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fifa <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- the governing body of world football , fifa , has turned down the request from the irish football association ( fai ) to replay their deciding world cup play-off game against france . the controversial match , that was played on wednesday , has caused a diplomatic storm after french forward thierry henry admitted to illegally using his hand to set-up the goal that gave his team a 2-1 aggregate victory to seal qualification to the tournament . but despite a letter sent to fifa by the fai , and calls from both the irish prime minister brian cowen and irish justice minister dermot ahern for the game to be replayed , the sport 's organizing body has refused the request . in a statement on their official web site fifa stated : the result of the match can not be changed and the match can not be replayed . as is clearly mentioned in the laws of the game , during matches , decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final . ' irish football officials lodged an official complaint with fifa on thursday and sent a letter to the french football federation ( fff ) in a bid to get the game reconvened . the world 's worst football injustices ' the governing body of world football have to step up to the plate and accede to our call for a replay , ' fai chief executive john delaney told reporters . the fai pointed to a precedent set in 2005 when a world cup qualifier between uzbekistan and bahrain was replayed after the referee was found to have committed a technical error in the application of the laws of the game . but a fifa spokesman said the precedent did not apply because the referee in the match saw the incident in question and simply failed to apply the proper rules ' . irish prime minister cowen raised the issue with french president nicolas sarkozy at a european union ( eu ) summit in brussels , where the two leaders were meeting to vote for the next president of europe . cowen told the irish independent newspaper : i did n't ask for a replay . i said , you know :'what do you think ?'and he said :'look , i understand totally the sense of disappointment that you feel about the game . i 'm not trying to mix politics and sport in this respect . we just had a chat . [ but ] it 's not going to be resolved by he and i . ' mr sarkozy , however , said he did not want to get involved : i said to brian cowen , who is a friend of mine as you know , that i was sorry for them and how i was struck by the talent and vigor of the irish team . now do not ask me to stand in for the referee of the game or the football decision -- be they in france or in europe , ' he said . what will be done will be done . but leave me out of it , please . and to be perfectly frank with you that is the sort of answer i want to give , ' he added . despite sarkozy 's comments , french finance minister christine lagarde said she supported moves for a replay . i think it 's very sad . i 'm of course very happy that the french team will play in the world cup , but i find it very sad that it did qualify with ... you know ... an act of cheating , ' she told rtl radio station . the game between france and ireland was one of six play offs played on wednesday which decided the final 32 teams heading south africa in 2010 . video replays showed henry used his hand to stop the ball going out of play in extra-time , before he passed to william gallas who booked his nation 's place with a headed goal . the draw for next year 's finals is due to be made in cape town on december 4 . | fifa : the result of the match can not be changed and the match can not be replayed ' |
ireland <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- the governing body of world football , fifa , has turned down the request from the irish football association ( fai ) to replay their deciding world cup play-off game against france . the controversial match , that was played on wednesday , has caused a diplomatic storm after french forward thierry henry admitted to illegally using his hand to set-up the goal that gave his team a 2-1 aggregate victory to seal qualification to the tournament . but despite a letter sent to fifa by the fai , and calls from both the irish prime minister brian cowen and irish justice minister dermot ahern for the game to be replayed , the sport 's organizing body has refused the request . in a statement on their official web site fifa stated : the result of the match can not be changed and the match can not be replayed . as is clearly mentioned in the laws of the game , during matches , decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final . ' irish football officials lodged an official complaint with fifa on thursday and sent a letter to the french football federation ( fff ) in a bid to get the game reconvened . the world 's worst football injustices ' the governing body of world football have to step up to the plate and accede to our call for a replay , ' fai chief executive john delaney told reporters . the fai pointed to a precedent set in 2005 when a world cup qualifier between uzbekistan and bahrain was replayed after the referee was found to have committed a technical error in the application of the laws of the game . but a fifa spokesman said the precedent did not apply because the referee in the match saw the incident in question and simply failed to apply the proper rules ' . irish prime minister cowen raised the issue with french president nicolas sarkozy at a european union ( eu ) summit in brussels , where the two leaders were meeting to vote for the next president of europe . cowen told the irish independent newspaper : i did n't ask for a replay . i said , you know :'what do you think ?'and he said :'look , i understand totally the sense of disappointment that you feel about the game . i 'm not trying to mix politics and sport in this respect . we just had a chat . [ but ] it 's not going to be resolved by he and i . ' mr sarkozy , however , said he did not want to get involved : i said to brian cowen , who is a friend of mine as you know , that i was sorry for them and how i was struck by the talent and vigor of the irish team . now do not ask me to stand in for the referee of the game or the football decision -- be they in france or in europe , ' he said . what will be done will be done . but leave me out of it , please . and to be perfectly frank with you that is the sort of answer i want to give , ' he added . despite sarkozy 's comments , french finance minister christine lagarde said she supported moves for a replay . i think it 's very sad . i 'm of course very happy that the french team will play in the world cup , but i find it very sad that it did qualify with ... you know ... an act of cheating , ' she told rtl radio station . the game between france and ireland was one of six play offs played on wednesday which decided the final 32 teams heading south africa in 2010 . video replays showed henry used his hand to stop the ball going out of play in extra-time , before he passed to william gallas who booked his nation 's place with a headed goal . the draw for next year 's finals is due to be made in cape town on december 4 . | french president nicolas sarkozy said : i was sorry for [ ireland ] but do not ask me to stand in for the referee of the game ' |
ireland <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- the governing body of world football , fifa , has turned down the request from the irish football association ( fai ) to replay their deciding world cup play-off game against france . the controversial match , that was played on wednesday , has caused a diplomatic storm after french forward thierry henry admitted to illegally using his hand to set-up the goal that gave his team a 2-1 aggregate victory to seal qualification to the tournament . but despite a letter sent to fifa by the fai , and calls from both the irish prime minister brian cowen and irish justice minister dermot ahern for the game to be replayed , the sport 's organizing body has refused the request . in a statement on their official web site fifa stated : the result of the match can not be changed and the match can not be replayed . as is clearly mentioned in the laws of the game , during matches , decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final . ' irish football officials lodged an official complaint with fifa on thursday and sent a letter to the french football federation ( fff ) in a bid to get the game reconvened . the world 's worst football injustices ' the governing body of world football have to step up to the plate and accede to our call for a replay , ' fai chief executive john delaney told reporters . the fai pointed to a precedent set in 2005 when a world cup qualifier between uzbekistan and bahrain was replayed after the referee was found to have committed a technical error in the application of the laws of the game . but a fifa spokesman said the precedent did not apply because the referee in the match saw the incident in question and simply failed to apply the proper rules ' . irish prime minister cowen raised the issue with french president nicolas sarkozy at a european union ( eu ) summit in brussels , where the two leaders were meeting to vote for the next president of europe . cowen told the irish independent newspaper : i did n't ask for a replay . i said , you know :'what do you think ?'and he said :'look , i understand totally the sense of disappointment that you feel about the game . i 'm not trying to mix politics and sport in this respect . we just had a chat . [ but ] it 's not going to be resolved by he and i . ' mr sarkozy , however , said he did not want to get involved : i said to brian cowen , who is a friend of mine as you know , that i was sorry for them and how i was struck by the talent and vigor of the irish team . now do not ask me to stand in for the referee of the game or the football decision -- be they in france or in europe , ' he said . what will be done will be done . but leave me out of it , please . and to be perfectly frank with you that is the sort of answer i want to give , ' he added . despite sarkozy 's comments , french finance minister christine lagarde said she supported moves for a replay . i think it 's very sad . i 'm of course very happy that the french team will play in the world cup , but i find it very sad that it did qualify with ... you know ... an act of cheating , ' she told rtl radio station . the game between france and ireland was one of six play offs played on wednesday which decided the final 32 teams heading south africa in 2010 . video replays showed henry used his hand to stop the ball going out of play in extra-time , before he passed to william gallas who booked his nation 's place with a headed goal . the draw for next year 's finals is due to be made in cape town on december 4 . | new : former ireland captain roy keane accuses fai of hyprocrisy in their appeal to fifa |
nicolas sarkozy <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- the governing body of world football , fifa , has turned down the request from the irish football association ( fai ) to replay their deciding world cup play-off game against france . the controversial match , that was played on wednesday , has caused a diplomatic storm after french forward thierry henry admitted to illegally using his hand to set-up the goal that gave his team a 2-1 aggregate victory to seal qualification to the tournament . but despite a letter sent to fifa by the fai , and calls from both the irish prime minister brian cowen and irish justice minister dermot ahern for the game to be replayed , the sport 's organizing body has refused the request . in a statement on their official web site fifa stated : the result of the match can not be changed and the match can not be replayed . as is clearly mentioned in the laws of the game , during matches , decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final . ' irish football officials lodged an official complaint with fifa on thursday and sent a letter to the french football federation ( fff ) in a bid to get the game reconvened . the world 's worst football injustices ' the governing body of world football have to step up to the plate and accede to our call for a replay , ' fai chief executive john delaney told reporters . the fai pointed to a precedent set in 2005 when a world cup qualifier between uzbekistan and bahrain was replayed after the referee was found to have committed a technical error in the application of the laws of the game . but a fifa spokesman said the precedent did not apply because the referee in the match saw the incident in question and simply failed to apply the proper rules ' . irish prime minister cowen raised the issue with french president nicolas sarkozy at a european union ( eu ) summit in brussels , where the two leaders were meeting to vote for the next president of europe . cowen told the irish independent newspaper : i did n't ask for a replay . i said , you know :'what do you think ?'and he said :'look , i understand totally the sense of disappointment that you feel about the game . i 'm not trying to mix politics and sport in this respect . we just had a chat . [ but ] it 's not going to be resolved by he and i . ' mr sarkozy , however , said he did not want to get involved : i said to brian cowen , who is a friend of mine as you know , that i was sorry for them and how i was struck by the talent and vigor of the irish team . now do not ask me to stand in for the referee of the game or the football decision -- be they in france or in europe , ' he said . what will be done will be done . but leave me out of it , please . and to be perfectly frank with you that is the sort of answer i want to give , ' he added . despite sarkozy 's comments , french finance minister christine lagarde said she supported moves for a replay . i think it 's very sad . i 'm of course very happy that the french team will play in the world cup , but i find it very sad that it did qualify with ... you know ... an act of cheating , ' she told rtl radio station . the game between france and ireland was one of six play offs played on wednesday which decided the final 32 teams heading south africa in 2010 . video replays showed henry used his hand to stop the ball going out of play in extra-time , before he passed to william gallas who booked his nation 's place with a headed goal . the draw for next year 's finals is due to be made in cape town on december 4 . | french president nicolas sarkozy said : i was sorry for [ ireland ] but do not ask me to stand in for the referee of the game ' |
jolie <tsp> ( cnn ) -- angelina jolie stunned many people with an op-ed tuesday describing her reasons for choosing to have a preventive double mastectomy . her mother passed away at the age of 56 after battling ovarian cancer . moreover , jolie found that she had the brca1 gene , which significantly increases the lifetime risk of breast cancer . in fact , she reports that her doctors estimated that she had an 87 % chance of developing breast cancer . i have no doubt that this piece is causing many women across the country to think about their own health and chances of developing the disease . thanks to many successful organizations , breast cancer awareness is at an all-time high in the united states . a person of jolie 's stature publicly discussing such a personal and difficult decision will likely weigh on the minds of many women who have similar concerns . breast cancer is a real disease , it 's not rare , and it can potentially strike almost anyone . i have no doubt that her op-ed in the new york times will help many women who would not have considered this procedure to do so now . five reasons we love angelina jolie in one sense , that is a good thing . there are legitimate and real reasons for some women to consider a preventive , or prophylactic , mastectomy . some women who have had breast cancer in one breast elect to have a mastectomy of the other breast to prevent the cancer from spreading there . some women who have a family history of cancer , especially before age 50 , might consider the procedure . more recently , women who have been able to learn through genetic testing that they have the brca1 or brca2 gene , both of which make it more likely that they might develop cancer , have been given new information that may help them make a decision . it 's a personal decision . it 's also a serious one , because there are downsides to a preventive mastectomy as well . first of all , it 's still a major procedure , and it carries all the risks of one ; one should never minimize the risks of a big operation . it 's also irreversible , and some women do suffer psychological or physical consequences afterward . no one should ever judge another woman 's decision in this area , but it would serve individual patients poorly for doctors not to discuss with them both the potential harms as well as benefits . opinion : angelina jolie 's brave message it 's also important to recognize that even a preventive mastectomy is not a guarantee against cancer . studies show that it 's about 90 % effective in preventing breast cancer in moderate and high-risk women . that still leaves a 10 % chance of developing cancer in the chest wall , armpit or even in the abdomen . that 's because it 's pretty much impossible for even the best surgeon to remove all breast tissue from a woman . because of this , some women choose not to have the procedure done , even when they are at high risk . just a few weeks ago , peggy orenstein wrote a compelling account of her decision not to undergo the procedure after her first brush with breast cancer . her reasons are just as valid and important as jolie 's but may not make the same splash in our national discussion . part of the reason for that is that there are few stars with jolie 's fame who could claim this sort of attention . but there 's a larger current here that is worth considering . we in america sometimes are risk averse . we favor trying to reduce the chance of something bad happening to as close to zero as possible . we also tend to err on the side of doing something rather than nothing . there 's nothing inherently wrong with this type of behavior . but we should recognize it . my preventive mastectomy : staying alive for my kids we tend to screen more than other countries . we tend to push for more invasive and technologically driven solutions . we do these things , sometimes , at the expense of both health and money . in the last few years , there has been some pushback against the potential over-use ( and detriment ) of mammograms and prostate specific antigen tests . such debates are controversial but important . you ca n't reduce risk to nothing . trying to do so will lead to practices none of us would support . after all , someone could make the argument that we should remove all breast tissue from all women because you never know where breast cancer will strike . that 's hyperbolic , and no one is suggesting it , but it shows that this is really a personal , and individual decision . that 's how it should be . jolie 's relating her decision to have a preventive mastectomy is no more or less brave than orenstein 's decision not to have one . but both are welcome in their bringing to the forefront that these are discussions that every woman should have with their physicians , their loved ones and themselves . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of aaron e. carroll . | carroll : jolie 's decision was brave , but orenstein 's was , too |
jolie <tsp> ( cnn ) -- angelina jolie stunned many people with an op-ed tuesday describing her reasons for choosing to have a preventive double mastectomy . her mother passed away at the age of 56 after battling ovarian cancer . moreover , jolie found that she had the brca1 gene , which significantly increases the lifetime risk of breast cancer . in fact , she reports that her doctors estimated that she had an 87 % chance of developing breast cancer . i have no doubt that this piece is causing many women across the country to think about their own health and chances of developing the disease . thanks to many successful organizations , breast cancer awareness is at an all-time high in the united states . a person of jolie 's stature publicly discussing such a personal and difficult decision will likely weigh on the minds of many women who have similar concerns . breast cancer is a real disease , it 's not rare , and it can potentially strike almost anyone . i have no doubt that her op-ed in the new york times will help many women who would not have considered this procedure to do so now . five reasons we love angelina jolie in one sense , that is a good thing . there are legitimate and real reasons for some women to consider a preventive , or prophylactic , mastectomy . some women who have had breast cancer in one breast elect to have a mastectomy of the other breast to prevent the cancer from spreading there . some women who have a family history of cancer , especially before age 50 , might consider the procedure . more recently , women who have been able to learn through genetic testing that they have the brca1 or brca2 gene , both of which make it more likely that they might develop cancer , have been given new information that may help them make a decision . it 's a personal decision . it 's also a serious one , because there are downsides to a preventive mastectomy as well . first of all , it 's still a major procedure , and it carries all the risks of one ; one should never minimize the risks of a big operation . it 's also irreversible , and some women do suffer psychological or physical consequences afterward . no one should ever judge another woman 's decision in this area , but it would serve individual patients poorly for doctors not to discuss with them both the potential harms as well as benefits . opinion : angelina jolie 's brave message it 's also important to recognize that even a preventive mastectomy is not a guarantee against cancer . studies show that it 's about 90 % effective in preventing breast cancer in moderate and high-risk women . that still leaves a 10 % chance of developing cancer in the chest wall , armpit or even in the abdomen . that 's because it 's pretty much impossible for even the best surgeon to remove all breast tissue from a woman . because of this , some women choose not to have the procedure done , even when they are at high risk . just a few weeks ago , peggy orenstein wrote a compelling account of her decision not to undergo the procedure after her first brush with breast cancer . her reasons are just as valid and important as jolie 's but may not make the same splash in our national discussion . part of the reason for that is that there are few stars with jolie 's fame who could claim this sort of attention . but there 's a larger current here that is worth considering . we in america sometimes are risk averse . we favor trying to reduce the chance of something bad happening to as close to zero as possible . we also tend to err on the side of doing something rather than nothing . there 's nothing inherently wrong with this type of behavior . but we should recognize it . my preventive mastectomy : staying alive for my kids we tend to screen more than other countries . we tend to push for more invasive and technologically driven solutions . we do these things , sometimes , at the expense of both health and money . in the last few years , there has been some pushback against the potential over-use ( and detriment ) of mammograms and prostate specific antigen tests . such debates are controversial but important . you ca n't reduce risk to nothing . trying to do so will lead to practices none of us would support . after all , someone could make the argument that we should remove all breast tissue from all women because you never know where breast cancer will strike . that 's hyperbolic , and no one is suggesting it , but it shows that this is really a personal , and individual decision . that 's how it should be . jolie 's relating her decision to have a preventive mastectomy is no more or less brave than orenstein 's decision not to have one . but both are welcome in their bringing to the forefront that these are discussions that every woman should have with their physicians , their loved ones and themselves . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of aaron e. carroll . | aaron carroll : jolie op-ed on elective double mastectomy was brave , raised consciousness |
