we are getting from our ' congress , and by being informed , it is my hope we can set it right . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of dean obeidallah . | dean obeidallah : we 're obessed with kim kardashian : she 's on six magazine covers |
wild west <tsp> ( cnn ) -- this week , champions of the open net ' are decrying a u.s. court of appeals decision striking down an fcc ruling that required internet service providers to be neutral in their restrictions on bandwidth . the idea here is that giant bandwidth users , like netflix or youtube , will be required to pay access providers , like verizon or time warner cable , for all that video they 're streaming to the likes of us . maybe they 'd even be able to buy themselves a special faster lane on the internet for their traffic . of course , open web ' advocates see in the court decision the beginning of the end of a free and egalitarian internet . by striking down the provisions of what the industry calls net neutrality , ' the court has also struck down an internet provider 's obligation to let all content through its servers . in theory , they can now legally pick and choose whose media makes it to its subscribers . which would stink . but this whole issue , and the instantaneous outcry associated with every move by a court or agency , is more complex than it looks on the surface . by casting this issue in such stark terms , those who would defend internet freedom from the evil corporations may just be playing into the hands of other corporations whose designs on the internet are no better . in fact it seems like just yesterday when nearly all the internet 's champions were telling government to stay away from the net . the web was home to the revival of ayn rand and a new spirit of techno-utopian libertarianism . the idea was : the free market will cure any glitches along the way , as technology firms simply compete to bring us the best . the 1997 wired cover story , the long boom , ' argued that the only impediment to technology-fueled economic growth would be the regulation of the marketplace . open good , closed bad . tattoo it on your forehead . ' this became a credo of silicon valley and the net in general . people acted as if the internet just emerged out of culture , like a technological extension of the collective human nervous system , rather than a network that was meticulously planned and built by government and , yes , al gore . instead the main metaphor for the net would be the wild west , out of the reach of government meddling . but as anyone who has studied the wild west ( or even watched deadwood ' ) has learned , gold rushes get messy at the end . eventually a big , corrupt gold mining company starts exploiting all that lawlessness , and all of a sudden it 's the formerly independent law-haters turning to the sheriff for help . and so the defenders of the net now go running for assistance to an fcc that has been systematically excluded at every turn and diminished in its power by some of these very same parties . slammed down as if it were burning books whenever it considers protecting kids from pornography or interfering in some affair that is being fought out in the marketplace , the fcc has become a derided and timid agency . that 's why the fcc was destined to lose this case . it never even defined the internet as a common carrier ' -- like a road or telegraph wire -- which would necessarily be regulated in a neutral fashion , permitting passage by all . yet in its ruling this week , the court even made it clear that the fcc has the ability to define the net as it chooses -- opening the door for the agency to claim the internet as its domain and enforce net neutrality . no doubt , google ( which owns youtube ) , and netflix will be encouraging all free citizens of the internet to push the fcc in this direction . after all , they 're the ones whose videos make up a majority of internet traffic , and who would be forced to pay the tolls -- that is , until they passed them down to us , which would likely lose them some business . in such an environment , an open ' web really just means open to corporations , who maintain their monopoly on bandwidth by technological superiority . none of us will have the streaming capability of a google or netflix off our home servers -- unless , of course , the fcc regulates things that way . i , for one , would less like to see net neutrality than net favoritism : it 's the transmissions between real people , schools , artists and nonprofit organizations that need a special lane on the net if anyone 's going to get such a provision . so before we start shouting about what government and corporations should do to make the web open , ' we 'd better remember that one person 's open ' may as well be another person 's closed . ' if we want a better , freer net , we have to stop responding so impulsively to every action taken in one direction or another -- particularly when there are multibillion-dollar corporations paying handsomely to make us think they 're on our side . we have to remember instead who we did hire to protect our interests . yes , it 's time to go get the sheriff ( in this case the fcc ) , apologize for having stamped on his badge , and tell him he has the authority to regulate this space . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of douglas rushkoff . | rushkoff : the idea of letting web be a lawless wild west does n't work |
philadelphia <tsp> ( cnn ) police added attempted murder to the list of charges against the mother of a quadriplegic man who was left in the woods for days , philadelphia police spokeswoman christine o'brien said tuesday . nyia parler can not be extradited to face the charges in philadelphia until she completes an unspecified treatment , ' maryland police said monday . when she does arrive , she will be charged with aggravated assault , simple assault , recklessly endangering another person and related offenses , in addition to the attempted murder count , o'brien said . the montgomery county ( maryland ) department of police took parler , 41 , into custody sunday after philadelphia police reported that she left her 21-year-old son in the woods while she hopped a bus to see her boyfriend in maryland . a man walking through the woods found him friday lying in leaves , covered in a blanket with a bible and a wheelchair nearby , ' philadelphia police say . citing federal health care privacy laws , montgomery county police spokesman capt . paul starks said he could not divulge why parler was receiving treatment , but he said she had to complete it before she could be extradited . she remained in treatment as of tuesday morning , starks told cnn . if she chooses not to challenge her extradition , she will be transported to philadelphia once the treatment is complete , he said . for more than four days , police say , the quadriplegic man , who also suffers from cerebral palsy , was left lying in the woods of philadelphia 's cobbs creek park . low temperatures reached the mid-30s during the week , and rain was reported in the area wednesday and thursday . the man is unable to communicate how he came to be in the park , but philadelphia police lt. john walker told reporters that the man 's mother left him there the morning of april 6 . starks identified the mother as parler on monday . the mother went to visit her boyfriend down in maryland , over in montgomery county , and we believe she placed the child into cobbs creeks park , ' walker said at a news conference . walker told cnn the man was transported to presbyterian hospital , but cnn affiliates reported he was being treated at the children 's hospital of philadelphia . he suffered eye problems , dehydration , malnutrition and a cut to his back that raised infection concerns , the lieutenant told reporters . this kid 's obviously a fighter , ' walker said during a saturday news conference . it 's just unbelievable how we found him out there last night . to see that kid laying there , it 's heartbreaking to see another human , especially a mother , can treat someone like that . ' officials at philadelphia 's school of the future , which the man attends , became concerned when he did n't show up for classes last week and tried to contact his mother but eventually reached an aunt , philadelphia police said . the aunt was in contact via text message with nyia throughout the week and when she expressed her concerns about the complainant , nyia replied ,'we 're ok ,'which the aunt believed meant that the victim was with nyia in maryland , ' according to a police news release . when police tracked down the mother , she told them her son was with her , walker said . she indicated to both family members and the police officers that the child was with her down with her boyfriend in maryland , ' he said . the boyfriend was not aware of what happened , walker told cnn affiliate kyw-tv . walker told reporters she bore clear criminal liability in this case . ' there was no reason for the man to suffer , walker told philly.com , because the mother had sisters willing to take care of him . two of his aunts , who have tried to obtain guardianship of him , were staying with him at the hospital , police told the website . parler 's sister told police that parler has another child , a 16-year-old . the mother 's arrest was only the beginning of the investigation , walker told reporters . authorities are interested in learning more about how this kid was cared for , and what actions were taken and providing of services by different agencies . ' cnn 's chuck johnston and carma hassan contributed to this report . | philadelphia police add attempted murder to list of charges mom will face |
maryland <tsp> ( cnn ) police added attempted murder to the list of charges against the mother of a quadriplegic man who was left in the woods for days , philadelphia police spokeswoman christine o'brien said tuesday . nyia parler can not be extradited to face the charges in philadelphia until she completes an unspecified treatment , ' maryland police said monday . when she does arrive , she will be charged with aggravated assault , simple assault , recklessly endangering another person and related offenses , in addition to the attempted murder count , o'brien said . the montgomery county ( maryland ) department of police took parler , 41 , into custody sunday after philadelphia police reported that she left her 21-year-old son in the woods while she hopped a bus to see her boyfriend in maryland . a man walking through the woods found him friday lying in leaves , covered in a blanket with a bible and a wheelchair nearby , ' philadelphia police say . citing federal health care privacy laws , montgomery county police spokesman capt . paul starks said he could not divulge why parler was receiving treatment , but he said she had to complete it before she could be extradited . she remained in treatment as of tuesday morning , starks told cnn . if she chooses not to challenge her extradition , she will be transported to philadelphia once the treatment is complete , he said . for more than four days , police say , the quadriplegic man , who also suffers from cerebral palsy , was left lying in the woods of philadelphia 's cobbs creek park . low temperatures reached the mid-30s during the week , and rain was reported in the area wednesday and thursday . the man is unable to communicate how he came to be in the park , but philadelphia police lt. john walker told reporters that the man 's mother left him there the morning of april 6 . starks identified the mother as parler on monday . the mother went to visit her boyfriend down in maryland , over in montgomery county , and we believe she placed the child into cobbs creeks park , ' walker said at a news conference . walker told cnn the man was transported to presbyterian hospital , but cnn affiliates reported he was being treated at the children 's hospital of philadelphia . he suffered eye problems , dehydration , malnutrition and a cut to his back that raised infection concerns , the lieutenant told reporters . this kid 's obviously a fighter , ' walker said during a saturday news conference . it 's just unbelievable how we found him out there last night . to see that kid laying there , it 's heartbreaking to see another human , especially a mother , can treat someone like that . ' officials at philadelphia 's school of the future , which the man attends , became concerned when he did n't show up for classes last week and tried to contact his mother but eventually reached an aunt , philadelphia police said . the aunt was in contact via text message with nyia throughout the week and when she expressed her concerns about the complainant , nyia replied ,'we 're ok ,'which the aunt believed meant that the victim was with nyia in maryland , ' according to a police news release . when police tracked down the mother , she told them her son was with her , walker said . she indicated to both family members and the police officers that the child was with her down with her boyfriend in maryland , ' he said . the boyfriend was not aware of what happened , walker told cnn affiliate kyw-tv . walker told reporters she bore clear criminal liability in this case . ' there was no reason for the man to suffer , walker told philly.com , because the mother had sisters willing to take care of him . two of his aunts , who have tried to obtain guardianship of him , were staying with him at the hospital , police told the website . parler 's sister told police that parler has another child , a 16-year-old . the mother 's arrest was only the beginning of the investigation , walker told reporters . authorities are interested in learning more about how this kid was cared for , and what actions were taken and providing of services by different agencies . ' cnn 's chuck johnston and carma hassan contributed to this report . | mom told police son was with her in maryland , but he was found friday alone in woods |
conor mcdonnell <tsp> ( cnn ) by the time kim kardashian set out to break the internet ' in november last year , a photo by 23-year-old conor mcdonnell had already got there -- with a little help from kim 's music superstar husband kanye west . mcdonnell is the self-taught photography star behind instagram 's most liked photo , showing the couple 's embrace at their may wedding , which has earned more than 2.4 milllion likes ' to date . the liverpool native has had a breakneck rise to success since his first instagram post in november 2011 , snapping the likes of drake , justin bieber , one direction , mumford & sons , snoop dogg , and red hot chili peppers , while traveling the world on private planes . lasting relationships with stars ellie goulding and rita ora have followed , and candid snaps of the photographer 's globetrotting , access-all-areas life have seen him accumulate over 25,000 followers on his personal account . not bad for someone who told cnn ones to watch he started photography by accident . ' fresh from accompanying calvin harris on tour in south america , mcdonnell shares his five top tips for anyone who wants to grow their instagram fan base and take great photos on the go . from finding the right lighting , to which filter to chose : play the instagram videos below to find out how to supercharge your pictures for social media success . good lighting for me makes a shot . if i 'm taking a portrait of someone , i 'd much prefer to use natural lighting than a light bulb or manufactured lighting ! ' i make use of the rule of thirds quite a lot : if you imagine the screen split up in three thirds , you place the subject in one corner . there 's a lot you can find about it on the internet . ' there 's a patch here of very bright light and just behind it there 's dark . trying to expose it right can be tricky but on the iphone you can do it quite well just by tapping the screen and dragging the exposure up and down . ' i 'll upload a photo to an app called snapseed , edit the brightness and contrast in that a little bit , export it . and then open in another app called vsco cam , which is my favorite app on my whole phone . ' on vsco cam there 's tons of filters , the one i use the most is probably p5 , ' then i can edit all sorts ... and once i 'm done i just export it and post it on instagram . ' i know photographers who use a lot of hashtags , and hashtags can work if you want to build up your follower base , because a lot more people will probably see a photo than if you did n't hashtag it . ' | conor mcdonnell is the young photographer behind instagram 's most liked photo |
justin bieber <tsp> ( cnn ) by the time kim kardashian set out to break the internet ' in november last year , a photo by 23-year-old conor mcdonnell had already got there -- with a little help from kim 's music superstar husband kanye west . mcdonnell is the self-taught photography star behind instagram 's most liked photo , showing the couple 's embrace at their may wedding , which has earned more than 2.4 milllion likes ' to date . the liverpool native has had a breakneck rise to success since his first instagram post in november 2011 , snapping the likes of drake , justin bieber , one direction , mumford & sons , snoop dogg , and red hot chili peppers , while traveling the world on private planes . lasting relationships with stars ellie goulding and rita ora have followed , and candid snaps of the photographer 's globetrotting , access-all-areas life have seen him accumulate over 25,000 followers on his personal account . not bad for someone who told cnn ones to watch he started photography by accident . ' fresh from accompanying calvin harris on tour in south america , mcdonnell shares his five top tips for anyone who wants to grow their instagram fan base and take great photos on the go . from finding the right lighting , to which filter to chose : play the instagram videos below to find out how to supercharge your pictures for social media success . good lighting for me makes a shot . if i 'm taking a portrait of someone , i 'd much prefer to use natural lighting than a light bulb or manufactured lighting ! ' i make use of the rule of thirds quite a lot : if you imagine the screen split up in three thirds , you place the subject in one corner . there 's a lot you can find about it on the internet . ' there 's a patch here of very bright light and just behind it there 's dark . trying to expose it right can be tricky but on the iphone you can do it quite well just by tapping the screen and dragging the exposure up and down . ' i 'll upload a photo to an app called snapseed , edit the brightness and contrast in that a little bit , export it . and then open in another app called vsco cam , which is my favorite app on my whole phone . ' on vsco cam there 's tons of filters , the one i use the most is probably p5 , ' then i can edit all sorts ... and once i 'm done i just export it and post it on instagram . ' i know photographers who use a lot of hashtags , and hashtags can work if you want to build up your follower base , because a lot more people will probably see a photo than if you did n't hashtag it . ' | 23-year-old has snapped the likes of calvin harris , drake , and justin bieber |
calvin harris <tsp> ( cnn ) by the time kim kardashian set out to break the internet ' in november last year , a photo by 23-year-old conor mcdonnell had already got there -- with a little help from kim 's music superstar husband kanye west . mcdonnell is the self-taught photography star behind instagram 's most liked photo , showing the couple 's embrace at their may wedding , which has earned more than 2.4 milllion likes ' to date . the liverpool native has had a breakneck rise to success since his first instagram post in november 2011 , snapping the likes of drake , justin bieber , one direction , mumford & sons , snoop dogg , and red hot chili peppers , while traveling the world on private planes . lasting relationships with stars ellie goulding and rita ora have followed , and candid snaps of the photographer 's globetrotting , access-all-areas life have seen him accumulate over 25,000 followers on his personal account . not bad for someone who told cnn ones to watch he started photography by accident . ' fresh from accompanying calvin harris on tour in south america , mcdonnell shares his five top tips for anyone who wants to grow their instagram fan base and take great photos on the go . from finding the right lighting , to which filter to chose : play the instagram videos below to find out how to supercharge your pictures for social media success . good lighting for me makes a shot . if i 'm taking a portrait of someone , i 'd much prefer to use natural lighting than a light bulb or manufactured lighting ! ' i make use of the rule of thirds quite a lot : if you imagine the screen split up in three thirds , you place the subject in one corner . there 's a lot you can find about it on the internet . ' there 's a patch here of very bright light and just behind it there 's dark . trying to expose it right can be tricky but on the iphone you can do it quite well just by tapping the screen and dragging the exposure up and down . ' i 'll upload a photo to an app called snapseed , edit the brightness and contrast in that a little bit , export it . and then open in another app called vsco cam , which is my favorite app on my whole phone . ' on vsco cam there 's tons of filters , the one i use the most is probably p5 , ' then i can edit all sorts ... and once i 'm done i just export it and post it on instagram . ' i know photographers who use a lot of hashtags , and hashtags can work if you want to build up your follower base , because a lot more people will probably see a photo than if you did n't hashtag it . ' | 23-year-old has snapped the likes of calvin harris , drake , and justin bieber |
drake <tsp> ( cnn ) by the time kim kardashian set out to break the internet ' in november last year , a photo by 23-year-old conor mcdonnell had already got there -- with a little help from kim 's music superstar husband kanye west . mcdonnell is the self-taught photography star behind instagram 's most liked photo , showing the couple 's embrace at their may wedding , which has earned more than 2.4 milllion likes ' to date . the liverpool native has had a breakneck rise to success since his first instagram post in november 2011 , snapping the likes of drake , justin bieber , one direction , mumford & sons , snoop dogg , and red hot chili peppers , while traveling the world on private planes . lasting relationships with stars ellie goulding and rita ora have followed , and candid snaps of the photographer 's globetrotting , access-all-areas life have seen him accumulate over 25,000 followers on his personal account . not bad for someone who told cnn ones to watch he started photography by accident . ' fresh from accompanying calvin harris on tour in south america , mcdonnell shares his five top tips for anyone who wants to grow their instagram fan base and take great photos on the go . from finding the right lighting , to which filter to chose : play the instagram videos below to find out how to supercharge your pictures for social media success . good lighting for me makes a shot . if i 'm taking a portrait of someone , i 'd much prefer to use natural lighting than a light bulb or manufactured lighting ! ' i make use of the rule of thirds quite a lot : if you imagine the screen split up in three thirds , you place the subject in one corner . there 's a lot you can find about it on the internet . ' there 's a patch here of very bright light and just behind it there 's dark . trying to expose it right can be tricky but on the iphone you can do it quite well just by tapping the screen and dragging the exposure up and down . ' i 'll upload a photo to an app called snapseed , edit the brightness and contrast in that a little bit , export it . and then open in another app called vsco cam , which is my favorite app on my whole phone . ' on vsco cam there 's tons of filters , the one i use the most is probably p5 , ' then i can edit all sorts ... and once i 'm done i just export it and post it on instagram . ' i know photographers who use a lot of hashtags , and hashtags can work if you want to build up your follower base , because a lot more people will probably see a photo than if you did n't hashtag it . ' | 23-year-old has snapped the likes of calvin harris , drake , and justin bieber |
instagram <tsp> ( cnn ) by the time kim kardashian set out to break the internet ' in november last year , a photo by 23-year-old conor mcdonnell had already got there -- with a little help from kim 's music superstar husband kanye west . mcdonnell is the self-taught photography star behind instagram 's most liked photo , showing the couple 's embrace at their may wedding , which has earned more than 2.4 milllion likes ' to date . the liverpool native has had a breakneck rise to success since his first instagram post in november 2011 , snapping the likes of drake , justin bieber , one direction , mumford & sons , snoop dogg , and red hot chili peppers , while traveling the world on private planes . lasting relationships with stars ellie goulding and rita ora have followed , and candid snaps of the photographer 's globetrotting , access-all-areas life have seen him accumulate over 25,000 followers on his personal account . not bad for someone who told cnn ones to watch he started photography by accident . ' fresh from accompanying calvin harris on tour in south america , mcdonnell shares his five top tips for anyone who wants to grow their instagram fan base and take great photos on the go . from finding the right lighting , to which filter to chose : play the instagram videos below to find out how to supercharge your pictures for social media success . good lighting for me makes a shot . if i 'm taking a portrait of someone , i 'd much prefer to use natural lighting than a light bulb or manufactured lighting ! ' i make use of the rule of thirds quite a lot : if you imagine the screen split up in three thirds , you place the subject in one corner . there 's a lot you can find about it on the internet . ' there 's a patch here of very bright light and just behind it there 's dark . trying to expose it right can be tricky but on the iphone you can do it quite well just by tapping the screen and dragging the exposure up and down . ' i 'll upload a photo to an app called snapseed , edit the brightness and contrast in that a little bit , export it . and then open in another app called vsco cam , which is my favorite app on my whole phone . ' on vsco cam there 's tons of filters , the one i use the most is probably p5 , ' then i can edit all sorts ... and once i 'm done i just export it and post it on instagram . ' i know photographers who use a lot of hashtags , and hashtags can work if you want to build up your follower base , because a lot more people will probably see a photo than if you did n't hashtag it . ' | conor mcdonnell is the young photographer behind instagram 's most liked photo |
std <tsp> atlanta , georgia ( cnn ) -- in spite of prevention efforts , new cases of some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases are going up , according to a new report from the centers for disease control and prevention . much of the burden of stds falls on adolescents and people in their early 20s , the cdc says . the report , sexually transmitted disease surveillance 2007 , ' also said that women and minorities in particular are more likely to have sexually transmitted diseases , or stds . that fact is n't surprising , experts say , as studies on stds in the past have also shown that women and minorities bear the greatest burden of stds . the age of those affected has n't changed much either -- nearly 19 million new sexually transmitted infections occur each year , and almost half of those affect 15- to 24-year-olds . the cdc began a national syphilis elimination program in the late 1990s , targeted at african-american heterosexuals , especially women and their babies . as a result , the condition was nearly eradicated as an ongoing health problem in the united states . but in the last two years , the trend has reversed , said dr. john douglas , director of the cdc 's division of std prevention . the success we 've been experiencing for a number of years in african-american heterosexual populations , particularly women , is beginning to be eroded , ' he said . watch more on the cdc 's report » syphilis resurfaced as a danger in 2001 , and cases went up by 15.2 percent between 2006 and 2007 , the cdc said . reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea together surpassed 1.4 million in 2007 , the report said . both of these conditions can cause infertility when left untreated . the cdc will address hiv rates in the united states in a later report . a record number of chlamydia cases were reported nationally this year , the report said . but douglas noted that a major strategy is detecting infection before it spreads , so each case is an opportunity to prevent ongoing transmission . chlamydia is the most common reportable std and infectious disease , he said . since the early 1980s , there has been a dramatic downturn in gonorrhea cases , but for the last 10 years , the rates have leveled off , especially in african-american populations . the cdc is looking at a number of ways to create awareness of the problem , he said . stds affect not only individuals'health , but also the economy , the cdc said -- the conditions cost the u.s. health care system as much as $ 15.3 billion annually . the report reflects what dr. yolanda wimberly , assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the morehouse school of medicine and the medical director for the center for excellence in sexual health , sees in the clinics where she works . in her 14 years of practicing , she has been diagnosing more and more cases of chlamydia , syphilis and gonorrhea , she said . based on the report and her own observations , it 's safe to say that some of the prevention efforts are not working , wimberly said . new , innovative methods will be required to get through to this generation of young people , for whom text messaging and the internet are integral parts of daily life . many people hold the misconception that stds come along with a visible sign , such as irregular discharge or a rash or bump . but , in fact , most stds do not present symptoms , she said . that 's how stds are so easily spread , ' she said . it 's not people who know they have gonorrhea and who go out say ,'i 'm going to spread it to all these people .'it 's the people who do n't even know , who maybe do n't get checked up regularly . ' it 's important to be screened at least once annually , even twice a year for younger people , wimberly said . she offers to test everyone who comes into her office for stds , even if they do not have any symptoms or came to see her for a different reason , if they have n't been tested in at least the last six months . however , not all doctors are so conscientious about std testing , douglas said . particularly in nonminority populations , doctors are inclined to think , the young woman sitting in front of me looks pretty healthy , she looks pretty respectable -- she would n't have a sexually transmitted disease , right ? ' douglas said . we simply miss those screening opportunities . ' other doctors simply do n't want to broach the subject of sex with their adolescent female patients , he said . there 's also the problem of access to health care -- some women do not have physicians for this reason . current prevention efforts include promoting awareness of stds , personal protective behaviors such as limiting partners and using condoms , and screening programs , douglas said . a key area to work on is normalizing conversations about stds and sexual health , he said . if the parents assume that 's the doctor 's business , or the teacher 's business , and do n't roll up their sleeves and get in there themselves , and if our schools are n't giving comprehensive education , and if our clergy and other community leaders who are interested in youth well-being are n't including sexual health on the agenda , we 're going to create missed opportunities . ' | cdc : women , minorities , 15- to 24-year-olds bear greatest std burden |
united states <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the u.s. government and business tycoon richard branson led a growing chorus of voices around the world tuesday slamming uganda 's new anti-gay bill , which would make some gay acts punishable by life in prison . the bill , which in its original form prescribed the death penalty for cases of aggravated homosexuality ' -- for instance if someone is infected with hiv -- reduced the penalty to life imprisonment before the vote . clauses that criminalize the promotion ' of homosexuality could cause activists and even doctors treating gay patients with hiv to face prison time . the united states opposes any legislation that undermines a person 's enjoyment of his or her human rights , and for that reason we condemn legislation that criminalizes consensual sexual conduct between adults or criminalizes simply being of a particular sexual orientation or gender identity , ' a state department official said tuesday . emphasizing that washington respects uganda 's sovereignty , the official noted that some of uganda 's own government institutions have spoken out against further criminalization of homosexuality . ' as americans , we believe that people everywhere deserve to live in freedom and equality -- and that no one should face violence or discrimination for who they are and whom they love , ' state department spokeswoman jen psaki said . we join those in uganda and around the world who appeal for respect for the human rights of lgbt persons and of all persons . ' among those condemning uganda 's anti-gay bill was british billionaire and virgin chief branson , who tweeted that he would n't do business in uganda due to their dreadful anti-gay laws . ' he urged others to follow suit . in a statement on his website , under the headline let people love whoever they want , ' branson wrote that he was seriously considering doing business in uganda , but the witch hunt against the gay community and lifetime sentences means it would be against my conscience to support this country . ' governments must realise that people should be able to love whoever they want , ' he wrote . it is not for any government ( or anyone else ) to ever make any judgments on people 's sexuality . they should instead celebrate when people build loving relationships that strengthen society , no matter who they are . ' gay-rights activists have warned of mounting violence against homosexuals after parliament passed the controversial legislation last week . homosexuality is illegal in most african countries , where sodomy laws were introduced during colonialism . in uganda , homosexual acts have been punishable by 14 years to life in prison , according to rights activists . but lawmakers in the conservative nation sought even harsher legislation , saying the western lifestyle risks destroying ugandan family units . what we are convinced and sure of is that nobody can in one 's right conscience and consciousness choose to be homosexual , ' said simon lokodo , uganda 's minister for ethics and integrity . this must be under pressure or conditions because we know that the natural tendency is always for a male to go for a female and vice versa . ' for the bill to become law , president yoweri museveni will have to approve it within 30 days . | new : the united states appeals to uganda to respect human rights |
guam <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a tsunami warning has been issued for the western coastal areas of the united states and canada after a massive earthquake struck off the coast of japan . the west coast and alaska tsunami warning center early friday issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas along the united states and canadian west coasts . the tsunami warning includes coastal areas of california and oregon from point conception to the oregon-washington border . it also includes coastal areas of alaska from amchitka pass to attu . tsunami warnings were issued friday for at least 20 countries and numerous pacific islands , including japan , coastal russia and the marcus islands , the northern marianas , wake island , taiwan and guam . authorities in the u.s. territory of guam said a tsunami could hit the island as early as 7:09 p.m. ( 4:09 a.m . et ) . sirens sounded in hawaii around 10 p.m. thursday ( 3 a.m . et ) , warning residents they could expect tsunami waves five hours later . people along coastal areas are urged to evacuate , emergency officials warned . the tsunami could cause damage along coastlines of all islands in the state of hawaii , ' warned the u.s. national oceanic and atmospheric administration in a bulletin issued at 9:31 p.m. thursday local hawaiian time . urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property . ' waves are expected to hit hawaii around 3 a.m. friday local time . list of countries threatened by tsunami tsunamis are a series of long ocean waves that can last five to 15 minutes and cause extensive flooding in coastal areas . a succession of waves can hit -- often the highest not being the first , said cnn international meteorologist ivan cabrera . a tsunami is sweeping across the pacific ocean after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of honshu island , japan . japan 's nhk showed footage of cars , boats and buildings -- some of them ablaze -- being swept inland in miyagi prefecture . the temblor is the largest earthquake since the 9.0 earthquake struck the banda aceh area of indonesia on december 26 , 2004 , causing a massive tsunami that killed tens of thousands in more than a dozen countries around the indian ocean . tsunami waves can travel at speeds of 800 kilometers ( 497 miles ) per hour . the earthquake , initially reported as a 7.8 earthquake , was upgraded to an 8.8 quake . the epicenter was 373 kilometers ( 231 miles ) away from the capital , tokyo , the united states geological survey said , and 24 kilometers deep -- a relatively shallow depth . when you jump a magnitude from 7 to 8 , it 's not 10 times stronger , it 's a 1000 times stronger , ' said cabrera . with an 8.8 earthquake that shallow , that close to shore , there will be more than one tsunami . ' earthquake magnitudes : what do they mean ? the quake struck about 2:40 p.m. local time friday in tokyo , interrupting a sunny spring afternoon . you could tell this was different , instantly ... you literally could n't stand on your feet the ground was shaking so hard , ' said matt alt , who lives on the west side of tokyo . we have earthquakes from time to time , but we never feel anything like the literal magnitude of this quake . ' fires were reported around tokyo , and a large fire at a chiba prefecture oil refinery northeast of tokyo sent billowing black smoke into the sky , nhk reported . indian ocean tsunami killed about 250,000 people in 14 countries . that tsunami , which washed away entire communities , caused nearly $ 10 billion in damage and more casualties than any other tsunami in history , according to the united nations . | also the northern marianas , wake island , taiwan and guam |
japan <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a tsunami warning has been issued for the western coastal areas of the united states and canada after a massive earthquake struck off the coast of japan . the west coast and alaska tsunami warning center early friday issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas along the united states and canadian west coasts . the tsunami warning includes coastal areas of california and oregon from point conception to the oregon-washington border . it also includes coastal areas of alaska from amchitka pass to attu . tsunami warnings were issued friday for at least 20 countries and numerous pacific islands , including japan , coastal russia and the marcus islands , the northern marianas , wake island , taiwan and guam . authorities in the u.s. territory of guam said a tsunami could hit the island as early as 7:09 p.m. ( 4:09 a.m . et ) . sirens sounded in hawaii around 10 p.m. thursday ( 3 a.m . et ) , warning residents they could expect tsunami waves five hours later . people along coastal areas are urged to evacuate , emergency officials warned . the tsunami could cause damage along coastlines of all islands in the state of hawaii , ' warned the u.s. national oceanic and atmospheric administration in a bulletin issued at 9:31 p.m. thursday local hawaiian time . urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property . ' waves are expected to hit hawaii around 3 a.m. friday local time . list of countries threatened by tsunami tsunamis are a series of long ocean waves that can last five to 15 minutes and cause extensive flooding in coastal areas . a succession of waves can hit -- often the highest not being the first , said cnn international meteorologist ivan cabrera . a tsunami is sweeping across the pacific ocean after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of honshu island , japan . japan 's nhk showed footage of cars , boats and buildings -- some of them ablaze -- being swept inland in miyagi prefecture . the temblor is the largest earthquake since the 9.0 earthquake struck the banda aceh area of indonesia on december 26 , 2004 , causing a massive tsunami that killed tens of thousands in more than a dozen countries around the indian ocean . tsunami waves can travel at speeds of 800 kilometers ( 497 miles ) per hour . the earthquake , initially reported as a 7.8 earthquake , was upgraded to an 8.8 quake . the epicenter was 373 kilometers ( 231 miles ) away from the capital , tokyo , the united states geological survey said , and 24 kilometers deep -- a relatively shallow depth . when you jump a magnitude from 7 to 8 , it 's not 10 times stronger , it 's a 1000 times stronger , ' said cabrera . with an 8.8 earthquake that shallow , that close to shore , there will be more than one tsunami . ' earthquake magnitudes : what do they mean ? the quake struck about 2:40 p.m. local time friday in tokyo , interrupting a sunny spring afternoon . you could tell this was different , instantly ... you literally could n't stand on your feet the ground was shaking so hard , ' said matt alt , who lives on the west side of tokyo . we have earthquakes from time to time , but we never feel anything like the literal magnitude of this quake . ' fires were reported around tokyo , and a large fire at a chiba prefecture oil refinery northeast of tokyo sent billowing black smoke into the sky , nhk reported . indian ocean tsunami killed about 250,000 people in 14 countries . that tsunami , which washed away entire communities , caused nearly $ 10 billion in damage and more casualties than any other tsunami in history , according to the united nations . | tsunami warnings for 20 countries including hawaii , japan and coastal russia |
japan <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a tsunami warning has been issued for the western coastal areas of the united states and canada after a massive earthquake struck off the coast of japan . the west coast and alaska tsunami warning center early friday issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas along the united states and canadian west coasts . the tsunami warning includes coastal areas of california and oregon from point conception to the oregon-washington border . it also includes coastal areas of alaska from amchitka pass to attu . tsunami warnings were issued friday for at least 20 countries and numerous pacific islands , including japan , coastal russia and the marcus islands , the northern marianas , wake island , taiwan and guam . authorities in the u.s. territory of guam said a tsunami could hit the island as early as 7:09 p.m. ( 4:09 a.m . et ) . sirens sounded in hawaii around 10 p.m. thursday ( 3 a.m . et ) , warning residents they could expect tsunami waves five hours later . people along coastal areas are urged to evacuate , emergency officials warned . the tsunami could cause damage along coastlines of all islands in the state of hawaii , ' warned the u.s. national oceanic and atmospheric administration in a bulletin issued at 9:31 p.m. thursday local hawaiian time . urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property . ' waves are expected to hit hawaii around 3 a.m. friday local time . list of countries threatened by tsunami tsunamis are a series of long ocean waves that can last five to 15 minutes and cause extensive flooding in coastal areas . a succession of waves can hit -- often the highest not being the first , said cnn international meteorologist ivan cabrera . a tsunami is sweeping across the pacific ocean after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of honshu island , japan . japan 's nhk showed footage of cars , boats and buildings -- some of them ablaze -- being swept inland in miyagi prefecture . the temblor is the largest earthquake since the 9.0 earthquake struck the banda aceh area of indonesia on december 26 , 2004 , causing a massive tsunami that killed tens of thousands in more than a dozen countries around the indian ocean . tsunami waves can travel at speeds of 800 kilometers ( 497 miles ) per hour . the earthquake , initially reported as a 7.8 earthquake , was upgraded to an 8.8 quake . the epicenter was 373 kilometers ( 231 miles ) away from the capital , tokyo , the united states geological survey said , and 24 kilometers deep -- a relatively shallow depth . when you jump a magnitude from 7 to 8 , it 's not 10 times stronger , it 's a 1000 times stronger , ' said cabrera . with an 8.8 earthquake that shallow , that close to shore , there will be more than one tsunami . ' earthquake magnitudes : what do they mean ? the quake struck about 2:40 p.m. local time friday in tokyo , interrupting a sunny spring afternoon . you could tell this was different , instantly ... you literally could n't stand on your feet the ground was shaking so hard , ' said matt alt , who lives on the west side of tokyo . we have earthquakes from time to time , but we never feel anything like the literal magnitude of this quake . ' fires were reported around tokyo , and a large fire at a chiba prefecture oil refinery northeast of tokyo sent billowing black smoke into the sky , nhk reported . indian ocean tsunami killed about 250,000 people in 14 countries . that tsunami , which washed away entire communities , caused nearly $ 10 billion in damage and more casualties than any other tsunami in history , according to the united nations . | comes after a powerful 8.8-magnitude quake struck of the east coast of japan |
big bang theory <tsp> ( cnn ) two of the best actresses on television are back on the big bang theory ' -- one of our six suggested things to watch this week . 1 . the big bang theory , ' thursday 8 p.m . et , cbs sheldon and leonard 's moms are back , and that ought to make for one of the best episodes this season . tv 's top comedy will see the return of christine baranski and laurie metcalf as the mothers of leonard and sheldon , respectively . seeing as they 're two of the most talented actresses on television , we should be in for a great episode , as the pair drive their sons crazy . 2 . saturday night live , ' saturday may 2 at 11:30 p.m. , nbc scarlett johannsson is the host , the day after her new blockbuster avengers ' movie opens nationwide . 3 . mom , ' thursday 9:30 p.m. , cbs allison janney continues to deliver emmy-worthy performances in this underrated chuck lorre dramedy . the season finale is this week . 4 . backstrom , ' thursday 9 p.m. , fox time will tell if the rainn wilson crime drama comes back in the fall , but fans of the quirky series wo n't want to miss the season finale . 5 . blue bloods , ' friday 10 p.m. , cbs the tom selleck drama concludes its two-part season finale , although its future is in question . 6 . younger , ' tuesday 10 p.m. , tv land this charming comedy from the creator of sex and the city ' just got picked up for a second season . now is a great time to tune in as sutton foster and hilary duff deal with a secret generation gap that one of them does n't know exists . | the two moms from big bang theory ' guest star this week |
backstrom <tsp> ( cnn ) two of the best actresses on television are back on the big bang theory ' -- one of our six suggested things to watch this week . 1 . the big bang theory , ' thursday 8 p.m . et , cbs sheldon and leonard 's moms are back , and that ought to make for one of the best episodes this season . tv 's top comedy will see the return of christine baranski and laurie metcalf as the mothers of leonard and sheldon , respectively . seeing as they 're two of the most talented actresses on television , we should be in for a great episode , as the pair drive their sons crazy . 2 . saturday night live , ' saturday may 2 at 11:30 p.m. , nbc scarlett johannsson is the host , the day after her new blockbuster avengers ' movie opens nationwide . 3 . mom , ' thursday 9:30 p.m. , cbs allison janney continues to deliver emmy-worthy performances in this underrated chuck lorre dramedy . the season finale is this week . 4 . backstrom , ' thursday 9 p.m. , fox time will tell if the rainn wilson crime drama comes back in the fall , but fans of the quirky series wo n't want to miss the season finale . 5 . blue bloods , ' friday 10 p.m. , cbs the tom selleck drama concludes its two-part season finale , although its future is in question . 6 . younger , ' tuesday 10 p.m. , tv land this charming comedy from the creator of sex and the city ' just got picked up for a second season . now is a great time to tune in as sutton foster and hilary duff deal with a secret generation gap that one of them does n't know exists . | backstrom , ' blue bloods ' are among the week 's season finales |
blue bloods <tsp> ( cnn ) two of the best actresses on television are back on the big bang theory ' -- one of our six suggested things to watch this week . 1 . the big bang theory , ' thursday 8 p.m . et , cbs sheldon and leonard 's moms are back , and that ought to make for one of the best episodes this season . tv 's top comedy will see the return of christine baranski and laurie metcalf as the mothers of leonard and sheldon , respectively . seeing as they 're two of the most talented actresses on television , we should be in for a great episode , as the pair drive their sons crazy . 2 . saturday night live , ' saturday may 2 at 11:30 p.m. , nbc scarlett johannsson is the host , the day after her new blockbuster avengers ' movie opens nationwide . 3 . mom , ' thursday 9:30 p.m. , cbs allison janney continues to deliver emmy-worthy performances in this underrated chuck lorre dramedy . the season finale is this week . 4 . backstrom , ' thursday 9 p.m. , fox time will tell if the rainn wilson crime drama comes back in the fall , but fans of the quirky series wo n't want to miss the season finale . 5 . blue bloods , ' friday 10 p.m. , cbs the tom selleck drama concludes its two-part season finale , although its future is in question . 6 . younger , ' tuesday 10 p.m. , tv land this charming comedy from the creator of sex and the city ' just got picked up for a second season . now is a great time to tune in as sutton foster and hilary duff deal with a secret generation gap that one of them does n't know exists . | backstrom , ' blue bloods ' are among the week 's season finales |
pakistan <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- the cia created and controls a paramilitary force of 3,000 afghans that conducts clandestine missions targeting al qaeda and taliban fighters in pakistan , a u.s. official told cnn on wednesday . the official described the force as well-trained ' and effective . ' you 're talking about one of the finest afghan fighting forces , which has made major contributions to security and stability , ' the official said . the official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the topic . the counterterrorism pursuit teams were first revealed in a new book by bob woodward , associate editor at the washington post . obama 's wars , ' which lays out deep divisions in the obama administration over afghanistan strategy , will be released monday . according to that book , by the end of a 2009 strategy review , obama concluded that the task in afghanistan could not succeed without wiping out al qaeda and afghan taliban havens operating with impunity in the border tribal areas of pakistan , the washington post reported wednesday . we need to make clear to people that the cancer is in pakistan , ' obama is quoted as saying in woodward 's book , the post said . a cia spokesman would not comment on the paramilitary force . the counterterrorism teams were first formed around 2002 and operated only within afghanistan , current and former u.s. officials told cnn . according to a former senior intelligence official , the idea was to find people who would blend into the afghan society to do a lot of the clandestine work ' in that country . there is some coordination between the cia 's paramilitary force and u.s. military forces , according to a senior defense official . the official said some level of coordination is necessary , so that friendly forces know when and where each unit is operating . we are constantly in contact with our allies in both pakistan and afghanistan , as well as our u.s. inter-agency partners , ' the official said . the border region is key for anti-terrorism efforts and the u.s. military has been working with both pakistan and afghanistan as part of a crackdown against militants along the border , with u.s. troops operating on the afghanistan side , the defense official said . we still believe that ground zero for al qaeda 's operations and planning is the border area between afghanistan and pakistan , ' the defense official said . as the border area in pakistan became more of a safe haven for al qaeda , the taliban and other extremists , the counterterrorism teams'mission expanded into pakistan . the former intelligence official said the border is a tribal area where people on both sides easily move back and forth . afghans can cross the border in ways americans can not , ' said the official . a former u.s. counterterrorism official said a team would enter pakistan to gather intelligence and to provide targeting information to help the cia take out suspected terrorists with missiles from unmanned aircraft . this official said only a very few senior pakistani leaders were aware of the teams and wondered what the fallout might be within pakistan , suggesting the cia 's afghan army could be at tremendous risk ' if it continues to operate in pakistan . pakistan will be on the lookout for them now , ' said the former official . but pakistani officials refuted the claims that cia-controlled forces are operating within pakistan . pakistan will never allow boots on its soil , ' foreign ministry spokesman abdul basit said , referring to foreign troops . this is one of our red lines . ' a senior pakistani military official added that there are 954 checkpoints along the border that are manned by pakistani security forces . he said it would be next to impossible for a group of people to enter pakistan to chase al qaeda and taliban militants . ' the official did not want to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media . al qaeda in pakistan remains a lethal enemy for the united states , a counterterrorism official said this week . but with the help of allies , the united states has been able to score lots of successes ' against the group , said the official , who also requested anonymity . that includes the success of u.s. unmanned predator strikes in pakistani regions along the border with afghanistan . since the obama administration took office at the beginning of 2009 , missile attacks on suspected terrorists in pakistan have increased dramatically . the united states has cut into their ability to plot , plan and train , but they remain very dangerous , and they are still the hub to all spokes , the heart of al qaeda , ' the u.s. official said . no one 's even close to saying it 's over in pakistan . not at all . in fact , we not only have to keep up the pressure there , we have to spread it to al qaeda 's nodes and affiliates elsewhere . ' cnn 's pam benson , reza sayah , samson desta and chris lawrence contributed to this report . | new : the teams stay in contact with our allies in both pakistan and afghanistan , ' official says |
pakistan <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- the cia created and controls a paramilitary force of 3,000 afghans that conducts clandestine missions targeting al qaeda and taliban fighters in pakistan , a u.s. official told cnn on wednesday . the official described the force as well-trained ' and effective . ' you 're talking about one of the finest afghan fighting forces , which has made major contributions to security and stability , ' the official said . the official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the topic . the counterterrorism pursuit teams were first revealed in a new book by bob woodward , associate editor at the washington post . obama 's wars , ' which lays out deep divisions in the obama administration over afghanistan strategy , will be released monday . according to that book , by the end of a 2009 strategy review , obama concluded that the task in afghanistan could not succeed without wiping out al qaeda and afghan taliban havens operating with impunity in the border tribal areas of pakistan , the washington post reported wednesday . we need to make clear to people that the cancer is in pakistan , ' obama is quoted as saying in woodward 's book , the post said . a cia spokesman would not comment on the paramilitary force . the counterterrorism teams were first formed around 2002 and operated only within afghanistan , current and former u.s. officials told cnn . according to a former senior intelligence official , the idea was to find people who would blend into the afghan society to do a lot of the clandestine work ' in that country . there is some coordination between the cia 's paramilitary force and u.s. military forces , according to a senior defense official . the official said some level of coordination is necessary , so that friendly forces know when and where each unit is operating . we are constantly in contact with our allies in both pakistan and afghanistan , as well as our u.s. inter-agency partners , ' the official said . the border region is key for anti-terrorism efforts and the u.s. military has been working with both pakistan and afghanistan as part of a crackdown against militants along the border , with u.s. troops operating on the afghanistan side , the defense official said . we still believe that ground zero for al qaeda 's operations and planning is the border area between afghanistan and pakistan , ' the defense official said . as the border area in pakistan became more of a safe haven for al qaeda , the taliban and other extremists , the counterterrorism teams'mission expanded into pakistan . the former intelligence official said the border is a tribal area where people on both sides easily move back and forth . afghans can cross the border in ways americans can not , ' said the official . a former u.s. counterterrorism official said a team would enter pakistan to gather intelligence and to provide targeting information to help the cia take out suspected terrorists with missiles from unmanned aircraft . this official said only a very few senior pakistani leaders were aware of the teams and wondered what the fallout might be within pakistan , suggesting the cia 's afghan army could be at tremendous risk ' if it continues to operate in pakistan . pakistan will be on the lookout for them now , ' said the former official . but pakistani officials refuted the claims that cia-controlled forces are operating within pakistan . pakistan will never allow boots on its soil , ' foreign ministry spokesman abdul basit said , referring to foreign troops . this is one of our red lines . ' a senior pakistani military official added that there are 954 checkpoints along the border that are manned by pakistani security forces . he said it would be next to impossible for a group of people to enter pakistan to chase al qaeda and taliban militants . ' the official did not want to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media . al qaeda in pakistan remains a lethal enemy for the united states , a counterterrorism official said this week . but with the help of allies , the united states has been able to score lots of successes ' against the group , said the official , who also requested anonymity . that includes the success of u.s. unmanned predator strikes in pakistani regions along the border with afghanistan . since the obama administration took office at the beginning of 2009 , missile attacks on suspected terrorists in pakistan have increased dramatically . the united states has cut into their ability to plot , plan and train , but they remain very dangerous , and they are still the hub to all spokes , the heart of al qaeda , ' the u.s. official said . no one 's even close to saying it 's over in pakistan . not at all . in fact , we not only have to keep up the pressure there , we have to spread it to al qaeda 's nodes and affiliates elsewhere . ' cnn 's pam benson , reza sayah , samson desta and chris lawrence contributed to this report . | pakistan denies the presence of foreign forces |
cnn <tsp> police know who shot michael brown , but three days after the 18-year-old 's death , they 're still not saying . releasing the name of the officer who shot and killed the teen in ferguson , missouri , is n't as important , they say , as protecting the community and the person who pulled the trigger . police chief thomas jackson told cnn his department decided against releasing the officer 's name monday after social media and phone threats targeted another officer who was falsely named as the shooter . we started getting death threats against him and his family , and although that 's not most of the people , we took these things seriously , ' jackson said . we think that they 're credible threats ... right now the safety factor far outweighs the benefit from releasing the name , which is minimal . ' lawyers representing brown 's family blasted the decision , suggesting authorities were protecting one of their own rather than following standard procedures . that does n't give the community confidence . that does n't make it transparent , ' attorney benjamin crump told reporters . and remember , we 've got a long way to go before this community starts to believe that the police are going to give them all the answers and not try to sweep it under the rug . ' police should have released the officer 's name 72 hours after the shooting , he said . if police are going to ask residents of ferguson to obey the law , he said , then it 's got to work both ways . ' jackson said his office does n't know yet when it will release the name , but it is n't skirting any laws . the prosecuting attorney and the st. louis county police chief agree that this is the prudent step to take under the circumstances , ' he said . witness : i have n't spoken with police exactly what led up to brown 's death saturday is a point of major contention . witnesses say the african-american teen was unarmed and his hands were in the air demonstrating that . police have said that brown attacked the officer in his car and tried to take his gun . as federal civil rights investigators and the fbi carry out their own inquiry into the controversial case , tensions are running high in the town of 21,000 -- where there 's a history of distrust between the predominately black community and the largely white police force . dorian johnson , who said he saw the shooting , told cnn tuesday that the officer who opened fire is white . johnson said he was walking with brown in the street when the confrontation erupted . but police did n't speak to him about the shooting that day -- and still have n't , johnson said , adding that the officer seemed stunned afterward . it 's almost like he was n't paying attention to me anymore . it 's like he was in shock himself , and his vision was n't on anything but my friend big mike , ' he said . johnson 's attorney told cnn that police reached out to him on tuesday to set up an interview , but they have n't had a chance to talk yet . amid protests , calls for calm the promise of investigations by local and federal authorities has n't stemmed outrage in the community . a vigil for the teen devolved into violent clashes with police sunday as some looted stores . on monday night , there was chaos again on the streets . shots were fired , authorities said , and police used tear gas to disperse a crowd . at a press conference with other african-american leaders tuesday , the rev . al sharpton urged people in ferguson not to betray the gentle giant ' that brown was by allowing their anger over his killing to lead to violence . do n't be a traitor to michael brown in the name of'you mad ,' sharpton said , reminding the crowd that brown 's parents are planning a funeral for their son , whom they had expected to head to college this week . michael brown sr. , the teen 's father , renewed calls for people to steer clear of violence . i need all of us to come together and do this right , the right way , so we can get something done about this , ' he said . u.s. president barack obama echoed calls for calm , releasing a statement expressing condolences to the teen 's family and describing his death as heartbreaking . i know the events of the past few days have prompted strong passions . but as details unfold , i urge everyone in ferguson , missouri , and across the country , to remember this young man through reflection and understanding , ' obama said . we should comfort each other and talk with one another in a way that heals , not in a way that wounds . ' a town in turmoil -- 5 things about ferguson , missouri college-bound teen sought a better life brown was going to defy negative stereotypes , staying away from the street life that plagued many african-american young men by instead going to college , his mother said . people may do things and it becomes repetitive in a certain race , but we did n't . we do n't live like that . not our family , ' his mother , lesley mcspadden , told cnn . we feel like we can do anything and go anywhere . ... just because my son is a 6'4 ' black male walking down a city street does not mean he fit the profile for anything other than just walking down the street . ' about 63 % of ferguson 's residents over age 16 are african-american . three of the police department 's 53 officers -- just over 5 % -- are african-american , jackson said , adding that he 's pushed to improve diversity . racial profiling is strictly forbidden , ' he said . racial profiling is against our policies , ' he said . it actually benefits nothing . ' speaking at a community forum scheduled in the aftermath of the shooting , jackson said the situation has been a tragedy for the city and the country . ' it breaks my heart some think i 'm part of the problem , ' he said tuesday night . the police chief promised the crowd he would be part of the solution . teen was two days away from starting college what we know about michael brown 's shooting trayvon martin case fast facts opinion : how many unarmed people have to die ? | a witness tells cnn the police officer who shot michael brown is white |