afghanistan <tsp> ( cnn ) -- president barack obama is seriously contemplating withdrawing all u.s. troops from afghanistan sometime in 2014 , a senior administration official told cnn 's jessica yellin . the obama administration had been considering leaving a force of at least several thousand soldiers to act as trainers and to hunt leaders of the taliban and other militant groups after the long-scheduled withdrawal of all combat troops in december 2014 . but obama has grown increasingly frustrated in his dealings with afghan president hamid karzai , who last month cut off negotiations about the size of the post-2014 american military force . karzai objected to the united states beginning formal direct discussions with the taliban about peace ; he regarded this move as happening behind his back and a betrayal . let 's stipulate that karzai can be a frustrating leader to deal with and that he can even be quite mercurial on occasions . that said , the obama administration should n't be making important strategic decisions merely on the basis of whether or not its leaders like dealing with another country 's leader . further , karzai will be gone in april 2014 , when the next afghan presidential election will take place ; in only nine months , the obama administration wo n't have to deal with him at all . in any case , zeroing out u.s. troop levels in the post-2014 afghanistan is a bad idea on its face -- and even raising this concept publicly is maladroit strategic messaging to afghanistan and the region writ large . why so ? afghans well remember something that most americans have forgotten . after the soviet union withdrew from afghanistan , something that was accomplished at the cost of more than a million afghan lives and billions of dollars of u.s. aid , the united states closed its embassy in afghanistan in 1989 during the george h.w . bush administration and then zeroed out aid to one of the poorest countries in the world under the clinton administration . it essentially turned its back on afghans once they had served their purpose of dealing a deathblow to the soviets . as a result , the united states had virtually no understanding of the subsequent vacuum in afghanistan into which eventually stepped the taliban , who rose to power in the mid-1990s . the taliban granted shelter to osama bin laden and his al qaeda organization from 1996 onward . after the overthrow of the taliban , a form of this mistake was made again by the george w. bush administration , which had an ideological disdain for nation building and was distracted by the iraq war , so that in the first years after the fall of the taliban , only a few thousand u.s. soldiers were stationed in afghanistan . the relatively small number of american boots on the ground in afghanistan helped to create a vacuum of security in the country , which the taliban would deftly exploit , so that by 2007 , they once again posed a significant military threat in afghanistan . in 2009 , obama ordered a surge of 30,000 troops into afghanistan to blunt the taliban 's gathering momentum , which it has certainly accomplished . read more : inside the taliban but when obama announced the new troops of the afghan surge , most media accounts of the speech seized on the fact that the president also said that some of those troops would be coming home in july 2011 . this had the unintended effect of signaling to the taliban that the u.s. was pulling out of afghanistan reasonably soon and fit into the longstanding narrative that many afghans have that the united states will abandon them again . similarly , the current public discussion of zero u.s. troop presence in afghanistan after 2014 will encourage those hardliner elements of the taliban who have no interest in a negotiated settlement and believe they can simply wait the americans out . it also discourages the many millions of afghans who see a longtime u.s. presence as the best guarantor that the taliban wo n't come back in any meaningful way and also an important element in dissuading powerful neighbors such as pakistan from interference in afghanistan 's internal affairs . read related : afghanistan vet finds a new way to serve instead of publicly discussing the zero option on troops in afghanistan after 2014 , a much smarter american messaging strategy for the country and the region would be to emphasize that the strategic partnership agreement that the united states has already negotiated with afghanistan last year guarantees that the united states will have some form of partnership with the afghans until 2024 . in this messaging strategy , the point should be made that the exact size of the american troop presence after 2014 is less important than the fact that u.s. soldiers will stay in the country for many years , with afghan consent , as a guarantor of afghanistan 's stability . the united states continues to station thousands of troops in south korea more than five decades after the end of the korean war . under this american security umbrella , south korea has gone from being one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the richest . it is this kind of model that most afghans want and the united states needs to provide so afghanistan does n't revert to the kind of chaos that beset it in the mid-1990s and from which the taliban first emerged . read more : what 's at stake for afghan women ? | he says u.s. abandoned afghanistan before and the taliban stepped into vacuum |
afghanistan <tsp> ( cnn ) -- president barack obama is seriously contemplating withdrawing all u.s. troops from afghanistan sometime in 2014 , a senior administration official told cnn 's jessica yellin . the obama administration had been considering leaving a force of at least several thousand soldiers to act as trainers and to hunt leaders of the taliban and other militant groups after the long-scheduled withdrawal of all combat troops in december 2014 . but obama has grown increasingly frustrated in his dealings with afghan president hamid karzai , who last month cut off negotiations about the size of the post-2014 american military force . karzai objected to the united states beginning formal direct discussions with the taliban about peace ; he regarded this move as happening behind his back and a betrayal . let 's stipulate that karzai can be a frustrating leader to deal with and that he can even be quite mercurial on occasions . that said , the obama administration should n't be making important strategic decisions merely on the basis of whether or not its leaders like dealing with another country 's leader . further , karzai will be gone in april 2014 , when the next afghan presidential election will take place ; in only nine months , the obama administration wo n't have to deal with him at all . in any case , zeroing out u.s. troop levels in the post-2014 afghanistan is a bad idea on its face -- and even raising this concept publicly is maladroit strategic messaging to afghanistan and the region writ large . why so ? afghans well remember something that most americans have forgotten . after the soviet union withdrew from afghanistan , something that was accomplished at the cost of more than a million afghan lives and billions of dollars of u.s. aid , the united states closed its embassy in afghanistan in 1989 during the george h.w . bush administration and then zeroed out aid to one of the poorest countries in the world under the clinton administration . it essentially turned its back on afghans once they had served their purpose of dealing a deathblow to the soviets . as a result , the united states had virtually no understanding of the subsequent vacuum in afghanistan into which eventually stepped the taliban , who rose to power in the mid-1990s . the taliban granted shelter to osama bin laden and his al qaeda organization from 1996 onward . after the overthrow of the taliban , a form of this mistake was made again by the george w. bush administration , which had an ideological disdain for nation building and was distracted by the iraq war , so that in the first years after the fall of the taliban , only a few thousand u.s. soldiers were stationed in afghanistan . the relatively small number of american boots on the ground in afghanistan helped to create a vacuum of security in the country , which the taliban would deftly exploit , so that by 2007 , they once again posed a significant military threat in afghanistan . in 2009 , obama ordered a surge of 30,000 troops into afghanistan to blunt the taliban 's gathering momentum , which it has certainly accomplished . read more : inside the taliban but when obama announced the new troops of the afghan surge , most media accounts of the speech seized on the fact that the president also said that some of those troops would be coming home in july 2011 . this had the unintended effect of signaling to the taliban that the u.s. was pulling out of afghanistan reasonably soon and fit into the longstanding narrative that many afghans have that the united states will abandon them again . similarly , the current public discussion of zero u.s. troop presence in afghanistan after 2014 will encourage those hardliner elements of the taliban who have no interest in a negotiated settlement and believe they can simply wait the americans out . it also discourages the many millions of afghans who see a longtime u.s. presence as the best guarantor that the taliban wo n't come back in any meaningful way and also an important element in dissuading powerful neighbors such as pakistan from interference in afghanistan 's internal affairs . read related : afghanistan vet finds a new way to serve instead of publicly discussing the zero option on troops in afghanistan after 2014 , a much smarter american messaging strategy for the country and the region would be to emphasize that the strategic partnership agreement that the united states has already negotiated with afghanistan last year guarantees that the united states will have some form of partnership with the afghans until 2024 . in this messaging strategy , the point should be made that the exact size of the american troop presence after 2014 is less important than the fact that u.s. soldiers will stay in the country for many years , with afghan consent , as a guarantor of afghanistan 's stability . the united states continues to station thousands of troops in south korea more than five decades after the end of the korean war . under this american security umbrella , south korea has gone from being one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the richest . it is this kind of model that most afghans want and the united states needs to provide so afghanistan does n't revert to the kind of chaos that beset it in the mid-1990s and from which the taliban first emerged . read more : what 's at stake for afghan women ? | white house mulling withdrawing all u.s. troops from afghanistan , official said |
hollande <tsp> ( cnn ) -- french president francois hollande and the first lady parted ways saturday , with the leader declaring it 's over and his partner of several years bidding farewell to the staff of the presidential residence . the breakup occurred in the wake of a media account earlier this month about hollande allegedly having an affair with actress julie gayet . hollande told a french news outlet saturday he is ending his relationship with his partner , valerie trierweiler . i wish to make it known that i have ended my shared life ( partnership ) with valerie trierweiler , ' hollande is quoted as saying to agence france-presse . trierweiler sent a goodbye message saturday via twitter to the staff at the presidential palace . all my gratitude goes to the extraordinary people at the ã‰lysã©es . i will never forget the devotion or emotion at the time of leaving , ' she wrote . hollande 's private life has been the subject of global headlines since the french magazine closer claimed this month he was having a two-year affair with gayet . speculation about the split swirled saturday after a french national weekly reported that hollande was expected to announce his separation from trierweiler on saturday , a day before trierweiler travels to india . the story was picked up by several french media outlets . but the french presidency initially denied the report that an announcement would be made . it is a rumor that circulated on the internet today . there is absolutely no confirmation of the publication of a statement today , ' the palace press officer told cnn . u.s. trip planned for february hollande has not confirmed or denied the alleged affair but did threaten legal action . at his first press conference of the year , hollande said he and france 's first lady were going through painful moments . ' the allegations had left trierweiler 's position in some doubt , namely ahead of a planned trip to washington in february . she has been hollande 's partner for several years . an arts columnist for weekly magazine paris match , she is not married to hollande but assumed the role of first lady at official functions following his election in may 2012 . her attorney , frederique giffard , told french daily newspaper le figaro this week that the couple were working to issue a clarification ' concerning their relationship . last weekend , trierweiler left the hospital where she 'd spent a week being treated for stress and fatigue , paris match magazine reported . the same magazine also said she would recover for several days ' in an official residence in versailles . hollande , 59 , has seen his personal approval ratings plummet since his election , although this has been attributed to dissatisfaction with his leadership rather than disapproval of his private life . a recent survey by french pollster ifop with le journal du dimanche found that more than 80 % of respondents had not changed their opinion of the president based on the allegations of an affair . hollande has four children from a previous relationship with segolene royal , a senior member of his socialist party and a 2007 presidential candidate . royal announced their separation just after she lost the 2007 election to nicolas sarkozy . cnn 's lilia blaise contributed to this report | trierweiler assumed the role of first lady after hollande 's election in may 2012 |
hollande <tsp> ( cnn ) -- french president francois hollande and the first lady parted ways saturday , with the leader declaring it 's over and his partner of several years bidding farewell to the staff of the presidential residence . the breakup occurred in the wake of a media account earlier this month about hollande allegedly having an affair with actress julie gayet . hollande told a french news outlet saturday he is ending his relationship with his partner , valerie trierweiler . i wish to make it known that i have ended my shared life ( partnership ) with valerie trierweiler , ' hollande is quoted as saying to agence france-presse . trierweiler sent a goodbye message saturday via twitter to the staff at the presidential palace . all my gratitude goes to the extraordinary people at the ã‰lysã©es . i will never forget the devotion or emotion at the time of leaving , ' she wrote . hollande 's private life has been the subject of global headlines since the french magazine closer claimed this month he was having a two-year affair with gayet . speculation about the split swirled saturday after a french national weekly reported that hollande was expected to announce his separation from trierweiler on saturday , a day before trierweiler travels to india . the story was picked up by several french media outlets . but the french presidency initially denied the report that an announcement would be made . it is a rumor that circulated on the internet today . there is absolutely no confirmation of the publication of a statement today , ' the palace press officer told cnn . u.s. trip planned for february hollande has not confirmed or denied the alleged affair but did threaten legal action . at his first press conference of the year , hollande said he and france 's first lady were going through painful moments . ' the allegations had left trierweiler 's position in some doubt , namely ahead of a planned trip to washington in february . she has been hollande 's partner for several years . an arts columnist for weekly magazine paris match , she is not married to hollande but assumed the role of first lady at official functions following his election in may 2012 . her attorney , frederique giffard , told french daily newspaper le figaro this week that the couple were working to issue a clarification ' concerning their relationship . last weekend , trierweiler left the hospital where she 'd spent a week being treated for stress and fatigue , paris match magazine reported . the same magazine also said she would recover for several days ' in an official residence in versailles . hollande , 59 , has seen his personal approval ratings plummet since his election , although this has been attributed to dissatisfaction with his leadership rather than disapproval of his private life . a recent survey by french pollster ifop with le journal du dimanche found that more than 80 % of respondents had not changed their opinion of the president based on the allegations of an affair . hollande has four children from a previous relationship with segolene royal , a senior member of his socialist party and a 2007 presidential candidate . royal announced their separation just after she lost the 2007 election to nicolas sarkozy . cnn 's lilia blaise contributed to this report | allegations about president hollande 's personal life fueled a media frenzy |
hollande <tsp> ( cnn ) -- french president francois hollande and the first lady parted ways saturday , with the leader declaring it 's over and his partner of several years bidding farewell to the staff of the presidential residence . the breakup occurred in the wake of a media account earlier this month about hollande allegedly having an affair with actress julie gayet . hollande told a french news outlet saturday he is ending his relationship with his partner , valerie trierweiler . i wish to make it known that i have ended my shared life ( partnership ) with valerie trierweiler , ' hollande is quoted as saying to agence france-presse . trierweiler sent a goodbye message saturday via twitter to the staff at the presidential palace . all my gratitude goes to the extraordinary people at the ã‰lysã©es . i will never forget the devotion or emotion at the time of leaving , ' she wrote . hollande 's private life has been the subject of global headlines since the french magazine closer claimed this month he was having a two-year affair with gayet . speculation about the split swirled saturday after a french national weekly reported that hollande was expected to announce his separation from trierweiler on saturday , a day before trierweiler travels to india . the story was picked up by several french media outlets . but the french presidency initially denied the report that an announcement would be made . it is a rumor that circulated on the internet today . there is absolutely no confirmation of the publication of a statement today , ' the palace press officer told cnn . u.s. trip planned for february hollande has not confirmed or denied the alleged affair but did threaten legal action . at his first press conference of the year , hollande said he and france 's first lady were going through painful moments . ' the allegations had left trierweiler 's position in some doubt , namely ahead of a planned trip to washington in february . she has been hollande 's partner for several years . an arts columnist for weekly magazine paris match , she is not married to hollande but assumed the role of first lady at official functions following his election in may 2012 . her attorney , frederique giffard , told french daily newspaper le figaro this week that the couple were working to issue a clarification ' concerning their relationship . last weekend , trierweiler left the hospital where she 'd spent a week being treated for stress and fatigue , paris match magazine reported . the same magazine also said she would recover for several days ' in an official residence in versailles . hollande , 59 , has seen his personal approval ratings plummet since his election , although this has been attributed to dissatisfaction with his leadership rather than disapproval of his private life . a recent survey by french pollster ifop with le journal du dimanche found that more than 80 % of respondents had not changed their opinion of the president based on the allegations of an affair . hollande has four children from a previous relationship with segolene royal , a senior member of his socialist party and a 2007 presidential candidate . royal announced their separation just after she lost the 2007 election to nicolas sarkozy . cnn 's lilia blaise contributed to this report | afp quotes hollande as saying i have ended my shared life ' with trierweiler |
israel <tsp> jerusalem ( cnn ) -- israeli and palestinian negotiators are preparing to resume long-stalled direct talks on wednesday , but news of israeli plans for more than 1,000 new settlement units on disputed territory has cast their success into doubt . the two sides agreed to return to the negotiating table following intense diplomatic efforts by u.s. secretary of state john kerry on a visit to the region last month . but the news that israeli authorities have given preliminary approval for new settlements in the west bank and jerusalem -- considered illegal under international law -- has angered senior palestinian figures and prompted condemnation from israel 's western allies . mark regev , an israeli government spokesman , told cnn that the announcement was a preliminary procedure decision ' and that additional decisions would be needed before any construction could start . the issue of israeli settlement-building in the occupied west bank and jerusalem derailed the last round of direct talks in 2010 . nabil abu rudeineh , spokesman for the palestinian presidency , told the official wafa news agency that israel 's latest settlement plan aims at obstructing the peace efforts . ' hanan ashrawi , a member of the executive committee of the palestine liberation organization , deplored the failure of the international community to hold israel accountable for its actions . i think this whole series of settlement expansion , land confiscation will turn any peace initiative into a mockery , any negotiations become a travesty -- there is no possibility of peace with such actions and plans , ' she said . israel is destroying the negotiations , israel is destroying any chances of peace , and israel should be made to bear responsibility for this . ''undermine trust' uk foreign office minister alistair burt called on the israeli authorities saturday to reverse its decision to advance plans for 1,096 settlement units in the west bank and approve dozens of new units in east jerusalem . israeli settlements are illegal under international law , undermine trust and threaten the viability of the two-state solution , ' he said . we urge both parties to continue to show the bold and decisive leadership needed for these efforts to succeed , and to avoid steps that undermine negotiations . ' state department spokeswoman jen psaki said thursday that the united states had been in touch with the israeli government over the decision and was making its concerns known . our position on settlements has not changed . we do not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement activity and oppose any efforts to legitimize settlement outposts , ' she said . psaki said she had no indication that the israeli announcement would impact on the negotiations . kerry , she added , has made clear that he believes both of the negotiating teams are at the table in good faith and are committed to working together to make progress . ' israel also approved the construction of a 69-unit settlement in east jerusalem -- which palestinians consider to be the capital of their future state -- just before kerry 's visit last month . palestinian chief peace negotiator saeb erekat said then that the world must act to stop israel building more settlements . letting its government get away with it , he said , takes away any motivation for israel to work toward peace . the european union angered israeli leaders last month when it issued a directive that no eu funding or grants can go to israeli settlements outside israel 's pre-1967 borders . in january , the united nations human rights council said israeli settlements amount to creeping annexation ' of palestinian territories by israel and have taken a heavy toll ' on the rights and sovereignty of palestinians . cnn 's kareem khadder reported from jerusalem and laura smith-spark wrote in london . | palestinian officials say israel is trying to obstruct the peace talks with its latest move |
israel <tsp> jerusalem ( cnn ) -- israeli and palestinian negotiators are preparing to resume long-stalled direct talks on wednesday , but news of israeli plans for more than 1,000 new settlement units on disputed territory has cast their success into doubt . the two sides agreed to return to the negotiating table following intense diplomatic efforts by u.s. secretary of state john kerry on a visit to the region last month . but the news that israeli authorities have given preliminary approval for new settlements in the west bank and jerusalem -- considered illegal under international law -- has angered senior palestinian figures and prompted condemnation from israel 's western allies . mark regev , an israeli government spokesman , told cnn that the announcement was a preliminary procedure decision ' and that additional decisions would be needed before any construction could start . the issue of israeli settlement-building in the occupied west bank and jerusalem derailed the last round of direct talks in 2010 . nabil abu rudeineh , spokesman for the palestinian presidency , told the official wafa news agency that israel 's latest settlement plan aims at obstructing the peace efforts . ' hanan ashrawi , a member of the executive committee of the palestine liberation organization , deplored the failure of the international community to hold israel accountable for its actions . i think this whole series of settlement expansion , land confiscation will turn any peace initiative into a mockery , any negotiations become a travesty -- there is no possibility of peace with such actions and plans , ' she said . israel is destroying the negotiations , israel is destroying any chances of peace , and israel should be made to bear responsibility for this . ''undermine trust' uk foreign office minister alistair burt called on the israeli authorities saturday to reverse its decision to advance plans for 1,096 settlement units in the west bank and approve dozens of new units in east jerusalem . israeli settlements are illegal under international law , undermine trust and threaten the viability of the two-state solution , ' he said . we urge both parties to continue to show the bold and decisive leadership needed for these efforts to succeed , and to avoid steps that undermine negotiations . ' state department spokeswoman jen psaki said thursday that the united states had been in touch with the israeli government over the decision and was making its concerns known . our position on settlements has not changed . we do not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement activity and oppose any efforts to legitimize settlement outposts , ' she said . psaki said she had no indication that the israeli announcement would impact on the negotiations . kerry , she added , has made clear that he believes both of the negotiating teams are at the table in good faith and are committed to working together to make progress . ' israel also approved the construction of a 69-unit settlement in east jerusalem -- which palestinians consider to be the capital of their future state -- just before kerry 's visit last month . palestinian chief peace negotiator saeb erekat said then that the world must act to stop israel building more settlements . letting its government get away with it , he said , takes away any motivation for israel to work toward peace . the european union angered israeli leaders last month when it issued a directive that no eu funding or grants can go to israeli settlements outside israel 's pre-1967 borders . in january , the united nations human rights council said israeli settlements amount to creeping annexation ' of palestinian territories by israel and have taken a heavy toll ' on the rights and sovereignty of palestinians . cnn 's kareem khadder reported from jerusalem and laura smith-spark wrote in london . | israel has given preliminary approval for more than 1,000 new settlement units |
ukraine <tsp> it 's time for the united states and its european allies to raise or fold . russian president vladimir putin clearly called their bluff on tuesday , announcing steps for his country to annex the crimean peninsula from neighboring ukraine . president barack obama and european allies had warned such a move would bring tougher sanctions and diplomatic isolation , but there was little immediate response tuesday to putin 's bold pronouncement in the russian parliament . the white house announced that obama invited leaders of the g7 industrial powers to meet next week on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in the netherlands to discuss the ukraine crisis . presumably , such a gathering by obama and his counterparts from britain , france , germany , italy , japan and canada would consider scrapping their annual summit with russia planned for july in sochi , and perhaps kicking putin out of the g8 club altogether . both moves have been threatened , with the g7 nations already halting preparations for the sochi meeting . g8 summit in doubt ? white house spokesman jay carney strongly hinted tuesday that it would get scrapped , telling reporters that preparations for that summit have been suspended , summits do n't occur without preparations ' and those preparations look unlikely to resume any time soon . ' on monday , obama and the european union imposed sanctions on specific russian and crimean officials as part of steps intended to be easily expanded if necessary . carney said the moves already hurt the russian economy and the ruble currency , and he indicated further actions were coming . you have seen some designations already and there are more to come , ' he said of individuals cited for sanctions . i would n't , if i were you , invest in russian equities right now unless you were going short , ' carney advised , in reference to investors speculating on a losing venture . however , carney made clear that the u.s. approach focused for now on isolating russia diplomatically and economically . this action -- the results of the referendum and the attempts to annex a region of ukraine illegally -- will never be recognized by the united states ' and the international community , he said , with further actions , further provocations ' by russia leading to higher costs . ' secretary of state john kerry had a more reflective take , telling a town hall-style meeting that the administration still hoped for a diplomatic solution but today was very confrontational and very triumphalist about something that is a breach of international law , and i think people are deeply concerned about it . ' biden : crimea was a land grab ' meanwhile , vice president joe biden began a tour of former soviet bloc nations now nato allies by pledging the full support of the strategic alliance against any russian aggression similar to what has occurred in ukraine . our intent is that nato emerge from this crisis stronger and more unified than ever , ' biden said at his first stop in warsaw . our commitment is absolutely unwavering and unshakeable . ' he noted the united states deployed more jet fighters in the region to bolster nato air policing , and he called putin 's moves to add crimea to the russian federation a blatant , blatant violation of international law ' and nothing more than a land grab . ' speaking to reporters at a joint news conference with polish prime minister donald tusk , biden said russia responded to ukraine 's efforts to realize a more democratic future with a brazen , brazen military incursion , with a purposeful ratcheting up of ethnic tensions inside ukraine , with a rushed and illegal referendum in crimea that was , not surprisingly , rejected by virtually the entire world . ' biden also warned moscow that its political and economic isolation will increase if it continues such aggression , and he reiterated support for ukraine in the form of a billion-dollar loan guarantee as well as technical assistance to prepare for elections and support for reforms that will allow the international monetary fund to provide a stabilization package to the cash-strapped country . the vice president 's visit comes two days before european union leaders will meet in brussels for talks certain to include the ukraine crisis . putin unfazed so far for his part , putin appeared unfazed by the initial u.s. and eu steps , telling the parliament on tuesday that russia already races lingering sanctions from the cold war that still exist in practice . he called the events that led to last month 's ouster of ukrainian president viktor yanukovych a state coup ' carried out through terror and murders and pogroms ' by russiaphobes and anti-semites . ' the united states rejects putin 's characterization of the ukraine political upheaval , instead calling it a demonstration of democratic aspirations by the ukrainian people . underlying the conflict was yanukovych 's moves prior to his ouster to align more closely with moscow instead of proceeding with a shift toward closer association with the eu . opinion : obama ca n't have it both ways on crimea gop critics at home at home , obama has come under criticism from republicans who complain an unwillingness by the administration to take on putin on other issues has now emboldened the russian leader . conservative sen. john mccain of arizona called for more sanctions against russia and increased assistance for ukraine , a stance backed by house majority leader eric cantor of virginia . i support the president 's decision to issue sanctions against russian leaders , but that list must be dramatically expanded to exert real pressure , ' cantor said tuesday , also urging that russia be kicked out of g8 and for the united states to provide military support needed by ukraine . | president obama seeks a g7 meeting next week about ukraine |
crimea <tsp> it 's time for the united states and its european allies to raise or fold . russian president vladimir putin clearly called their bluff on tuesday , announcing steps for his country to annex the crimean peninsula from neighboring ukraine . president barack obama and european allies had warned such a move would bring tougher sanctions and diplomatic isolation , but there was little immediate response tuesday to putin 's bold pronouncement in the russian parliament . the white house announced that obama invited leaders of the g7 industrial powers to meet next week on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in the netherlands to discuss the ukraine crisis . presumably , such a gathering by obama and his counterparts from britain , france , germany , italy , japan and canada would consider scrapping their annual summit with russia planned for july in sochi , and perhaps kicking putin out of the g8 club altogether . both moves have been threatened , with the g7 nations already halting preparations for the sochi meeting . g8 summit in doubt ? white house spokesman jay carney strongly hinted tuesday that it would get scrapped , telling reporters that preparations for that summit have been suspended , summits do n't occur without preparations ' and those preparations look unlikely to resume any time soon . ' on monday , obama and the european union imposed sanctions on specific russian and crimean officials as part of steps intended to be easily expanded if necessary . carney said the moves already hurt the russian economy and the ruble currency , and he indicated further actions were coming . you have seen some designations already and there are more to come , ' he said of individuals cited for sanctions . i would n't , if i were you , invest in russian equities right now unless you were going short , ' carney advised , in reference to investors speculating on a losing venture . however , carney made clear that the u.s. approach focused for now on isolating russia diplomatically and economically . this action -- the results of the referendum and the attempts to annex a region of ukraine illegally -- will never be recognized by the united states ' and the international community , he said , with further actions , further provocations ' by russia leading to higher costs . ' secretary of state john kerry had a more reflective take , telling a town hall-style meeting that the administration still hoped for a diplomatic solution but today was very confrontational and very triumphalist about something that is a breach of international law , and i think people are deeply concerned about it . ' biden : crimea was a land grab ' meanwhile , vice president joe biden began a tour of former soviet bloc nations now nato allies by pledging the full support of the strategic alliance against any russian aggression similar to what has occurred in ukraine . our intent is that nato emerge from this crisis stronger and more unified than ever , ' biden said at his first stop in warsaw . our commitment is absolutely unwavering and unshakeable . ' he noted the united states deployed more jet fighters in the region to bolster nato air policing , and he called putin 's moves to add crimea to the russian federation a blatant , blatant violation of international law ' and nothing more than a land grab . ' speaking to reporters at a joint news conference with polish prime minister donald tusk , biden said russia responded to ukraine 's efforts to realize a more democratic future with a brazen , brazen military incursion , with a purposeful ratcheting up of ethnic tensions inside ukraine , with a rushed and illegal referendum in crimea that was , not surprisingly , rejected by virtually the entire world . ' biden also warned moscow that its political and economic isolation will increase if it continues such aggression , and he reiterated support for ukraine in the form of a billion-dollar loan guarantee as well as technical assistance to prepare for elections and support for reforms that will allow the international monetary fund to provide a stabilization package to the cash-strapped country . the vice president 's visit comes two days before european union leaders will meet in brussels for talks certain to include the ukraine crisis . putin unfazed so far for his part , putin appeared unfazed by the initial u.s. and eu steps , telling the parliament on tuesday that russia already races lingering sanctions from the cold war that still exist in practice . he called the events that led to last month 's ouster of ukrainian president viktor yanukovych a state coup ' carried out through terror and murders and pogroms ' by russiaphobes and anti-semites . ' the united states rejects putin 's characterization of the ukraine political upheaval , instead calling it a demonstration of democratic aspirations by the ukrainian people . underlying the conflict was yanukovych 's moves prior to his ouster to align more closely with moscow instead of proceeding with a shift toward closer association with the eu . opinion : obama ca n't have it both ways on crimea gop critics at home at home , obama has come under criticism from republicans who complain an unwillingness by the administration to take on putin on other issues has now emboldened the russian leader . conservative sen. john mccain of arizona called for more sanctions against russia and increased assistance for ukraine , a stance backed by house majority leader eric cantor of virginia . i support the president 's decision to issue sanctions against russian leaders , but that list must be dramatically expanded to exert real pressure , ' cantor said tuesday , also urging that russia be kicked out of g8 and for the united states to provide military support needed by ukraine . | vice president biden calls the crimea situation a land grab ' |
joe <tsp> ( cnn ) -- sen. john mccain stepped up his rhetoric against his democratic rival on taxes in his weekly radio address saturday , comparing his plan to socialist ' programs . the remarks were part of a theme mccain has used since the final presidential debate , but his most recent comments were the first time he used the word to describe sen. barack obama . in the radio address , mccain did n't directly call obama a socialist , but he let the now-famous joe the plumber ' wurzelbacher nearly do it for him . you see , [ obama ] believes in redistributing wealth , not in policies that help us all make more of it . joe , in his plainspoken way , said this sounded a lot like socialism , ' mccain said saturday . watch mccain blast obama » in an interview with abc last week , wurzelbacher said obama 's proposal to raise taxes by 3 percent on those making $ 250,000 and over is a very socialist view . ' republican vice presidential candidate sarah palin has used the word in speeches the past two days as well . watch more on the state of the presidential race » mccain also said in his radio address , at least in europe , the socialist leaders who so admire my opponent are up front about their objectives . they use real numbers and honest language . and we should demand equal candor from sen. obama . raising taxes on some in order to give checks to others is not a tax cut ; it 's just another government giveaway . ' on the campaign trail saturday in concord , north carolina , he added that americans have seen sharing the wealth in other countries before . but he quoted obama as saying he wants to spread the wealth around . ' fact check : did obama say he would spread the wealth around ' ? spread the wealth around . we have seen that movie before in other countries and attempts by the liberal left before , ' mccain said . in his speech , mccain also said , this explains some big problems with my opponent 's claim that he will cut income taxes for 95 percent of americans . you might ask , how do you cut income taxes for 90 percent of americans when more than 40 percent pay no income taxes right now ? how do you reduce the number zero ? that 's the key to barack obama 's whole plan : since you ca n't reduce taxes on those who pay zero , the government will write them all checks called a tax credit . and the treasury will have to cover those checks by taxing other people . ... the obama tax increase would come at the worst possible time for america . ' asked why mccain used the word socialist ' in the radio remarks , a spokesman said , that 's what it is .'spreading the wealth'around is socialism . ' in a july interview with the kansas city star , mccain said obama had the most extreme ' record in the senate . he said in a comment he has since repeated on the trail , his voting record ... is more to the left than the announced socialist in the united states senate , bernie sanders of vermont . ' pressed on whether he considered obama a socialist , mccain shrugged and said , i do n't know . ' obama hit back against the mccain campaign 's accusations saturday in missouri and said the republican nominee was ignoring the needs of america 's middle class . john mccain is so out of touch with the struggles you are facing that he must be the first politician in history to call a tax cut for working people'welfare ,' obama told a massive crowd under the famous st. louis arch . the only'welfare'in this campaign is john mccain 's plan to give another $ 200 billion in tax cuts to the wealthiest corporations in america . ' watch large crowds rally for obama » ' george bush and john mccain are out of ideas , they are out of touch , and if you stand with me , in 17 days they 'll be out of time , ' obama added to wild applause . the obama campaign said police in st. louis estimated the crowd size at 100,000 people . watch large crowds rally for obama » in remarks this week , palin referred to obama 's encounter with joe the plumber ' in ohio on sunday . at a rally friday in west chester , ohio , where one banner in the crowd read , obama is a socialist/marxist , ' palin said , joe suggested that that sounded a little bit like socialism . whatever you call it , i call it bad medicine for an ailing economy , and it 's what barack obama will do to those who want to create jobs , and we 're willing to call barack obama on it . ' palin invoked wurzelbacher again saturday , needling obama for having a staged photo-op ' interrupted by a voter asking him a question about taxes . so when he left joe 's neighborhood in toledo , our opponent did n't look real happy , ' palin , speaking in pennsylvania , said of obama . seems that the staged photo-op there got ruined by a real person 's question . ' so here 's a guy working -- standing there in his neighborhood when a candidate for president shows up , and he wanted more than just a handshake and a campaign button . he wanted some answers . ' a similar thing happened to palin on september 27 in philadelphia at one of her own photo-ops . temple graduate student michael rovito approached the governor at a cheesesteak shop to ask her opinions on cross-border raids into pakistan to hunt terrorists . palin told rovito that the united states should absolutely ' attack within pakistan to stop terrorists , a position at odds with mccain 's . the remark was picked up by a network camera crew and caused a headache for the gop ticket . staffers were forced to explain the two candidates'apparently conflicting views on national television days later . palin arrived in new york on saturday afternoon and headed to nbc headquarters at rockefeller center for rehearsals before making her much-anticipated debut on saturday night live . ' cnn 's steve brusk , tasha diakides , peter hamby , ed hornick , sasha johnson and alexander marquardt contributed to this report . | palin : obama 's staged photo-op ' interrupted by joe 's tax question saturday |
hillary clinton <tsp> ( cnn ) once hillary clinton 's official announcement went online , social media responded in a big way , with terms like hillary clinton , ' # hillary2016 , ' and yes , even # whyimnotvotingforhillary ' trending . certainly , you could n't go far on twitter ( even before clinton tweeted her announcement ) , without an opinion or thought on her new campaign ( there were over 3 million views of her announcment tweets in one hour , and 750,000 facebook video views so far by sunday evening ) . some tweeted their immediate support , with one word : | response across social media led to multiple trending topics for hillary clinton 's presidential announcement |
iowa <tsp> murrayville , georgia ( cnn ) -- a few weeks before 13-year-old jonathan king killed himself , he told his parents that his teachers had put him in time-out . ' the room where jonathan king hanged himself is shown after his death . it is no longer used , a school official said . we thought that meant go sit in the corner and be quiet for a few minutes , ' tina king said , tears washing her face as she remembered the child she called our baby ... a good kid . ' but time-out in the boy 's north georgia special education school was spent in something akin to a prison cell -- a concrete room latched from the outside , its tiny window obscured by a piece of paper . called a seclusion room , it 's where in november 2004 , jonathan hanged himself with a cord a teacher gave him to hold up his pants . watch jonathan 's parents on their son 's death » an attorney representing the school has denied any wrongdoing . seclusion rooms , sometimes called time-out rooms , are used across the nation , generally for special needs children . critics say that along with the death of jonathan , many mentally disabled and autistic children have been injured or traumatized . few states have laws on using seclusion rooms , though 24 states have written guidelines , according to a 2007 study conducted by a clemson university researcher . texas , which was included in that study , has stopped using seclusion and restraint . georgia has just begun to draft guidelines , four years after jonathan 's death . based on conversations with officials in 22 states with written guidelines , seclusion is intended as a last resort when other attempts to calm a child have failed or when a student is hurting himself or others . michigan requires that a child held in seclusion have constant supervision from an instructor trained specifically in special education , and that confinement not exceed 15 minutes . connecticut education spokesman tom murphy said time-out rooms ' were used sparingly and were usually small rooms with padding on the walls . ' only vermont tracks how many children are kept in seclusion from year to year , though two other states , minnesota and new mexico , say they have been using the rooms less frequently in recent years . dr. veronica garcia , new mexico 's education secretary , said her state had found more sophisticated and better ways to solve behavior problems . garcia , whose brother is autistic , said , the idea of confining a child in a room repeatedly and as punishment , that 's an ethics violation i would never tolerate . ' but researchers say that the rooms , in some cases , are being misused and that children are suffering . public schools in the united states are now educating more than half a million more students with disabilities than they did a decade ago , according to the national education association . teachers are n't trained to handle that , ' said dr. roger pierangelo , executive director of the national association of special education teachers . when you have an out-of-control student threatening your class -- it 's not right and it can be very damaging -- but seclusion is used as a'quick fix'in many cases . ' former rhode island special education superintendent leslie ryan told cnn that she thought she was helping a disabled fifth-grader by keeping him in a chill room ' in the basement of a public elementary school that was later deemed a fire hazard . all i know is i tried to help this boy , and i had very few options , ' ryan said . after the public learned of the room , she resigned from her post with the department but remains with the school . school records do not indicate why jonathan king was repeatedly confined to the concrete room or what , if any , positive outcome was expected . his parents say they do n't recognize the boy described in records as one who liked to kick and punch his classmates . they have launched a wrongful death lawsuit against the school -- the alpine program in gainesville -- which has denied any wrongdoing . a georgia judge is expected to rule soon on whether the case can be brought before a jury . jonathan 's parents say the boy had been diagnosed since kindergarten with severe depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder . but his father remembers him as a boy who was happy when he sang in the church choir . he was a hugger , liked to go fishing with me and run after me saying ,'daddy , when are we going to the lake ?' don king said . king said that he wanted to know if there were similar situations in other schools and that critics of seclusion rooms fear there could be . jonathan 's case is the worst of the worst , but it should be a warning . it 's reasonable to think that it could happen in all the other schools that use seclusion on disabled children -- largely because the use of seclusion goes so unchecked , ' said jane hudson , an attorney with the national disability