moore <tsp> ( cnn ) -- almost before the smoke had cleared at pearl harbor , he had enlisted to serve his country in the army air forces . he viewed the war in the south pacific through the bomb sight of a b-24 liberator as a second lieutenant and was awarded the distinguished flying cross for bravery . when he got home to texas , he was eventually elected to congress and served 34 years , including a term as speaker of the u.s. house of representatives . but jim wright found out the other day he was n't qualified to vote in the election in his home state . wright , who no longer drives at 90 , tried to get a voter card under a new texas law and was told his expired driver 's license and university lecturer 's id were not adequate proof of his identity . a war hero and former congressman had to go home and dig through old files to return with his birth certificate . hurrah for the flag of the free ? although there has been only one indicted incident of voter fraud in texas since 2000 , gov . rick perry and the gop-controlled legislature passed a stringent voter id law . perry had argued impersonators jeopardized the sanctity of elections . there had been , however , only four such cases on file with the texas attorney general from 2008 to 2010 , a brief time span during which 13 million people cast ballots . that data had much to do with the federal courts tossing out the texas id law as discriminatory against minorities . but a supreme court ruling on the voting rights act immediately reinstated the texas id law -- which by design was intended to discriminate , as a lower court said . texas conservatives and other states pushing voter id laws are facing demographic destinies they can not avoid . the laws of mathematics might have prompted the laws of discrimination . according to u.s. census bureau figures , in 1990 , white children younger than 18 outnumbered latinos in texas by 843,000 . the 2010 numbers were an almost exact reversal with 995,000 more hispanic kids than whites . assuming new hispanic voters will follow familiar trends and tend to vote for democrats , the end of the story for the gop might just be biology . the average white female in texas , and the rest of the country , is 41 with a fertility rate of 1.9 , according to census bureau figures and and the texas state demographer lloyd potter . the latina female average age , meanwhile , is 25 with a fertility rate of 2.7 . no need to be a mathematician to draw that graph . women , in fact , are the most likely to be jeopardized by the new texas law , which requires a government issued photo id to have your name be substantially similar ' to how it appears on registration rolls . unfortunately , divorces , taking a husband 's surname , remarriages and retaining maiden names serve to create conflicts between old registrations and current ids for women . and because younger women do n't immediately update their government documentation after marriage , a survey by the brennan center for justice indicates about 34 % of them wo n't be qualified to vote because their names will not match state records . because there 's no way to measure what does n't happen , we ca n't know how many women simply did not vote in the election this week because they did n't have the appropriate photo id . the political impact of this plot is expected to be disproportionately significant with the gubernatorial candidacy of state sen. wendy davis , which will likely increase turnout of female voters . unsurprisingly , davis , who is divorced , encountered the problem when she went to cast her ballot in the statewide constitutional election , the first to be held under the law . she was allowed to vote after signing an affidavit confirming she was , indeed , a senator and resident of the state . davis'likely gop opponent for governor is texas attorney general greg abbott . his name did n't match registration records . his campaign manager said abbott , too , would have to sign an affidavit . abbott , a big supporter of the photo requirement , would not have been able to vote had it not been for davis passing a last-minute amendment to the voter id law that allowed the signing of sworn documents to enable voting when records did not match . davis , essentially , saved the state 's attorney general from disenfranchising himself . and if a law nearly victimizes people with resources and advanced educations , consider its implications for the poor . up to a million registered voters in texas could be without a valid id to be eligible to participate in elections . how many did not show up at the polls november 5 because of worries about ids ? and texas is n't exactly making it easy to acquire one , especially if you are a minority . first , identification has to be confirmed with a document such as a birth certificate , which costs $ 22 in texas . the prospective voter can use that to get a driver 's license -- but 81 counties out of the state 's 254 do n't even have a department of motor vehicle office . supreme court testimonies showed that some people would have to drive 250 miles to reach a dmv facility and that in those counties , hispanics were twice as likely as whites to be without a vehicle . it 's not exactly simple for wage earners in urban areas , either . there are almost no dmv offices in the inner cities ; they are mostly located in suburban areas and only open during work hours . an hourly employee would have to jump a bus out to a dmv location during lunch hour to get an id . we can assume how often that might happen , which is rarely , especially in a state with almost no viable mass transit . that 's why generous texas lawmakers funded mobile facilities in 20 counties to help people obtain ids in locations with limited access to state services . unfortunately , the department of public safety has only issued about 100 , which has n't made much of a dent in hundreds of thousands of registered voters still lacking legal id to vote . and that 's probably what the legislature and the governor of texas wanted to happen . no , that is precisely the outcome they desired . texas law continues , however , to respect certain population groups . in the state capitol , if you have a concealed carry handgun permit , your gun and you can move right into the building through the security express lane and avoid inspection . that handy little gun card will also get you access to a voting booth , even when a war hero and former u.s. house speaker and potential future governors are temporarily denied . the kinda , sorta right to vote is still safe in texas . join us facebook/cnnopinion . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of james moore . | moore : hispanics , women , the poor , rural and urban folks most likely to be turned down |
moore <tsp> ( cnn ) -- almost before the smoke had cleared at pearl harbor , he had enlisted to serve his country in the army air forces . he viewed the war in the south pacific through the bomb sight of a b-24 liberator as a second lieutenant and was awarded the distinguished flying cross for bravery . when he got home to texas , he was eventually elected to congress and served 34 years , including a term as speaker of the u.s. house of representatives . but jim wright found out the other day he was n't qualified to vote in the election in his home state . wright , who no longer drives at 90 , tried to get a voter card under a new texas law and was told his expired driver 's license and university lecturer 's id were not adequate proof of his identity . a war hero and former congressman had to go home and dig through old files to return with his birth certificate . hurrah for the flag of the free ? although there has been only one indicted incident of voter fraud in texas since 2000 , gov . rick perry and the gop-controlled legislature passed a stringent voter id law . perry had argued impersonators jeopardized the sanctity of elections . there had been , however , only four such cases on file with the texas attorney general from 2008 to 2010 , a brief time span during which 13 million people cast ballots . that data had much to do with the federal courts tossing out the texas id law as discriminatory against minorities . but a supreme court ruling on the voting rights act immediately reinstated the texas id law -- which by design was intended to discriminate , as a lower court said . texas conservatives and other states pushing voter id laws are facing demographic destinies they can not avoid . the laws of mathematics might have prompted the laws of discrimination . according to u.s. census bureau figures , in 1990 , white children younger than 18 outnumbered latinos in texas by 843,000 . the 2010 numbers were an almost exact reversal with 995,000 more hispanic kids than whites . assuming new hispanic voters will follow familiar trends and tend to vote for democrats , the end of the story for the gop might just be biology . the average white female in texas , and the rest of the country , is 41 with a fertility rate of 1.9 , according to census bureau figures and and the texas state demographer lloyd potter . the latina female average age , meanwhile , is 25 with a fertility rate of 2.7 . no need to be a mathematician to draw that graph . women , in fact , are the most likely to be jeopardized by the new texas law , which requires a government issued photo id to have your name be substantially similar ' to how it appears on registration rolls . unfortunately , divorces , taking a husband 's surname , remarriages and retaining maiden names serve to create conflicts between old registrations and current ids for women . and because younger women do n't immediately update their government documentation after marriage , a survey by the brennan center for justice indicates about 34 % of them wo n't be qualified to vote because their names will not match state records . because there 's no way to measure what does n't happen , we ca n't know how many women simply did not vote in the election this week because they did n't have the appropriate photo id . the political impact of this plot is expected to be disproportionately significant with the gubernatorial candidacy of state sen. wendy davis , which will likely increase turnout of female voters . unsurprisingly , davis , who is divorced , encountered the problem when she went to cast her ballot in the statewide constitutional election , the first to be held under the law . she was allowed to vote after signing an affidavit confirming she was , indeed , a senator and resident of the state . davis'likely gop opponent for governor is texas attorney general greg abbott . his name did n't match registration records . his campaign manager said abbott , too , would have to sign an affidavit . abbott , a big supporter of the photo requirement , would not have been able to vote had it not been for davis passing a last-minute amendment to the voter id law that allowed the signing of sworn documents to enable voting when records did not match . davis , essentially , saved the state 's attorney general from disenfranchising himself . and if a law nearly victimizes people with resources and advanced educations , consider its implications for the poor . up to a million registered voters in texas could be without a valid id to be eligible to participate in elections . how many did not show up at the polls november 5 because of worries about ids ? and texas is n't exactly making it easy to acquire one , especially if you are a minority . first , identification has to be confirmed with a document such as a birth certificate , which costs $ 22 in texas . the prospective voter can use that to get a driver 's license -- but 81 counties out of the state 's 254 do n't even have a department of motor vehicle office . supreme court testimonies showed that some people would have to drive 250 miles to reach a dmv facility and that in those counties , hispanics were twice as likely as whites to be without a vehicle . it 's not exactly simple for wage earners in urban areas , either . there are almost no dmv offices in the inner cities ; they are mostly located in suburban areas and only open during work hours . an hourly employee would have to jump a bus out to a dmv location during lunch hour to get an id . we can assume how often that might happen , which is rarely , especially in a state with almost no viable mass transit . that 's why generous texas lawmakers funded mobile facilities in 20 counties to help people obtain ids in locations with limited access to state services . unfortunately , the department of public safety has only issued about 100 , which has n't made much of a dent in hundreds of thousands of registered voters still lacking legal id to vote . and that 's probably what the legislature and the governor of texas wanted to happen . no , that is precisely the outcome they desired . texas law continues , however , to respect certain population groups . in the state capitol , if you have a concealed carry handgun permit , your gun and you can move right into the building through the security express lane and avoid inspection . that handy little gun card will also get you access to a voting booth , even when a war hero and former u.s. house speaker and potential future governors are temporarily denied . the kinda , sorta right to vote is still safe in texas . join us facebook/cnnopinion . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of james moore . | moore : tough voter id law passed even though voter fraud practically nonexistent in texas |
moore <tsp> ( cnn ) -- almost before the smoke had cleared at pearl harbor , he had enlisted to serve his country in the army air forces . he viewed the war in the south pacific through the bomb sight of a b-24 liberator as a second lieutenant and was awarded the distinguished flying cross for bravery . when he got home to texas , he was eventually elected to congress and served 34 years , including a term as speaker of the u.s. house of representatives . but jim wright found out the other day he was n't qualified to vote in the election in his home state . wright , who no longer drives at 90 , tried to get a voter card under a new texas law and was told his expired driver 's license and university lecturer 's id were not adequate proof of his identity . a war hero and former congressman had to go home and dig through old files to return with his birth certificate . hurrah for the flag of the free ? although there has been only one indicted incident of voter fraud in texas since 2000 , gov . rick perry and the gop-controlled legislature passed a stringent voter id law . perry had argued impersonators jeopardized the sanctity of elections . there had been , however , only four such cases on file with the texas attorney general from 2008 to 2010 , a brief time span during which 13 million people cast ballots . that data had much to do with the federal courts tossing out the texas id law as discriminatory against minorities . but a supreme court ruling on the voting rights act immediately reinstated the texas id law -- which by design was intended to discriminate , as a lower court said . texas conservatives and other states pushing voter id laws are facing demographic destinies they can not avoid . the laws of mathematics might have prompted the laws of discrimination . according to u.s. census bureau figures , in 1990 , white children younger than 18 outnumbered latinos in texas by 843,000 . the 2010 numbers were an almost exact reversal with 995,000 more hispanic kids than whites . assuming new hispanic voters will follow familiar trends and tend to vote for democrats , the end of the story for the gop might just be biology . the average white female in texas , and the rest of the country , is 41 with a fertility rate of 1.9 , according to census bureau figures and and the texas state demographer lloyd potter . the latina female average age , meanwhile , is 25 with a fertility rate of 2.7 . no need to be a mathematician to draw that graph . women , in fact , are the most likely to be jeopardized by the new texas law , which requires a government issued photo id to have your name be substantially similar ' to how it appears on registration rolls . unfortunately , divorces , taking a husband 's surname , remarriages and retaining maiden names serve to create conflicts between old registrations and current ids for women . and because younger women do n't immediately update their government documentation after marriage , a survey by the brennan center for justice indicates about 34 % of them wo n't be qualified to vote because their names will not match state records . because there 's no way to measure what does n't happen , we ca n't know how many women simply did not vote in the election this week because they did n't have the appropriate photo id . the political impact of this plot is expected to be disproportionately significant with the gubernatorial candidacy of state sen. wendy davis , which will likely increase turnout of female voters . unsurprisingly , davis , who is divorced , encountered the problem when she went to cast her ballot in the statewide constitutional election , the first to be held under the law . she was allowed to vote after signing an affidavit confirming she was , indeed , a senator and resident of the state . davis'likely gop opponent for governor is texas attorney general greg abbott . his name did n't match registration records . his campaign manager said abbott , too , would have to sign an affidavit . abbott , a big supporter of the photo requirement , would not have been able to vote had it not been for davis passing a last-minute amendment to the voter id law that allowed the signing of sworn documents to enable voting when records did not match . davis , essentially , saved the state 's attorney general from disenfranchising himself . and if a law nearly victimizes people with resources and advanced educations , consider its implications for the poor . up to a million registered voters in texas could be without a valid id to be eligible to participate in elections . how many did not show up at the polls november 5 because of worries about ids ? and texas is n't exactly making it easy to acquire one , especially if you are a minority . first , identification has to be confirmed with a document such as a birth certificate , which costs $ 22 in texas . the prospective voter can use that to get a driver 's license -- but 81 counties out of the state 's 254 do n't even have a department of motor vehicle office . supreme court testimonies showed that some people would have to drive 250 miles to reach a dmv facility and that in those counties , hispanics were twice as likely as whites to be without a vehicle . it 's not exactly simple for wage earners in urban areas , either . there are almost no dmv offices in the inner cities ; they are mostly located in suburban areas and only open during work hours . an hourly employee would have to jump a bus out to a dmv location during lunch hour to get an id . we can assume how often that might happen , which is rarely , especially in a state with almost no viable mass transit . that 's why generous texas lawmakers funded mobile facilities in 20 counties to help people obtain ids in locations with limited access to state services . unfortunately , the department of public safety has only issued about 100 , which has n't made much of a dent in hundreds of thousands of registered voters still lacking legal id to vote . and that 's probably what the legislature and the governor of texas wanted to happen . no , that is precisely the outcome they desired . texas law continues , however , to respect certain population groups . in the state capitol , if you have a concealed carry handgun permit , your gun and you can move right into the building through the security express lane and avoid inspection . that handy little gun card will also get you access to a voting booth , even when a war hero and former u.s. house speaker and potential future governors are temporarily denied . the kinda , sorta right to vote is still safe in texas . join us facebook/cnnopinion . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of james moore . | moore : if you have a concealed gun permit , you can walk right through capitol |
moore <tsp> ( cnn ) -- almost before the smoke had cleared at pearl harbor , he had enlisted to serve his country in the army air forces . he viewed the war in the south pacific through the bomb sight of a b-24 liberator as a second lieutenant and was awarded the distinguished flying cross for bravery . when he got home to texas , he was eventually elected to congress and served 34 years , including a term as speaker of the u.s. house of representatives . but jim wright found out the other day he was n't qualified to vote in the election in his home state . wright , who no longer drives at 90 , tried to get a voter card under a new texas law and was told his expired driver 's license and university lecturer 's id were not adequate proof of his identity . a war hero and former congressman had to go home and dig through old files to return with his birth certificate . hurrah for the flag of the free ? although there has been only one indicted incident of voter fraud in texas since 2000 , gov . rick perry and the gop-controlled legislature passed a stringent voter id law . perry had argued impersonators jeopardized the sanctity of elections . there had been , however , only four such cases on file with the texas attorney general from 2008 to 2010 , a brief time span during which 13 million people cast ballots . that data had much to do with the federal courts tossing out the texas id law as discriminatory against minorities . but a supreme court ruling on the voting rights act immediately reinstated the texas id law -- which by design was intended to discriminate , as a lower court said . texas conservatives and other states pushing voter id laws are facing demographic destinies they can not avoid . the laws of mathematics might have prompted the laws of discrimination . according to u.s. census bureau figures , in 1990 , white children younger than 18 outnumbered latinos in texas by 843,000 . the 2010 numbers were an almost exact reversal with 995,000 more hispanic kids than whites . assuming new hispanic voters will follow familiar trends and tend to vote for democrats , the end of the story for the gop might just be biology . the average white female in texas , and the rest of the country , is 41 with a fertility rate of 1.9 , according to census bureau figures and and the texas state demographer lloyd potter . the latina female average age , meanwhile , is 25 with a fertility rate of 2.7 . no need to be a mathematician to draw that graph . women , in fact , are the most likely to be jeopardized by the new texas law , which requires a government issued photo id to have your name be substantially similar ' to how it appears on registration rolls . unfortunately , divorces , taking a husband 's surname , remarriages and retaining maiden names serve to create conflicts between old registrations and current ids for women . and because younger women do n't immediately update their government documentation after marriage , a survey by the brennan center for justice indicates about 34 % of them wo n't be qualified to vote because their names will not match state records . because there 's no way to measure what does n't happen , we ca n't know how many women simply did not vote in the election this week because they did n't have the appropriate photo id . the political impact of this plot is expected to be disproportionately significant with the gubernatorial candidacy of state sen. wendy davis , which will likely increase turnout of female voters . unsurprisingly , davis , who is divorced , encountered the problem when she went to cast her ballot in the statewide constitutional election , the first to be held under the law . she was allowed to vote after signing an affidavit confirming she was , indeed , a senator and resident of the state . davis'likely gop opponent for governor is texas attorney general greg abbott . his name did n't match registration records . his campaign manager said abbott , too , would have to sign an affidavit . abbott , a big supporter of the photo requirement , would not have been able to vote had it not been for davis passing a last-minute amendment to the voter id law that allowed the signing of sworn documents to enable voting when records did not match . davis , essentially , saved the state 's attorney general from disenfranchising himself . and if a law nearly victimizes people with resources and advanced educations , consider its implications for the poor . up to a million registered voters in texas could be without a valid id to be eligible to participate in elections . how many did not show up at the polls november 5 because of worries about ids ? and texas is n't exactly making it easy to acquire one , especially if you are a minority . first , identification has to be confirmed with a document such as a birth certificate , which costs $ 22 in texas . the prospective voter can use that to get a driver 's license -- but 81 counties out of the state 's 254 do n't even have a department of motor vehicle office . supreme court testimonies showed that some people would have to drive 250 miles to reach a dmv facility and that in those counties , hispanics were twice as likely as whites to be without a vehicle . it 's not exactly simple for wage earners in urban areas , either . there are almost no dmv offices in the inner cities ; they are mostly located in suburban areas and only open during work hours . an hourly employee would have to jump a bus out to a dmv location during lunch hour to get an id . we can assume how often that might happen , which is rarely , especially in a state with almost no viable mass transit . that 's why generous texas lawmakers funded mobile facilities in 20 counties to help people obtain ids in locations with limited access to state services . unfortunately , the department of public safety has only issued about 100 , which has n't made much of a dent in hundreds of thousands of registered voters still lacking legal id to vote . and that 's probably what the legislature and the governor of texas wanted to happen . no , that is precisely the outcome they desired . texas law continues , however , to respect certain population groups . in the state capitol , if you have a concealed carry handgun permit , your gun and you can move right into the building through the security express lane and avoid inspection . that handy little gun card will also get you access to a voting booth , even when a war hero and former u.s. house speaker and potential future governors are temporarily denied . the kinda , sorta right to vote is still safe in texas . join us facebook/cnnopinion . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of james moore . | james moore : ex-speaker of the house was n't qualified to vote in home state of texas |
belgium <tsp> ( cnn ) -- pretty soon you 'll be able to print your 3-d projects at the local staples . a new service called staples easy 3d ' will allow customers to upload their designs to staples'website , then pick up the printed objects at their local office supply megastore , or have them shipped to their home or business †” not unlike the photo- and document-printing service the company already offers . the project was announced today at euromold 2012 by 3-d printer manufacturer mcor technologies , who is partnering with staples to provide its new iris printers for the service . the iris printers employ an innovative method to generate objects , using reams of paper that are cut and printed while being stacked and glued together . this technique allows for a high-resolution layer thickness of 100 microns , similar to that of the makerbot replicator 2 , but not quite as fine as the 25-micron capability of the form 1 . the new printers also incorporate the ability to add photorealistic coloring †” something that more common plastic printers ca n't yet achieve . but while the glued paper is said to have a wood-like hardness , the arrangement of the layered paper grain will require special consideration for certain design layouts ( this can affect other types of 3-d printers as well ) . and while the company says it is able to be drilled , tapped or screwed , its material properties are unknown compared to traditional materials like real wood or steel . still , the move by an established corporation to offer 3-d printing further legitimizes the adoption of the rapidly growing field by the mass market . similar services currently exist , being offered by companies like shapeways and sculpteo , but this is the first to be made available from a chain retailer . staples easy 3d will launch in the netherlands and belgium in the first quarter of 2013 , and will be rolled out to other countries shortly afterword . no word yet on pricing or when it will reach the united states . subscribe to wired magazine for less than $ 1 an issue and get a free gift ! click here ! copyright 2011 wired.com . | staples easy 3d will launch in the netherlands and belgium in the first quarter of 2013 |
houthi <tsp> u.s. drone strikes killed at least nine suspected members of al qaeda in yemen , where clashes intensified tuesday between the terrorist group and shia houthi rebels , local security officials said . the three airstrikes in yemen 's al baitha province , near radaa district , targeted al qaeda in the arabian peninsula vehicles on their way to fight houthis , the three security officials said . the air component came amid fighting on the ground in the province that , according to the officials , killed at least 36 fighters from both sides . over the years , the yemeni military , aided by american drone strikes , has failed to beat back aqap . yet the houthis , a militant group that follows the zaidi sect of islam , have managed to defeat al qaeda on numerous fronts , last week sweeping its militants from a stronghold in al baitha province . this push spurred aqap to threaten to kill houthi followers wherever they are spotted . more than 400 people have been killed from both sides over the past month in ongoing clashes in al baitha and ibb provinces . while houthis have been critical of u.s. drone strikes in the past , they have not objected to their use in the last month . the houthis swept to power in yemen after signing a ceasefire deal with the government in september , ending a political crisis that had halted life in sanaa and left more than 300 dead in a month . surge in fighting threatens yemen 's survival soldiers killed since 2012 , houthis have exploited yemen 's political vacuum to assert their own regional pull over the country 's highlands while expanding their political traction by establishing ansar allah , their new political group . on saturday , the interior ministry confirmed that al qaeda attacked a government military facility and killed 19 soldiers in the port province of hodeida . one day later , houthis sent dozens of fighters there and forced al qaeda to retreat . al qaeda claimed responsibility for eight attacks against houthis across yemen in the past three weeks through its official twitter account . al qaeda resurgent in yemen amid political turmoil guerrilla tactics after taking control of sanaa , hundreds of houthi fighters created checkpoints inside and surrounding the yemeni capital . they have also expanded their reach into most northern yemeni provinces . but houthis are finding it more difficult to crush al qaeda in al baitha , considered one of the network 's main strongholds in central yemen . houthis are used to military clashes , while al qaeda uses guerrilla tactics against its enemies . they hit and run unexpectedly , ' said abdulsalam mohammed , president of the sanaa-based abaad strategic center . rules of war are different when fighting al qaeda , ' he said . the houthis have long complained that they have been marginalized and persecuted by yemen 's sunni majority , and have been involved in a series of rebellions since 2004 , justifying their actions by claiming self-defense . they are organized under the leadership of abdel malek al houthi . adding to an increasingly volatile situation , a secessionist movement in the south of yemen , al hirak , has stepped up protests in aden , yemen 's chief port and the largest city in the south . | houthi militias are battling al qaeda-linked group for territory in yemen |
north korea <tsp> the united states and north korea have long found themselves locked in a bitter cycle of escalating and deescalating tensions but the current cyber conflict may be especially hard to predict . cnn 's wilfred chan discussed this with mike chinoy , a longtime north korea expert who has traveled to the country 17 times , senior fellow at the u.s.-china institute at the university of southern california , and cnn 's former senior asia correspondent , whose new book the last pow ' tells the story of the detention in north korea of 85-year-old american tourist merril newman . there were reports tuesday that north korea 's internet was down , the disruption coming amid a growing war of words between the united states and north korea over a cyberattack on sony pictures . do you think the united states disabled north korea 's internet in retaliation for the sony hack ? chinoy : i 'm not convinced that the u.s. government was behind the outage of the north korean internet . the issue though is not whether it was or it was n't , the issue is what the north koreans think it was . and i think it 's safe to assume , unless they themselves took their system offline for their own security -- which is not impossible -- they 'll be looking to respond . and if the u.s. government actually took down north korea 's internet , that has its own implications . because if the united states is officially engaging in cyberattacks then it implies north korea can do it to us , and everybody else can do it to everybody else . how does the sony hacking saga complicate the situation between the united states and north korea ? it 's a brave new world . we now have a situation where it 's entirely possible you 've got third-party hackers possibly helping the north koreans in the original sony hack , entirely possibly taking down the north korean internet , who are beyond the control of any government . and that makes it much , much harder to assess . part of what makes this dangerous is there are no agreed rules of the road in terms of cyber warfare in the way there are existing broad rules of the road for other security issues -- even if they are frequently violated . we 're absolutely in uncharted territory . and we 're in uncharted territory with pundits and the political class outraged in the united states , and a new , unknown north korean leader in a system that we do n't understand the dynamics of very well . so that 's a worrisome combination . do you think north korea hacked sony ? i do n't think the president of the united states would 've been given talking points that so explicitly blamed north korea if the u.s. government did n't have very high confidence there was a north korean connection . now , whether or not the north koreans explicitly gave the order and then farmed it out to teams of people in china or elsewhere , we do n't know enough about the decision-making process . how sophisticated are north korea 's hacking capabilities ? we know they have a robust cyber capability . the north koreans have devoted a lot of resources to giving themselves a lot of cyber capabilities . their broader security strategy has changed under kim jong un -- there 's a heavy focus on nuclear , cyber , and asymmetrical warfare capabilities , which enables them to reduce expenditures on a conventional military . north korea is the weaker , smaller power , and asymmetrical warfare is the approach of choice . the north koreans are not suicidal . if they were responsible for the sony attack , they targeted a specific company for a specific reason . it 's hard for me to imagine they 're going to take out the u.s. power grid . how do the united states and north korea view each other right now ? there 's layers and layers of hostility and mistrust . ever since the korean war , the united states has seen north korea as this dangerous , threatening country and there 's always been concern when the north koreans do something aggressive . in north korea , based on my 17 visits there , what comes through clearly is the reverse image . they feel under siege from the united states . they are convinced that the american goal is to do them in , to bring them down . they feel alone and beleaguered and they 're determined to keep their system afloat at all costs . the north korean strategy has always been brinksmanship -- tit for tat , you hit me , we hit back harder . part of their playbook is to make people think they are more extreme , they are crazier . a lot of it is rhetoric -- one of the challenges in situations like this is how to judge rhetoric . so when they threaten to attack the white house and so on , you have to be careful not to take it literally . could this hacking crisis continue to escalate ? look , in 1976 , north korean soldiers crossed the demarcation line at panmunjon , killed two americans with axes , and we did n't go to war . in 2010 , the north koreans sank a south korean ship , killing dozens of south korean sailors , we did n't go to war . in 2010 when they shelled yeonpyong island and killed south koreans , we did n't go to war . we 're going to go to war because they hacked a movie production company ? i mean , you know , let 's have a little bit of perspective about it . that being said , this has created a kind of perfect storm of a real threat with cyberattacks , with implications in terms of what else might happen . there 's tremendous political pressure on the obama administration to do something , even though the toolkit is somewhat limited . and what 's new here is this is the biggest crisis since north korea 's youthful leader kim jong un came to power three years ago . how could this play out in the long run ? one of the likely responses is going to be accelerated moves toward a north korean nuclear test . lost in all the day to day headlines about sony is the bigger strategic security picture which is the north koreans are moving full speed ahead to enhance their nuclear capability . they 've got a plutonium program , they 've got a uranium program . each time they do a nuclear test they move further toward having the capability to miniaturize a warhead . once they can miniaturize a warhead they 've definitely got medium range missiles . they 've tested a long range missile , though it 's not clear how well it works . there is nothing happening to constrain that . what worries me is there has n't even been an attempt in the last couple of years to talk about this . without a diplomatic agreement for them to curtail or roll back their nuclear program , they will soon have in a period of time , it 's hard to judge how long , a larger nuclear arsenal , the ability to miniaturize a warhead , and a delivery system that can reach the continental united states . then it gets really scary . short of going to war and taking down the north korean regime , it 's very hard to see how you reverse that , unless you get back into some kind of negotiating process , and that seems very unlikely . there 's a big debate still over whether we should talk to them . my sense is the north koreans still would very much like to talk to the united states . but the obama administration has not been in the mood to do it . obama has just done this major initiative with cuba , he 's been talking to iran , but in security terms the north koreans are scarier . unlike iran , north korea 's got the bomb and pyongyang uses overheated rhetoric which makes the iranians sound moderate in comparison . there 's very little evidence that sanctions work in terms of changing north korea 's behavior to what the united states wants . so that just makes the whole thing more dangerous . read more : an excerpt from mike chinoy 's new book , the last pow ' | north korea has invested significantly in its cyber warfare capabilities |