rights network . this is one of those most unregulated , unresearched areas i 've come across , ' said joseph ryan , a clemson university special education researcher who has worked in schools for disabled kids and co-authored a study on the use of seclusion . you have very little oversight in schools of these rooms -- first because the general public does n't really even know they exist , ' he said . there is no national database tracking seclusion incidents in schools , though many have been described in media reports , lawsuits , disability advocacy groups'investigations and on blogs catering to parents who say their child had been held in seclusion . disability rights california , a federally funded watchdog group , found that teachers dragged children into seclusion rooms they could not leave . in one case , they found a retarded 8-year-old had been locked alone in a seclusion room in a northeast california elementary school for at least 31 days in a year . what we found outrageous was that we went to the schools and asked to see the rooms and were denied , ' said leslie morrison , a psychiatric nurse and attorney who led the 2007 investigation that substantiated at least six cases of abuse involving seclusion in public schools . it took a lot of fighting to eventually get in to see where these children were held . ' cnn asked every school official interviewed if a reporter could visit a seclusion room and was denied every time . in other instances of alleged abuse : • a tennessee mother alleged in a federal suit against the learn center in clinton that her 51-pound 9-year-old autistic son was bruised when school instructors used their body weight on his legs and torso to hold him down before putting him in a quiet room ' for four hours . principal gary houck of the learn center , which serves disabled children , said lawyers have advised him not to discuss the case . • eight-year-old isabel loeffler , who has autism , was held down by her teachers and confined in a storage closet where she pulled out her hair and wet her pants at her dallas county , iowa , elementary school . last year , a judge found that the school had violated the girl 's rights . what we 're talking about is trauma , ' said her father , doug loeffler . she spent hours in wet clothes , crying to be let out . ' waukee school district attorney matt novak told cnn that the school has denied any wrongdoing . • a mentally retarded 14-year-old in killeen , texas , died from his teachers pressing on his chest in an effort to restrain him in 2001 . texas passed a law to limit both restraint and seclusion in schools because the two methods are often used together . federal law requires that schools develop behavioral plans for students with disabilities . these plans are supposed to explicitly explain behavior problems and methods the teacher is allowed to use to stop it , including using music to calm a child or allowing a student to take a break from schoolwork . a behavioral plan for jonathan king , provided to cnn by the kings'attorney , shows that jonathan was confined in the seclusion room on 15 separate days for infractions ranging from cursing and threatening other students to physically striking classmates . howard sandy ' addis , the director of the pioneer education agency which oversees alpine , said that the room where jonathan died is no longer in use . citing the ongoing litigation , he declined to answer questions about the king case but defended the use of seclusion for an emergency safety situation . ' the alpine program 's attorney , phil hartley , said jonathan 's actions leading up to his suicide did not suggest the boy was serious ' about killing himself . jonathan 's actions were an effort to get attention , ' hartley said . this is a program designed for students with severe emotional disabilities and problems , ' he said . it is a program which frequently deals with students who use various methods of getting attention , avoiding work . ' a substitute employee placed in charge of watching the room on the day jonathan died said in an affidavit that he had no training in the use of seclusion , and did n't know jonathan had threatened suicide weeks earlier . the kings say they would have removed their son from the school if they knew he was being held in seclusion , or that he had expressed a desire to hurt himself . we would have home schooled him or taken him to another psychologist , ' said don king . if we would have known , our boy would have never been in that room . he would still be alive . ' | autistic iowa girl confined in school storage closet where she pulled out her hair |
bae <tsp> ( cnn ) -- former basketball star dennis rodman arrived in pyongyang tuesday on a five-day visit amid speculation he may try to negotiate the release of jailed u.s. citizen kenneth bae , china 's xinhua news agency reported . in beijing , the gateway for flights to pyongyang , rodman told reuters he was on another basketball diplomacy tour ' and would not be discussing the release of bae . i 'm not going to north korea to discuss freeing kenneth bae , ' rodman told reuters in a telephone interview before he left beijing for pyongyang . i 've come out here to see my friend ( kim ) -- and i want to talk about basketball , ' he added . later pushing through a throng of journalists at beijing airport , the 6 foot 7 inch ( 2.01 meter ) former basketballer said : i 'm just trying to go over there to meet my friend kim , the marshal . try to start a basketball league over there , something like that . ' in may : rodman asks kim jong un to let u.s. citizen go however , he told the huffington post last week that he would likely broach the issue with north korean leader kim jong un . i gave ( kim jong-un ) a great indication of when i 'm going to beijing soon -- that 's just a hop , skip and a jump from north korea . so basically , you know , i 'm pretty sure i 'll be talking to him soon , ' rodman told the huffington post . rodman is north korean leader 's'friend for life' ' i will definitely ask for kenneth bae 's release , ' he said . i will say ,'marshal , why is this guy held hostage ?'i could try and soften it up in that way . ' if the marshal says ,'dennis , you know , do you want me to let him loose ?'and then if i actually got him loose -- and i 'm just saying this out the blue -- i 'd be the most powerful guy in the world . ' rodman 's trip -- which is being sponsored by irish bookmaker paddy power -- is the second to the hardline communist state this year . in march , rodman was pictured with kim , an ardent basketball fan , laughing and eating while watching an all-star basketball match . he was criticized over the trip which came at a time of escalating tension , with north korea threatening missile strikes on the u.s. , south korea and japan . rodman has previously made no secret about his desire to help bae . he once tweeted that he wanted the 30-year-old unchallenged leader of north korea to do him a solid ' by freeing him . bae was sentenced to 15 years hard labor in february after he was convicted of unspecified hostile acts ' against north korea . the country 's state-run korean central news agency said the korean-american was arrested late last year after arriving as a tourist in rason city , a northeastern port near the chinese border . north korea last week canceled a humanitarian mission ' by robert king , u.s. special envoy on north korean human rights issues to pyongyang , aimed at negotiating the release of bae , citing annual military drills last week by the u.s. and south korea . in north korea , rodman fouls out | he denies he will seek the release of u.s. captive bae , but has previously said he will broach the issue |
bae <tsp> ( cnn ) -- former basketball star dennis rodman arrived in pyongyang tuesday on a five-day visit amid speculation he may try to negotiate the release of jailed u.s. citizen kenneth bae , china 's xinhua news agency reported . in beijing , the gateway for flights to pyongyang , rodman told reuters he was on another basketball diplomacy tour ' and would not be discussing the release of bae . i 'm not going to north korea to discuss freeing kenneth bae , ' rodman told reuters in a telephone interview before he left beijing for pyongyang . i 've come out here to see my friend ( kim ) -- and i want to talk about basketball , ' he added . later pushing through a throng of journalists at beijing airport , the 6 foot 7 inch ( 2.01 meter ) former basketballer said : i 'm just trying to go over there to meet my friend kim , the marshal . try to start a basketball league over there , something like that . ' in may : rodman asks kim jong un to let u.s. citizen go however , he told the huffington post last week that he would likely broach the issue with north korean leader kim jong un . i gave ( kim jong-un ) a great indication of when i 'm going to beijing soon -- that 's just a hop , skip and a jump from north korea . so basically , you know , i 'm pretty sure i 'll be talking to him soon , ' rodman told the huffington post . rodman is north korean leader 's'friend for life' ' i will definitely ask for kenneth bae 's release , ' he said . i will say ,'marshal , why is this guy held hostage ?'i could try and soften it up in that way . ' if the marshal says ,'dennis , you know , do you want me to let him loose ?'and then if i actually got him loose -- and i 'm just saying this out the blue -- i 'd be the most powerful guy in the world . ' rodman 's trip -- which is being sponsored by irish bookmaker paddy power -- is the second to the hardline communist state this year . in march , rodman was pictured with kim , an ardent basketball fan , laughing and eating while watching an all-star basketball match . he was criticized over the trip which came at a time of escalating tension , with north korea threatening missile strikes on the u.s. , south korea and japan . rodman has previously made no secret about his desire to help bae . he once tweeted that he wanted the 30-year-old unchallenged leader of north korea to do him a solid ' by freeing him . bae was sentenced to 15 years hard labor in february after he was convicted of unspecified hostile acts ' against north korea . the country 's state-run korean central news agency said the korean-american was arrested late last year after arriving as a tourist in rason city , a northeastern port near the chinese border . north korea last week canceled a humanitarian mission ' by robert king , u.s. special envoy on north korean human rights issues to pyongyang , aimed at negotiating the release of bae , citing annual military drills last week by the u.s. and south korea . in north korea , rodman fouls out | bae was sentenced to 15 years hard labor in february over unspecified hostile acts ' against north korea |
hubble <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- nasa 's hubble space telescope has reached back 13.2 billion years -- farther than ever before in time and space -- to reveal a primordial population ' of galaxies never seen before . the deeper hubble looks into space , the farther back in time it looks , because light takes billions of years to cross the observable universe , ' the space telescope science institute said in a statement released tuesday . this makes hubble a powerful'time machine'that allows astronomers to see galaxies as they were 13 billion years ago -- just 600 million to 800 million years after the big bang , ' the institute said in a statement released tuesday . the existence of these newly found galaxies pushes back the time when galaxies began to form to before 500-600 million years after the big bang , the institute said . these galaxies could have roots stretching into an earlier population of stars . there must be a substantial component of galaxies beyond hubble 's detection limit , ' according to james dunlop of the university of edinburgh in scotland , who was quoted in the release . members of the american astronomical society are meeting this week in washington to review the data and images retrieved by hubble 's new infrared wide field camera 3 ( wfc3 ) , which was installed in may , institute spokesman ray villard told cnn . some of the images were shared with the public in september . the camera , villard said , is far superior to the previous camera , which could only see galaxies about 900 million years after the big bang -- the cosmic explosion that is theorized to mark the origin of the universe . but it is reaching its limits , he said . a more powerful instrument , the james webb space telescope , is planned for launch in 2014 . it will allow astronomers to study the detailed nature of early galaxies and discover many more even farther away . from the current cache of images , astronomers can see for the first time that galaxies grew from small , bright clusters of stars to the big spiral cities of stars today , ' villard said . the small galaxies show up as ultra-blue in color . he likened the hubble results to looking through a scrapbook of baby pictures . ' according to the institute , the deep observations also demonstrate the progressive buildup of galaxies and provide further support for the hierarchical model of galaxy assembly , where small objects ... merge to form bigger objects over a smooth and steady but dramatic process of collision and agglomeration . it 's like streams merging into tributaries and then into a bay . ' the camera was pointed at a section of sky known as the hubble ultra deep field , which was initially surveyed in visible light in 2004 , and showed a dark sky filled with more than 10,000 galaxies . the wfc3 instrument repeated the exercise in august for infrared light . some mosaics were formed with the images from both surveys . according to villard , the archive from hubble contains more than 500,000 pictures that can be accessed by the world 's 6,000 astronomers . the data from the ultra deep field have been analyzed by at least five international teams of astronomers , he said . | hubble functions as a type of time machine , looking at early formation of universe |
hubble <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- nasa 's hubble space telescope has reached back 13.2 billion years -- farther than ever before in time and space -- to reveal a primordial population ' of galaxies never seen before . the deeper hubble looks into space , the farther back in time it looks , because light takes billions of years to cross the observable universe , ' the space telescope science institute said in a statement released tuesday . this makes hubble a powerful'time machine'that allows astronomers to see galaxies as they were 13 billion years ago -- just 600 million to 800 million years after the big bang , ' the institute said in a statement released tuesday . the existence of these newly found galaxies pushes back the time when galaxies began to form to before 500-600 million years after the big bang , the institute said . these galaxies could have roots stretching into an earlier population of stars . there must be a substantial component of galaxies beyond hubble 's detection limit , ' according to james dunlop of the university of edinburgh in scotland , who was quoted in the release . members of the american astronomical society are meeting this week in washington to review the data and images retrieved by hubble 's new infrared wide field camera 3 ( wfc3 ) , which was installed in may , institute spokesman ray villard told cnn . some of the images were shared with the public in september . the camera , villard said , is far superior to the previous camera , which could only see galaxies about 900 million years after the big bang -- the cosmic explosion that is theorized to mark the origin of the universe . but it is reaching its limits , he said . a more powerful instrument , the james webb space telescope , is planned for launch in 2014 . it will allow astronomers to study the detailed nature of early galaxies and discover many more even farther away . from the current cache of images , astronomers can see for the first time that galaxies grew from small , bright clusters of stars to the big spiral cities of stars today , ' villard said . the small galaxies show up as ultra-blue in color . he likened the hubble results to looking through a scrapbook of baby pictures . ' according to the institute , the deep observations also demonstrate the progressive buildup of galaxies and provide further support for the hierarchical model of galaxy assembly , where small objects ... merge to form bigger objects over a smooth and steady but dramatic process of collision and agglomeration . it 's like streams merging into tributaries and then into a bay . ' the camera was pointed at a section of sky known as the hubble ultra deep field , which was initially surveyed in visible light in 2004 , and showed a dark sky filled with more than 10,000 galaxies . the wfc3 instrument repeated the exercise in august for infrared light . some mosaics were formed with the images from both surveys . according to villard , the archive from hubble contains more than 500,000 pictures that can be accessed by the world 's 6,000 astronomers . the data from the ultra deep field have been analyzed by at least five international teams of astronomers , he said . | hubble reaching its limits ; more powerful telescope to be launched in 2014 . |
israel <tsp> jerusalem ( cnn ) -- israeli defense minister ehud barak said thursday israel 's military will continue to hit palestinians suspected of attacking israel , amid escalating violence in the region since a deadly terror attack on israelis a week ago . twenty-two palestinians have died in air strikes in the past week , palestinian medical sources say , as israel has carried out a series of targeted attacks on the alleged leaders of terror groups . eight have died in the past day . meanwhile , more than 140 rockets and mortars have been fired into israeli territory from gaza since last thursday , a spokesman for the israel defense forces told cnn thursday , eight of them in the past 24 hours . in an interview for cnn in jerusalem , barak said the recent violence had been triggered by the terror attack last thursday by palestinian militants near the southern city of eilat , which killed eight israelis . another israeli was killed by a rocket attack near the city of beer sheva in southern israel . most of those responsible for the attacks had been swiftly found and killed by israel , barak said , some near the scene of the attack near eilat and others in gaza . i 'm extremely satisifed by this achievement , ' he said , because it signals that we mean business and we are not going to accept the massacre of our civilians on the roads . ' asked if israel and the palestinians were entering a new period of dangerous hostilities , barak said he hoped not -- but that he could n't promise it . the international community has expressed concern over the latest round of violence , which has come despite a purported truce agreed between israel and palestinian militant groups during the weekend . barak said israel believed bedouins with egyptian citizenship had probably been involved in the attack near eilat -- but that he did not know for sure . israel was not able to share all its intelligence with the public , he said , as that would help members of terror groups not to fall into our cross hairs . ' barak reiterated israel 's expression of regret ' over the deaths of egyptian soldiers in its sinai region , which borders israel , last week . egypt condemned israel 's action as indiscriminate shelling . ' barak has promised israel will conduct a military investigation , followed by a joint examination with the egyptian military , of the incident . asked about israel 's relationship with turkey , barak said his country had to consider issuing an apology to turkey over the deaths of activists on board a turkish ship bound for gaza last year . barak said the operation had been justified but that questions had been raised over its execution by the israeli military . turkey has demanded an apology from israel . relations between the two nations reached rock bottom last summer , when nine activists on board the mavi marmara , a turkish ship filled with aid and 700 activists from various countries , died in clashes with israeli navy commandos while attempting to break israel 's blockade of gaza . an independent israeli commission found that israeli commandos acted professionally and in a measured manner in the face of unanticipated violence ' and that members of a turkish relief group on the ship were direct participants in hostilities ' who attacked the israeli troops . barak said turkey was an extremely important country in the region ' and that it would serve both countries'interests to reach an understanding . turkey had a major role to play ' in maintaining the stability of the middle east , he said . both countries are awaiting a united nations report into the 2010 flotilla incident . on the subject of syria , barak said he was fully behind the call by the united states and several european allies for leader bashar al-assad to step down . he has clearly lost legitimacy with his own people . i believe he is doomed . he will probably stay there for another three or six months , but he is doomed , ' he said . barak said he would like to see a similar international approach to syria as has been taken with libya . we need much tighter international pressure there , ' he said . with regards to the palestinian authority 's plans to make a bid for statehood in the united nations next month , barak said he believed the move served the interests of neither israel nor the palestinians . fnding a way to continue negotiations would be the best way forward , he said . cnn 's kevin flower and guy azriel contributed to a report . | barak says israel should consider an apology to turkey over last year 's flotilla clashes |
israel <tsp> jerusalem ( cnn ) -- israeli defense minister ehud barak said thursday israel 's military will continue to hit palestinians suspected of attacking israel , amid escalating violence in the region since a deadly terror attack on israelis a week ago . twenty-two palestinians have died in air strikes in the past week , palestinian medical sources say , as israel has carried out a series of targeted attacks on the alleged leaders of terror groups . eight have died in the past day . meanwhile , more than 140 rockets and mortars have been fired into israeli territory from gaza since last thursday , a spokesman for the israel defense forces told cnn thursday , eight of them in the past 24 hours . in an interview for cnn in jerusalem , barak said the recent violence had been triggered by the terror attack last thursday by palestinian militants near the southern city of eilat , which killed eight israelis . another israeli was killed by a rocket attack near the city of beer sheva in southern israel . most of those responsible for the attacks had been swiftly found and killed by israel , barak said , some near the scene of the attack near eilat and others in gaza . i 'm extremely satisifed by this achievement , ' he said , because it signals that we mean business and we are not going to accept the massacre of our civilians on the roads . ' asked if israel and the palestinians were entering a new period of dangerous hostilities , barak said he hoped not -- but that he could n't promise it . the international community has expressed concern over the latest round of violence , which has come despite a purported truce agreed between israel and palestinian militant groups during the weekend . barak said israel believed bedouins with egyptian citizenship had probably been involved in the attack near eilat -- but that he did not know for sure . israel was not able to share all its intelligence with the public , he said , as that would help members of terror groups not to fall into our cross hairs . ' barak reiterated israel 's expression of regret ' over the deaths of egyptian soldiers in its sinai region , which borders israel , last week . egypt condemned israel 's action as indiscriminate shelling . ' barak has promised israel will conduct a military investigation , followed by a joint examination with the egyptian military , of the incident . asked about israel 's relationship with turkey , barak said his country had to consider issuing an apology to turkey over the deaths of activists on board a turkish ship bound for gaza last year . barak said the operation had been justified but that questions had been raised over its execution by the israeli military . turkey has demanded an apology from israel . relations between the two nations reached rock bottom last summer , when nine activists on board the mavi marmara , a turkish ship filled with aid and 700 activists from various countries , died in clashes with israeli navy commandos while attempting to break israel 's blockade of gaza . an independent israeli commission found that israeli commandos acted professionally and in a measured manner in the face of unanticipated violence ' and that members of a turkish relief group on the ship were direct participants in hostilities ' who attacked the israeli troops . barak said turkey was an extremely important country in the region ' and that it would serve both countries'interests to reach an understanding . turkey had a major role to play ' in maintaining the stability of the middle east , he said . both countries are awaiting a united nations report into the 2010 flotilla incident . on the subject of syria , barak said he was fully behind the call by the united states and several european allies for leader bashar al-assad to step down . he has clearly lost legitimacy with his own people . i believe he is doomed . he will probably stay there for another three or six months , but he is doomed , ' he said . barak said he would like to see a similar international approach to syria as has been taken with libya . we need much tighter international pressure there , ' he said . with regards to the palestinian authority 's plans to make a bid for statehood in the united nations next month , barak said he believed the move served the interests of neither israel nor the palestinians . fnding a way to continue negotiations would be the best way forward , he said . cnn 's kevin flower and guy azriel contributed to a report . | ehud barak says israel will not leave last week 's terror attacks unpunished |
vaclav klaus <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a leftist candidate won the czech republic 's first presidential election decided by direct vote . milos zeman , a former prime minister and head of the citizens'rights party , won with 54.8 % of the vote , according to the czech news agency . he defeated karel schwarzenberg , an aristocratic foreign minister with the top09 party , who garnered 45.2 % . zeman replaces vaclav klaus , who must step down after serving the maximum of two terms . the main issues in the election were national security , anti-corruption measures , accession to the eurozone , appointment of judges and presidential pardons of convicts , according to the organization for security and cooperation in europe . until 2012 , the parliament elected the president for a five-year term . after years of debate on the topic , fueled by allegations of corruption in the voting process , the constitution was amended a year ago to provide for direct presidential elections , according to the osce . in the 1990s , zeman was klaus'only real rival on the political scene . schwarzenberg was personally and professionally close to late president vaclav havel . the czech presidency is a largely ceremonial post , though the president plays an important role in foreign policy and government formation , according to sean hanley , an analyst at university college london . both zeman and schwarzenberg are europhiles . both were willing to contemplate a government dependent on communist party support , opening the way for likely communist-social democrat cooperation in government after the next parliamentary elections in 2014 , hanley said . cnn 's per nyberg , richard allen greene and joseph netto contributed to this report . | he replaces vaclav klaus , who is term limited |
my beloved world <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- with candor comes a measure of vulnerability . ' sonia sotomayor wants readers to know in the first pages of her new memoir that this will be different from other books by members of the supreme court . the dynamic story of the first latina to sit as a justice seeks to inspire by revealing often-painful chapters in her self-described extraordinary journey ' : her father 's early death from alcoholism ; a complex , often distant relationship with her mother ; growing up poor in the bronx projects ; self-doubts about her looks , brief failed marriage ; and professional path . but her strengths are celebrated , too : self-reliance to the point of giving herself insulin shots at age 7 , after being diagnosed with diabetes ; her loyalty to a large circle of friends ; and vivid pride in her puerto rican heritage . experience has taught me you can not value dreams according to the odds of their coming true , ' she writes in my beloved world ' ( knopf/random house ) . their real value is in stirring within us the will to aspire . that will , wherever it finally leads , does at least move you forward . ' she will speak this week in depth to cnn 's soledad o'brien and cnn en espanol 's juan carlos lopez . ____________ the 58-year-old sotomayor was named to the high court in 2009 after 17 years as a federal judge in new york . her autobiography ends as she takes the bench in 1992 . the narrative is often hauntingly personal : no legal analyses here . anyone seeking to glean her views of hot-button political issues like abortion , health care reform , or same-sex marriage will be disappointed . clarence thomas speaks in court some of the most vivid recollections concern her type 1 diabetes . sotomayor recounts how she gave herself the shots of out necessity , with her mother gone much of the day at work , and her father 's illness causing his hands to tremble . and within her from that early age was a sense of destiny she has struggled at times to shape . when young sonia was diagnosed in 1962 , the prospects of living a full life past her 40s were not good . i 've lived most of my life inescapably aware that it is precious and finite , ' she writes . the reality of diabetes always lurked in the back of my mind , and early on i accepted the probability that i would die young . ' in many ways she considers that decades-long awareness a gift ' -- to persevere , grasp life at its fullest every day . she now manages her illness with ease -- at public events she has been seen giving herself needle shots , with hardly anyone noticing . sotomayor deals candidly with death , especially her father juan 's spiral from drink , and the effect it had on sonia 's mother especially . the loving daughter recalls the bottles of booze the family later discovered hidden in papi 's ' bedroom , including under the mattress . her beloved cousin nelson 's early death from aids is chronicled . in one amazing scene , she unwittingly drives him in his last weeks to an appointment . ' he asked me to wait , so i sat in the car , parked outside the rundown tenement in hunts point ( a neighborhood in the bronx ) , ' she recalls . inside he 'd been scoring heroin . i wanted to kick myself -- how could anyone , let alone an assistant district attorney who 'd seen everything i 'd seen , be so naive . i recited that essential lesson of papi 's , simplistic but true : good people can do bad things , make bad choices . it does n't make them bad people . ' even sotomayor 's long smoking habit -- puffing up to three and a half packs a day -- gets the full unvarnished treatment , especially the difficulties of her quitting . ___________ the other driving narrative in this memoir is her heritage , rich with stories of childhood visits to the island of her parents'birth . she intimately describes the sounds and smells of her bronx neighborhood too , especially the weekly visits to her paternal grandmother mercedes -- whom she called abuelita -- where food , dancing , and poetry readings brought some of the happiest moments of her childhood . pizza bomber appeal rejected the justice says an innate awareness of larger forces around her often-chaotic childhood helped ground her , leaving the girl more trusting of her own instincts than what her once-distant mother and catholic school education could provide . her motto when she was in doubt : listen carefully and observe until i figured things out . ' young sonia 's evident intelligence and self-determination were boosted by affirmative action , just getting a hold in american society in the early 1970s , when she began applying for college . sotomayor admits not being fully aware of its impact in her own life at that age , but certain polar memories still leave a bad taste . a fellow hispanic student criticized her for not being more militant about the discrimination hispanics were facing , while a high school employee baldly questioned whether as an underprivileged minority she truly deserved to go to princeton university . i felt like an alien landing in a different universe , ' she says of her early college days , relating an experience shared by many of her minority friends . there were vultures circling , ready to dive when we stumbled . the pressure to succeed was relentless , even if self-imposed out of fear and insecurity . ' she drove herself hard to overcome that doubt , determined to prove critics wrong . i had been admitted to the ivy league through a special door , and i had more ground than most to make up before i was competing with my classmates on an equal footing , ' she writes . but to doubt the worth of minority students'achievement when they succeed is really only to present another face of the prejudice that would deny them a chance even to try . ' the young woman from the bronx projects graduated with honors from princeton and later yale law school . ____________ sotomayor is unmarried , has no children , and her laser focus on her work as a prosecutor , private lawyer , and later justice -- she admits somewhat sadly -- has often been at the sacrifice of greater personal growth . she concedes that her intensity and drive has initially turned off some people . her longtime paralegal developed hives when dealing with the often-brusque new boss for the first time . sotomayor also overheard a law firm colleague describe her as one tough bitch ' who would not be pushed around by adversaries . i was shaken to hear myself so harshly categorized , ' she recalls . when i 'm focused intensely on work , i become oblivious to social cues , or any cues for that matter . ' seeing justice sotomayor on the high court , zeroing in on a lawyer 's presentation at oral argument , is to witness that blend of street-smart manner , combined with a steely intellect . she does not mess around . but in private , her demeanor is another story . when talking with her in small , intimate settings , sotomayor quickly , easily makes you the sole center of her attention , bringing a warm smile and understanding manner . being single has also allowed her time to embrace the many dozens of relatives and colleagues -- many of them mentors -- she holds close to her , her familia . ' i 've always turned the families of friends into family of my own , ' she writes proudly . in her newest role , sotomayor has become an international role model , something she admits can be affecting and overwhelming at the same time . my education continues on the supreme court as i reckon with the particular demands of the finality of review , ' in the decisions the justice and her eight colleagues issue . she ends her book , my highest aspiration for my work on the court is to grow in understanding beyond what i can foresee , beyond any borders visible from this vantage . ' | supreme court justice sonia sotomayor has a new memoir , my beloved world ' |
supreme court justice <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- with candor comes a measure of vulnerability . ' sonia sotomayor wants readers to know in the first pages of her new memoir that this will be different from other books by members of the supreme court . the dynamic story of the first latina to sit as a justice seeks to inspire by revealing often-painful chapters in her self-described extraordinary journey ' : her father 's early death from alcoholism ; a complex , often distant relationship with her mother ; growing up poor in the bronx projects ; self-doubts about her looks , brief failed marriage ; and professional path . but her strengths are celebrated , too : self-reliance to the point of giving herself insulin shots at age 7 , after being diagnosed with diabetes ; her loyalty to a large circle of friends ; and vivid pride in her puerto rican heritage . experience has taught me you can not value dreams according to the odds of their coming true , ' she writes in my beloved world ' ( knopf/random house ) . their real value is in stirring within us the will to aspire . that will , wherever it finally leads , does at least move you forward . ' she will speak this week in depth to cnn 's soledad o'brien and cnn en espanol 's juan carlos lopez . ____________ the 58-year-old sotomayor was named to the high court in 2009 after 17 years as a federal judge in new york . her autobiography ends as she takes the bench in 1992 . the narrative is often hauntingly personal : no legal analyses here . anyone seeking to glean her views of hot-button political issues like abortion , health care reform , or same-sex marriage will be disappointed . clarence thomas speaks in court some of the most vivid recollections concern her type 1 diabetes . sotomayor recounts how she gave herself the shots of out necessity , with her mother gone much of the day at work , and her father 's illness causing his hands to tremble . and within her from that early age was a sense of destiny she has struggled at times to shape . when young sonia was diagnosed in 1962 , the prospects of living a full life past her 40s were not good . i 've lived most of my life inescapably aware that it is precious and finite , ' she writes . the reality of diabetes always lurked in the back of my mind , and early on i accepted the probability that i would die young . ' in many ways she considers that decades-long awareness a gift ' -- to persevere , grasp life at its fullest every day . she now manages her illness with ease -- at public events she has been seen giving herself needle shots , with hardly anyone noticing . sotomayor deals candidly with death , especially her father juan 's spiral from drink , and the effect it had on sonia 's mother especially . the loving daughter recalls the bottles of booze the family later discovered hidden in papi 's ' bedroom , including under the mattress . her beloved cousin nelson 's early death from aids is chronicled . in one amazing scene , she unwittingly drives him in his last weeks to an appointment . ' he asked me to wait , so i sat in the car , parked outside the rundown tenement in hunts point ( a neighborhood in the bronx ) , ' she recalls . inside he 'd been scoring heroin . i wanted to kick myself -- how could anyone , let alone an assistant district attorney who 'd seen everything i 'd seen , be so naive . i recited that essential lesson of papi 's , simplistic but true : good people can do bad things , make bad choices . it does n't make them bad people . ' even sotomayor 's long smoking habit -- puffing up to three and a half packs a day -- gets the full unvarnished treatment , especially the difficulties of her quitting . ___________ the other driving narrative in this memoir is her heritage , rich with stories of childhood visits to the island of her parents'birth . she intimately describes the sounds and smells of her bronx neighborhood too , especially the weekly visits to her paternal grandmother mercedes -- whom she called abuelita -- where food , dancing , and poetry readings brought some of the happiest moments of her childhood . pizza bomber appeal rejected the justice says an innate awareness of larger forces around her often-chaotic childhood helped ground her , leaving the girl more trusting of her own instincts than what her once-distant mother and catholic school education could provide . her motto when she was in doubt : listen carefully and observe until i figured things out . ' young sonia 's evident intelligence and self-determination were boosted by affirmative action , just getting a hold in american society in the early 1970s , when she began applying for college . sotomayor admits not being fully aware of its impact in her own life at that age , but certain polar memories still leave a bad taste . a fellow hispanic student criticized her for not being more militant about the discrimination hispanics were facing , while a high school employee baldly questioned whether as an underprivileged minority she truly deserved to go to princeton university . i felt like an alien landing in a different universe , ' she says of her early college days , relating an experience shared by many of her minority friends . there were vultures circling , ready to dive when we stumbled . the pressure to succeed was relentless , even if self-imposed out of fear and insecurity . ' she drove herself hard to overcome that doubt , determined to prove critics wrong . i had been admitted to the ivy league through a special door , and i had more ground than most to make up before i was competing with my classmates on an equal footing , ' she writes . but to doubt the worth of minority students'achievement when they succeed is really only to present another face of the prejudice that would deny them a chance even to try . ' the young woman from the bronx projects graduated with honors from princeton and later yale law school . ____________ sotomayor is unmarried , has no children , and her laser focus on her work as a prosecutor , private lawyer , and later justice -- she admits somewhat sadly -- has often been at the sacrifice of greater personal growth . she concedes that her intensity and drive has initially turned off some people . her longtime paralegal developed hives when dealing with the often-brusque new boss for the first time . sotomayor also overheard a law firm colleague describe her as one tough bitch ' who would not be pushed around by adversaries . i was shaken to hear myself so harshly categorized , ' she recalls . when i 'm focused intensely on work , i become oblivious to social cues , or any cues for that matter . ' seeing justice sotomayor on the high court , zeroing in on a lawyer 's presentation at oral argument , is to witness that blend of street-smart manner , combined with a steely intellect . she does not mess around . but in private , her demeanor is another story . when talking with her in small , intimate settings , sotomayor quickly , easily makes you the sole center of her attention , bringing a warm smile and understanding manner . being single has also allowed her time to embrace the many dozens of relatives and colleagues -- many of them mentors -- she holds close to her , her familia . ' i 've always turned the families of friends into family of my own , ' she writes proudly . in her newest role , sotomayor has become an international role model , something she admits can be affecting and overwhelming at the same time . my education continues on the supreme court as i reckon with the particular demands of the finality of review , ' in the decisions the justice and her eight colleagues issue . she ends her book , my highest aspiration for my work on the court is to grow in understanding beyond what i can foresee , beyond any borders visible from this vantage . ' | supreme court justice sonia sotomayor has a new memoir , my beloved world ' |
world bank <tsp> the president of the world bank has called for a concerted global effort to help syria 's refugees , saying the international community has failed to formulate an adequate response . on the sidelines of the world economic forum in davos , switzerland , jim yong kim told cnn 's richard quest that the situation was a humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions , and right now we are not responding effectively . ' in lebanon now a quarter of the population are refugees , ' said kim . it would be as if twice the population of canada came into the united states in a two year period ... ( lebanon is ) going to lose $ 7.5 billion in terms of gdp growth . the number of unemployed people in lebanon -- lebanese -- has doubled . ' the unhcr says more than 2 million syrians have fled their homeland since the beginning of the conflict in 2011 , with most taking refuge in the neighboring countries of lebanon , jordan , turkey and iraq . reports have found many refugee children living without a father , and some without parents altogether . kim said the response to the crisis had failed due to a lack of funds , but also due to a lack of leadership and concerted effort . there are many political difficulties in deciding who 's going to step up , who 's going to provide the funds . we have given all the money we can under the rules of the world bank and we now need others to step up , ' kim said . his organization was happy to lead ' the effort , he said . kim also reiterated the need to address inequality , a hot topic at the world economic forum . two and a half billion people in the world do n't have access to financial services . this is a bank account . not having the ability to save is a huge problem , ' he said . eighty percent of people in africa do n't have access to energy . you can not participate in the global market if you do n't have access to reliable energy . ' there were encouraging signs that some in attendance grasped the long-term economic benefits of investing in health and education . people are now understanding that education is going to determine the competitive abilities of a country into the future , but still many finance ministers are looking at the short term . they 're looking at it as an expense , ' he said . we 've got to help them fundamentally change that view , and as they fall behind they 're going to get it . ' | world bank chief jim yong kim has called for a global response to syrian refugee crisis |
steven soderbergh <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- the decision to make che ' was an easy one , benicio del toro says . filming the movie was anything but . benicio del toro stars as latin american revolutionary ernesto che ' guevara . i have to say it probably is the most difficult movie i 've ever made , and i 've made a few , ' del toro says of his starring role in director steven soderbergh 's spanish-language biopic . one of hollywood 's most bankable stars , del toro has made a name for himself playing dark and brooding characters in movies like 21 grams , ' the usual suspects , ' and traffic , ' for which he won an oscar . he now adds to that list the role of revolutionary ernesto che ' guevara , an argentine doctor whose role in the cuban revolution in the 1950s vaulted him to cult status where he remains today . to play the latin american revolutionary , del toro says he had to start with the man himself rather than invent a character . he read what che wrote and interviewed a range of people , including those who knew him when he was a child , as well as those who were there in his last days . and then there were the countless photos of the iconic and controversial leader which he pored over . looking at the pictures , seeing the attitude that he had in the photographs , ' he says , i learned a lot from the photographs . ' the meticulous study pays off on screen . del toro delivers a soulful performance that has earned him accolades . he won the best actor award at cannes this year and he is being hotly tipped for another oscar nod . which films and actors do you think are contenders for this year 's oscars ? share your picks in the soundoff below . che 's life is what movies are made of , ' del toro told cnn . the incredible story , along with the opportunity to work with soderbergh , who directed him in 2000 's traffic , ' for a second time drew him to the project . the 41-year-old bilingual actor was born in puerto rico but grew up in pennsylvania . it was n't until he was in his early 20s and wandered into a bookstore in mexico city that he discovered che . i bought a compilation of his letters that he had written to his family and i read that book . i did n't know anything about this guy , so that started my journey , ' he recalls . see how the movie was received in cuba » ' che ' is split into two parts -- the argentine ' and guerrilla . ' when shown in its entirety , the movie clocks in at a staggering 257 minutes . part one charts che 's rise from young idealist to revolutionary hero during the cuban revolution . part two depicts his efforts to bring change to all of latin america and focuses on his campaign in bolivia , where he died . shot in various locations ranging from the jungles of bolivia to mexico 's yucatan peninsula , filming was grueling . in this film , we went pretty fast , ' del toro says . we went really fast . ' soderbergh wanted to film using only natural light , and production moved rapidly . on some days , del toro recounts , they only had 15 or 30 minutes to capture a scene . one day of filming felt like a whole week of work , he says . the way i felt on a monday in this movie is the equivalent to how i felt at the end of the week of another movie . ' del toro , who also co-produced the movie , is n't complaining though . he speaks with pride about the effort the cast and crew put in to the moviemaking process , which he describes as hit and run . ' che ' is being released in two parts , but the epic is best viewed in its entirety , del toro says . you 'll get the full experience of what we went through , of the two movies together as one . ' the full-length version of che ' will have a limited opening in the u.s. on dec. 12 . it is scheduled to be released in separate parts in the uk on jan. 2 . | directed by steven soderbergh , the two-part film is more than four hours long |