pakistan <tsp> islamabad , pakistan ( cnn ) -- the security guard accused of assassinating the governor of pakistan 's punjab province was ordered into police custody for five days thursday , after a court hearing on his case had to be moved several times . muhammad mumtaz qadri has been hailed as a hero in some quarters for gunning down gov . salman taseer , a liberal lawmaker who had spoken out against the country 's blasphemy laws , which make it a crime punishable by death to insult islam , the quran or the prophet mohammed . he had taken a very brave position on the blasphemy laws , ' said taseer 's sister-in-law , ayesha tammy haq , who noted that the governor had come under intense criticism from fundamentalists after suggesting that the capital punishment aspect of the law ought to be revisited . i think the pakistan people 's party will honor its commitment ' to amend the law , she said . qadri 's hearing in a pakistani anti-terrorism court came hours after it was originally supposed to be held , and illustrated the power of hard-liners on pakistan 's streets to influence court proceedings . police had planned to bring the suspect to the court in rawalpindi early thursday morning . but qadri 's supporters -- conservative lawyers , madrasa students and others -- converged on the courthouse . many cheered him for shooting taseer , and for security reasons authorities changed plans and drove qadri to islamabad in an armored vehicle , planning to hold the hearing in a makeshift court in a heavily secured area of the capital . there were three layers of security at that site , and media and onlookers were kept well back from the vehicle that carried qadri . officials say judge malik mohammad akram awan was asked to come to islamabad to preside over the hearing . but the crowd of supporters in rawalpindi prevented the judge from traveling to the capital , so police had to bring qadri back to rawalpindi to hold his hearing there . officials say police had asked to keep qadri in custody for 12 days , but the judge granted five . investigators plan to continue interrogating the bodyguard . they 're trying to determine if he acted alone , or had outside help . on wednesday , authorities said that qadri was banned five months ago by a provincial police official from providing security to vips . the director inspector general of punjab police said the guard had extremist views and it had been determined it was unsafe for him to guard important officials , said the pakistani president 's special political adviser , faisal raza abidi . despite that assessment , the punjab police employed qadri for security this week . the warning signs about qadri go back even further , said rana shahid pervez , senior police official in rawalpindi . pakistani intelligence agencies had warned officials in 2004 not to use qadri after they uncovered connections between him and the religious group dawat-e-islami -- a sunni group that claims it has a closer connection to the prophet mohammed than other muslims . pervez said qadri came from an area of rawalpindi called sadiq abad , adjacent to the capital , islamabad . he came from a poor family and his father is a laborer who built homes . qadri joined the police force in 2002 , and was selected for the elite force course in 2008 , four years after the warning from intelligence agencies , pervez said . qadri was one of 468 elite force guards in the rawalpindi police , which randomly assigns them as escorts to vips and officials like taseer . qadri was assigned to the governor on tuesday . he had been his security guard many times before the shooting , according to pervez , who disputed the reported link to dawat-e-islami . qadri killed the governor totally from his own beliefs regarding mohammed , and no group was behind him , ' pervez said . the shooting occurred at a market in islamabad . qadri confessed to assassinating taseer because he did blasphemy of the prophet mohammed , ' naeem iqbal , spokesman for islamabad police , said tuesday . qadri told police taseer had described the blasphemy laws as the black laws . ' after the shooting , qadri immediately surrendered to authorities , the associated press of pakistan reported , citing interior minister rahman malik . dr. sharif astori , a spokesman for poly clinic hospital , told cnn doctors counted 26 bullets in the governor 's body . a spotlight was put on pakistan 's controversial law in november when a christian woman , asia bibi of punjab province , was sentenced to death for blasphemy . a court found the 45-year-old woman guilty of defiling the name of the prophet mohammed during a 2009 argument with fellow muslim field workers . an investigation by a pakistani government ministry found the charges against bibi stemmed from religious and personal enmity ' and recommended she be released . the government also said it would review the law . taseer said he would like to see the law changed in such a way that it just basically says , if you insult any prophet , no matter who he is , that 's a criminal offense , but certainly not punishable by death . ' cnn 's nasir habib and nosheen abbas contributed to this report . | salman taseer was apparently killed for opposing pakistan 's blasphemy law |
brown <tsp> los angeles ( cnn ) -- the legal troubles threatening to send chris brown to prison for several years began with the singer 's arrest five years ago in the brutal attack on then-girlfriend rihanna . brown has spent almost all of the past six months either in rehab or jail . he 's been locked up since he was booted from a court-ordered substance abuse and anger management program on march 14 . brown has two pending criminal cases , both stemming from his alleged inability to control his anger . brown 's d.c. assault case brown , 24 , and his bodyguard , christopher hollosy , allegedly punched parker adams after a quick exchange of words on a sidewalk blocks from the white house last october . brown was arrested on a felony assault charge , but it was reduced to a misdemeanor and he was released on bond the next day . the trial is set to begin wednesday in d.c. superior court . the judge who presided over the separate trial of brown 's bodyguard was taken off of brown 's case monday . d.c. superior judge patricia wynn said as she announced her guilty verdict for hollosy that she believed the testimony of a limousine driver who said he saw brown hit adams and that adams did not fight back . replacing wynn with judge a. franklin burgess , a retired judge , gives brown a fresh start with a judge who has not already given an opinion on the evidence against him . brown 's defense has been complicated by hollosy 's conviction , because the bodyguard 's testimony could hurt his own appeal . prosecutors are considering whether they will grant immunity to hollosy for anything he says in brown 's trial . brown 's lawyer , mark geragos , says the bodyguard 's testimony is crucial to brown 's defense . hollosy did not take the stand in his own trial , but his lawyer indicated hollosy would say that he hit adams because adams was trying to get on brown 's bus , and it was his job to protect his client . california probation revoked a conviction in the washington case would be trouble for brown because of his probation for the felony assault conviction in los angeles . the judge overseeing that case has already ruled that the singer violated his probation by being arrested last october , but he is waiting until after the d.c. trial to decide whether the revocation will become final . the revocation decision will be made at a hearing after brown returns to los angeles from washington . planes , chains and automobiles : chris brown 's miserable trip to trial if convicted in washington , brown faces another grueling con air ' trip . the u.s . marshal 's service is committed to returning him to the los angeles jail through the u.s. justice department 's notoriously slow and uncomfortable prisoner transport system . if brown is acquitted in the washington case , his lawyer will argue that he should be immediately released from jail and allowed to resume his probation . even then , brown must work at least three days a week on a road clean-up crew to complete more than 700 hours of community labor remaining on his sentence in the rihanna assault . | even if acquitted in d.c. , brown has 700 hours of community service remaining |
brown <tsp> los angeles ( cnn ) -- the legal troubles threatening to send chris brown to prison for several years began with the singer 's arrest five years ago in the brutal attack on then-girlfriend rihanna . brown has spent almost all of the past six months either in rehab or jail . he 's been locked up since he was booted from a court-ordered substance abuse and anger management program on march 14 . brown has two pending criminal cases , both stemming from his alleged inability to control his anger . brown 's d.c. assault case brown , 24 , and his bodyguard , christopher hollosy , allegedly punched parker adams after a quick exchange of words on a sidewalk blocks from the white house last october . brown was arrested on a felony assault charge , but it was reduced to a misdemeanor and he was released on bond the next day . the trial is set to begin wednesday in d.c. superior court . the judge who presided over the separate trial of brown 's bodyguard was taken off of brown 's case monday . d.c. superior judge patricia wynn said as she announced her guilty verdict for hollosy that she believed the testimony of a limousine driver who said he saw brown hit adams and that adams did not fight back . replacing wynn with judge a. franklin burgess , a retired judge , gives brown a fresh start with a judge who has not already given an opinion on the evidence against him . brown 's defense has been complicated by hollosy 's conviction , because the bodyguard 's testimony could hurt his own appeal . prosecutors are considering whether they will grant immunity to hollosy for anything he says in brown 's trial . brown 's lawyer , mark geragos , says the bodyguard 's testimony is crucial to brown 's defense . hollosy did not take the stand in his own trial , but his lawyer indicated hollosy would say that he hit adams because adams was trying to get on brown 's bus , and it was his job to protect his client . california probation revoked a conviction in the washington case would be trouble for brown because of his probation for the felony assault conviction in los angeles . the judge overseeing that case has already ruled that the singer violated his probation by being arrested last october , but he is waiting until after the d.c. trial to decide whether the revocation will become final . the revocation decision will be made at a hearing after brown returns to los angeles from washington . planes , chains and automobiles : chris brown 's miserable trip to trial if convicted in washington , brown faces another grueling con air ' trip . the u.s . marshal 's service is committed to returning him to the los angeles jail through the u.s. justice department 's notoriously slow and uncomfortable prisoner transport system . if brown is acquitted in the washington case , his lawyer will argue that he should be immediately released from jail and allowed to resume his probation . even then , brown must work at least three days a week on a road clean-up crew to complete more than 700 hours of community labor remaining on his sentence in the rihanna assault . | brown 's criminal cases stem from his alleged inability to control anger |
brown <tsp> los angeles ( cnn ) -- the legal troubles threatening to send chris brown to prison for several years began with the singer 's arrest five years ago in the brutal attack on then-girlfriend rihanna . brown has spent almost all of the past six months either in rehab or jail . he 's been locked up since he was booted from a court-ordered substance abuse and anger management program on march 14 . brown has two pending criminal cases , both stemming from his alleged inability to control his anger . brown 's d.c. assault case brown , 24 , and his bodyguard , christopher hollosy , allegedly punched parker adams after a quick exchange of words on a sidewalk blocks from the white house last october . brown was arrested on a felony assault charge , but it was reduced to a misdemeanor and he was released on bond the next day . the trial is set to begin wednesday in d.c. superior court . the judge who presided over the separate trial of brown 's bodyguard was taken off of brown 's case monday . d.c. superior judge patricia wynn said as she announced her guilty verdict for hollosy that she believed the testimony of a limousine driver who said he saw brown hit adams and that adams did not fight back . replacing wynn with judge a. franklin burgess , a retired judge , gives brown a fresh start with a judge who has not already given an opinion on the evidence against him . brown 's defense has been complicated by hollosy 's conviction , because the bodyguard 's testimony could hurt his own appeal . prosecutors are considering whether they will grant immunity to hollosy for anything he says in brown 's trial . brown 's lawyer , mark geragos , says the bodyguard 's testimony is crucial to brown 's defense . hollosy did not take the stand in his own trial , but his lawyer indicated hollosy would say that he hit adams because adams was trying to get on brown 's bus , and it was his job to protect his client . california probation revoked a conviction in the washington case would be trouble for brown because of his probation for the felony assault conviction in los angeles . the judge overseeing that case has already ruled that the singer violated his probation by being arrested last october , but he is waiting until after the d.c. trial to decide whether the revocation will become final . the revocation decision will be made at a hearing after brown returns to los angeles from washington . planes , chains and automobiles : chris brown 's miserable trip to trial if convicted in washington , brown faces another grueling con air ' trip . the u.s . marshal 's service is committed to returning him to the los angeles jail through the u.s. justice department 's notoriously slow and uncomfortable prisoner transport system . if brown is acquitted in the washington case , his lawyer will argue that he should be immediately released from jail and allowed to resume his probation . even then , brown must work at least three days a week on a road clean-up crew to complete more than 700 hours of community labor remaining on his sentence in the rihanna assault . | new : brown gets a new judge after bodyguard is found guilty |
serena williams <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a day after world no . 1 serena williams suffered one of the worst losses of her career at the wta finals , second-ranked maria sharapova was n't that much better . sharapova 's hopes of reaching the semifinals in singapore -- not to mention overtaking williams as the year-end no . 1 -- are hanging by a thread following a 6-3 6-2 defeat to petra kvitova on thursday . but williams rebounded in thursday 's last match by crushing an out of sorts eugenie bouchard 6-1 6-1 . kvitova famously beat sharapova at wimbledon in 2011 to open her grand slam account but the czech had lost five in a row to the u.s.-based russian . sharapova hit six double faults and was broken five times as she fell to 0-2 in the white group . never one for excuses , she refused to blame the result on fatigue two days after caroline wozniacki outlasted her in a grueling three-hour contest . i do n't feel tired , ' sharapova told reporters . i 'm happy to be here . i 'm happy to be part of this event . it 's easy to sit here and say ,'yeah , i 'm tired .'but that 's not the way i feel or the way that i choose to speak . ' kvitova improved to 1-1 while the resurgent wozniacki remained a perfect 2-0 after earlier topping agnieszka radwanska 7-5 6-3 . sharapova -- who won her lone year-end title 10 years ago -- must now beat the 1-1 radwanska on friday to have any chance of advancing . but even a win wo n't guarantee a spot in the semifinals . for sharapova to become the year-end no . 1 , she now has to win the tournament and hope williams does n't make the final . i still have a match ahead of me , and i will do my best to finish it on a good note , ' sharapova said . that 's the only thing i can ask of myself . ' simona halep routed williams 6-0 6-2 in the red group on wednesday , prompting the 18-time grand slam winner to say she was embarrassed ' with her performance . she was far better versus a bouchard who has done little since reaching the wimbledon final . yesterday was tough for me but i had to put it behind me , ' williams was quoted as saying by the wta . my coach really helped me out and to focus on today , telling me that i 'm still in the tournament , even though i felt like i was out of it after such a tough loss . ' bouchard escaped a 0-40 hole on serve in the first game but then lost 11 consecutive games to trail 6-1 5-0 . the canadian finished with an 0-3 record and did n't claim a set . if ana ivanovic does n't beat halep -- who has already qualified for the semifinals -- in straight sets friday , williams and halep progress to the last four . | serena williams recovers from a bad defeat wednesday to crush eugenie bouchard |
sharapova <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a day after world no . 1 serena williams suffered one of the worst losses of her career at the wta finals , second-ranked maria sharapova was n't that much better . sharapova 's hopes of reaching the semifinals in singapore -- not to mention overtaking williams as the year-end no . 1 -- are hanging by a thread following a 6-3 6-2 defeat to petra kvitova on thursday . but williams rebounded in thursday 's last match by crushing an out of sorts eugenie bouchard 6-1 6-1 . kvitova famously beat sharapova at wimbledon in 2011 to open her grand slam account but the czech had lost five in a row to the u.s.-based russian . sharapova hit six double faults and was broken five times as she fell to 0-2 in the white group . never one for excuses , she refused to blame the result on fatigue two days after caroline wozniacki outlasted her in a grueling three-hour contest . i do n't feel tired , ' sharapova told reporters . i 'm happy to be here . i 'm happy to be part of this event . it 's easy to sit here and say ,'yeah , i 'm tired .'but that 's not the way i feel or the way that i choose to speak . ' kvitova improved to 1-1 while the resurgent wozniacki remained a perfect 2-0 after earlier topping agnieszka radwanska 7-5 6-3 . sharapova -- who won her lone year-end title 10 years ago -- must now beat the 1-1 radwanska on friday to have any chance of advancing . but even a win wo n't guarantee a spot in the semifinals . for sharapova to become the year-end no . 1 , she now has to win the tournament and hope williams does n't make the final . i still have a match ahead of me , and i will do my best to finish it on a good note , ' sharapova said . that 's the only thing i can ask of myself . ' simona halep routed williams 6-0 6-2 in the red group on wednesday , prompting the 18-time grand slam winner to say she was embarrassed ' with her performance . she was far better versus a bouchard who has done little since reaching the wimbledon final . yesterday was tough for me but i had to put it behind me , ' williams was quoted as saying by the wta . my coach really helped me out and to focus on today , telling me that i 'm still in the tournament , even though i felt like i was out of it after such a tough loss . ' bouchard escaped a 0-40 hole on serve in the first game but then lost 11 consecutive games to trail 6-1 5-0 . the canadian finished with an 0-3 record and did n't claim a set . if ana ivanovic does n't beat halep -- who has already qualified for the semifinals -- in straight sets friday , williams and halep progress to the last four . | sharapova needs to win her final group match to have any chance of progressing |
sharapova <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a day after world no . 1 serena williams suffered one of the worst losses of her career at the wta finals , second-ranked maria sharapova was n't that much better . sharapova 's hopes of reaching the semifinals in singapore -- not to mention overtaking williams as the year-end no . 1 -- are hanging by a thread following a 6-3 6-2 defeat to petra kvitova on thursday . but williams rebounded in thursday 's last match by crushing an out of sorts eugenie bouchard 6-1 6-1 . kvitova famously beat sharapova at wimbledon in 2011 to open her grand slam account but the czech had lost five in a row to the u.s.-based russian . sharapova hit six double faults and was broken five times as she fell to 0-2 in the white group . never one for excuses , she refused to blame the result on fatigue two days after caroline wozniacki outlasted her in a grueling three-hour contest . i do n't feel tired , ' sharapova told reporters . i 'm happy to be here . i 'm happy to be part of this event . it 's easy to sit here and say ,'yeah , i 'm tired .'but that 's not the way i feel or the way that i choose to speak . ' kvitova improved to 1-1 while the resurgent wozniacki remained a perfect 2-0 after earlier topping agnieszka radwanska 7-5 6-3 . sharapova -- who won her lone year-end title 10 years ago -- must now beat the 1-1 radwanska on friday to have any chance of advancing . but even a win wo n't guarantee a spot in the semifinals . for sharapova to become the year-end no . 1 , she now has to win the tournament and hope williams does n't make the final . i still have a match ahead of me , and i will do my best to finish it on a good note , ' sharapova said . that 's the only thing i can ask of myself . ' simona halep routed williams 6-0 6-2 in the red group on wednesday , prompting the 18-time grand slam winner to say she was embarrassed ' with her performance . she was far better versus a bouchard who has done little since reaching the wimbledon final . yesterday was tough for me but i had to put it behind me , ' williams was quoted as saying by the wta . my coach really helped me out and to focus on today , telling me that i 'm still in the tournament , even though i felt like i was out of it after such a tough loss . ' bouchard escaped a 0-40 hole on serve in the first game but then lost 11 consecutive games to trail 6-1 5-0 . the canadian finished with an 0-3 record and did n't claim a set . if ana ivanovic does n't beat halep -- who has already qualified for the semifinals -- in straight sets friday , williams and halep progress to the last four . | maria sharapova loses to petra kvitova in straight sets at the wta finals |
wagon wheel <tsp> ( cnn ) -- who inspired the democratic senatorial campaign committee to throw a million bucks at south dakota ? a country singing troubadour candidate who plays guitar , drives a minivan and makes a gop tracker the star of his latest web ad . meet rick weiland , the democratic hopeful who 's trailing former republican governor mike rounds in a four-way race that also includes former republican senator larry pressler , running as an independent and gordon howie , also an independent . the ad features weiland performing a modified version of the song wagon wheel , ' which was originally written by bob dylan and later made popular by the band old crow medicine show . the original song 's chorus rock me momma like a wagon wheel ' resonates well with both pop and country music fans . weiland , who has been turning popular music into campaign ads since the start of his campaign , was looking for a song that would connect more with millennials . i was driving around one day and that song came on ' weiland said . he then thought , well , that 's gon na work . ' when weiland first started making music videos into campaign ads , he admitted it that it takes a lot of courage . we were a little concerned because no one had done it before , ' he said , but we figured , what the heck , let 's just keep coming up with good songs . it 's been a lot of fun . ' wieland has also turned music into a family tradition , performing in a band with his two daughters , his brother and nephew called the take it back band . ' they perform regularly throughout south dakota and even hold music festival events called rick-stock , ' which is an obvious take on the famous woodstock festival . weiland started combing music and politics in 1997 when he was a regional director for fema under the cinton administration . we actually wrote some great fema songs , ' he said while reflecting on his time traveling with his former fema colleague and friend david decourcy . with years of experience playing and traveling on the road , it 's safe to say weiland took this latest musical endeavor to a new level , modifying the lyrics to fit his campaign message . he plays the guitar while singing his own chorus , so i 'm runnin'for the senate but i ai n't a big wheel , do n't have an army , just my automobile . ' weiland might not be running a $ 9 million campaign like his republican opponent mike rounds aims to raise , but he does have a new million-dollar bump to sing about . the dscc will spend $ 1 million on the race , mostly for television ads and to support field operations , bloomberg politics first reported . the dscc obviously must think i can win , ' he said . after slugging on my own here for more than a year and half with very little money , i have n't spent all my time fundraising , i 've spent my money going to town to town and people are going to vote someone who has earned the privilege to represent them , not someone who is trying to buy their way in . ' but it looks like the money wo n't help weiland produce another wagon wheel ' style ad , with the funds expected to flood airwaves with attack ads hitting gop nominee rounds . that 's something groups have already done , with ads attacking rounds over his alleged involvement in a visa program scandal in the state . those types of ads will likely help weiland , but could also be a boon for pressler , the independent who surged into second place in a surveyusa poll released wednesday . weiland is now trailing both rounds and pressler by seven and four points , respectively , according to the poll . and the poll indicates pressler is mostly pulling votes away from weiland . the investment in attack ads , rather than pro-weilland ads suggests democrats are confident either a weiland or pressler victory will help them keep control of the senate . bloomberg politics reported that democrats are confident pressler , who endorsed obama in 2008 and 2012 , would caucus with democrats if elected to the senate , though pressler has not said who he would side with . it would n't be the first time this year democrats have pinned their hopes on an independent candidate polling better than his democratic counterpart . in kansas , democrats pulled their nominee out of the race to bolster businessman greg orman 's bid to unseat republican sen. pat roberts . orman also has not said who he would caucus with , though republicans have tried to paint him as obama 's candidate for the senate . ' pressler also wo n't get a chance to reproduce his style of advertising , one of which played up a popular hollywood movie . pressler 's campaign even bought air time during the oscars to play up the fact that he turned down a bribe in the abscam scandal depicted in the movie american hustle . ' as for weiland , he 's going to keep on campaigning on the ground , and keep on singing . he revealed he has one more campaign music video to release before the nov. 4 election . it 's going to be a modified johnny cash classic , but instead of i walk the line ' it 'll be called i draw the line ' and will go after one of weiland 's campaign staples , getting big money out of politics . also , here is the old crow medicine show 's version of wagon wheel . ' . cnn 's jeremy diamond contributed to this report . | he rewrites popular songs for his campaign videos , including wagon wheel . ' |
weiland <tsp> ( cnn ) -- who inspired the democratic senatorial campaign committee to throw a million bucks at south dakota ? a country singing troubadour candidate who plays guitar , drives a minivan and makes a gop tracker the star of his latest web ad . meet rick weiland , the democratic hopeful who 's trailing former republican governor mike rounds in a four-way race that also includes former republican senator larry pressler , running as an independent and gordon howie , also an independent . the ad features weiland performing a modified version of the song wagon wheel , ' which was originally written by bob dylan and later made popular by the band old crow medicine show . the original song 's chorus rock me momma like a wagon wheel ' resonates well with both pop and country music fans . weiland , who has been turning popular music into campaign ads since the start of his campaign , was looking for a song that would connect more with millennials . i was driving around one day and that song came on ' weiland said . he then thought , well , that 's gon na work . ' when weiland first started making music videos into campaign ads , he admitted it that it takes a lot of courage . we were a little concerned because no one had done it before , ' he said , but we figured , what the heck , let 's just keep coming up with good songs . it 's been a lot of fun . ' wieland has also turned music into a family tradition , performing in a band with his two daughters , his brother and nephew called the take it back band . ' they perform regularly throughout south dakota and even hold music festival events called rick-stock , ' which is an obvious take on the famous woodstock festival . weiland started combing music and politics in 1997 when he was a regional director for fema under the cinton administration . we actually wrote some great fema songs , ' he said while reflecting on his time traveling with his former fema colleague and friend david decourcy . with years of experience playing and traveling on the road , it 's safe to say weiland took this latest musical endeavor to a new level , modifying the lyrics to fit his campaign message . he plays the guitar while singing his own chorus , so i 'm runnin'for the senate but i ai n't a big wheel , do n't have an army , just my automobile . ' weiland might not be running a $ 9 million campaign like his republican opponent mike rounds aims to raise , but he does have a new million-dollar bump to sing about . the dscc will spend $ 1 million on the race , mostly for television ads and to support field operations , bloomberg politics first reported . the dscc obviously must think i can win , ' he said . after slugging on my own here for more than a year and half with very little money , i have n't spent all my time fundraising , i 've spent my money going to town to town and people are going to vote someone who has earned the privilege to represent them , not someone who is trying to buy their way in . ' but it looks like the money wo n't help weiland produce another wagon wheel ' style ad , with the funds expected to flood airwaves with attack ads hitting gop nominee rounds . that 's something groups have already done , with ads attacking rounds over his alleged involvement in a visa program scandal in the state . those types of ads will likely help weiland , but could also be a boon for pressler , the independent who surged into second place in a surveyusa poll released wednesday . weiland is now trailing both rounds and pressler by seven and four points , respectively , according to the poll . and the poll indicates pressler is mostly pulling votes away from weiland . the investment in attack ads , rather than pro-weilland ads suggests democrats are confident either a weiland or pressler victory will help them keep control of the senate . bloomberg politics reported that democrats are confident pressler , who endorsed obama in 2008 and 2012 , would caucus with democrats if elected to the senate , though pressler has not said who he would side with . it would n't be the first time this year democrats have pinned their hopes on an independent candidate polling better than his democratic counterpart . in kansas , democrats pulled their nominee out of the race to bolster businessman greg orman 's bid to unseat republican sen. pat roberts . orman also has not said who he would caucus with , though republicans have tried to paint him as obama 's candidate for the senate . ' pressler also wo n't get a chance to reproduce his style of advertising , one of which played up a popular hollywood movie . pressler 's campaign even bought air time during the oscars to play up the fact that he turned down a bribe in the abscam scandal depicted in the movie american hustle . ' as for weiland , he 's going to keep on campaigning on the ground , and keep on singing . he revealed he has one more campaign music video to release before the nov. 4 election . it 's going to be a modified johnny cash classic , but instead of i walk the line ' it 'll be called i draw the line ' and will go after one of weiland 's campaign staples , getting big money out of politics . also , here is the old crow medicine show 's version of wagon wheel . ' . cnn 's jeremy diamond contributed to this report . | weiland is one of four senate hopefuls in the race . |