newark <tsp> new york ( cnn ) -- a berlin-bound united airlines flight returned saturday night to newark liberty international airport after a problem developed in the left engine , officials said . eyewitnesses reported seeing flames spewing from engine right after the plane took off . a tire blew during takeoff and flew into an engine , fbi spokeswoman barbara woodruff said . the federal aviation administration said it could not confirm that . flight 96 , with 173 passengers and crew , circled the airport and burned fuel before landing at 8:05 p.m. , according to the faa . united described it as a mechanical issue . ' potential faa cuts would create big hassles for fliers the crew of the boeing 757 reported a problem after it left new jersey for berlin , said faa spokeswoman kathleen bergen . the engine was operating properly before it landed , she told cnn . eyewitness keisha thomas , who was traveling on the new jersey turnpike , said she witnessed fireballs near a wing shortly after the plane took off . thomas heard a loud sound , describing it as pow , pow , pow . ' djenaba johnson-jones , who lives across the river from the airport , said she heard an unusual noise and saw fire , but not smoke , coming from the aircraft 's left engine . eyewitness dennis ostolaza said he heard a propeller sound ' akin to a military helicopter as the plane gained altitude after takeoff , with black smoke and fire spitting out of the engine . ' the flight left the gate at 5:53 p.m. ; witnesses reported seeing the engine flames shortly before 6:30 p.m . recovered wreckage fails to solve case of missing pilot man : airline treated me like a pedophile airline asks passengers for gas money cnn 's julia greenberg , ross levitt and jason kessler contributed to this report . | plane returns safely to newark airport |
israel <tsp> jerusalem ( cnn ) -- israeli military experts sunday worked around the clock to examine the remains of a mysterious drone that was shot down after penetrating israeli airspace from the mediterranean sea . the israeli military announced saturday that the unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down over the northern negev desert . they say the drone did not take off from gaza , leading them to consider the possibility that it originated in lebanon . israeli security experts point the finger at israel 's longstanding rival hezbollah , the shiite militia based in southern lebanon . we know it originated in lebanon , ' said ron ben yishai , an israeli national security and defense commentator for israeli news portal ynet . it is entirely clear the uav was sent by an iranian proxy . the iranians provided hezbollah with their very first drones and they have also funded the organization . ' opinion : u.s. drone monopoly gone while israel has yet to officially announce who it sees as responsible for the penetration into its airspace , lebanon 's national news agency on sunday reported that israeli fighter jets have flown into lebanese airspace , causing sonic booms in the area . military spokeswoman avital leibovich said saturday that the drone did not carry any weapons or explosives . leibovich would not discuss the drone 's route or whether it had flown over military installations . if hezbollah were responsible for the launch of the drone , flying it for more than 200 km ( 125 miles ) down the mediterranean and deep into israel , that would represent a significant upgrade to its aerial capacities . but ben yishai said neither hezbollah nor the palestinian militant groups hamas and islamic jihad in gaza have claimed responsibility for launching the drone . i can imagine they are quiet , concerned of the israeli response to this operation , but it is not for me to say what israel 's reaction would be , ' he said . iran , which supports hezbollah , has had no comment . while the israeli military has stated that the drone did not carry explosives , the objective of the flight was a mystery sunday . the question is , what exactly did they look to achieve ? was it merely a demonstration of strength , or an operational mission for collecting intelligence ? ' said ben yishai . one possible target for any of israel 's enemies is the secret nuclear plant at dimona , in the negev . built with the help of the french government in the 1960s , the reactor stands several dozen miles from where the drone was shot down . israel does not comment on whether it has nuclear weapons , but details leaked by a former technician at dimona in the 1980s led international observers to conclude that it could have produced as many as 200 nuclear bombs . in december 2010 , the israeli military announced it had shot down an unidentified flying object over the nuclear plant . ben yishai said crashing a drone carrying explosives onto the plant would be considered a phenomenal achievement for hezbollah , even though the aircraft ca n't carry a big enough bomb to inflict serious damage . even photographs of the tightly guarded plant would be an intelligence prize , he said . the drone incident comes amid a tense international standoff over iran 's nuclear fuel program , which israel fears is a cover for a nuclear weapons program . iran has defied calls by the u.n. security council to halt its production of enriched uranium , insisting it has a right to make fuel for civilian power plants . but the u.n. nuclear watchdog agency says it can no longer verify that iranian nuclear research is strictly peaceful . that 's fueled talk of israeli military action against iran , with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu warning the u.n. general assembly in september that time for a diplomatic solution was running out . the united states , israel 's leading ally , says it wo n't tolerate a nuclear-armed iran , but says diplomatic and economic sanctions are starting to take a deep bite out of iran 's economy . on sunday , leibovich , the israeli military spokeswoman , said an israeli warplane shot down the drone . ben yishai said small drones are difficult to spot on radar , and missiles are n't designed to hit such slow-moving targets . the decision to closely follow the drone for almost 30 minutes within israeli airspace was a wise choice , ben yishai said . having identified the drone flying over the mediterranean , the israeli air force could have chosen to shoot it down right away , ' he said . the ability to track the drone , take pictures of it from all directions and examine its capabilities serves as an outstanding resource for intelligence information . ' anti-drone peace march halted in pakistan | israel is investigating the craft 's origin and has n't pointed any fingers yet |
israel <tsp> jerusalem ( cnn ) -- israeli military experts sunday worked around the clock to examine the remains of a mysterious drone that was shot down after penetrating israeli airspace from the mediterranean sea . the israeli military announced saturday that the unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down over the northern negev desert . they say the drone did not take off from gaza , leading them to consider the possibility that it originated in lebanon . israeli security experts point the finger at israel 's longstanding rival hezbollah , the shiite militia based in southern lebanon . we know it originated in lebanon , ' said ron ben yishai , an israeli national security and defense commentator for israeli news portal ynet . it is entirely clear the uav was sent by an iranian proxy . the iranians provided hezbollah with their very first drones and they have also funded the organization . ' opinion : u.s. drone monopoly gone while israel has yet to officially announce who it sees as responsible for the penetration into its airspace , lebanon 's national news agency on sunday reported that israeli fighter jets have flown into lebanese airspace , causing sonic booms in the area . military spokeswoman avital leibovich said saturday that the drone did not carry any weapons or explosives . leibovich would not discuss the drone 's route or whether it had flown over military installations . if hezbollah were responsible for the launch of the drone , flying it for more than 200 km ( 125 miles ) down the mediterranean and deep into israel , that would represent a significant upgrade to its aerial capacities . but ben yishai said neither hezbollah nor the palestinian militant groups hamas and islamic jihad in gaza have claimed responsibility for launching the drone . i can imagine they are quiet , concerned of the israeli response to this operation , but it is not for me to say what israel 's reaction would be , ' he said . iran , which supports hezbollah , has had no comment . while the israeli military has stated that the drone did not carry explosives , the objective of the flight was a mystery sunday . the question is , what exactly did they look to achieve ? was it merely a demonstration of strength , or an operational mission for collecting intelligence ? ' said ben yishai . one possible target for any of israel 's enemies is the secret nuclear plant at dimona , in the negev . built with the help of the french government in the 1960s , the reactor stands several dozen miles from where the drone was shot down . israel does not comment on whether it has nuclear weapons , but details leaked by a former technician at dimona in the 1980s led international observers to conclude that it could have produced as many as 200 nuclear bombs . in december 2010 , the israeli military announced it had shot down an unidentified flying object over the nuclear plant . ben yishai said crashing a drone carrying explosives onto the plant would be considered a phenomenal achievement for hezbollah , even though the aircraft ca n't carry a big enough bomb to inflict serious damage . even photographs of the tightly guarded plant would be an intelligence prize , he said . the drone incident comes amid a tense international standoff over iran 's nuclear fuel program , which israel fears is a cover for a nuclear weapons program . iran has defied calls by the u.n. security council to halt its production of enriched uranium , insisting it has a right to make fuel for civilian power plants . but the u.n. nuclear watchdog agency says it can no longer verify that iranian nuclear research is strictly peaceful . that 's fueled talk of israeli military action against iran , with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu warning the u.n. general assembly in september that time for a diplomatic solution was running out . the united states , israel 's leading ally , says it wo n't tolerate a nuclear-armed iran , but says diplomatic and economic sanctions are starting to take a deep bite out of iran 's economy . on sunday , leibovich , the israeli military spokeswoman , said an israeli warplane shot down the drone . ben yishai said small drones are difficult to spot on radar , and missiles are n't designed to hit such slow-moving targets . the decision to closely follow the drone for almost 30 minutes within israeli airspace was a wise choice , ben yishai said . having identified the drone flying over the mediterranean , the israeli air force could have chosen to shoot it down right away , ' he said . the ability to track the drone , take pictures of it from all directions and examine its capabilities serves as an outstanding resource for intelligence information . ' anti-drone peace march halted in pakistan | the drone was shot down over israel 's negev desert on saturday |
merkel <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- president barack obama and visiting german chancellor angela merkel acknowledged friday that differences remain between their governments on surveillance programs in the aftermath of disclosures by classified leaker edward snowden . obama told reporters at a joint news conference at the white house that we 're not perfectly aligned , ' noting the united states has no blanket no-spy agreement ' with any country , including close allies . merkel later told business leaders that a balance must be struck between technical capability , security needs and privacy . in a nutshell , an end never justifies the means and not everything that 's technically feasible ought to be done , ' she said . germany and other friendly countries complained when snowden 's disclosures last year revealed u.s. surveillance of foreign leaders as well as screening of foreign phone calls and internet contacts in investigating terrorist ties . the obama administration responded that all countries conduct surveillance on each other , but the president also has ordered changes in u.s. programs . obama said friday that it has pained me to see the degree to which ' the snowden disclosures have strained the relationship with germany , a key ally . the issue ignited public anger in europe , including germany , and merkel said talks with u.s. officials so far failed to bring agreement . over the past few months , we 've seen considerable differences of opinion and of interest between germany and the united states over this issue , and i do think that we will not have fully overcome this , even after my visit , ' she said . cnn'stom cohen and laura koran contributed to this report . | new : just because we can spy does n't mean we should , chancellor merkel says |
merkel <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- president barack obama and visiting german chancellor angela merkel acknowledged friday that differences remain between their governments on surveillance programs in the aftermath of disclosures by classified leaker edward snowden . obama told reporters at a joint news conference at the white house that we 're not perfectly aligned , ' noting the united states has no blanket no-spy agreement ' with any country , including close allies . merkel later told business leaders that a balance must be struck between technical capability , security needs and privacy . in a nutshell , an end never justifies the means and not everything that 's technically feasible ought to be done , ' she said . germany and other friendly countries complained when snowden 's disclosures last year revealed u.s. surveillance of foreign leaders as well as screening of foreign phone calls and internet contacts in investigating terrorist ties . the obama administration responded that all countries conduct surveillance on each other , but the president also has ordered changes in u.s. programs . obama said friday that it has pained me to see the degree to which ' the snowden disclosures have strained the relationship with germany , a key ally . the issue ignited public anger in europe , including germany , and merkel said talks with u.s. officials so far failed to bring agreement . over the past few months , we 've seen considerable differences of opinion and of interest between germany and the united states over this issue , and i do think that we will not have fully overcome this , even after my visit , ' she said . cnn'stom cohen and laura koran contributed to this report . | merkel says more talks are needed to find a balance between security and privacy |
edward snowden <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- president barack obama and visiting german chancellor angela merkel acknowledged friday that differences remain between their governments on surveillance programs in the aftermath of disclosures by classified leaker edward snowden . obama told reporters at a joint news conference at the white house that we 're not perfectly aligned , ' noting the united states has no blanket no-spy agreement ' with any country , including close allies . merkel later told business leaders that a balance must be struck between technical capability , security needs and privacy . in a nutshell , an end never justifies the means and not everything that 's technically feasible ought to be done , ' she said . germany and other friendly countries complained when snowden 's disclosures last year revealed u.s. surveillance of foreign leaders as well as screening of foreign phone calls and internet contacts in investigating terrorist ties . the obama administration responded that all countries conduct surveillance on each other , but the president also has ordered changes in u.s. programs . obama said friday that it has pained me to see the degree to which ' the snowden disclosures have strained the relationship with germany , a key ally . the issue ignited public anger in europe , including germany , and merkel said talks with u.s. officials so far failed to bring agreement . over the past few months , we 've seen considerable differences of opinion and of interest between germany and the united states over this issue , and i do think that we will not have fully overcome this , even after my visit , ' she said . cnn'stom cohen and laura koran contributed to this report . | edward snowden leaks are part of u.s.-german discussions in washington |
clive stafford smith <tsp> ( cnn ) -- president obama delivered his state of the union address and said -- again -- that this is the year he intends to close the detention center at guantanamo bay . as president , he has promised this before , first in his inaugural address in january 2009 and then periodically reiterated over the years . as i write this , i am en route to the prison that amnesty international once dubbed the guantanamo gulag . ' one might quibble over the term , but the profile of the place is extraordinary . when i first went there in 2004 , i expected to find the worst of the worst ' terrorists in the world , as then-secretary of defense donald rumsfeld had promised . instead , i was hard-pressed to find people who were america 's enemies . the pentagon has effectively conceded this -- 624 men have long since been set free , and 77 of the remaining 155 men have been cleared for release for at least four years , some for much longer . the majority of my clients have been cleared for release by the obama administration 's 2009 task force , which requires unanimous agreement by no fewer than 6 federal agencies including the fbi , the cia , and the departments of defense and state . there can be no other prison in the world where 50 percent of the inmates are told : you are cleared to leave , but you can not go . ' i hope to visit five of my remaining clients , although some may not come to the meeting . all are depressed and ( for the questionable privilege of seeing me ) had to endure for a time what the military dubbed a scrotum search ' -- an intentionally humiliating exploration of the genital area , which is intended to deter prisoners from coming to a legal visit to complain about the conditions . one person who will come out is shaker aamer , the last british resident there . shaker does not like what he had to endure , but he told me recently that the procedure was ultimately more humiliating for the soldiers who must carry out such benighted orders . after all , who joined the proud u.s. military in order to become a scrotum searcher , first class ? ' he has been cleared since 2007 , and hopes that it will not be too long before he can return to london , finally , to meet his youngest son faris , who was born on the day shaker arrived at guantanamo bay : valentine 's day 2002 . shaker is depressed . the president 's broken promises have weighed heavily on all the detainees . as anyone can understand , it is easier to endure the certainty of abuse than to oscillate between hope and despair . the president is correct when he argues that guantanamo is a recruiting sergeant for extremism . he is right to say that america loses credibility , and inspires disdain , when we fail to adhere to our principles . the president is also justified when he blames the republicans for undermining his pledge to erase the blot of guantanamo from the reputation of this country . however , president obama is arguably the most powerful person on the planet and his team should not promote the myth that the cleared prisoners can not be set free -- shaker could join his wife and four children in london tomorrow ; those of us who have worked on the issue for 12 years can help ensure the smooth repatriation of others to their own homes and families . equally to the point , the most powerful man on earth could tell the military to stop humiliating prisoners who want to talk to their lawyers , and to end the violent and torturous practice of force-feeding those who peacefully protest their indefinite detention by hunger-striking . over a 30-year career , i have visited most of the major prisons across the u.s. south , institutions that house death row or a maximum security unit , and none treats the prisoners as badly as shaker suffers in guantanamo bay . the president could also advise me what i am meant to say next week , when my clients inevitably ask me -- as they always do -- why they are still being held despite the multiple findings that they pose no threat and can be transferred out of the hell they are living daily . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of clive stafford smith . | 50 percent of guantanamo bay inmates are told : you are cleared to leave , but you can not go , ' clive stafford smith says |
fox <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- actor , author and parkinson 's disease activist michael j . fox spoke with cnn 's larry king live ' to be aired thursday . michael j . fox : i still travel with my kids , and i 'm with them part of the day , every day . ' in the interview , fox , who was diagnosed with parkinson 's in 1991 , talks about his new book , which he describes as a memoir of the last 10 years . ' in it , he explores the nature of optimism . he also talked about his family , a new approach to acting and president obama 's lifting of a ban on stem cell research , among other things . here are some excerpts from the show . larry king : he 's founder of the michael j . fox foundation for parkinson 's research . he 's a best-selling author -- the new book is always looking up . ' by the way , he has got an abc special , michael j . fox : adventures of an incurable optimist . ' it airs on may 7 . you remain -- is it easy to be an optimist ? michael j . fox : well , for me it 's second nature . it 's just the way i look at life . and it 's certainly a challenge now for most people to be optimistic , obviously , with all of the troubles we have and the problems that the country is facing . but i think it 's exactly in those times when our optimism kicks in highest gear . i think -- there 's an expression that i like that i always use : do n't wish for a lighter load , wish for broader shoulders . ' and i think that people are really -- i see a lot of broader shoulders these days , people are really working on the delts , you know ? king : what was it like when you were diagnosed ? fox : well , you know , it 's hard to describe it , because i was so young , i was 29 years old . and so parkinson 's is not what you expect to hear . i had a twitch in my pinky and i figured it was some kind of nerve damage or i 'd done something probably athletic . ... but then i got this diagnosis , and i thought the guy was kidding . and then it was shock , and then i had a certain amount of fear and i started to react to it in certain ways . i started drinking more heavily as a way of self-medicating it . and it took me -- you know , it 's funny , because i sit and talk about always looking up ' and being optimistic , and accept the losses and move on or find new gains , but it took me about seven years , i think , to really get to the point where i could tell people about it . ... i was diagnosed in'91 , and it was n't until'98 that i admitted publicly that it was a situation i was facing . king : it is not life-threatening , is it ? fox : no . and i would say you do n't die from it , but you -- up to now , you 'll definitely die with it if you have it . ... king : why did you write the book ? fox : the book was -- i wrote the first book because i had to , i think i had to kind of tell that story just for myself , just kind of to acknowledge all of the work that i had done on getting through that journey . and then this book was -- i thought about writing another , and i thought about people responding so positively to the optimism in the first book . and so many people wanted to talk to me about that . so i thought , well , optimism : what is optimism ? and so i started to think about it more kind of empirically , writing a book about optimism as a subject , and interviewing researchers about it and talking to people who are optimistic and traveling to places where people are optimistic and all of this stuff . ... so i had to kind of tell it -- i could n't tell , talk about optimism without -- and separate it from my experience . i had to make it part of my experience . so then , having done that , and written this book , which is really a memoir of the last 10 years , i still have these questions about optimism . so i went to abc and i said ,'there was a thing i was going to do a book on , but i 'd like to do a documentary special on .'and they said , great . and so we 've been traveling around , talking to optimists . we went to bhutan , which is a country in the himalayas that actually measures its gross national happiness along with its gdp . king : really ? fox : yes . and it makes decisions on its development as a country based on how to affect the happiness of the people . and the people are uniformly happy . it 's amazing . ... king : speaking of optimism , in march , president obama lifted the ban on federal financing for embryonic stem cell research . you 've long fought for that . you 've got to feel like a -- it has come true . ... watch fox 's talk about the lifting of the ban » king : when you act , is it hard ? fox : oh , yes . i do n't have any access to the same tool kit that i always had . but it 's like anything . it 's like , you find new ways of doing things . and in those new ways , you maybe are able to do things you could n't do before in ways you might not have approached before . and that 's my whole kind of philosophy of life is -- in dealing with parkinson 's or any kind of setback or loss , is that if you avoid it or it creates a hole that you try to fill up with other stuff , with your ego and your needs and your wants and your control issues , then you 're just going to dig deeper in a hole . but if you just recognize ,'look , it is what it is'-- now what 's around it ? i mean , the only thing that i do n't have a choice about is whether i have parkinson 's . everything else i have a choice about . ... fox explains how he handles the bad days » king : parts of your book are a love letter to your wife , tracy . without being saccharine , how important has she been ? fox : i could n't have made the journey that i 've made without her . and certainly i would n't have this family that i have . and three-quarters of our children were born after the diagnosis . and we knew what we were facing , what we were dealing with , and had some sense of what the prospects were , although they 've turned out a lot better than we could have imagined . i mean , i 'm 20 years after diagnosis , and there 's very little that i do n't do now that i used to do . i still travel with my kids , and i 'm with them part of the day , every day . king : how old are they now ? fox : my oldest is 19 -- he 'll be 20 next month . and the twins are going into high school next year ; they are 14 . and then i have a 7-year-old . | fox gratified obama lifted ban on federal money for embryonic stem cell research |
fox <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- actor , author and parkinson 's disease activist michael j . fox spoke with cnn 's larry king live ' to be aired thursday . michael j . fox : i still travel with my kids , and i 'm with them part of the day , every day . ' in the interview , fox , who was diagnosed with parkinson 's in 1991 , talks about his new book , which he describes as a memoir of the last 10 years . ' in it , he explores the nature of optimism . he also talked about his family , a new approach to acting and president obama 's lifting of a ban on stem cell research , among other things . here are some excerpts from the show . larry king : he 's founder of the michael j . fox foundation for parkinson 's research . he 's a best-selling author -- the new book is always looking up . ' by the way , he has got an abc special , michael j . fox : adventures of an incurable optimist . ' it airs on may 7 . you remain -- is it easy to be an optimist ? michael j . fox : well , for me it 's second nature . it 's just the way i look at life . and it 's certainly a challenge now for most people to be optimistic , obviously , with all of the troubles we have and the problems that the country is facing . but i think it 's exactly in those times when our optimism kicks in highest gear . i think -- there 's an expression that i like that i always use : do n't wish for a lighter load , wish for broader shoulders . ' and i think that people are really -- i see a lot of broader shoulders these days , people are really working on the delts , you know ? king : what was it like when you were diagnosed ? fox : well , you know , it 's hard to describe it , because i was so young , i was 29 years old . and so parkinson 's is not what you expect to hear . i had a twitch in my pinky and i figured it was some kind of nerve damage or i 'd done something probably athletic . ... but then i got this diagnosis , and i thought the guy was kidding . and then it was shock , and then i had a certain amount of fear and i started to react to it in certain ways . i started drinking more heavily as a way of self-medicating it . and it took me -- you know , it 's funny , because i sit and talk about always looking up ' and being optimistic , and accept the losses and move on or find new gains , but it took me about seven years , i think , to really get to the point where i could tell people about it . ... i was diagnosed in'91 , and it was n't until'98 that i admitted publicly that it was a situation i was facing . king : it is not life-threatening , is it ? fox : no . and i would say you do n't die from it , but you -- up to now , you 'll definitely die with it if you have it . ... king : why did you write the book ? fox : the book was -- i wrote the first book because i had to , i think i had to kind of tell that story just for myself , just kind of to acknowledge all of the work that i had done on getting through that journey . and then this book was -- i thought about writing another , and i thought about people responding so positively to the optimism in the first book . and so many people wanted to talk to me about that . so i thought , well , optimism : what is optimism ? and so i started to think about it more kind of empirically , writing a book about optimism as a subject , and interviewing researchers about it and talking to people who are optimistic and traveling to places where people are optimistic and all of this stuff . ... so i had to kind of tell it -- i could n't tell , talk about optimism without -- and separate it from my experience . i had to make it part of my experience . so then , having done that , and written this book , which is really a memoir of the last 10 years , i still have these questions about optimism . so i went to abc and i said ,'there was a thing i was going to do a book on , but i 'd like to do a documentary special on .'and they said , great . and so we 've been traveling around , talking to optimists . we went to bhutan , which is a country in the himalayas that actually measures its gross national happiness along with its gdp . king : really ? fox : yes . and it makes decisions on its development as a country based on how to affect the happiness of the people . and the people are uniformly happy . it 's amazing . ... king : speaking of optimism , in march , president obama lifted the ban on federal financing for embryonic stem cell research . you 've long fought for that . you 've got to feel like a -- it has come true . ... watch fox 's talk about the lifting of the ban » king : when you act , is it hard ? fox : oh , yes . i do n't have any access to the same tool kit that i always had . but it 's like anything . it 's like , you find new ways of doing things . and in those new ways , you maybe are able to do things you could n't do before in ways you might not have approached before . and that 's my whole kind of philosophy of life is -- in dealing with parkinson 's or any kind of setback or loss , is that if you avoid it or it creates a hole that you try to fill up with other stuff , with your ego and your needs and your wants and your control issues , then you 're just going to dig deeper in a hole . but if you just recognize ,'look , it is what it is'-- now what 's around it ? i mean , the only thing that i do n't have a choice about is whether i have parkinson 's . everything else i have a choice about . ... fox explains how he handles the bad days » king : parts of your book are a love letter to your wife , tracy . without being saccharine , how important has she been ? fox : i could n't have made the journey that i 've made without her . and certainly i would n't have this family that i have . and three-quarters of our children were born after the diagnosis . and we knew what we were facing , what we were dealing with , and had some sense of what the prospects were , although they 've turned out a lot better than we could have imagined . i mean , i 'm 20 years after diagnosis , and there 's very little that i do n't do now that i used to do . i still travel with my kids , and i 'm with them part of the day , every day . king : how old are they now ? fox : my oldest is 19 -- he 'll be 20 next month . and the twins are going into high school next year ; they are 14 . and then i have a 7-year-old . | fox has some bad days , but he tries to separate the physical from the emotional |
jacintha saldanha <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the chairman of the australian radio network at the heart of a hoax call targeting prince william 's pregnant wife has called the apparent suicide of one of the nurses duped by the prank truly tragic . ' it is too early to know the full details leading to this tragic event and we are anxious to review the results of an investigation , ' southern cross austereo 's max moore-wilton wrote sunday in a letter to the head of king edward vii 's hospital in london . the hospital , where a nurse apparently committed suicide after being duped by two djs from australian radio station 2dayfm , has condemned the radio station in a strongly worded letter . the djs , impersonating queen elizabeth and prince charles , called the hospital tuesday and gained information about the condition of catherine , duchess of cambridge -- which they subsequently played on air . on friday , the nurse who transferred the call through to the ward , jacintha saldanha , was found dead . opinion : why airing the prank call was wrong london 's metropolitan police have contacted australian authorities in relation to the call , but are not discussing about what or with who ' they 're talking , a spokesman told cnn . a spokeswoman for new south wales police in australia told cnn : as the investigation into the death of london nurse jacintha saldhana continues , new south wales police will be providing london 's metropolitan police with whatever assistance they require . ' southern cross said all advertising had been pulled from 2dayfm until at least the end of business monday ' after several large advertisers pulled out . ben barboza , saldanha 's husband , expressed grief over his wife 's death in a post on facebook : i am devastated with the tragic loss of my beloved wife jacintha in tragic circumstances , she will be laid to rest in shirva , india . ' saldanha 's daughter posted a photo of herself with her mother and wrote : i miss you , i loveeee you . jacintha saldanha . ' the chairman of the hospital where the pregnant duchess of cambridge was a patient slammed the australian radio station 's decision to broadcast the recorded prank call as truly appalling ' on saturday , ' king edward vii 's hospital cares for sick people , and it was extremely foolish of your presenters even to consider trying to lie their way through to one of our patients , let alone actually make the call , ' wrote hospital chairman lord glenarthur . the immediate consequence of these premeditated and ill-considered actions was the humiliation of two dedicated and caring nurses who were simply doing their job tending to their patients . ' the longer term consequence has been reported around the world and is , frankly , tragic beyond words . ' lord glenarthur called on the radio station to take steps to ensure that such an incident could never be repeated . ' the fallout from saldanha 's death has stretched from britain to australia -- with questions being raised about how far is too far in the effort to find out details about catherine 's pregnancy . the two australian djs behind the practical joke , mel greig and michael christian , have come under fire , with some using the phrase blood on your hands ' to condemn their actions on the sydney-based radio station . pranksters face world fury , ' screamed the front-page of the uk 's daily mirror on saturday , while daily telegraph columnist bryony gordon said it was not so funny to hear two grown adults call up a hospital ward full of sick people to try to scam information about one of them . ' read more : nurse 's death casts glare on'shock jocks' the djs have since apologized , and mutually decided ' to go off the air for an undetermined period , rhys holleran , ceo of the southern cross austereo media group , said saturday during a news conference . but he defended the legality of the station 's action , saying he was very confident that we have n't done anything illegal . ' this is a tragic event that could not have been reasonably foreseen , and we are deeply saddened by it , ' he said . the australian communications and media authority , the country 's media regulator , has not yet commented on the case . however , it will be engaging with the licensee , today fm sydney , around the facts and issues surrounding the prank call , ' said the regulator 's chairman , chris chapman . news of saldanha 's death broke friday , with the hospital saying she was recently the victim of a hoax call . ' london 's metropolitan police said that saldanha , 46 , had living quarters in central london provided by her workplace . police said they were notified friday morning that a woman was found unconscious at the address . she was pronounced dead at the scene . police are treating the death as unexplained . ' a postmortem examination will be held next week , police said . a spokesman for prime minister david cameron said saturday that he thinks this is a very sad case and his thoughts are with her family and colleagues . ' throughout the controversy surrounding the hoax , authorities did not identify the nurse . her identity was released after her death . audio of the call posted online suggests a woman spoke briefly to the djs before she put the call through early tuesday morning to the ward where the duchess of cambridge was being treated for acute morning sickness . they were the world 's worst accents ever . we were sure 100 people at least before us would 've tried the same thing . ... we were expecting to be hung up on . we did n't even know what to say when we got through , ' greig told listeners thursday . off the air , greig and christian tweeted about the practical joke on thursday and earlier friday , promising more on the # royalprank . ' the pair 's twitter accounts were taken down late friday . some listeners applauded the prank , like one who identified himself as guido on the station 's facebook page and wrote , it is only a joke people ! it was great i love it ! ! ! ' others were outraged , with negative comments outnumbering positive ones on 2dayfm 's facebook page even before the nurse 's death . your stunt was done at a time in this country where there is paranoia about the intrusion of the media into people 's lives , ' gary slenders wrote . i know you will say it is harmless fun , the management of 2dayfm will say that it wo n't happen again , but this is exactly where the phone hacking scandal started . ' the outcry grew exponentially after the hospital confirmed saldanha 's death , leading the coles supermarket chain to remove all its advertising from 2dayfm . this death is on your conscience , ' reads one facebook post . several accused the two of having blood on your hands . ' saldanha 's family released a statement asking for privacy and directing questions to police . she is survived by her husband and two children . we as a family are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved jacintha , ' said the statement , released by police . saldanha worked at king edward vii 's hospital for more than four years , and she was described as an excellent nurse , ' well-respected by co-workers , the hospital statement said . the hospital had been supporting her throughout this difficult time , ' it said . a st. james'palace spokesman said : the duke and duchess of cambridge are deeply saddened to learn of the death . their royal highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at king edward vii hospital , and their thoughts and prayers are with jacintha saldanha 's family , friends and colleagues at this very sad time . ' separately , a palace spokesman told cnn : at no point did the palace complain to the hospital about the incident . on the contrary , we offered our full and heartfelt support to the nurses involved and hospital staff at all times . ' the hospital said wednesday that it deeply regretted the call had been put through . cnn wires and cnn 's nick thompson contributed to this report . | nurse jacintha saldanha was found dead after taking the prank call on catherine |
arsenal <tsp> ( cnn ) -- an injury time penalty from mario balotelli secured a dramatic 3-2 win for manchester city as they staved off a brave fight back from tottenham to maintain their three point lead at the top of the english premier league . city 's main title rivals , manchester united , also negotiated a difficult test at arsenal by winning 2-1 to remain on the coat tails of their big-spending neighbors . victories for both manchester clubs saw them pull clear from third-placed tottenham -- city are now eight points ahead of them , and united five -- with the race for the championship now seeming like a two-horse race . italy striker balotelli was involved in another contentious incident in the match as he appeared to aim a stamp at scott parker 's head , a flashpoint that angered tottenham manager harry redknapp . what reason did he have to kick scott in the head with his studs while he is lying on the floor ? it 's not a nice thing to do and it has no place in football , ' redknapp told a press conference . it 's not the first time he 's done that is it ? i 'm sure it wo n't be the last . i 'm the last person to talk about getting people sent off , but it 's blatantly obvious if you see that , he reacts like that at times to challenges . ' prior to balotelli 's late spot kick the game burst to life in nine second half minutes . first , samir nasri 's emphatic finish from silva 's pass on 56 minutes gave city the lead before joleon lescott bundled a corner into the net three minutes later . but city let the visitors back into the game within a minute as centre back stefan savic failed to deal with a long ball and jermain defoe took the ball round city goalkeeper joe hart to finish into an empty net . and five minutes later , tottenham were level as gareth bale struck a superb equalizer from the edge of the penalty area after aaron lennon 's pass . defoe had a chance to win the game for tottenham in injury time but though he stretched to connect with bale 's cross he could only poke the ball wide of the target from four yards out . and tottenham were made to pay for that miss as ledley king brought down balotelli in the final minute of added on time and the italian made no mistake from 12 yards . manchester united took the lead at arsenal 's emirates stadium in north london when antonio valencia headed home ryan giggs'cross on the stroke of half time . arsenal 's dutch captain robin van persie , who had already squandered a great chance to bring his side level , found the net on 71 minutes with an angled drive from alex oxlade-chamberlain 's pass . teenage winger oxlade-chamberlain was substituted straight after the equalizer , drawing boos from the home support . and his replacement , russian andrei arshavin , failed to close down valencia as he got into the area late in the game to tee up england striker danny welbeck for the winner . | manchester united beat arsenal 2-1 at the emirates to keep pace with title rivals |
ireporter <tsp> ( cnn ) -- if you live in the northeast , there is a good chance you used a snowblower this weekend . mounds of snow are piled throughout new york and new england after a blustery storm swept through , leaving behind more than a foot of snow in some areas . albany , new york , got at least 12 inches , said one ireporter . we usually get these big snow storms in january and the snow on the ground usually stays until springtime since it 's always cold here in albany , ' zeynep rice said . last year was a bit weak in snow until end of february actually . so we 're happy to have a solid snow covering on the ground earlier than usual this season . ' the storm spared major metropolitan areas like boston and new york , but some areas in maine and along the u.s.-canada border saw significant snow , the national weather service said . the maine cities of biddeford ( 16.5 inches total ) and kennebunkport ( 14 inches ) topped the list , while exeter , new hampshire , received 13.5 inches of snow over the weekend . the good news for new englanders and new yorkers was that the storm quickly moved out of the northeast . queens resident lia ocampo posted photos on cnn ireport showing a snow-covered subway platform at new york 's queensboro plaza station sunday morning . ocampo told cnn she 's braced for more snow and a colder christmas than last year . we ca n't do anything about the weather , ' she said . just bundle up , warm up with hot coffee , cocoa or tea and stay positive . ' by sunday afternoon , 350 flights into , out of , or within the united states were canceled , according to flightaware.com . highway traffic may be treacherous , with the problem compounded by high winds . cnn affiliate wcvb-tv reported that massachusetts expects to use 10,000 tons of salt and 2,000 vehicles during the storm . frank depaola of the massachusetts department of transportation told cnn that speed limits on major roads had been lowered to 45 mph . those snowed in might watch the new england patriots on tv -- they 're in sunny miami , facing the dolphins on sunday . the eastward-moving storm dropped snow earlier across the midwest and western pennsylvania , with 9 inches reported in urbana , illinois . millions of people are experiencing the big chill as the system dropped snow along a swath more than 1,000 miles long . fedex said winter weather and high winds caused major disruptions at the company 's memphis , tennessee , hub that could delay shipments across the united states . chicago has already been hit hard . the snow that fell saturday afternoon was wet , making it heavy and difficult to shovel . how to protect your phone in cold weather cnn 's adam shivers contributed to this report . | new : ireporter says big snowfall came earlier than usual |
sunderland <tsp> ( cnn ) -- newcastle 's 16-year stay in the english premier league has come to an end as a damien duff own goal saw them lose 1-0 at aston villa . newcastle players react after damien duff 's own goal sees them relegated from the premier league . duff deflected a 38th-minute shot from gareth barry past his own keeper steve harper to seal newcastle 's fate . newcastle 's misery was complete when defender david edgar was sent off for a late challenge on england winger ashley young . the result meant magpies legend alan shearer failed to work the miracle he was brought in to try and achieve with eight games remaining . newcastle will be joined in the championship by middlesbrough , who were beaten 2-1 at west ham and west bromwich albion , whose relegation was already confirmed prior to sunday 's final matches . both hull and sunderland survived the drop , despite both also losing their final matches . hull were beaten 1-0 at home by a second-string manchester united side , while sunderland lost 3-2 at home to chelsea in guus hiddink 's final game in charge of the london side . despite escaping relegation , sunderland manager ricky sbragia -- who had only been in charge for five months after roy keane 's relegation -- announced his decision to resign at the end of their match . meanwhile , newcastle have paid the price for a season of instability ever since kevin keegan decided to quit as manager in early september and owner mike ashley decided to put the club up for sale . joe kinnear was brought in to try and rescue the situation until his heart problems terminated his involvement and led to former england and newcastle striker shearer getting the call . but it was always going to be an uphill task to reverse a season of under-achievement and turmoil in such a short space of time . now shearer has to decide whether he wants to take on the task of trying to help the magpies regain their top flight status and is due to have talks with ashley early next week . it 's painful and it hurts . it 's been a great experience for me and in a weird way i have enjoyed it , ' shearer told sky sports . but lets get something straight , we did n't go down because of today , but because we were n't good enough after 38 games . big changes need to be made at this club , players need to go and others have to arrive because , collectively , we were not good enough to survive . ' newcastle 's result ensured hull stayed in the premier league , despite their defeat against champions manchester united . as expected , united manager alex ferguson put out a reserve side with one eye on wednesday 's champions league final against barcelona , but they still proved too strong for the home side and darren gibson 's superb first half long-range strike proved enough for the visitors . second-bottom middlesbrough will join the magpies and already-relegated west brom in the championship after their defeat at upton park . the hosts went ahead after 33 minutes when carlton cole sidefooted past goalkeeper brad jones and although gary o'neill hit an equalizer shortly after the break , the hammers won the match eight minutes later through junior stanislas . sunderland were the only other side in danger of getting relegated at the start of play and had other results to thank for their survival after they were beaten by chelsea . nicolas anelka claimed the season 's golden boot award in style with a wonder-strike , his 19th of the season , two minutes into the second half . kieran richardson took advantage of petr cech 's fumble to level but salomon kalou gave the visitors the lead again in the 74th minute and ashley cole wrapped up the win in the final 10 minutes . kenwyne jones scored a late consolation goal for sunderland , who will now be looking for a new manager following sbragia 's announcement , although the scotsman will remain on the coaching staff . everton finish the table in fifth place after a 2-0 victory at fulham , who have qualified for the europa league in seventh place despite the defeat . leon osman hit both goals for the toffees , but roy hodgson 's team retained seventh as tottenham were beaten 3-1 by liverpool . the hosts took the lead in the first-half thanks to fernando torres'header and alan hutton 's own goal made it two after the break . robbie keane pulled one back against his former club with a quarter of an hour to go , but yossi benayoun netted liverpool 's third nine minutes from time . elsewhere , arsenal were in a rampant mood at the emirates stadium , demolishing stoke in the first half on the way to a 4-1 victory . the gunners opened the scoring on 10 minutes when striker james beattie slotted the ball into his own net from cesc fabregas'cross . the hosts then made it 2-0 on the quarter hour when robin van persie was brought down by ryan shawcross and then converted the resulting spot-kick . frenchman abou diaby headed home a a third goal two minutes later before stoke pulled one back through a ricardo fuller penalty . van persie completed the scoring with his second of the game , taking advantage of a mistake from rory delap . | sunderland manager ricky sbragia announces resignation after final whistle |