weiland <tsp> ( cnn ) -- who inspired the democratic senatorial campaign committee to throw a million bucks at south dakota ? a country singing troubadour candidate who plays guitar , drives a minivan and makes a gop tracker the star of his latest web ad . meet rick weiland , the democratic hopeful who 's trailing former republican governor mike rounds in a four-way race that also includes former republican senator larry pressler , running as an independent and gordon howie , also an independent . the ad features weiland performing a modified version of the song wagon wheel , ' which was originally written by bob dylan and later made popular by the band old crow medicine show . the original song 's chorus rock me momma like a wagon wheel ' resonates well with both pop and country music fans . weiland , who has been turning popular music into campaign ads since the start of his campaign , was looking for a song that would connect more with millennials . i was driving around one day and that song came on ' weiland said . he then thought , well , that 's gon na work . ' when weiland first started making music videos into campaign ads , he admitted it that it takes a lot of courage . we were a little concerned because no one had done it before , ' he said , but we figured , what the heck , let 's just keep coming up with good songs . it 's been a lot of fun . ' wieland has also turned music into a family tradition , performing in a band with his two daughters , his brother and nephew called the take it back band . ' they perform regularly throughout south dakota and even hold music festival events called rick-stock , ' which is an obvious take on the famous woodstock festival . weiland started combing music and politics in 1997 when he was a regional director for fema under the cinton administration . we actually wrote some great fema songs , ' he said while reflecting on his time traveling with his former fema colleague and friend david decourcy . with years of experience playing and traveling on the road , it 's safe to say weiland took this latest musical endeavor to a new level , modifying the lyrics to fit his campaign message . he plays the guitar while singing his own chorus , so i 'm runnin'for the senate but i ai n't a big wheel , do n't have an army , just my automobile . ' weiland might not be running a $ 9 million campaign like his republican opponent mike rounds aims to raise , but he does have a new million-dollar bump to sing about . the dscc will spend $ 1 million on the race , mostly for television ads and to support field operations , bloomberg politics first reported . the dscc obviously must think i can win , ' he said . after slugging on my own here for more than a year and half with very little money , i have n't spent all my time fundraising , i 've spent my money going to town to town and people are going to vote someone who has earned the privilege to represent them , not someone who is trying to buy their way in . ' but it looks like the money wo n't help weiland produce another wagon wheel ' style ad , with the funds expected to flood airwaves with attack ads hitting gop nominee rounds . that 's something groups have already done , with ads attacking rounds over his alleged involvement in a visa program scandal in the state . those types of ads will likely help weiland , but could also be a boon for pressler , the independent who surged into second place in a surveyusa poll released wednesday . weiland is now trailing both rounds and pressler by seven and four points , respectively , according to the poll . and the poll indicates pressler is mostly pulling votes away from weiland . the investment in attack ads , rather than pro-weilland ads suggests democrats are confident either a weiland or pressler victory will help them keep control of the senate . bloomberg politics reported that democrats are confident pressler , who endorsed obama in 2008 and 2012 , would caucus with democrats if elected to the senate , though pressler has not said who he would side with . it would n't be the first time this year democrats have pinned their hopes on an independent candidate polling better than his democratic counterpart . in kansas , democrats pulled their nominee out of the race to bolster businessman greg orman 's bid to unseat republican sen. pat roberts . orman also has not said who he would caucus with , though republicans have tried to paint him as obama 's candidate for the senate . ' pressler also wo n't get a chance to reproduce his style of advertising , one of which played up a popular hollywood movie . pressler 's campaign even bought air time during the oscars to play up the fact that he turned down a bribe in the abscam scandal depicted in the movie american hustle . ' as for weiland , he 's going to keep on campaigning on the ground , and keep on singing . he revealed he has one more campaign music video to release before the nov. 4 election . it 's going to be a modified johnny cash classic , but instead of i walk the line ' it 'll be called i draw the line ' and will go after one of weiland 's campaign staples , getting big money out of politics . also , here is the old crow medicine show 's version of wagon wheel . ' . cnn 's jeremy diamond contributed to this report . | rick weiland is the democratic hopeful in south dakota 's senate race . |
star wars <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the force is strong with this one . this year 's san diego comic-con is in full swing -- and that means plenty of cool stuff debuting to make geeks and fanboys/fangirls go crazy . mattel got in on the fun thursday , unveiling the special-edition darth car , ' which heralds the toymaker 's partnership with the star wars ' franchise . star wars tweeted a pic of the car of the vadermobile with the caption , our new whip . limited edition . # 1 of 1 . @ hot_wheels # darthcar # sdcc # sdcc2014 . ' according to car and driver magazine , hot wheels has a new lineup of cars based on star wars ' characters . the toy cars are reportedly scheduled to hit store shelves in october . but attendees at comic-con got the chance to kick the tires on a life-size version of the darth car . car and driver reports that it is based on a c5 chevrolet corvette , can hit 150 mph , has a hatch that opens like vader 's helmet and features several special audio effects , including the sounds of darth vader breathing . our question is whether the luke skywalker car knows it 's related . comic-con : ben affleck 's'batman'makes an appearance cosplay at comic-con : who wore it best ? | hot wheels has a line of star wars ' cars coming out |
moscow <tsp> ( cnn ) -- chris helmbrecht is a 37-year-old german who lived in new york and spain before moving to moscow nearly six years ago . he runs an advertising agency and also writes moscow blog , a lifestyle blog about the city . chris helmbrecht : not many places have as much energy as moscow . ' cnn : you 've traveled around a lot -- what makes moscow unique ? chris helmbrecht : not many places have so much energy and so many things going on . it can be very nerve wracking and exhausting , but on the other hand it 's very exciting . new york is one of those places , tokyo too , but there are only a handful of cities in the world that have that kind of energy . cnn : you used to be a dj -- what 's your opinion of moscow 's nightlife ? ch : for some people the nightlife is the best in the world , but for me it 's very commercial and posh . you can sum it up in one sentence , which is a general thing about moscow : people here live sex and the city . ' they just want to go out and spend money and pretend they 're rich and successful and live this dream . i recently had a conversation with the club editor of timeout moscow and i asked her if she thought the clubs were suffering right now with the economy . she said that in the modern new russian ' culture people would rather sell their mercedes than not go out and spend anywhere between $ 4,000 and $ 6,000 on a table in a club and admit that they 're not rich anymore . moscow is dominated by posh parties , but it 's no different at a subculture place like a techno club -- you 're always judged by the labels you wear , the car you drive and the music you identify yourself with . cnn : where do you like to go in the city ? ch : novodevichy monastery is a really beautiful old monastery . stalin demolished a lot of churches and monasteries but this one was spared . there 's a pond below it that you can walk around , and all the russian orthodox popes are buried in he cemetery . it 's a very nice place . another place is would be vorobyovy gory ( sparrow hills ) , where you can look out over moscow . it 's pretty industrial looking but it has good views . i also enjoy the center of moscow . i like hanging out on the roof bar of a hotel , having a drink , looking out over red square . it makes you feel like you 're away from the noise of the city . what makes moscow special to you ? let us know . cnn : what do muscovites do at the weekend ? ch : it depends on the time of year , but in the summer they take every opportunity to get out of the city . everyone has a little weekend house called a dacha ' and every friday night after work people leave the city . from 4pm in the afternoon to 10pm at night you have long traffic jams on all the roads out of the city . people will spend three or four hours in traffic jams just to travel 60km -- and on the way back on sunday and monday mornings it 's the same . some dachas ' are really basic wooden houses and some are palaces but every family has one , or even two or three . people go out to the woods or lakes and they have barbeques , they drink and they do some gardening . they value this dacha ' life so much that they 're willing to spend 6 hours in traffic to spend 1 ½ days in the woods . cnn : so is moscow is deserted in the summertime ? ch : moscow is very quiet in the summertime -- it 's my favorite time . you can already notice that there are less people in the clubs and less people in the streets at the weekend . towards the end of june , moscow is really empty . you really notice it from the middle of july until september , when it 's school vacations . cnn : has moscow change a lot since you moved there ? ch : yes -- you can see it renewing itself . i know how it went with berlin -- in 10 years you wo n't recognize moscow anymore . streets have changed so much in the last five years , in a good way and a bad way . a lot of cool-looking brick buildings were torn down to create business centers , but on the other hand you have great new modern buildings and hotels -- the ritz carlton for example . there are lots of new museums popping up , art centers , alternative art , new shops and cafes . it 's so different to when i came here five years ago and to be honest , i never would have expected it . cnn : what do you miss about moscow when you 're away ? ch : i miss the excitement . there 's something going on all the time . there 's so much choice in terms of theater , classical ballet , the nightlife , the galleries . you have that in berlin but it 's harder to find and not as exciting , and new york has lost a lot of its flavor , glamour and energy at the moment . cnn : if moscow were a person , what would he or she be like ? ch : an ugly princess who wears a lot of makeup and tries to be pretty ! she would probably seem pretty rude , but inside she 's a good person . | he says moscow 's energy makes it exciting , but it can be exhausting |
moscow <tsp> ( cnn ) -- chris helmbrecht is a 37-year-old german who lived in new york and spain before moving to moscow nearly six years ago . he runs an advertising agency and also writes moscow blog , a lifestyle blog about the city . chris helmbrecht : not many places have as much energy as moscow . ' cnn : you 've traveled around a lot -- what makes moscow unique ? chris helmbrecht : not many places have so much energy and so many things going on . it can be very nerve wracking and exhausting , but on the other hand it 's very exciting . new york is one of those places , tokyo too , but there are only a handful of cities in the world that have that kind of energy . cnn : you used to be a dj -- what 's your opinion of moscow 's nightlife ? ch : for some people the nightlife is the best in the world , but for me it 's very commercial and posh . you can sum it up in one sentence , which is a general thing about moscow : people here live sex and the city . ' they just want to go out and spend money and pretend they 're rich and successful and live this dream . i recently had a conversation with the club editor of timeout moscow and i asked her if she thought the clubs were suffering right now with the economy . she said that in the modern new russian ' culture people would rather sell their mercedes than not go out and spend anywhere between $ 4,000 and $ 6,000 on a table in a club and admit that they 're not rich anymore . moscow is dominated by posh parties , but it 's no different at a subculture place like a techno club -- you 're always judged by the labels you wear , the car you drive and the music you identify yourself with . cnn : where do you like to go in the city ? ch : novodevichy monastery is a really beautiful old monastery . stalin demolished a lot of churches and monasteries but this one was spared . there 's a pond below it that you can walk around , and all the russian orthodox popes are buried in he cemetery . it 's a very nice place . another place is would be vorobyovy gory ( sparrow hills ) , where you can look out over moscow . it 's pretty industrial looking but it has good views . i also enjoy the center of moscow . i like hanging out on the roof bar of a hotel , having a drink , looking out over red square . it makes you feel like you 're away from the noise of the city . what makes moscow special to you ? let us know . cnn : what do muscovites do at the weekend ? ch : it depends on the time of year , but in the summer they take every opportunity to get out of the city . everyone has a little weekend house called a dacha ' and every friday night after work people leave the city . from 4pm in the afternoon to 10pm at night you have long traffic jams on all the roads out of the city . people will spend three or four hours in traffic jams just to travel 60km -- and on the way back on sunday and monday mornings it 's the same . some dachas ' are really basic wooden houses and some are palaces but every family has one , or even two or three . people go out to the woods or lakes and they have barbeques , they drink and they do some gardening . they value this dacha ' life so much that they 're willing to spend 6 hours in traffic to spend 1 ½ days in the woods . cnn : so is moscow is deserted in the summertime ? ch : moscow is very quiet in the summertime -- it 's my favorite time . you can already notice that there are less people in the clubs and less people in the streets at the weekend . towards the end of june , moscow is really empty . you really notice it from the middle of july until september , when it 's school vacations . cnn : has moscow change a lot since you moved there ? ch : yes -- you can see it renewing itself . i know how it went with berlin -- in 10 years you wo n't recognize moscow anymore . streets have changed so much in the last five years , in a good way and a bad way . a lot of cool-looking brick buildings were torn down to create business centers , but on the other hand you have great new modern buildings and hotels -- the ritz carlton for example . there are lots of new museums popping up , art centers , alternative art , new shops and cafes . it 's so different to when i came here five years ago and to be honest , i never would have expected it . cnn : what do you miss about moscow when you 're away ? ch : i miss the excitement . there 's something going on all the time . there 's so much choice in terms of theater , classical ballet , the nightlife , the galleries . you have that in berlin but it 's harder to find and not as exciting , and new york has lost a lot of its flavor , glamour and energy at the moment . cnn : if moscow were a person , what would he or she be like ? ch : an ugly princess who wears a lot of makeup and tries to be pretty ! she would probably seem pretty rude , but inside she 's a good person . | chris helmbrecht is a 37-year-old german who now lives in moscow |
moscow <tsp> ( cnn ) -- chris helmbrecht is a 37-year-old german who lived in new york and spain before moving to moscow nearly six years ago . he runs an advertising agency and also writes moscow blog , a lifestyle blog about the city . chris helmbrecht : not many places have as much energy as moscow . ' cnn : you 've traveled around a lot -- what makes moscow unique ? chris helmbrecht : not many places have so much energy and so many things going on . it can be very nerve wracking and exhausting , but on the other hand it 's very exciting . new york is one of those places , tokyo too , but there are only a handful of cities in the world that have that kind of energy . cnn : you used to be a dj -- what 's your opinion of moscow 's nightlife ? ch : for some people the nightlife is the best in the world , but for me it 's very commercial and posh . you can sum it up in one sentence , which is a general thing about moscow : people here live sex and the city . ' they just want to go out and spend money and pretend they 're rich and successful and live this dream . i recently had a conversation with the club editor of timeout moscow and i asked her if she thought the clubs were suffering right now with the economy . she said that in the modern new russian ' culture people would rather sell their mercedes than not go out and spend anywhere between $ 4,000 and $ 6,000 on a table in a club and admit that they 're not rich anymore . moscow is dominated by posh parties , but it 's no different at a subculture place like a techno club -- you 're always judged by the labels you wear , the car you drive and the music you identify yourself with . cnn : where do you like to go in the city ? ch : novodevichy monastery is a really beautiful old monastery . stalin demolished a lot of churches and monasteries but this one was spared . there 's a pond below it that you can walk around , and all the russian orthodox popes are buried in he cemetery . it 's a very nice place . another place is would be vorobyovy gory ( sparrow hills ) , where you can look out over moscow . it 's pretty industrial looking but it has good views . i also enjoy the center of moscow . i like hanging out on the roof bar of a hotel , having a drink , looking out over red square . it makes you feel like you 're away from the noise of the city . what makes moscow special to you ? let us know . cnn : what do muscovites do at the weekend ? ch : it depends on the time of year , but in the summer they take every opportunity to get out of the city . everyone has a little weekend house called a dacha ' and every friday night after work people leave the city . from 4pm in the afternoon to 10pm at night you have long traffic jams on all the roads out of the city . people will spend three or four hours in traffic jams just to travel 60km -- and on the way back on sunday and monday mornings it 's the same . some dachas ' are really basic wooden houses and some are palaces but every family has one , or even two or three . people go out to the woods or lakes and they have barbeques , they drink and they do some gardening . they value this dacha ' life so much that they 're willing to spend 6 hours in traffic to spend 1 ½ days in the woods . cnn : so is moscow is deserted in the summertime ? ch : moscow is very quiet in the summertime -- it 's my favorite time . you can already notice that there are less people in the clubs and less people in the streets at the weekend . towards the end of june , moscow is really empty . you really notice it from the middle of july until september , when it 's school vacations . cnn : has moscow change a lot since you moved there ? ch : yes -- you can see it renewing itself . i know how it went with berlin -- in 10 years you wo n't recognize moscow anymore . streets have changed so much in the last five years , in a good way and a bad way . a lot of cool-looking brick buildings were torn down to create business centers , but on the other hand you have great new modern buildings and hotels -- the ritz carlton for example . there are lots of new museums popping up , art centers , alternative art , new shops and cafes . it 's so different to when i came here five years ago and to be honest , i never would have expected it . cnn : what do you miss about moscow when you 're away ? ch : i miss the excitement . there 's something going on all the time . there 's so much choice in terms of theater , classical ballet , the nightlife , the galleries . you have that in berlin but it 's harder to find and not as exciting , and new york has lost a lot of its flavor , glamour and energy at the moment . cnn : if moscow were a person , what would he or she be like ? ch : an ugly princess who wears a lot of makeup and tries to be pretty ! she would probably seem pretty rude , but inside she 's a good person . | moscow is renewing itself . in 10 years you wo n't recognize it , ' he says |
iraq <tsp> ( cnn ) -- ten years after the fall of saddam hussein , iraq remains enmeshed in a grim cycle of human rights abuses , ' amnesty international said in a report monday . many iraqis today enjoy greater freedoms than they did under his ba'athist regime , but the fundamental human rights gains that should have been achieved during the past decade have signally failed to materialize , ' said hassiba hadj sahraoui , middle east and north africa deputy director at amnesty international . attacks on civilians , the torture of detainees and unfair trials permeate the country , amnesty international said . the report said government forces commit torture with impunity , especially against those arrested on suspicion of carrying out terrorism acts . there was no immediate reaction from the iraqi government . methods of torture methods of torture reported by detainees include electric shocks ; including to the genitals ; partial suffocation with a bag placed tightly over the head ; beatings while suspended in contorted positions ; and the deprivation of food , water and sleep , amnesty said . detainees have alleged that they were tortured to force them to'confess'to serious crimes or to incriminate others while held in these conditions , ' the group said . many have repudiated their confessions at trial only to see the courts admit them as evidence of their guilt , without investigating their torture allegations , sentencing them to long term imprisonment or death . ' 129 hangings such death sentences contribute to one of the highest execution rates in the world , amnesty said . last year , 129 iraqi prisoners were hanged . death sentences and executions are being used on a horrendous scale , ' sahraoui said . it is particularly abhorrent that many prisoners have been sentenced to death after unfair trials and on the basis of confessions they say they were forced to make under torture . ' amnesty international opposes the death penalty worldwide . sectarian strife sectarian strife also continues to plague the country , where shiite muslims dominate the central government . thousands of demonstrators in sunni-dominated areas have protested the arbitrary detention and abuse of detainees , amnesty said . the protesters also denounced what they say is government discrimination against the sunni population . sunni armed groups , meanwhile , continue to attack not only government targets but also shiite civilians , including religious pilgrims , the group said . last month , iraq 's top judicial committee accused sunni vice president tariq al-hashimi 's security detail of carrying out 150 attacks against security forces and civilians between 2005 and 2011 . al-hashimi denied those allegations , saying they are politically motivated . this year marks the 10th anniversary of the u.s.-led invasion in iraq . the country has struggled to define itself , even after u.s. troops withdrew from iraq at the end of 2011 . violence has dropped dramatically but insurgent attacks against civilians and security forces persist . many areas are still smoldering with sectarian tension and political infighting . cnn 's neda farshbaf contributed to this report . | amnesty international says the torture of detainees and unfair trials plague iraq |
android <tsp> ( cnn ) -- we 're used to our phones navigating us from one place to another , giving detailed instructions on how to find our destination in the fastest , easiest way possible . but there are a few apps that have no intention of ushering you somewhere quickly . instead , they want to help you get out , get moving and get a little lost , hopefully discovering something new along the way . that 's the idea behind an application called dérive , which was developed by eduardo cachucho , an architect and lecturer based in johannesburg , south africa . set up like a loosely structured game , dérive consists of a general set of instructional cards that can be used anywhere or localized versions for select cities . they prompt the user to set out in a generalized direction , offering cryptic hints to help them along . for example , you might be instructed to turn left and search for something sweet , ' and then to keep going straight and look for a sign of hope . ' that emphasis on giving a critical eye to your environment was key for cachucho and his development partner , babak fakhamzadeh . the goal for us is to empower everyday people to understand how the urban space works , ' cachucho said . they wanted to do it in a way that took advantage of mobile technology -- a technique that did n't initially make sense to some people . cachucho said that one of the first reactions some people have is questioning how someone can truly appreciate the world around them with their eyes on a phone . i think there 's a misconception that you ca n't interface with the two at the same time , ' he said . it 's really based on the idea that if you give a person the tools to explore the urban space , given the right cues , it 'll get someone to move in an interesting direction . ' the pair also host workshops to help interested groups come up with a more location-specific deck of cards . the san francisco set , for example , tells the player to go downtown , look for a closed store and then make a left after two blocks . it 's almost like a scavenger hunt , but with the prize of seeing your environment in a new way . similarly , an iphone app called serendipitor is built around the idea of taking detours from one 's normal route in hopes of stumbling upon something interesting and previously overlooked . developed by mark shepard , an architect and researcher who teaches at the university at buffalo , the serendipitor is described as an alternative navigation app . ' shepard originally developed the app as part of a larger project , and with funding from the nonprofit organization creative capital , rolled it out in 2010 . instead of cards , serendipitor uses the familiar interface of google maps and adds in options for discovery to the desired route . i 'm somebody who loves to just wander in cities , ' shepard said . how can we put ourselves in situations where we might discover something new , or have an encounter which we might not have normally thought of through [ navigation ] technology ? ' of course , the irony , shepard points out , is that we 're living in an age that we 're downloading an app from apple for something as simple and human as serendipity . ' shepard is n't done tinkering with the application just yet and also wants users to be able to suggest detours for particular routes . but for those who need more of an incentive than simple discovery to get moving , google 's nianticlabs has come up with an option that a j.j. abrams fan could love : an augmented reality game called ingress that 's played on android phones . unlike serendipitor or dérive , ingress does n't guide its players through a specified route . instead , it 's an open-ended game played globally between two teams -- the enlightened and the resistance -- who are battling to control a mysterious energy scientists have uncovered on earth . each team is always on the move , seeking to access portals ' that are found in public spaces , such as monuments , art installations , historical markers or libraries . the whole purpose of niantic is to basically invent apps that are designed for the mobile experience and for the coming wearable computing experience to help people get more out of the real world when they 're out , ' said niantic 's john hanke . in the case of ingress , a whole game has been created to make it fun in a different way . ' as a video game fan and father of three , hanke said he was conflicted about how stationary video and computer games are . the idea for ingress formed when he was commuting back and forth to his old job , overseeing google maps and google earth . i was watching what was happening with mobile phones , and i thought , you know , there 's an opportunity to take this addictive quality of video games and to marry it with mobile and break through the downside of games that they 're sedentary , ' hanke said . on the ingress google+ page , you can find fans who 've reworked their own daily commutes to allow for a little play time . we have grandmothers playing and we have 6-year-olds playing , ' hanke said . walking and getting fresh air and getting that hit of adrenaline is a fun experience . a lot of people are busy and have forgotten the pleasure of that . the game has given people an excuse to walk a little bit and see their town . we 're piggy-backing on the basic pleasure of being outside and exercising . ' we may soon see more apps that want to derail you rather than simply plot your usual path , thanks to advancements in mobile tech . with wearable computing and things that you wear on your body , whether that 's a bracelet that 's tracking your steps or your exercise , or a watch that has your information on it , i think the hardware is evolving to things that are much more suited to using while you 're out and on the move , ' hanke said . the cell phone is a good intermediate step , but in the next few years i think we 're going to see devices emerge that fit this idea of really moving with apps and apps that really help you when you 're physically engaged and active . ' | ingress is an android game that encourages interacting with the environment |
tom mcevoy <tsp> ( cnn ) -- we 're all know the saying to be the best , you 've got to learn from the best . ' and while it might be true that there are plenty of quality regular people out there who can help you refine your game -- ski , fish , dunk , bluff , drive -- it 's nice to get instruction from a legit superstar of the craft . but book a session with a big name -- an olympic hero , a bassmaster classic champ , an nba star , a world series of poker bracelet winner , a nascar legend -- and it 's not ( let 's face it ) just about improving . it 's about luxuriating in the experience of doing something -- anything -- under the tutelage of a famous , field-tested elite . and , yeah , picking up your game a notch , too , and with you 'll never believe who ... ski with tommy moe ( jackson hole , wyoming ) in 1994 , olympian tommy moe made history by becoming the first u.s. alpine skier to win two medals ( a gold and silver ) in the same winter games -- before he had a super nintendo game named after him . today , when he 's not running rivers or guiding heli-skiing trips in alaska , moe avails himself to the intermediate-to-expert skiing public at jackson hole mountain resort as a ski ambassador . for half or full days , groups of up to five can arrange for moe himself to whisk them to some of his favorite spots on the hill . included in the deal : field-tested olympian ski tips and answers to all those pressing questions only a genial super-g champion can answer , e.g . what 's it feel like doing this at over 75 mph ? tommy moe fantasy sports camp with deion sanders , walt frazier , others maybe the cowboys , pirates and knicks have missed out on your athletic services , but that does n't mean you ca n't scrimmage with some of the finest former pros who 've worn their colors . customized fantasy sports camps ( coordinated by unique experiences specialist goviva ) have put together flag football games with deion sanders and jerome bettis , hosted by espn personalities mike and mike ; basketball workshops with walt frazier , alex english and other former nba stars ; and opportunities to play in places like the rose bowl in pasadena , california , madison square garden in new york and pnc park in pittsburgh . most fantasy camps can run up to three days for groups of 10 to 20 , and include interactive game instruction as well as actual game play with pros who are n't here to tackle or taunt you -- but welcome you to the team . goviva richard petty driving experience you can sit behind the wheel of a 600-horsepower race car , log lap after blurry lap at an official racing track and then get direct feedback from nascar hall of famer richard petty . even if your name is n't ricky bobby , that 's a pretty sweet ride . the richard petty driving experience offers several stock car racing experiences at hallowed ovals around the country -- from shotgun ride-alongs with expert drivers to a rookie experience ' that lets racing wannabes do eight laps in the driver 's seat of a nascar vehicle . the premier program -- richard petty fantasy racing camp -- is a multi-day event held at revolving locations ( next up : charlotte , north carolina , in october 2013 ) that lets groups of 10 to 12 people take hundreds of laps behind the wheel with the king himself , as well as fellow nascar legends like dale inman and randy lajoie , in attendance . richard petty driving experience . texas hold'em with joe hachem and friends ' we will teach you to win like us . ' so says the wsop academy ( the official poker school of the world series of poker ) , whose roster of pro instructors has collectively pooled more than $ 20 million in winnings , and includes bracelet winners joe hachem , greg raymer and tom mcevoy . held on select dates at several metro areas around the united states , the wsop 's curriculum of classes for every skill level includes its flagship , two-day no limit hold'em tournament academy ( featuring proven tournament tactics taught by poker stars ) , a live hand analysis class ( designed to find and fix your weak spots ) and a cash game academy for when you 're ready to turn this all into your day job . recent alumni have included a 2011 wsop seniors event bracelet winner , a 2010 wsop event second place finisher ( $ 375,627 ) and several people cleaning up back home at their neighborhood poker nights . world series of poker academy bass fish with paul elias ( pachuta , mississippi ) competitive bass fishing groupies need no introduction to bassmaster classic champ paul elias , who 's logged nearly three decades of wins and top 10 finishes on the elite circuit . pros and amateur weekend anglers alike can glean one-on-one insights from the legend himself during single- or two-day private structure fishing classes on 780-acre lake eddins , elias'bass-filled home waters in eastern mississippi , near meridian . map reading , lure-gear-and-bait selection and effective gps use all factor into the customized open lake curriculum . classes center on structure-fishing techniques , but can also include lessons on flippin'and pitchin', top water and shallow swim baits -- and if terms like these are already too familiar to you , you 're ahead of the game . elias provides the tackle , but feel free to bring your own . room and meals included . in depth fishing golf with butch harmon ( las vegas ) butch harmon coached tiger woods for years and has helped other huge names in the sport ( or just plain huge names , including five american presidents ) analyze and improve their games . attend an intensive multi-day golf clinic at the butch harmon school of golf 's state of the art facility and you can take your own game to the next level in the company of harmon himself -- no green jacket or air force one reservation required . three days of instruction with harmon and his staff ( two-day clinics are available , too ) include nine-hole and 18-hole lessons at rio secco and cascata golf clubs , video swing analysis and four nights at caesars palace on the vegas strip . you 'll be covering long and short irons , wedge and sand shots , trouble shots , chipping , putting and why , in harmon 's words , many people play golf , but few truly understand it . ' butch harmon adventure photography with tyler stableford tapped as one of canon 's distinguished explorers of light ' and men 's journal 's seven world 's greatest adventure photographers , ' aspen , colorado-based photographer and cinematographer tyler stableford is a master of capturing humans of all kinds in their element . cowboys on horses . skiers in midair . fighter pilots in jets . roughnecks on rigs . where can you catch up with an award-winning , page-stopping action photog for national geographic , outside , sports illustrated , the north face campaigns and beyond ? at a personalized photography seminar catering to small-ish groups inspired to take better shots of interesting people in beautiful places . stableford 's multi-day canon destination workshops have taken place in utah 's moab , arizona 's mesa verde and maine 's bar harbor . next stop : maroon bells , colorado , in october 2014 . tyler stableford drum with chad/steve smith ( new york ) ok , so maybe you wo n't be keith moon in this lifetime . that 's not an entirely bad thing , and it does n't mean you ca n't meet up with a famous living drummer in new york to briefly pretend . housed in a new facility in chelsea with a separate wing dedicated solely to drum instruction , the collective school of music ( formerly the drummers collective ) offers short- and long-term programs focusing on contemporary rhythm music performance . but if you just want an hour or two with some big-name drummer , you can hook up for a master class or private lesson . the collective 's recent roster of guest teacher names -- chad smith ( red hot chili peppers ) , steve smith ( journey ) , will calhoun ( living colour ) and others -- may be exactly the quick boost your fantasy drumming career needs . the collective school of music kung fu with dr. yang , swing-ming ( miranda , california ) master instructor and acclaimed author , dr. yang , jwing-ming , is a leading authority in the world of kung fu , tai chi chuan and qigong -- and has been named by inside kung fu magazine as one of the most important teachers and practitioners of martial arts in the last century . a variety of short- or longer-term summer seminars at his ymaa retreat center , located in the hills of northern california 's humboldt county , cover kung fu , tajiquan , quiqong and other specialized martial arts topics under dr. yang 's direct instruction in a remote ( i.e . ideal ) setting for training . private one-on-one hour sessions with dr. yang can be arranged , with advance notice . yang 's martial arts association motorcycle race with jason pridmore ( buena park , california ) handling a sport bike -- at insane track speeds or in comparably crazy road traffic -- takes guts , confidence and ( hopefully not too hard-earned ) experience . track or street riders looking to raise their speed and safety quotients ( simultaneously ! ) can take riding lessons from one of the best in the business -- ama supersport champion jason pridmore . headquartered at chuckwalla valley raceway , pridmore 's long-running star motorcycle school ( skills and techniques of advanced riding ) employs a staff of pro riders who also visit several other tracks around the country during the warmer months -- including minneapolis 's brainerd international raceway , illinois'blackhawk farms raceway and new jersey 's motorsports park . two-day group schools are divided into street riders eager to build on their road skills and track riders looking to improve their lower-body steering techniques and explore their limits . you can also sign up for a one-on-one with pridmore for a private videoed session you can one day show your grandkids . jason pridmore 's star school | poker legends joe hachem and tom mcevoy share secrets |
joe hachem <tsp> ( cnn ) -- we 're all know the saying to be the best , you 've got to learn from the best . ' and while it might be true that there are plenty of quality regular people out there who can help you refine your game -- ski , fish , dunk , bluff , drive -- it 's nice to get instruction from a legit superstar of the craft . but book a session with a big name -- an olympic hero , a bassmaster classic champ , an nba star , a world series of poker bracelet winner , a nascar legend -- and it 's not ( let 's face it ) just about improving . it 's about luxuriating in the experience of doing something -- anything -- under the tutelage of a famous , field-tested elite . and , yeah , picking up your game a notch , too , and with you 'll never believe who ... ski with tommy moe ( jackson hole , wyoming ) in 1994 , olympian tommy moe made history by becoming the first u.s. alpine skier to win two medals ( a gold and silver ) in the same winter games -- before he had a super nintendo game named after him . today , when he 's not running rivers or guiding heli-skiing trips in alaska , moe avails himself to the intermediate-to-expert skiing public at jackson hole mountain resort as a ski ambassador . for half or full days , groups of up to five can arrange for moe himself to whisk them to some of his favorite spots on the hill . included in the deal : field-tested olympian ski tips and answers to all those pressing questions only a genial super-g champion can answer , e.g . what 's it feel like doing this at over 75 mph ? tommy moe fantasy sports camp with deion sanders , walt frazier , others maybe the cowboys , pirates and knicks have missed out on your athletic services , but that does n't mean you ca n't scrimmage with some of the finest former pros who 've worn their colors . customized fantasy sports camps ( coordinated by unique experiences specialist goviva ) have put together flag football games with deion sanders and jerome bettis , hosted by espn personalities mike and mike ; basketball workshops with walt frazier , alex english and other former nba stars ; and opportunities to play in places like the rose bowl in pasadena , california , madison square garden in new york and pnc park in pittsburgh . most fantasy camps can run up to three days for groups of 10 to 20 , and include interactive game instruction as well as actual game play with pros who are n't here to tackle or taunt you -- but welcome you to the team . goviva richard petty driving experience you can sit behind the wheel of a 600-horsepower race car , log lap after blurry lap at an official racing track and then get direct feedback from nascar hall of famer richard petty . even if your name is n't ricky bobby , that 's a pretty sweet ride . the richard petty driving experience offers several stock car racing experiences at hallowed ovals around the country -- from shotgun ride-alongs with expert drivers to a rookie experience ' that lets racing wannabes do eight laps in the driver 's seat of a nascar vehicle . the premier program -- richard petty fantasy racing camp -- is a multi-day event held at revolving locations ( next up : charlotte , north carolina , in october 2013 ) that lets groups of 10 to 12 people take hundreds of laps behind the wheel with the king himself , as well as fellow nascar legends like dale inman and randy lajoie , in attendance . richard petty driving experience . texas hold'em with joe hachem and friends ' we will teach you to win like us . ' so says the wsop academy ( the official poker school of the world series of poker ) , whose roster of pro instructors has collectively pooled more than $ 20 million in winnings , and includes bracelet winners joe hachem , greg raymer and tom mcevoy . held on select dates at several metro areas around the united states , the wsop 's curriculum of classes for every skill level includes its flagship , two-day no limit hold'em tournament academy ( featuring proven tournament tactics taught by poker stars ) , a live hand analysis class ( designed to find and fix your weak spots ) and a cash game academy for when you 're ready to turn this all into your day job . recent alumni have included a 2011 wsop seniors event bracelet winner , a 2010 wsop event second place finisher ( $ 375,627 ) and several people cleaning up back home at their neighborhood poker nights . world series of poker academy bass fish with paul elias ( pachuta , mississippi ) competitive bass fishing groupies need no introduction to bassmaster classic champ paul elias , who 's logged nearly three decades of wins and top 10 finishes on the elite circuit . pros and amateur weekend anglers alike can glean one-on-one insights from the legend himself during single- or two-day private structure fishing classes on 780-acre lake eddins , elias'bass-filled home waters in eastern mississippi , near meridian . map reading , lure-gear-and-bait selection and effective gps use all factor into the customized open lake curriculum . classes center on structure-fishing techniques , but can also include lessons on flippin'and pitchin', top water and shallow swim baits -- and if terms like these are already too familiar to you , you 're ahead of the game . elias provides the tackle , but feel free to bring your own . room and meals included . in depth fishing golf with butch harmon ( las vegas ) butch harmon coached tiger woods for years and has helped other huge names in the sport ( or just plain huge names , including five american presidents ) analyze and improve their games . attend an intensive multi-day golf clinic at the butch harmon school of golf 's state of the art facility and you can take your own game to the next level in the company of harmon himself -- no green jacket or air force one reservation required . three days of instruction with harmon and his staff ( two-day clinics are available , too ) include nine-hole and 18-hole lessons at rio secco and cascata golf clubs , video swing analysis and four nights at caesars palace on the vegas strip . you 'll be covering long and short irons , wedge and sand shots , trouble shots , chipping , putting and why , in harmon 's words , many people play golf , but few truly understand it . ' butch harmon adventure photography with tyler stableford tapped as one of canon 's distinguished explorers of light ' and men 's journal 's seven world 's greatest adventure photographers , ' aspen , colorado-based photographer and cinematographer tyler stableford is a master of capturing humans of all kinds in their element . cowboys on horses . skiers in midair . fighter pilots in jets . roughnecks on rigs . where can you catch up with an award-winning , page-stopping action photog for national geographic , outside , sports illustrated , the north face campaigns and beyond ? at a personalized photography seminar catering to small-ish groups inspired to take better shots of interesting people in beautiful places . stableford 's multi-day canon destination workshops have taken place in utah 's moab , arizona 's mesa verde and maine 's bar harbor . next stop : maroon bells , colorado , in october 2014 . tyler stableford drum with chad/steve smith ( new york ) ok , so maybe you wo n't be keith moon in this lifetime . that 's not an entirely bad thing , and it does n't mean you ca n't meet up with a famous living drummer in new york to briefly pretend . housed in a new facility in chelsea with a separate wing dedicated solely to drum instruction , the collective school of music ( formerly the drummers collective ) offers short- and long-term programs focusing on contemporary rhythm music performance . but if you just want an hour or two with some big-name drummer , you can hook up for a master class or private lesson . the collective 's recent roster of guest teacher names -- chad smith ( red hot chili peppers ) , steve smith ( journey ) , will calhoun ( living colour ) and others -- may be exactly the quick boost your fantasy drumming career needs . the collective school of music kung fu with dr. yang , swing-ming ( miranda , california ) master instructor and acclaimed author , dr. yang , jwing-ming , is a leading authority in the world of kung fu , tai chi chuan and qigong -- and has been named by inside kung fu magazine as one of the most important teachers and practitioners of martial arts in the last century . a variety of short- or longer-term summer seminars at his ymaa retreat center , located in the hills of northern california 's humboldt county , cover kung fu , tajiquan , quiqong and other specialized martial arts topics under dr. yang 's direct instruction in a remote ( i.e . ideal ) setting for training . private one-on-one hour sessions with dr. yang can be arranged , with advance notice . yang 's martial arts association motorcycle race with jason pridmore ( buena park , california ) handling a sport bike -- at insane track speeds or in comparably crazy road traffic -- takes guts , confidence and ( hopefully not too hard-earned ) experience . track or street riders looking to raise their speed and safety quotients ( simultaneously ! ) can take riding lessons from one of the best in the business -- ama supersport champion jason pridmore . headquartered at chuckwalla valley raceway , pridmore 's long-running star motorcycle school ( skills and techniques of advanced riding ) employs a staff of pro riders who also visit several other tracks around the country during the warmer months -- including minneapolis 's brainerd international raceway , illinois'blackhawk farms raceway and new jersey 's motorsports park . two-day group schools are divided into street riders eager to build on their road skills and track riders looking to improve their lower-body steering techniques and explore their limits . you can also sign up for a one-on-one with pridmore for a private videoed session you can one day show your grandkids . jason pridmore 's star school | poker legends joe hachem and tom mcevoy share secrets |
ross <tsp> ( cnn ) -- what does it mean when a white sorority wins a competition that african-american fraternities and sororities not only created but also consider an essential part of their cultural expression ? it means an uncomfortable discussion about race , history , culture and inclusivity that is not black and white . on february 20 , the university of arkansas chapter of zeta tau alpha , a predominantly white sorority , won the inaugural sprite step off stepping competition , beating two predominantly black sororities . stepping , which began in the 1960s , is a intricate rhythmic dance that features synchronized foot stomps , handclaps , choreographed movements and chants . the competition was fierce , and all of the competitors fought hard for the $ 100,000 first-place scholarship . but the results immediately sparked a firestorm within the african-american fraternal community , with many calling foul . how could a white sorority beat black sororities at our own art form ? why were they even competing in the first place ? some alleged that judges cheated , while others posited that the novelty of white women performing swayed the judges . to understand why this is a big deal , you have to understand that african-american fraternities and sororities are as close to the animal house stereotype attached to white fraternities as pat boone is to hip-hop . black fraternities and sororities , known as the divine nine , form the fiber of african-american leadership in this country and continue to produce the leaders of tomorrow . the nine predominantly african-american fraternities and sororities -- alpha phi alpha fraternity , kappa alpha psi fraternity , omega psi phi fraternity , phi beta sigma fraternity , alpha kappa alpha sorority , delta sigma theta sorority , zeta phi beta sorority , sigma gamma rho sorority and iota phi theta fraternity -- were founded between 1906 and 1963 to support african-american college students in their quest not only to succeed on campus but to develop into college-educated leaders . the roster of divine nine members is a who 's who in african america : the rev . martin luther king jr. , jesse jackson , michael jordan , maya angelou , dorothy height and over a million others count themselves as members . the civil rights movement is populated with divine nine members who developed leadership skills on college campuses . and the connection does n't end after graduation . african-american fraternal members spend thousand of hours doing service in alumni chapters , raising money for scholarships and mentoring at-risk people . pride in one 's organization is paramount to divine nine members , and one way to express that is through stepping . divine nine fraternities and sororities take great pride in being original and innovative in their dances : highly coordinated , with elaborate costumes , and sometimes performed before thousands . it 's a point of pride to perform , but to win for the glory of your fraternity or sorority is the ultimate . so when zeta tau alpha members won the sprite step off , it was not just that they 'd beaten african-american sororities , it was seen as the first assault on yet another african-american cultural tradition that , if not guarded , would be appropriated from blacks like jazz and hip-hop . for many americans , the notion of african-americans having a separate culture , uninfluenced by other americans , makes them uncomfortable . is n't the point of civil rights to erase the color lines that separate and divide us ? and if we acknowledge that blacks have cultural traditions that have been nurtured within their own community , does that make blacks separate from whites ? this is where the nuances of race and culture come into play . blacks are keenly aware of their otherness in this country . we 're proud to be americans yet also proud that we 've built strong traditions that have sustained us through turbulent times . so we zealously protect those traditions from interlopers who may want to exploit or denigrate what we cherish . but this is the very reason why any african-american who dismissed the zeta tau alpha win , or even the sorority 's right to participate in the competition on the basis of being white , was 100 percent wrong . we as african-americans ca n't protect cultural expression by creating fences that exclude . those fences never work . but we can demand that anyone who seeks inclusion , and wants to participate in our culture , does so with the same respect and honor that we as african-americans demand of ourselves . by all accounts , the women of zeta tau alpha did just that . and even later , when sprite announced that alpha kappa alpha sorority , the african-american sorority that had come in second , would also be awarded a first-place prize because of scoring irregularities , no one could dispute that in a subjective contest , zeta tau alpha met the criteria for winning , regardless of skin color . and that 's something we as divine nine members should remember as we continue to strive to eliminate racism and bias . we ca n't fall victim to the same rationale that still is used to deny us first-class citizenship . as the leaders of college campuses and in the community , we must always fight for equality and demand that we 're judged based on our skill . and if we do n't do that , we lose much more than a stepping contest . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of lawrence c. ross jr . | lawrence ross : white sorority won step ' contest , dance form of black frats and sororities |
ross <tsp> ( cnn ) -- what does it mean when a white sorority wins a competition that african-american fraternities and sororities not only created but also consider an essential part of their cultural expression ? it means an uncomfortable discussion about race , history , culture and inclusivity that is not black and white . on february 20 , the university of arkansas chapter of zeta tau alpha , a predominantly white sorority , won the inaugural sprite step off stepping competition , beating two predominantly black sororities . stepping , which began in the 1960s , is a intricate rhythmic dance that features synchronized foot stomps , handclaps , choreographed movements and chants . the competition was fierce , and all of the competitors fought hard for the $ 100,000 first-place scholarship . but the results immediately sparked a firestorm within the african-american fraternal community , with many calling foul . how could a white sorority beat black sororities at our own art form ? why were they even competing in the first place ? some alleged that judges cheated , while others posited that the novelty of white women performing swayed the judges . to understand why this is a big deal , you have to understand that african-american fraternities and sororities are as close to the animal house stereotype attached to white fraternities as pat boone is to hip-hop . black fraternities and sororities , known as the divine nine , form the fiber of african-american leadership in this country and continue to produce the leaders of tomorrow . the nine predominantly african-american fraternities and sororities -- alpha phi alpha fraternity , kappa alpha psi fraternity , omega psi phi fraternity , phi beta sigma fraternity , alpha kappa alpha sorority , delta sigma theta sorority , zeta phi beta sorority , sigma gamma rho sorority and iota phi theta fraternity -- were founded between 1906 and 1963 to support african-american college students in their quest not only to succeed on campus but to develop into college-educated leaders . the roster of divine nine members is a who 's who in african america : the rev . martin luther king jr. , jesse jackson , michael jordan , maya angelou , dorothy height and over a million others count themselves as members . the civil rights movement is populated with divine nine members who developed leadership skills on college campuses . and the connection does n't end after graduation . african-american fraternal members spend thousand of hours doing service in alumni chapters , raising money for scholarships and mentoring at-risk people . pride in one 's organization is paramount to divine nine members , and one way to express that is through stepping . divine nine fraternities and sororities take great pride in being original and innovative in their dances : highly coordinated , with elaborate costumes , and sometimes performed before thousands . it 's a point of pride to perform , but to win for the glory of your fraternity or sorority is the ultimate . so when zeta tau alpha members won the sprite step off , it was not just that they 'd beaten african-american sororities , it was seen as the first assault on yet another african-american cultural tradition that , if not guarded , would be appropriated from blacks like jazz and hip-hop . for many americans , the notion of african-americans having a separate culture , uninfluenced by other americans , makes them uncomfortable . is n't the point of civil rights to erase the color lines that separate and divide us ? and if we acknowledge that blacks have cultural traditions that have been nurtured within their own community , does that make blacks separate from whites ? this is where the nuances of race and culture come into play . blacks are keenly aware of their otherness in this country . we 're proud to be americans yet also proud that we 've built strong traditions that have sustained us through turbulent times . so we zealously protect those traditions from interlopers who may want to exploit or denigrate what we cherish . but this is the very reason why any african-american who dismissed the zeta tau alpha win , or even the sorority 's right to participate in the competition on the basis of being white , was 100 percent wrong . we as african-americans ca n't protect cultural expression by creating fences that exclude . those fences never work . but we can demand that anyone who seeks inclusion , and wants to participate in our culture , does so with the same respect and honor that we as african-americans demand of ourselves . by all accounts , the women of zeta tau alpha did just that . and even later , when sprite announced that alpha kappa alpha sorority , the african-american sorority that had come in second , would also be awarded a first-place prize because of scoring irregularities , no one could dispute that in a subjective contest , zeta tau alpha met the criteria for winning , regardless of skin color . and that 's something we as divine nine members should remember as we continue to strive to eliminate racism and bias . we ca n't fall victim to the same rationale that still is used to deny us first-class citizenship . as the leaders of college campuses and in the community , we must always fight for equality and demand that we 're judged based on our skill . and if we do n't do that , we lose much more than a stepping contest . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of lawrence c. ross jr . | ross warns against using same rationale that denies blacks first-class citizenship |
ross <tsp> ( cnn ) -- what does it mean when a white sorority wins a competition that african-american fraternities and sororities not only created but also consider an essential part of their cultural expression ? it means an uncomfortable discussion about race , history , culture and inclusivity that is not black and white . on february 20 , the university of arkansas chapter of zeta tau alpha , a predominantly white sorority , won the inaugural sprite step off stepping competition , beating two predominantly black sororities . stepping , which began in the 1960s , is a intricate rhythmic dance that features synchronized foot stomps , handclaps , choreographed movements and chants . the competition was fierce , and all of the competitors fought hard for the $ 100,000 first-place scholarship . but the results immediately sparked a firestorm within the african-american fraternal community , with many calling foul . how could a white sorority beat black sororities at our own art form ? why were they even competing in the first place ? some alleged that judges cheated , while others posited that the novelty of white women performing swayed the judges . to understand why this is a big deal , you have to understand that african-american fraternities and sororities are as close to the animal house stereotype attached to white fraternities as pat boone is to hip-hop . black fraternities and sororities , known as the divine nine , form the fiber of african-american leadership in this country and continue to produce the leaders of tomorrow . the nine predominantly african-american fraternities and sororities -- alpha phi alpha fraternity , kappa alpha psi fraternity , omega psi phi fraternity , phi beta sigma fraternity , alpha kappa alpha sorority , delta sigma theta sorority , zeta phi beta sorority , sigma gamma rho sorority and iota phi theta fraternity -- were founded between 1906 and 1963 to support african-american college students in their quest not only to succeed on campus but to develop into college-educated leaders . the roster of divine nine members is a who 's who in african america : the rev . martin luther king jr. , jesse jackson , michael jordan , maya angelou , dorothy height and over a million others count themselves as members . the civil rights movement is populated with divine nine members who developed leadership skills on college campuses . and the connection does n't end after graduation . african-american fraternal members spend thousand of hours doing service in alumni chapters , raising money for scholarships and mentoring at-risk people . pride in one 's organization is paramount to divine nine members , and one way to express that is through stepping . divine nine fraternities and sororities take great pride in being original and innovative in their dances : highly coordinated , with elaborate costumes , and sometimes performed before thousands . it 's a point of pride to perform , but to win for the glory of your fraternity or sorority is the ultimate . so when zeta tau alpha members won the sprite step off , it was not just that they 'd beaten african-american sororities , it was seen as the first assault on yet another african-american cultural tradition that , if not guarded , would be appropriated from blacks like jazz and hip-hop . for many americans , the notion of african-americans having a separate culture , uninfluenced by other americans , makes them uncomfortable . is n't the point of civil rights to erase the color lines that separate and divide us ? and if we acknowledge that blacks have cultural traditions that have been nurtured within their own community , does that make blacks separate from whites ? this is where the nuances of race and culture come into play . blacks are keenly aware of their otherness in this country . we 're proud to be americans yet also proud that we 've built strong traditions that have sustained us through turbulent times . so we zealously protect those traditions from interlopers who may want to exploit or denigrate what we cherish . but this is the very reason why any african-american who dismissed the zeta tau alpha win , or even the sorority 's right to participate in the competition on the basis of being white , was 100 percent wrong . we as african-americans ca n't protect cultural expression by creating fences that exclude . those fences never work . but we can demand that anyone who seeks inclusion , and wants to participate in our culture , does so with the same respect and honor that we as african-americans demand of ourselves . by all accounts , the women of zeta tau alpha did just that . and even later , when sprite announced that alpha kappa alpha sorority , the african-american sorority that had come in second , would also be awarded a first-place prize because of scoring irregularities , no one could dispute that in a subjective contest , zeta tau alpha met the criteria for winning , regardless of skin color . and that 's something we as divine nine members should remember as we continue to strive to eliminate racism and bias . we ca n't fall victim to the same rationale that still is used to deny us first-class citizenship . as the leaders of college campuses and in the community , we must always fight for equality and demand that we 're judged based on our skill . and if we do n't do that , we lose much more than a stepping contest . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of lawrence c. ross jr . | ross : black fraternities , sororities are all about creating leaders ; step is proud tradition |
mexico <tsp> san diego , california ( cnn ) -- where are the lost boys of mexico ? that 's what many people , in that country and around the world , want to know . the answer could say much about the new narrative that has been pushed about the country . this week , jesus murillo karam , mexico 's attorney general , issued arrest warrants for three people in connection with a shocking case that has captured the attention of the entire country : the disappearance of 43 students , who went missing after being confronted by police . more than four dozen people have been arrested , including police officers , local officials and members of a drug gang . for residents of the small town of iguala , which lies 120 miles southwest of mexico city , the nightmare began on september 26 — just 10 days after the festivities celebrating mexico 's independence day . that 's when a group of young men , between the ages of 18 and 25 , who were studying at a nearby teachers college , traveled to iguala to protest what they claimed were the school 's discriminatory hiring practices . mexican prosecutors believe a small-town mayor named jose luis abarca and his wife , maria de los angeles pineda villa , might know the students'whereabouts . unfortunately , we ca n't find out for sure because the couple is on the run . also missing is the town 's former police chief , felipe flores velásquez . all three are fugitives . the investigation of the case has prompted speculation that abarca was so worried that the students might disrupt his wife 's speech that he ordered flores to have police officers confront the students and stop the protest . ( according to murillo karam , another protest had previously upset abarca ) . police reportedly opened fire on the vehicles in which the students were traveling . six people were killed , and the 43 students went missing . eyewitnesses told prosecutors they saw the young men being crammed into police cars . but it gets worse . according to the attorney general , the police quickly turned the students over to guerreros unidos , a local drug trafficking gang . the prosecutor claimed that abarca and his wife keep bad company . pineda 's brothers are suspected drug traffickers . and , according to the attorney general , the first lady of iguala has been called the main operator of criminal activities ' in the town . the leader of guerreros unidos told officials that , once police turned over the students , he ordered his henchmen to make them disappear . the attorney general said the young men were loaded onto a pickup truck and driven to a remote location populated by mass graves . and that 's where the story ends — for now . since this is mexico we 're talking about , where people do n't trust their government and always assume there is a backstory , some people wo n't accept the official version of events . in fact , these days , young people in mexico hold hearings in a new court of public opinion : twitter and facebook . and , on social media , the current debate is whether this mass abduction was , as the attorney general says , a case of criminal misconduct by a rogue local official or something more nefarious . was the federal government involved ? or was it at least aware that this was happening ? this being mexico , one has to ask . after all , this is the land of the desaparecidos . in the 1970s , there were at least 2,000 documented cases of people who simply disappeared after challenging government officials . those people were never found , and the cases never solved . even if this is an isolated incident — and that 's a big if ' given how closely intertwined drug gangs are with mexican officials — the blame is n't limited to the individuals who have been arrested or are being sought . it extends to the mexican people , many of whom long ago made a devil 's bargain with the drug traffickers who are threatening to tear the country apart . they built altars to la santa muerte , the patron saint ' of drug lords , wrote corridos ( folkloric ballads ) praising the exploits of traffickers , and accepted the fruits of an illicit trade . the reality is that the modern mexican drug dealer is n't living in a camp in the mountains . he 's a spanish-speaking version of tony soprano . he lives in the suburbs , drives a cadillac , and spends weekends attending his kids'soccer games — which are played on a field that he built . it 's no wonder that , when former mexican president felipe calderon waged war against the cartels , he was ridiculed and criticized by many mexicans for stirring the hornet 's nest . south of the border , drug traffickers are familia . it will be interesting to see if any of that changes in light of the disappearance of the students . for mexicans , their most treasured institution is still the family . those who threaten it do so at their peril . already , the case has claimed a political casualty . on friday , angel aguirre , the governor of guerrero , appeared to yield to public pressure over the disappearances , requesting a leave of absence . by the way , much of this is not meant for the public consumption of americans . when you talk to mexico 's elites on both sides of the border — lawyers , politicians , businessmen — what you hear again and again is that mexico had a makeover . desperate for u.s. investment dollars — now more than ever , given mexico 's recent and historic efforts to open up the country 's lucrative petroleum industry to foreign investment — the elites aggressively push a narrative that mexico is safe , democratic and open for business . now , due to events in a small mexican town , that narrative is being challenged by reality . unfortunately , the new version of mexico bears a resemblance to the old one . | incident flies in face of efforts to improve mexico 's image , navarrette says |
mexico <tsp> san diego , california ( cnn ) -- where are the lost boys of mexico ? that 's what many people , in that country and around the world , want to know . the answer could say much about the new narrative that has been pushed about the country . this week , jesus murillo karam , mexico 's attorney general , issued arrest warrants for three people in connection with a shocking case that has captured the attention of the entire country : the disappearance of 43 students , who went missing after being confronted by police . more than four dozen people have been arrested , including police officers , local officials and members of a drug gang . for residents of the small town of iguala , which lies 120 miles southwest of mexico city , the nightmare began on september 26 — just 10 days after the festivities celebrating mexico 's independence day . that 's when a group of young men , between the ages of 18 and 25 , who were studying at a nearby teachers college , traveled to iguala to protest what they claimed were the school 's discriminatory hiring practices . mexican prosecutors believe a small-town mayor named jose luis abarca and his wife , maria de los angeles pineda villa , might know the students'whereabouts . unfortunately , we ca n't find out for sure because the couple is on the run . also missing is the town 's former police chief , felipe flores velásquez . all three are fugitives . the investigation of the case has prompted speculation that abarca was so worried that the students might disrupt his wife 's speech that he ordered flores to have police officers confront the students and stop the protest . ( according to murillo karam , another protest had previously upset abarca ) . police reportedly opened fire on the vehicles in which the students were traveling . six people were killed , and the 43 students went missing . eyewitnesses told prosecutors they saw the young men being crammed into police cars . but it gets worse . according to the attorney general , the police quickly turned the students over to guerreros unidos , a local drug trafficking gang . the prosecutor claimed that abarca and his wife keep bad company . pineda 's brothers are suspected drug traffickers . and , according to the attorney general , the first lady of iguala has been called the main operator of criminal activities ' in the town . the leader of guerreros unidos told officials that , once police turned over the students , he ordered his henchmen to make them disappear . the attorney general said the young men were loaded onto a pickup truck and driven to a remote location populated by mass graves . and that 's where the story ends — for now . since this is mexico we 're talking about , where people do n't trust their government and always assume there is a backstory , some people wo n't accept the official version of events . in fact , these days , young people in mexico hold hearings in a new court of public opinion : twitter and facebook . and , on social media , the current debate is whether this mass abduction was , as the attorney general says , a case of criminal misconduct by a rogue local official or something more nefarious . was the federal government involved ? or was it at least aware that this was happening ? this being mexico , one has to ask . after all , this is the land of the desaparecidos . in the 1970s , there were at least 2,000 documented cases of people who simply disappeared after challenging government officials . those people were never found , and the cases never solved . even if this is an isolated incident — and that 's a big if ' given how closely intertwined drug gangs are with mexican officials — the blame is n't limited to the individuals who have been arrested or are being sought . it extends to the mexican people , many of whom long ago made a devil 's bargain with the drug traffickers who are threatening to tear the country apart . they built altars to la santa muerte , the patron saint ' of drug lords , wrote corridos ( folkloric ballads ) praising the exploits of traffickers , and accepted the fruits of an illicit trade . the reality is that the modern mexican drug dealer is n't living in a camp in the mountains . he 's a spanish-speaking version of tony soprano . he lives in the suburbs , drives a cadillac , and spends weekends attending his kids'soccer games — which are played on a field that he built . it 's no wonder that , when former mexican president felipe calderon waged war against the cartels , he was ridiculed and criticized by many mexicans for stirring the hornet 's nest . south of the border , drug traffickers are familia . it will be interesting to see if any of that changes in light of the disappearance of the students . for mexicans , their most treasured institution is still the family . those who threaten it do so at their peril . already , the case has claimed a political casualty . on friday , angel aguirre , the governor of guerrero , appeared to yield to public pressure over the disappearances , requesting a leave of absence . by the way , much of this is not meant for the public consumption of americans . when you talk to mexico 's elites on both sides of the border — lawyers , politicians , businessmen — what you hear again and again is that mexico had a makeover . desperate for u.s. investment dollars — now more than ever , given mexico 's recent and historic efforts to open up the country 's lucrative petroleum industry to foreign investment — the elites aggressively push a narrative that mexico is safe , democratic and open for business . now , due to events in a small mexican town , that narrative is being challenged by reality . unfortunately , the new version of mexico bears a resemblance to the old one . | search is still on in mexico for 43 students who went missing last month |
usmnt <tsp> ( cnn ) if you 're an american kid thinking of fame and fortune you have a new path to help you achieve your dreams . u.s. national team coach jurgen klinsmann is insistent the sport of soccer can match the superstar-making ability of traditional american powerhouses like the nfl and the nba . soccer is a real alternative now to other sports to make it all the way to the top , ' the german , who led the usmnt to the second round of the 2014 world cup , told cnn . soccer enjoyed an upsurge in popularity in the u.s. off the back of the team 's showing in brazil , which saw klinsmann 's team finish second in its group and suffer an agonizing extra-time defeat to belgium in the round of 16 . the performances of players like goalkeeper tim howard and team captain clint dempsey during the tournament made them household names in their homeland and klinsmann hopes more players can achieve such recognition . thousands of u.s. soccer fans also travelled to brazil to support their team . the united states is a very fast-growing soccer market , ' insisted the 50-year-old , who has coached the team since 2011 and recently signed a contract extension until 2018 . there is a young professional league coming up ... the youth system is getting better and better , there is a lot of education that will be done over the next years . just to be in the middle of all that with this international team is fascinating . it 's something you can have a handle on and that is what i really enjoy . ' earlier this week u.s. soccer president sunil gulati outlined a number of changes to the federation 's youth set up as it seeks to align its technical practices with the best in the world . ' notably u.s. soccer is to introduce three extra age groups for its teams . beginning in the fall of 2016 , u.s. soccer will add an under-12 age group to the development academy program , ' said u.s. soccer statement . also on the academy side , the federation will increase funding for the academy scholarship program . among other initiatives , u.s. soccer will be augmenting youth national team programming by adding u-16 and u-19 national teams . ' prior to signing a contract with u.s. soccer , klinsmann coached his native germany -- guiding the country during its hosting of the 2006 world cup -- before enduring a testing period in charge of his former club bayern munich . but he has long held affinity for the u.s. , dating back to playing for germany during the usa'94 world cup and vacations he took prior to his appointment as the country 's football coach . klinsmann 's wife , former model debbie chin , is american and the couple live in california with their two children . i appreciated the culture , the laid back people , the mentality that they let you live your life the way you want to live it , ' he explained . they respect you no matter what you are trying to do . i ended up in europe meeting an american girl and getting married to a wonderful american wife , and then we had to settle the family in either europe or the u.s. ' so step-by-step i 've been through that process and ended up in the coaching world . ' however klinsmann 's tenure has not been without controversy the 50-year-old riled major league soccer ( mls ) commissioner don garber earlier this year by suggesting dempsey and fellow midfielder michael bradley had potentially damaged their careers by deciding to leave european clubs and move to mls . garber slammed klinsmann 's comments as damaging to the league -- which recently concluded its 19th season with los angeles galaxy beating new england revolution in the championship game . but despite the continued growth of mls -- garber hopes it will expand from the current 19 teams to 24 by 2020 -- klinsmann is eager to continue america 's soccer education . ' i think a lot of people in the united states have n't connected the dots yet , ' he said . there is a lot of knowledge out there but knowledge is spread all over the place . our job will be in the next couple of years to educate parents , educate players , educate a lot of coaches out there , in order to catch up with the best in the world . going forward we want to raise the bar and we want to go further in a world cup . but it is only possible if the foundation of it -- meaning the grassroots level , the youth level , and the after the youth system going into the pro-level -- is functioning better . ' | the german has coached the usmnt since 2011 |
venezuelan <tsp> ( cnn ) a week after the mayor of caracas , antonio ledezma , was incarcerated by the venezuelan government , his youngest daughter is speaking out and demanding his release . the last time antonieta ledezma , 23 , saw her father was in early january when she left venezuela bound for new york . at the time , her teary-eyed dad embraced her and asked , when will i see you again ? promise me you will take care of yourself , ' she wrote in an open letter published earlier this week . ledezma says she never imagined that in just a few weeks seeing her father again would become a matter of not when ' but if . ' he was unjustly imprisoned and has effectively been kidnapped by this government , ' said ledezma , who was joined by a few dozen protesters monday night in new york 's times square . the world needs to know what my country and what my family is going through , ' she said . in the midst of a deepening economic crisis , the outspoken mayor of venezuela 's capital and largest city , is the latest in a growing list of opposition leaders who have been arrested and jailed by the country 's socialist government . on orders of president nicolas maduro , federal agents stormed into ledezma 's office on thurdsay , accusing him of conspiracy and helping to plot an american-backed coup . as the small crowd of protesters in times square broke into chants of viva venezuela ' and this government will fall , ' ledezma vehemently denied the charges levied against her father . my dad has been accused of conspiracy . he is a man who wants the freedom of my country . that is the only thing that he has done , ' she said . there is no explanation . my dad is the mayor of a city , and the government has not only disrespected him but all of his human rights . ' venezuelan government officials in new york did not respond to cnn 's request for comment . although she has not been able to speak or see her father since his arrest , ledezma believes that he remains in good spirits . he 's trying to stay strong . he has an unbreakable spirit , and his only fear at this moment is losing the country that he loves . the government may have incarcerated his body but never his thoughts and ideas . ' ledezma 's supporters fear that he will face the same fate as some of venezuela 's other dissident political prisoners , most notably , leopoldo lopez . lopez , a former mayoral and presidential candidate , has been in jail for over a year , accused of inciting violence during last year 's anti-government protests . we know this could be a long process , but we are prepared for that . we will not let the abuses of this government weaken us , ' said ledezma . my father 's message from prison to venezuelans and the world is that our country is going through a horrible time , but we are a strong people and he is going to keep fighting . ' maduro maintains that lopez , ledezma and other opposition leaders were arrested by order of the attorney general 's office and must be tried for crimes against the peace , security and constitution of the country . ' critics , however , say that the government is systematically cracking down on the opposition to deflect attention from the flailing economy . since maduro took office , inflation is at an all-time high , 68 % , and falling oil prices have had a ripple effect on the country 's already ailing economy . the international monetary fund predicts its economy will shrink by 7 % this year , the worst in latin america . it is a desperate act by a desperate regime that is seeking to veil the current social and political reality in venezuela , ' said ex-venezuelan ambassador to the united nations , diego arria , of ledezma 's arrest . arria joined ledezma 's daughter at monday night 's rally . to kidnap the mayor of venezuela 's capital , no less , is unprecedented , and it will have consequences , ' said arria . in the meantime , ledezma remains hopeful that she will once again be able to embrace her father as a free man . hope is the last thing you lose . i know my dad will be free . his cause is now my cause . ' venezuela arrests opposition figures : why you should care | the venezuelan government has accused mayor antonio ledezma of conspiracy |
marius <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- a father and son have been convicted of running a family business ' trafficking girls and women into the uk -- including one of their own relations -- to force them to become sex slaves , british police confirmed tuesday . marius nejloveanu , 23 , and his father bogdan , 51 , both from romania , were found guilty by a manchester court in northern england of deceiving at least five women , then aged between 15 and 23 years old , into coming to england and making them work as prostitutes in manchester , birmingham and on the continent . each of them was identified as a potential victim either because they were young , could be isolated from their family , were low in intelligence or for some reason easily persuaded to come to the uk , ' prosecuting lawyer rachel smith said during the trial . all the women were promised they would be helped to find work in the uk . all arrived in the belief they would be offered a home , support and the chance of lawful employment when they arrived . ' detective inspector mike sanderson from manchester police told cnn : one of the victims in this case , when we actually rescued her ... was assessed as having the mental age of 10 years old when the fact is she is a 22 year old woman . they are just very , very vulnerable women . they are very immature . they have no adult skills . ' marius nejloveanu was found guilty of the most serious offenses , including repeated rapes , beating one of the women with a guitar until it broke and threatening another with a knife if she did n't obey him . most of them were raped by him , some were subjected to the most extreme physical and sexual violence and sexual humiliation , ' prosecutor smith said . detective constable colin ward , from the sexual crime unit , said in a statement : it is difficult to find the words to describe the physical and sexual abuse these women have endured . marius in particular spun a web of lies to encourage the women to come to the uk , whether by declaring his love for them of promising a better life . instead they became prisoners forced into prostitution . if they complained in any way they would be beaten and raped by marius . he is a very dangerous man who sees women as a commodity whose only purpose is to serve him financially and sexually . ' one woman , who declined to be identified out of a sense of shame and fear of retribution , recalled how marius nejloveanu lured her daughter into the prostitution ring . she thought he would n't harm her , and look where she got , ' the woman , from a small village in romania , said . it was only when marius and bogdan nejloveanu were arrested that she first realized something was wrong . all the time she was in england with marius , she would laugh and say'mother , do n't worry , everything is all right .'she could n't tell me more , because he was with her all the time . finally she admitted he beat her , molested her , to make her work for them . ' sanderson explained how the father and son team generated almost $ 20,000 each month by making the five young women work for 12 hours a day . police say the exploitation went on for more than four years . the court heard how bogdan nejloveanu gave his son practical help and advice so that he could set up his own prostitution business . marius nejloveanu 's phone calls and letters , intercepted by police and presented as evidence in the trial , showed how he even tried to keep trafficking women and prevent other victims from testifying against him , while he was awaiting trial in manchester 's strangeways prison . in a letter to his cousin , marius nejloveanu asked him to take a girl to another relative in spain because he could bring her over to england to start her on some work and that would be great . ' also tell her that i love her and that i want to marry her , because if you tell her i want to marry her , she 'll fall for that , ' marius nejloveanu wrote . in separate letter written to the same girl , marius nejloveanu implores her to come to the uk . i want you to come over so i can see you because you are my only true love and i want to be with you for the rest of my life , ' he said . do n't listen to what people say because people are malevolent and evil and it 's because of them that i 'm in prison . i love you very much and ca n't wait to see you . ' according to one police recording presented in court , marius nejloveanu phoned his mother from prison to ask for help in bribing two of the victims so that they would n't appear as witnesses in his case . if they do n't come to the trial then i can be freed , ' he told her in a phone call from prison . tell them you give them work , tell them you give them 10 million to stay at your place . yes . by monday we need to know for sure ! ok mummy ? ' police told cnn they began investigating the nejloveanus after a social worker became concerned for the welfare of one of the women working at the shangri-la massage parlor in october 2008 . brought to england on the promise of cleaning work , that woman testified that marius and bogdan nejloveanu told her she had to pay off a $ 3,000 travel debt by sleeping with strangers for as little as $ 15 . we rescued two young ladies who were being exploited and it took several days to actually get them to tell us about the horrible experiences , ' sanderson told cnn . and what we found was that there were three other girls who were from the same sort of brothels who were basically exploiting them . the three girls were arrested , we tried to speak to them but unfortunately they did n't want to speak to us and in this case they ended up getting charged with offenses , ' sanderson added . at the end of the day it turned out that the three girls were doing what they were doing because of the oppression by marius and bogdan . ' juanita huntington , who acted as a receptionist ' at the brothels admitted five counts of controlling prostitution for gain , according to police . she would give the money the girls earned to marius and report back to him if any did not do as requested by clients . if this happened they would be beaten . all three are due to be sentenced on wednesday , january 26 . -- cnn 's dan rivers contributed to this report . | police : marius and bogdan nejloveanu generated almost $ 20,000 each month |
england <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- a father and son have been convicted of running a family business ' trafficking girls and women into the uk -- including one of their own relations -- to force them to become sex slaves , british police confirmed tuesday . marius nejloveanu , 23 , and his father bogdan , 51 , both from romania , were found guilty by a manchester court in northern england of deceiving at least five women , then aged between 15 and 23 years old , into coming to england and making them work as prostitutes in manchester , birmingham and on the continent . each of them was identified as a potential victim either because they were young , could be isolated from their family , were low in intelligence or for some reason easily persuaded to come to the uk , ' prosecuting lawyer rachel smith said during the trial . all the women were promised they would be helped to find work in the uk . all arrived in the belief they would be offered a home , support and the chance of lawful employment when they arrived . ' detective inspector mike sanderson from manchester police told cnn : one of the victims in this case , when we actually rescued her ... was assessed as having the mental age of 10 years old when the fact is she is a 22 year old woman . they are just very , very vulnerable women . they are very immature . they have no adult skills . ' marius nejloveanu was found guilty of the most serious offenses , including repeated rapes , beating one of the women with a guitar until it broke and threatening another with a knife if she did n't obey him . most of them were raped by him , some were subjected to the most extreme physical and sexual violence and sexual humiliation , ' prosecutor smith said . detective constable colin ward , from the sexual crime unit , said in a statement : it is difficult to find the words to describe the physical and sexual abuse these women have endured . marius in particular spun a web of lies to encourage the women to come to the uk , whether by declaring his love for them of promising a better life . instead they became prisoners forced into prostitution . if they complained in any way they would be beaten and raped by marius . he is a very dangerous man who sees women as a commodity whose only purpose is to serve him financially and sexually . ' one woman , who declined to be identified out of a sense of shame and fear of retribution , recalled how marius nejloveanu lured her daughter into the prostitution ring . she thought he would n't harm her , and look where she got , ' the woman , from a small village in romania , said . it was only when marius and bogdan nejloveanu were arrested that she first realized something was wrong . all the time she was in england with marius , she would laugh and say'mother , do n't worry , everything is all right .'she could n't tell me more , because he was with her all the time . finally she admitted he beat her , molested her , to make her work for them . ' sanderson explained how the father and son team generated almost $ 20,000 each month by making the five young women work for 12 hours a day . police say the exploitation went on for more than four years . the court heard how bogdan nejloveanu gave his son practical help and advice so that he could set up his own prostitution business . marius nejloveanu 's phone calls and letters , intercepted by police and presented as evidence in the trial , showed how he even tried to keep trafficking women and prevent other victims from testifying against him , while he was awaiting trial in manchester 's strangeways prison . in a letter to his cousin , marius nejloveanu asked him to take a girl to another relative in spain because he could bring her over to england to start her on some work and that would be great . ' also tell her that i love her and that i want to marry her , because if you tell her i want to marry her , she 'll fall for that , ' marius nejloveanu wrote . in separate letter written to the same girl , marius nejloveanu implores her to come to the uk . i want you to come over so i can see you because you are my only true love and i want to be with you for the rest of my life , ' he said . do n't listen to what people say because people are malevolent and evil and it 's because of them that i 'm in prison . i love you very much and ca n't wait to see you . ' according to one police recording presented in court , marius nejloveanu phoned his mother from prison to ask for help in bribing two of the victims so that they would n't appear as witnesses in his case . if they do n't come to the trial then i can be freed , ' he told her in a phone call from prison . tell them you give them work , tell them you give them 10 million to stay at your place . yes . by monday we need to know for sure ! ok mummy ? ' police told cnn they began investigating the nejloveanus after a social worker became concerned for the welfare of one of the women working at the shangri-la massage parlor in october 2008 . brought to england on the promise of cleaning work , that woman testified that marius and bogdan nejloveanu told her she had to pay off a $ 3,000 travel debt by sleeping with strangers for as little as $ 15 . we rescued two young ladies who were being exploited and it took several days to actually get them to tell us about the horrible experiences , ' sanderson told cnn . and what we found was that there were three other girls who were from the same sort of brothels who were basically exploiting them . the three girls were arrested , we tried to speak to them but unfortunately they did n't want to speak to us and in this case they ended up getting charged with offenses , ' sanderson added . at the end of the day it turned out that the three girls were doing what they were doing because of the oppression by marius and bogdan . ' juanita huntington , who acted as a receptionist ' at the brothels admitted five counts of controlling prostitution for gain , according to police . she would give the money the girls earned to marius and report back to him if any did not do as requested by clients . if this happened they would be beaten . all three are due to be sentenced on wednesday , january 26 . -- cnn 's dan rivers contributed to this report . | court : father , son deceived women into coming to england , made them work as prostitutes |
talented mr ripley <tsp> ( cnn ) -- some of the most iconic films ever made have used the ocean as their backdrop . whether it 's to highlight the romance of a moment , the isolation felt by characters or intense drama , filmmakers often turn to the seaside to help illustrate their story . here is a list of some of the best seaside locations featured on the silver screen . thailand -- the beach ' leonardo dicaprio 's character goes on a journey to find a secret idyllic thai beach , where a sort of utopian society exists . for this filmmakers searched for paradise , eventually finding it near phuket on the main beach of phi phi leh island , hat maya . environmentalists voiced their opposition to using the beach during filming following concerns the area would be damaged . however production went ahead and since the release of the beach ' phi phi leh island has become a popular tourist destination for travelers wanting to experience utopia too . italy -- the talented mr ripley ' positano was used as the inspiration for the fictional port of mongibello in the talented mr ripley ' . the stunning seaside town is set in the cliffs of italy 's amalfi coast and provided the stylish surroundings for the film , starring some of hollywood 's biggest names including cate blanchett , matt damon , gwyneth paltrow and jude law . just a few hours south of rome , positano attracts europe 's rich and famous , eager to enjoy its fine dining restaurants and top hotels . hawaii -- blue hawaii ' elvis presley was no stranger to hawaii . three of his films were shot on the islands , none more famous or successful than the 1961 hit blue hawaii ' . set in the hawaiian islands of oahu and kauai , the film highlighted the beauty of the area , with presley playing a former army officer-turned tour guide in the musical . spain -- die another day ' it 's one of the most iconic scenes of the modern james bond franchise : a bikini-clad halle berry emerges out of the water , meeting 007 himself . the encounter is set in cuba however makers of die another day ' in fact shot the scene in cã¡diz , spain . the historical coastal city is one of the oldest settlements in western europe . jamaica -- the blue lagoon ' ' the blue lagoon ' was shot in port antonino , jamaica and on the privately owned island , nanuya levu , in fiji in the south pacific . the film tells the story of a young girl and boy being marooned on a desert island . it caused controversy at the time because of nude scenes which featured a teenage brooke shields . | positano was used as the inspiration for a fictional port in the talented mr ripley ' |
phi phi leh <tsp> ( cnn ) -- some of the most iconic films ever made have used the ocean as their backdrop . whether it 's to highlight the romance of a moment , the isolation felt by characters or intense drama , filmmakers often turn to the seaside to help illustrate their story . here is a list of some of the best seaside locations featured on the silver screen . thailand -- the beach ' leonardo dicaprio 's character goes on a journey to find a secret idyllic thai beach , where a sort of utopian society exists . for this filmmakers searched for paradise , eventually finding it near phuket on the main beach of phi phi leh island , hat maya . environmentalists voiced their opposition to using the beach during filming following concerns the area would be damaged . however production went ahead and since the release of the beach ' phi phi leh island has become a popular tourist destination for travelers wanting to experience utopia too . italy -- the talented mr ripley ' positano was used as the inspiration for the fictional port of mongibello in the talented mr ripley ' . the stunning seaside town is set in the cliffs of italy 's amalfi coast and provided the stylish surroundings for the film , starring some of hollywood 's biggest names including cate blanchett , matt damon , gwyneth paltrow and jude law . just a few hours south of rome , positano attracts europe 's rich and famous , eager to enjoy its fine dining restaurants and top hotels . hawaii -- blue hawaii ' elvis presley was no stranger to hawaii . three of his films were shot on the islands , none more famous or successful than the 1961 hit blue hawaii ' . set in the hawaiian islands of oahu and kauai , the film highlighted the beauty of the area , with presley playing a former army officer-turned tour guide in the musical . spain -- die another day ' it 's one of the most iconic scenes of the modern james bond franchise : a bikini-clad halle berry emerges out of the water , meeting 007 himself . the encounter is set in cuba however makers of die another day ' in fact shot the scene in cã¡diz , spain . the historical coastal city is one of the oldest settlements in western europe . jamaica -- the blue lagoon ' ' the blue lagoon ' was shot in port antonino , jamaica and on the privately owned island , nanuya levu , in fiji in the south pacific . the film tells the story of a young girl and boy being marooned on a desert island . it caused controversy at the time because of nude scenes which featured a teenage brooke shields . | environmentalists were worried thai beach phi phi leh would be damaged during filming of the beach ' |
americans <tsp> ( cnn ) -- australian tycoon bob oatley is turning from wine to water as he announced his intention to build a team to challenge defending america 's cup champions oracle team usa . the renowned vintner filed his intention to challenge for the 35th edition of sailing 's blue ribbon event monday . oatley -- a man who is described as as famous for his wine as he is for sailing ' -- lodged his intent with san francisco golden gate yacht club . the club is classed as the defender and trustee ' of the trophy after its team , owned by american billionaire larry ellison , won the 34th america 's cup last wednesday . oracle team usa staged a magnificent comeback from 8-1 down to sail to a 9-8 win over emirates new zealand to claim the oldest trophy in sport . the american boat was packed with an international crew and skippered by australian jimmy spithill . oatley said seeing what the sailors from the southern hemisphere achieved on the waters of san francisco bay persuaded him it was the right time to enter an australian team to challenge team usa . given australia 's previous success in the america 's cup , the admiral 's cup and olympic yachting , and as proud australians , we think it is time for our nation to be back in our sport 's pinnacle event , ' oatley said . the recently completed america 's cup in san francisco has revolutionized the sport for sailors and fans , and we were excited to see how many australians played key roles on the teams and in the regatta organization . ' oatley lodged his entry through the hamilton island yacht club . the entrepreneur owns the island off the east coast of australia and has taken to the waters with great success , seeing his crews win the admiral 's cup and consecutive sydney to hobart yacht races . details on the dates and venue for the next edition of the america 's cup are due to be published in the first few months of 2014 . | the americans fought back to defeat emirates new zealand |
lloyd <tsp> a man who allegedly was with aaron hernandez the night odin lloyd was killed pleaded not guilty friday to a single count of being an accessory to murder after the fact . as members of his and lloyd 's family looked on , carlos ortiz uttered only those two words -- not guilty ' -- during his brief arraignment in bristol county superior court in the southeastern massachusetts city of fall river . his next court date is set for november 20 . ortiz is one of several people who have been charged in connection with lloyd 's death , though only one person -- hernandez , who was a standout tight end for the new england patriots before being released by the team the day of his arrest -- faces a murder count . like hernandez , ortiz hails from bristol , connecticut . during friday 's court hearing , ortiz 's lawyer john connors did not contest the $ 500,000 cash bail set for his client , though he could do so later . we do n't have the grand jury minutes , we do n't have a lot of the discovery statements , etc . so i think it 's prudent to wait for the next date until we argue ( bail ) , ' connors said . authorities have said that hernandez , ernest wallace and ortiz picked lloyd up from his boston apartment in a rental car shortly before he was found shot to death june 17 in a north attleborough , massachusetts , industrial park . surveillance cameras then captured the rental car leaving the crime scene and hernandez carrying a gun as he returned to his home minutes later . he was with two other people . lloyd -- a 27-year-old semi-pro football player himself -- was not among them . ortiz first told investigators both hernandez and wallace had gotten out of the car with lloyd at the industrial park , before shots rang out . but prosecutors say he later changed his story to claim wallace remained in the car , while hernandez and lloyd got out . asked last month about ortiz changing his account , his attorney said , almost every case i 've ever been involved in , the story changes during interrogation . when a professional interrogation takes place , at the end of it sometimes you have trouble remembering your own name . ' connors said his client had limited means ' and would seek a relatively low bail . he 's a young guy who got caught up in a situation , ' connors said . and when all this came about , he was frightened and confused , as you can imagine anyone would be . i believe he 's an honest guy . ' | lloyd was found killed in an industrial park ; hernandez is charged with murder in case |
lloyd <tsp> a man who allegedly was with aaron hernandez the night odin lloyd was killed pleaded not guilty friday to a single count of being an accessory to murder after the fact . as members of his and lloyd 's family looked on , carlos ortiz uttered only those two words -- not guilty ' -- during his brief arraignment in bristol county superior court in the southeastern massachusetts city of fall river . his next court date is set for november 20 . ortiz is one of several people who have been charged in connection with lloyd 's death , though only one person -- hernandez , who was a standout tight end for the new england patriots before being released by the team the day of his arrest -- faces a murder count . like hernandez , ortiz hails from bristol , connecticut . during friday 's court hearing , ortiz 's lawyer john connors did not contest the $ 500,000 cash bail set for his client , though he could do so later . we do n't have the grand jury minutes , we do n't have a lot of the discovery statements , etc . so i think it 's prudent to wait for the next date until we argue ( bail ) , ' connors said . authorities have said that hernandez , ernest wallace and ortiz picked lloyd up from his boston apartment in a rental car shortly before he was found shot to death june 17 in a north attleborough , massachusetts , industrial park . surveillance cameras then captured the rental car leaving the crime scene and hernandez carrying a gun as he returned to his home minutes later . he was with two other people . lloyd -- a 27-year-old semi-pro football player himself -- was not among them . ortiz first told investigators both hernandez and wallace had gotten out of the car with lloyd at the industrial park , before shots rang out . but prosecutors say he later changed his story to claim wallace remained in the car , while hernandez and lloyd got out . asked last month about ortiz changing his account , his attorney said , almost every case i 've ever been involved in , the story changes during interrogation . when a professional interrogation takes place , at the end of it sometimes you have trouble remembering your own name . ' connors said his client had limited means ' and would seek a relatively low bail . he 's a young guy who got caught up in a situation , ' connors said . and when all this came about , he was frightened and confused , as you can imagine anyone would be . i believe he 's an honest guy . ' | authorities say carlos ortiz was with aaron hernandez when they picked up odin lloyd |
walid eido <tsp> beirut , lebanon ( cnn ) -- supporters and opponents of lebanon 's pro-western government appeared to split seats on sunday as lebanese voters went to the polls to replace two ruling-party lawmakers assassinated in recent months . lebanese women wait in line to cast their votes in beirut . voters in beirut sent pro-government candidate mohammed al-amin itani to parliament to replace walid eido , who was killed in a june bombing . both eido , a sunni muslim , and itani are members of the bloc led by saad hariri -- the son of former prime minister rafik hariri , whose 2005 killing triggered lebanon 's current wave of political upheaval . but in metn , a maronite christian suburb east of the capital , anti-government candidate camille khouri upset former president amin gemayel by a few hundred votes , lebanese television network lbc reported . khouri is a member of the free patriotic movement , the anti-government party led by former lebanese army gen. michel aoun . aoun has said he will run for president of lebanon -- and since the post is chosen by members of parliament , sunday 's results were closely watched . gemayel was seeking the seat held by his son pierre , who served as industry minister in the government of prime minister fouad siniora before being gunned down in his car in november 2006 . he served as president from 1982 to 1988 , during the civil war in lebanon . his brother , bashir gemayel , was elected president in 1982 but was assassinated before he could take office . eido and gemayel were among several lebanese political figures killed since the february 2005 killing of the elder hariri . all were critical of syria 's influence in lebanon , and their supporters blamed damascus for their deaths -- allegations the syrians and their allies in lebanon denied . hariri 's killing triggered a wave of protests against syria known as the cedar revolution , ' which brought siniora 's government to power and forced syria to withdraw the garrison it kept in lebanon for three decades . e-mail to a friend cnn 's nada husseini contributed to this report . | candidates will replace legislator pierre gemayel and lawmaker walid eido |
lebanese <tsp> beirut , lebanon ( cnn ) -- supporters and opponents of lebanon 's pro-western government appeared to split seats on sunday as lebanese voters went to the polls to replace two ruling-party lawmakers assassinated in recent months . lebanese women wait in line to cast their votes in beirut . voters in beirut sent pro-government candidate mohammed al-amin itani to parliament to replace walid eido , who was killed in a june bombing . both eido , a sunni muslim , and itani are members of the bloc led by saad hariri -- the son of former prime minister rafik hariri , whose 2005 killing triggered lebanon 's current wave of political upheaval . but in metn , a maronite christian suburb east of the capital , anti-government candidate camille khouri upset former president amin gemayel by a few hundred votes , lebanese television network lbc reported . khouri is a member of the free patriotic movement , the anti-government party led by former lebanese army gen. michel aoun . aoun has said he will run for president of lebanon -- and since the post is chosen by members of parliament , sunday 's results were closely watched . gemayel was seeking the seat held by his son pierre , who served as industry minister in the government of prime minister fouad siniora before being gunned down in his car in november 2006 . he served as president from 1982 to 1988 , during the civil war in lebanon . his brother , bashir gemayel , was elected president in 1982 but was assassinated before he could take office . eido and gemayel were among several lebanese political figures killed since the february 2005 killing of the elder hariri . all were critical of syria 's influence in lebanon , and their supporters blamed damascus for their deaths -- allegations the syrians and their allies in lebanon denied . hariri 's killing triggered a wave of protests against syria known as the cedar revolution , ' which brought siniora 's government to power and forced syria to withdraw the garrison it kept in lebanon for three decades . e-mail to a friend cnn 's nada husseini contributed to this report . | both were allies of u.s.-backed lebanese government and opponents of syria |
lebanese <tsp> beirut , lebanon ( cnn ) -- supporters and opponents of lebanon 's pro-western government appeared to split seats on sunday as lebanese voters went to the polls to replace two ruling-party lawmakers assassinated in recent months . lebanese women wait in line to cast their votes in beirut . voters in beirut sent pro-government candidate mohammed al-amin itani to parliament to replace walid eido , who was killed in a june bombing . both eido , a sunni muslim , and itani are members of the bloc led by saad hariri -- the son of former prime minister rafik hariri , whose 2005 killing triggered lebanon 's current wave of political upheaval . but in metn , a maronite christian suburb east of the capital , anti-government candidate camille khouri upset former president amin gemayel by a few hundred votes , lebanese television network lbc reported . khouri is a member of the free patriotic movement , the anti-government party led by former lebanese army gen. michel aoun . aoun has said he will run for president of lebanon -- and since the post is chosen by members of parliament , sunday 's results were closely watched . gemayel was seeking the seat held by his son pierre , who served as industry minister in the government of prime minister fouad siniora before being gunned down in his car in november 2006 . he served as president from 1982 to 1988 , during the civil war in lebanon . his brother , bashir gemayel , was elected president in 1982 but was assassinated before he could take office . eido and gemayel were among several lebanese political figures killed since the february 2005 killing of the elder hariri . all were critical of syria 's influence in lebanon , and their supporters blamed damascus for their deaths -- allegations the syrians and their allies in lebanon denied . hariri 's killing triggered a wave of protests against syria known as the cedar revolution , ' which brought siniora 's government to power and forced syria to withdraw the garrison it kept in lebanon for three decades . e-mail to a friend cnn 's nada husseini contributed to this report . | former lebanese president amin gemayel loses by a few hundred votes |
patriots <tsp> ( cnn ) we want our killers to be kind . to walk into court and show remorse , tell us that they are really nice people who only did it because they feared for their lives , or they were temporarily insane . even though those things may not be true , too often they are accepted as legitimate excuses for murder . well , aaron hernandez , the former new england patriots tight end and now convicted murderer , made none of those excuses . he walked into court with an air of bravado , his head held high like the $ 40 million , nfl superstar he was just a couple of years ago . several times he was even caught winking at his fiancee , shayanna jenkins , during the trial . and we did n't like his swagger . hernandez did n't offer a plausible alibi . he did n't look ashamed or remorseful . he never wept . his own attorney , james sultan , admitted that hernandez witnessed ' the killing of odin lloyd , committed by somebody he knew , ' but said his client did not commit the crime . even before the guilty verdict came down wednesday , for many -- at least those covering the trial -- audacity seemed to be the defendant 's biggest crime . the arrogance of aaron hernandez , ' a new yorker headline accused . i do n't get it . what does it matter that hernandez was arrogant in court , or walked with too much swagger , or even smiled at his girl ? like it or not , that is who he is . the evidence is what matters . and for once , this time it appears the jury carefully considered the damning mountain of circumstantial evidence against this defendant and came to the right decision : guilty of first-degree murder in the 2013 slaying of odin lloyd . hernandez , 25 , was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole . he was also found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition . it was the right decision . still , it 's hard not to feel sadness over such a senseless waste of life for both lloyd and now hernandez , who were once friends . football was the best thing hernandez ever had , especially after he father died suddenly after a routine hernia surgery in 2006 . hernandez was 16 . after that his life got complicated . at 17 , hernandez went off to the university of florida and seemed headed for greatness . there he won the john mackey award as the nation 's best tight end and led the team in receiving during its 2009 bowl championship series win . but off the field , his life was to beginning to unravel . trouble started : bar fights , reports of marijuana use and failed drug tests . he was even questioned in relation to a shooting after a fight at a gainesville , florida , nightclub . by the time he was drafted in 2010 by the new england patriots , hernandez had already been labeled a troubled player . ' but neither the patriots nor the nfl has anything to be ashamed of in how they handled the hernandez case . they did everything right this time . hours after hernandez was charged with murder , he was let go from the team . and his coaches did n't spend any time trying to convince the public that their star tight end was a decent , family-loving guy , as the league has done too many times in the past when its players got in trouble . this time justice worked . there 's no reason to second-guess what went wrong , to ask how could a star nfler be a murderer ? ' the nfl for the most part does a great job vetting its players , and certainly hernandez is an anomaly in the league , where despite the ugly headlines , the overwhelming majority of players are upstanding , law-abiding citizens . and patriots bashers ( me included ) would be mistaken to try to find fault with the team for drafting hernandez despite his troubled past . no one really knows what evil lurks in the hearts of others , even those closest to us . not the mothers whose sons go off and commit schoolyard killing sprees , or wives whose husbands gun down innocent people , and certainly not employers who are mostly concerned about performance on the job . there was no way to predict hernandez would end up a murderer . he was a guy who had all the talent and opportunity in the world , but he still went wrong . hernandez himself may have explained it best as he was being taken out of the courtroom : according to a law enforcement source close to the case , hernandez told officers escorting him , 'hey man , i 'm going to miss you guys . ... i do n't need any luck any more .'he gave you the impression ,'it 's kinda like no big deal . ... it is what it is .' | she says nfl , patriots knew his troubled past , but could not have predicted his actions , and both handled case well |
hernandez <tsp> ( cnn ) we want our killers to be kind . to walk into court and show remorse , tell us that they are really nice people who only did it because they feared for their lives , or they were temporarily insane . even though those things may not be true , too often they are accepted as legitimate excuses for murder . well , aaron hernandez , the former new england patriots tight end and now convicted murderer , made none of those excuses . he walked into court with an air of bravado , his head held high like the $ 40 million , nfl superstar he was just a couple of years ago . several times he was even caught winking at his fiancee , shayanna jenkins , during the trial . and we did n't like his swagger . hernandez did n't offer a plausible alibi . he did n't look ashamed or remorseful . he never wept . his own attorney , james sultan , admitted that hernandez witnessed ' the killing of odin lloyd , committed by somebody he knew , ' but said his client did not commit the crime . even before the guilty verdict came down wednesday , for many -- at least those covering the trial -- audacity seemed to be the defendant 's biggest crime . the arrogance of aaron hernandez , ' a new yorker headline accused . i do n't get it . what does it matter that hernandez was arrogant in court , or walked with too much swagger , or even smiled at his girl ? like it or not , that is who he is . the evidence is what matters . and for once , this time it appears the jury carefully considered the damning mountain of circumstantial evidence against this defendant and came to the right decision : guilty of first-degree murder in the 2013 slaying of odin lloyd . hernandez , 25 , was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole . he was also found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition . it was the right decision . still , it 's hard not to feel sadness over such a senseless waste of life for both lloyd and now hernandez , who were once friends . football was the best thing hernandez ever had , especially after he father died suddenly after a routine hernia surgery in 2006 . hernandez was 16 . after that his life got complicated . at 17 , hernandez went off to the university of florida and seemed headed for greatness . there he won the john mackey award as the nation 's best tight end and led the team in receiving during its 2009 bowl championship series win . but off the field , his life was to beginning to unravel . trouble started : bar fights , reports of marijuana use and failed drug tests . he was even questioned in relation to a shooting after a fight at a gainesville , florida , nightclub . by the time he was drafted in 2010 by the new england patriots , hernandez had already been labeled a troubled player . ' but neither the patriots nor the nfl has anything to be ashamed of in how they handled the hernandez case . they did everything right this time . hours after hernandez was charged with murder , he was let go from the team . and his coaches did n't spend any time trying to convince the public that their star tight end was a decent , family-loving guy , as the league has done too many times in the past when its players got in trouble . this time justice worked . there 's no reason to second-guess what went wrong , to ask how could a star nfler be a murderer ? ' the nfl for the most part does a great job vetting its players , and certainly hernandez is an anomaly in the league , where despite the ugly headlines , the overwhelming majority of players are upstanding , law-abiding citizens . and patriots bashers ( me included ) would be mistaken to try to find fault with the team for drafting hernandez despite his troubled past . no one really knows what evil lurks in the hearts of others , even those closest to us . not the mothers whose sons go off and commit schoolyard killing sprees , or wives whose husbands gun down innocent people , and certainly not employers who are mostly concerned about performance on the job . there was no way to predict hernandez would end up a murderer . he was a guy who had all the talent and opportunity in the world , but he still went wrong . hernandez himself may have explained it best as he was being taken out of the courtroom : according to a law enforcement source close to the case , hernandez told officers escorting him , 'hey man , i 'm going to miss you guys . ... i do n't need any luck any more .'he gave you the impression ,'it 's kinda like no big deal . ... it is what it is .' | roxanne jones : jury right to find hernandez guilty , but the waste of life for player and his victim is tragic |
nfl <tsp> ( cnn ) we want our killers to be kind . to walk into court and show remorse , tell us that they are really nice people who only did it because they feared for their lives , or they were temporarily insane . even though those things may not be true , too often they are accepted as legitimate excuses for murder . well , aaron hernandez , the former new england patriots tight end and now convicted murderer , made none of those excuses . he walked into court with an air of bravado , his head held high like the $ 40 million , nfl superstar he was just a couple of years ago . several times he was even caught winking at his fiancee , shayanna jenkins , during the trial . and we did n't like his swagger . hernandez did n't offer a plausible alibi . he did n't look ashamed or remorseful . he never wept . his own attorney , james sultan , admitted that hernandez witnessed ' the killing of odin lloyd , committed by somebody he knew , ' but said his client did not commit the crime . even before the guilty verdict came down wednesday , for many -- at least those covering the trial -- audacity seemed to be the defendant 's biggest crime . the arrogance of aaron hernandez , ' a new yorker headline accused . i do n't get it . what does it matter that hernandez was arrogant in court , or walked with too much swagger , or even smiled at his girl ? like it or not , that is who he is . the evidence is what matters . and for once , this time it appears the jury carefully considered the damning mountain of circumstantial evidence against this defendant and came to the right decision : guilty of first-degree murder in the 2013 slaying of odin lloyd . hernandez , 25 , was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole . he was also found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition . it was the right decision . still , it 's hard not to feel sadness over such a senseless waste of life for both lloyd and now hernandez , who were once friends . football was the best thing hernandez ever had , especially after he father died suddenly after a routine hernia surgery in 2006 . hernandez was 16 . after that his life got complicated . at 17 , hernandez went off to the university of florida and seemed headed for greatness . there he won the john mackey award as the nation 's best tight end and led the team in receiving during its 2009 bowl championship series win . but off the field , his life was to beginning to unravel . trouble started : bar fights , reports of marijuana use and failed drug tests . he was even questioned in relation to a shooting after a fight at a gainesville , florida , nightclub . by the time he was drafted in 2010 by the new england patriots , hernandez had already been labeled a troubled player . ' but neither the patriots nor the nfl has anything to be ashamed of in how they handled the hernandez case . they did everything right this time . hours after hernandez was charged with murder , he was let go from the team . and his coaches did n't spend any time trying to convince the public that their star tight end was a decent , family-loving guy , as the league has done too many times in the past when its players got in trouble . this time justice worked . there 's no reason to second-guess what went wrong , to ask how could a star nfler be a murderer ? ' the nfl for the most part does a great job vetting its players , and certainly hernandez is an anomaly in the league , where despite the ugly headlines , the overwhelming majority of players are upstanding , law-abiding citizens . and patriots bashers ( me included ) would be mistaken to try to find fault with the team for drafting hernandez despite his troubled past . no one really knows what evil lurks in the hearts of others , even those closest to us . not the mothers whose sons go off and commit schoolyard killing sprees , or wives whose husbands gun down innocent people , and certainly not employers who are mostly concerned about performance on the job . there was no way to predict hernandez would end up a murderer . he was a guy who had all the talent and opportunity in the world , but he still went wrong . hernandez himself may have explained it best as he was being taken out of the courtroom : according to a law enforcement source close to the case , hernandez told officers escorting him , 'hey man , i 'm going to miss you guys . ... i do n't need any luck any more .'he gave you the impression ,'it 's kinda like no big deal . ... it is what it is .' | she says nfl , patriots knew his troubled past , but could not have predicted his actions , and both handled case well |
facebook <tsp> yes , i identify as black or african-american , but i am not a negro , ' said a 25-year-old teacher from new york city . on monday , when raeana roberson took the day off from work to report for jury selection , she was not prepared for what she called an offensive and disgusting experience . the juror information card all prospective jurors have to fill out included a race category that included , black , african-american , or negro . ' are you kidding me ? what year is this ? ' roberson thought when she read the form . when roberson looked around , no one else in the room was apparently concerned by this , she told cnn on friday . since the words black , african-american , or negro ' appeared as a part of a single category , roberson crossed out the word negro ' and wrote next to it , offensive ! it 's 2014 ! ' she then snapped a picture of the form and posted it on her facebook page . roberson returned the form to a court employee , hoping for some sort of reaction , but there was none , she said . with grandparents from north carolina who lived through the jim crow laws of racial segregation , roberson said she is especially offended by the contemporary use of the word negro . ' it is outdated and has a negative connotation , roberson said . i do n't think it was malicious , ' said jeffrey sammons , a professor of history at new york university . negro ' has been used from the late 1900s all the way to the harlem renaissance and beyond , sammons explained . there were times when the word was used to describe educated and empowered african-americans , he said . there have been various terms that have been embraced by different generations of african-americans , sammons said , and negro ' was one of them . the term lost popularity with the arrival of the baby boomers and the black pride movement , according to sammons . i believe there are many black people who still prefer that term , ' said sammons . it is a generational issue . ' it would be a problem if the word negro ' appeared on the form by itself , he said friday . race categories for new york courts come from the u.s. census bureau , according to arlene hackel , a spokeswoman for the new york state office of court administration . the courts are required to collect demographic information about prospective jurors , per judicial statue section 528 . as of september 13 , 2010 , every person who appears for jury service in any city in new york must complete a scannable data card , which includes specification of race , according to the statute . however , the statute only uses the word black ' when referring to blacks or african-americans . according to a 2010 blog post by then director of the u.s. census bureau , robert groves , the word negro ' was used in the 2000 census as a result of research in the late 1990s that showed approximately 56,000 people wrote in the word negro ' under the some other race ' category . more than half of these individuals were under the age of 45 in 2000 . in the 2010 census , many respondents found the use of the word negro ' outdated and offensive , according to a press release by the bureau . groves apologized to those who were offended . i am confident that the intent of my colleagues in using the same wording as census 2000 was to make sure as many people as possible saw words that matched their self-identities . full inclusiveness was the goal , ' groves wrote . following the negative feedback , the census bureau conducted research on race and hispanic origin using what it called the alternative questionnaire experiment , according to the press release . the study found that removing the term negro ' does not have an impact on data quality and therefore recommended removing the term for future data collection . the census bureau , which follows the office of management and budget for definitions of race and ethnicity , discontinued use of the word negro ' at the beginning of 2014 , according to a press release . new york courts will be following suit and discontinuing the use of the word soon , according to hackel . collecting demographic data is really important ; however , they may have had a technical hiccup in their choice of language , ' said analyst greg hurley of the national center for state courts . not all states collect demographic information from prospective juror , hurley told cnn . it is a good thing that new york courts do this in order to ensure a fair cross-section of the community , he explained . the national center for state courts created its own form for prospective jurors , which does not include the word negro . ' according to hackel , this is the first time officials have heard of anyone being offended as a result of the race categories on juror information cards . the story was first reported by the huffington post . | prospective juror was offended and posted picture of card on facebook |
kuti <tsp> ( cnn ) -- if there 's only one african musician you 've heard of , it 's probably my father : fela kuti . his innovative musical style and flamboyant showmanship made him famous not just in nigeria , but throughout the world as he pioneered what became known as afrobeat . but fela kuti was more than a musician -- he was also a legendary activist , who with many other brave africans was jailed for speaking out . one of the great injustices of our time is that some of the poorest people in the world are living on top of some of the earth 's richest resources of oil , gas and minerals . but rather than benefiting from this wealth , they 're too often being robbed of it . in many african countries , the deals to extract these resources are done in the dark , with no information made available to citizens who deserve to know what their natural riches were sold for , and whether the money went to the national budget , or someone 's swiss bank account . as world leaders gather for the g20 summit in brisbane , australia , this weekend , it 's time to draw a line in the sand over the corruption that wracks africa . after all , you do n't have to visit lagos or abuja to see the disparity between the haves and have-nots . indeed , given revelations of government officials from some of africa 's poorest countries owning luxury homes in the united kingdom , united states and france , it is clear we need strong international transparency laws to help ensure such assets are n't purchased with money stolen from public coffers . but this is no longer my father 's fight . it 's time for the next generation of activists to hold today 's leaders accountable to their people . corruption is not just an african problem ; it 's a global issue . in today 's globalized world , where stolen money can be wired instantly from one country to another , we need global action to end corruption . after all , it takes two to tango . although a corrupt official or business in africa may be the one stealing money , those funds often end up in bank accounts and anonymous shell companies based in supposedly reputable financial centers like london , new york and hong kong . take , for instance , the case of former nigerian military dictator sani abacha . during his five-year reign in the 1990s , an estimated $ 3 billion to $ 5 billion of public money went missing . it is widely believed that much of that money ended up in bank accounts and shell companies in europe and the united states . the nigerian government has spent the past decade trying to find and recover it , with only modest success . with this in mind , we need to start by asking powerful countries to stop enabling the flow of ill-gotten spoils from developing nations to their shores . rich nations must pull up the welcome mat to criminals and they have a great opportunity to do just that at the upcoming g20 summit . so what practical steps can the g20 take to crack down on corruption ? first , they should require companies to publicize the names of their owners so that anonymous companies can no longer be used to steal the riches of developing countries . second , they should endorse mandatory transparency laws for oil , gas and mining companies so citizens can follow the money and hold their governments accountable for the effective use of natural resource wealth . and finally , the g20 should lead on greater tax transparency for companies , making information publicly available that can be used to ensure that businesses pay their fair share of taxes to governments . we can not lose sight of the impact of corruption on real human beings . according to the one campaign , nearly $ 1 trillion each year is siphoned out of developing countries through shady deals and money laundering , with sizable amounts of that money ending up in the world 's richest countries and offshore tax havens . this money could and should be used to build hospitals , schools , roads and infrastructure necessary to save and improve millions of peoples'lives . for decades , my father , and countless activists whose names history has forgotten , risked their lives to expose corruption and bring people to act , urging them to stand up for justice and human dignity . now is the time for world leaders meeting in australia to honor their legacy by tackling the problem of global corruption with smart , meaningful action . | g20 should take steps to tackle corruption , says kuti |
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