sunderland <tsp> ( cnn ) -- newcastle 's 16-year stay in the english premier league has come to an end as a damien duff own goal saw them lose 1-0 at aston villa . newcastle players react after damien duff 's own goal sees them relegated from the premier league . duff deflected a 38th-minute shot from gareth barry past his own keeper steve harper to seal newcastle 's fate . newcastle 's misery was complete when defender david edgar was sent off for a late challenge on england winger ashley young . the result meant magpies legend alan shearer failed to work the miracle he was brought in to try and achieve with eight games remaining . newcastle will be joined in the championship by middlesbrough , who were beaten 2-1 at west ham and west bromwich albion , whose relegation was already confirmed prior to sunday 's final matches . both hull and sunderland survived the drop , despite both also losing their final matches . hull were beaten 1-0 at home by a second-string manchester united side , while sunderland lost 3-2 at home to chelsea in guus hiddink 's final game in charge of the london side . despite escaping relegation , sunderland manager ricky sbragia -- who had only been in charge for five months after roy keane 's relegation -- announced his decision to resign at the end of their match . meanwhile , newcastle have paid the price for a season of instability ever since kevin keegan decided to quit as manager in early september and owner mike ashley decided to put the club up for sale . joe kinnear was brought in to try and rescue the situation until his heart problems terminated his involvement and led to former england and newcastle striker shearer getting the call . but it was always going to be an uphill task to reverse a season of under-achievement and turmoil in such a short space of time . now shearer has to decide whether he wants to take on the task of trying to help the magpies regain their top flight status and is due to have talks with ashley early next week . it 's painful and it hurts . it 's been a great experience for me and in a weird way i have enjoyed it , ' shearer told sky sports . but lets get something straight , we did n't go down because of today , but because we were n't good enough after 38 games . big changes need to be made at this club , players need to go and others have to arrive because , collectively , we were not good enough to survive . ' newcastle 's result ensured hull stayed in the premier league , despite their defeat against champions manchester united . as expected , united manager alex ferguson put out a reserve side with one eye on wednesday 's champions league final against barcelona , but they still proved too strong for the home side and darren gibson 's superb first half long-range strike proved enough for the visitors . second-bottom middlesbrough will join the magpies and already-relegated west brom in the championship after their defeat at upton park . the hosts went ahead after 33 minutes when carlton cole sidefooted past goalkeeper brad jones and although gary o'neill hit an equalizer shortly after the break , the hammers won the match eight minutes later through junior stanislas . sunderland were the only other side in danger of getting relegated at the start of play and had other results to thank for their survival after they were beaten by chelsea . nicolas anelka claimed the season 's golden boot award in style with a wonder-strike , his 19th of the season , two minutes into the second half . kieran richardson took advantage of petr cech 's fumble to level but salomon kalou gave the visitors the lead again in the 74th minute and ashley cole wrapped up the win in the final 10 minutes . kenwyne jones scored a late consolation goal for sunderland , who will now be looking for a new manager following sbragia 's announcement , although the scotsman will remain on the coaching staff . everton finish the table in fifth place after a 2-0 victory at fulham , who have qualified for the europa league in seventh place despite the defeat . leon osman hit both goals for the toffees , but roy hodgson 's team retained seventh as tottenham were beaten 3-1 by liverpool . the hosts took the lead in the first-half thanks to fernando torres'header and alan hutton 's own goal made it two after the break . robbie keane pulled one back against his former club with a quarter of an hour to go , but yossi benayoun netted liverpool 's third nine minutes from time . elsewhere , arsenal were in a rampant mood at the emirates stadium , demolishing stoke in the first half on the way to a 4-1 victory . the gunners opened the scoring on 10 minutes when striker james beattie slotted the ball into his own net from cesc fabregas'cross . the hosts then made it 2-0 on the quarter hour when robin van persie was brought down by ryan shawcross and then converted the resulting spot-kick . frenchman abou diaby headed home a a third goal two minutes later before stoke pulled one back through a ricardo fuller penalty . van persie completed the scoring with his second of the game , taking advantage of a mistake from rory delap . | hull and sunderland both remain in premier league despite final day defeats |
oscars <tsp> if , as many observers believe , daniel-day lewis wins the academy award for best actor on sunday , he will become the first man to win three ( meryl streep has done this ; maggie smith might match her if she wins for her turn in quartet ) . such an honor would ratify day-lewis'standing not simply as one of the greatest actors of his time , but for all time . like robert de niro , day-lewis is seen as the quintessential method actor , a commitment he has taken to extremes in his well-known penchant for embodying his characters even when the cameras are n't rolling . day-lewis also is notable for the extraordinary breadth of roles he has played . he first came to global attention in 1985 when he appeared simultaneously as the priggish cecil vyse in the merchant-ivory film adaptation of e.m. forster 's 1907 novel room with a view ' as well as johnny , the gay east end punk , in stephen frears'brilliantly brash my beautiful launderette . ' but it has been in playing americans where day-lewis has made his most distinctive impact . between 1988 and 2007 he played a string of american figures that ranged from a 17th century puritan ( the crucible ' ) to a contemporary art collector ( the otherwise forgettable stars and bars ' ) . his turn as the lead character in the 1992 film version of james fenimore cooper 's 1825 novel last of the mohicans ' has become a classic , while his role as the driven oil prospector daniel plainview in there will be blood ' won him his second academy award for best actor in 2008 . for all the range of the characters , however , there is a surprising degree of continuity in this gallery of americans . the quintessential day-lewis character is a frontiersman , even when that frontiersman is disguised as a gang member staking out a territory ( gangs of new york ' ) , or an iconoclastic manhattan attorney chafing against social convention ( the age of innocence ' ) on the same new york streets . day-lewis always plays a man apart -- someone at odds with the institutional arrangements that surround him . if he is to survive , which in many cases he does not , his protagonists must move to the margins , finding a place on the outskirts of society . it 's in this context that one can begin to appreciate how day-lewis 's latest oscar-nominated performance as abraham lincoln breaks fresh ground . for the first time , he 's not playing an estranged outsider , but rather a man at the epicenter of his society , exercising the levers of power to -- successfully -- bend a system toward his will . and that will is not of a personal and/or self-destructive variety ; instead , it 's a collective moral vision codified in a 13th amendment to the u.s. constitution to end slavery . the novelty of the performance does n't end there . we all know about figures who attain greatness in public life but whose private lives are a mess , repellent , or both . abraham lincoln has rarely been portrayed as a tyrant ( except by die-hard confederates ) , but often as inscrutable . but more than any other actor , even henry fonda 's folksy young mr. lincoln ' ( 1939 ) , day-lewis'version seems like a likable , three-dimensional human being . he seems equally at ease chatting with troops , black and white , as he is in spinning a yarn for his cabinet . he argues with his wife and son to the point of losing his temper ( there 's a memorable slap at robert lincoln , played by joseph gordon-levitt ) . much has been made of day-lewis'rendition of lincoln 's voice , free of the stentorian tones one might expect of a man of his literal or figurative stature ; contemporaries reported it as high and reedy , which is how the actor renders it here . this lincoln is a man of moderation . though clearly trying to lead public opinion in the face of significant political opposition , he 's no radical ; his foil in the film is rep. thaddeus stevens ( tommy lee jones ) who indeed was part of a republican-party faction impatient with lincoln 's pace on emancipation . stevens is portrayed far more kindly in lincoln ' than he was almost a century ago as the villain of d.w. griffith 's 1915 epic birth of a nation , ' but the film ultimately affirms lincoln 's recognition that compromise ( including possible moral compromise ) is an indispensable element of statecraft . yet for all the novelty of this performance , the role is of a piece with day-lewis'larger body of work . for while his lincoln is far more integrated into the fabric of his society than any of his other characters , he remains a man who struggles against a sense of isolation , whether personal or political , amid the maelstrom . unable to escape the fierce hatreds that rage around him , he becomes a casualty in a war he is determined to prosecute toward a just end . the truest americans , day-lewis seems to be telling us , are those who can never be fully at home in the world : our collective character is a restless one . it 's an insight with which day-lewis may make some history of his own . | jim cullen : if daniel-day lewis wins best actor award at the oscars , it will be a record |
americans <tsp> if , as many observers believe , daniel-day lewis wins the academy award for best actor on sunday , he will become the first man to win three ( meryl streep has done this ; maggie smith might match her if she wins for her turn in quartet ) . such an honor would ratify day-lewis'standing not simply as one of the greatest actors of his time , but for all time . like robert de niro , day-lewis is seen as the quintessential method actor , a commitment he has taken to extremes in his well-known penchant for embodying his characters even when the cameras are n't rolling . day-lewis also is notable for the extraordinary breadth of roles he has played . he first came to global attention in 1985 when he appeared simultaneously as the priggish cecil vyse in the merchant-ivory film adaptation of e.m. forster 's 1907 novel room with a view ' as well as johnny , the gay east end punk , in stephen frears'brilliantly brash my beautiful launderette . ' but it has been in playing americans where day-lewis has made his most distinctive impact . between 1988 and 2007 he played a string of american figures that ranged from a 17th century puritan ( the crucible ' ) to a contemporary art collector ( the otherwise forgettable stars and bars ' ) . his turn as the lead character in the 1992 film version of james fenimore cooper 's 1825 novel last of the mohicans ' has become a classic , while his role as the driven oil prospector daniel plainview in there will be blood ' won him his second academy award for best actor in 2008 . for all the range of the characters , however , there is a surprising degree of continuity in this gallery of americans . the quintessential day-lewis character is a frontiersman , even when that frontiersman is disguised as a gang member staking out a territory ( gangs of new york ' ) , or an iconoclastic manhattan attorney chafing against social convention ( the age of innocence ' ) on the same new york streets . day-lewis always plays a man apart -- someone at odds with the institutional arrangements that surround him . if he is to survive , which in many cases he does not , his protagonists must move to the margins , finding a place on the outskirts of society . it 's in this context that one can begin to appreciate how day-lewis 's latest oscar-nominated performance as abraham lincoln breaks fresh ground . for the first time , he 's not playing an estranged outsider , but rather a man at the epicenter of his society , exercising the levers of power to -- successfully -- bend a system toward his will . and that will is not of a personal and/or self-destructive variety ; instead , it 's a collective moral vision codified in a 13th amendment to the u.s. constitution to end slavery . the novelty of the performance does n't end there . we all know about figures who attain greatness in public life but whose private lives are a mess , repellent , or both . abraham lincoln has rarely been portrayed as a tyrant ( except by die-hard confederates ) , but often as inscrutable . but more than any other actor , even henry fonda 's folksy young mr. lincoln ' ( 1939 ) , day-lewis'version seems like a likable , three-dimensional human being . he seems equally at ease chatting with troops , black and white , as he is in spinning a yarn for his cabinet . he argues with his wife and son to the point of losing his temper ( there 's a memorable slap at robert lincoln , played by joseph gordon-levitt ) . much has been made of day-lewis'rendition of lincoln 's voice , free of the stentorian tones one might expect of a man of his literal or figurative stature ; contemporaries reported it as high and reedy , which is how the actor renders it here . this lincoln is a man of moderation . though clearly trying to lead public opinion in the face of significant political opposition , he 's no radical ; his foil in the film is rep. thaddeus stevens ( tommy lee jones ) who indeed was part of a republican-party faction impatient with lincoln 's pace on emancipation . stevens is portrayed far more kindly in lincoln ' than he was almost a century ago as the villain of d.w. griffith 's 1915 epic birth of a nation , ' but the film ultimately affirms lincoln 's recognition that compromise ( including possible moral compromise ) is an indispensable element of statecraft . yet for all the novelty of this performance , the role is of a piece with day-lewis'larger body of work . for while his lincoln is far more integrated into the fabric of his society than any of his other characters , he remains a man who struggles against a sense of isolation , whether personal or political , amid the maelstrom . unable to escape the fierce hatreds that rage around him , he becomes a casualty in a war he is determined to prosecute toward a just end . the truest americans , day-lewis seems to be telling us , are those who can never be fully at home in the world : our collective character is a restless one . it 's an insight with which day-lewis may make some history of his own . | cullen : day-lewis seems to be telling us that the truest americans are the restless ones |
americans <tsp> if , as many observers believe , daniel-day lewis wins the academy award for best actor on sunday , he will become the first man to win three ( meryl streep has done this ; maggie smith might match her if she wins for her turn in quartet ) . such an honor would ratify day-lewis'standing not simply as one of the greatest actors of his time , but for all time . like robert de niro , day-lewis is seen as the quintessential method actor , a commitment he has taken to extremes in his well-known penchant for embodying his characters even when the cameras are n't rolling . day-lewis also is notable for the extraordinary breadth of roles he has played . he first came to global attention in 1985 when he appeared simultaneously as the priggish cecil vyse in the merchant-ivory film adaptation of e.m. forster 's 1907 novel room with a view ' as well as johnny , the gay east end punk , in stephen frears'brilliantly brash my beautiful launderette . ' but it has been in playing americans where day-lewis has made his most distinctive impact . between 1988 and 2007 he played a string of american figures that ranged from a 17th century puritan ( the crucible ' ) to a contemporary art collector ( the otherwise forgettable stars and bars ' ) . his turn as the lead character in the 1992 film version of james fenimore cooper 's 1825 novel last of the mohicans ' has become a classic , while his role as the driven oil prospector daniel plainview in there will be blood ' won him his second academy award for best actor in 2008 . for all the range of the characters , however , there is a surprising degree of continuity in this gallery of americans . the quintessential day-lewis character is a frontiersman , even when that frontiersman is disguised as a gang member staking out a territory ( gangs of new york ' ) , or an iconoclastic manhattan attorney chafing against social convention ( the age of innocence ' ) on the same new york streets . day-lewis always plays a man apart -- someone at odds with the institutional arrangements that surround him . if he is to survive , which in many cases he does not , his protagonists must move to the margins , finding a place on the outskirts of society . it 's in this context that one can begin to appreciate how day-lewis 's latest oscar-nominated performance as abraham lincoln breaks fresh ground . for the first time , he 's not playing an estranged outsider , but rather a man at the epicenter of his society , exercising the levers of power to -- successfully -- bend a system toward his will . and that will is not of a personal and/or self-destructive variety ; instead , it 's a collective moral vision codified in a 13th amendment to the u.s. constitution to end slavery . the novelty of the performance does n't end there . we all know about figures who attain greatness in public life but whose private lives are a mess , repellent , or both . abraham lincoln has rarely been portrayed as a tyrant ( except by die-hard confederates ) , but often as inscrutable . but more than any other actor , even henry fonda 's folksy young mr. lincoln ' ( 1939 ) , day-lewis'version seems like a likable , three-dimensional human being . he seems equally at ease chatting with troops , black and white , as he is in spinning a yarn for his cabinet . he argues with his wife and son to the point of losing his temper ( there 's a memorable slap at robert lincoln , played by joseph gordon-levitt ) . much has been made of day-lewis'rendition of lincoln 's voice , free of the stentorian tones one might expect of a man of his literal or figurative stature ; contemporaries reported it as high and reedy , which is how the actor renders it here . this lincoln is a man of moderation . though clearly trying to lead public opinion in the face of significant political opposition , he 's no radical ; his foil in the film is rep. thaddeus stevens ( tommy lee jones ) who indeed was part of a republican-party faction impatient with lincoln 's pace on emancipation . stevens is portrayed far more kindly in lincoln ' than he was almost a century ago as the villain of d.w. griffith 's 1915 epic birth of a nation , ' but the film ultimately affirms lincoln 's recognition that compromise ( including possible moral compromise ) is an indispensable element of statecraft . yet for all the novelty of this performance , the role is of a piece with day-lewis'larger body of work . for while his lincoln is far more integrated into the fabric of his society than any of his other characters , he remains a man who struggles against a sense of isolation , whether personal or political , amid the maelstrom . unable to escape the fierce hatreds that rage around him , he becomes a casualty in a war he is determined to prosecute toward a just end . the truest americans , day-lewis seems to be telling us , are those who can never be fully at home in the world : our collective character is a restless one . it 's an insight with which day-lewis may make some history of his own . | cullen : day-lewis has made the most impact by playing americans , notably frontiersmen |
israeli <tsp> ester levanon rejects the notion of having it all . ' the head of the tel aviv stock exchange says women should do whatever feels right for them , not what society thinks is best . i do n't believe i have to prove to the world that i am a success only because i have a husband and two children and two grandchildren , ' says levanon , who split childcare with her husband while head of the israeli security service 's computer division . that 's me , that 's my life , that 's what i wanted to do . ' after graduating from hebrew university with a masters in math , levanon was was scouted to join the israeli security service ( shin bet ) in 1973 while working at a software company . the service was in the early stages of computerization , and levanon , whose brother was killed in the yom kippur war , wanted to do something more than just work . ' it really appealed to me , because i felt i could serve my country , ' she says . she spent 12 years with the service , initially as a consultant , but eventually launching its it division . she says being the first and only female manager at the israeli security service was not as difficult as convincing the organization that it needed to adopt new technology . they knew absolutely nothing about it , ' she recalls . more than that , they really hated the idea . ' levanon also brought wide-sweeping technology adoption to the tel aviv stock exchange , which she joined as chief information officer in 1986 before becoming ceo in 2006 . the exchange , which includes more than 600 companies -- more than 50 dual-listed on the nasdaq -- now offers automated trading , clearing and settlement . in january , it was one of several israeli businesses attacked by hackers , who managed to crash the exchange 's website , although not its trading system . in 2010 , the exchange was upgraded from emerging to developed market status by index provider msci inc and this year also topped bloomberg 's riskless return rankings of developed markets . here , the 65-year-old tells cnn about israel 's tight-knit business community , the sector she 's most excited by , and what she 's learned about children . on having it all ' ... it 's pure nonsense . i do n't know the meaning of'have it all .'everyone should have what they would like to have . if someone becomes a manager and she does n't have a family , i do n't think that she does n't have it all . maybe that 's the way she likes things . ( people ) should do what they believe is right , not what society believes is right for them . more from leading women : female racer 's lessons from life in the fast lane on childcare ... my husband and i split the responsibility , and we were helped by other people from time to time . we both managed to have careers . but that was so uncommon at the time that , at first , i pitied myself and said i 'm working harder and look at the men ! ' and then , i realized that he 's paying a higher price . i do n't believe he looked at it as a sacrifice . that 's the life we built together and it was very natural . each couple builds its own life ; that 's what we did . when ( my sons ) were 10 and 12 , one of them complained that all of his friends come back ( from school ) knowing they have their mothers at home . why am i not there ? his brother told him , if she wants to succeed and have a better job , she must work harder . ' i found out two things about children . first of all , they will always complain . if the mother is always home , they will complain . if she 's not at home , they will complain . second , i believe that my sons are very proud of what i achieve . i have to tell you that one time i stayed at home for one week and they went crazy . i started playing mother , asking them all kinds of questions i never asked . they wanted me out of the house . on israel ... in about 64 years , we managed to come from nothing to being a developed market . israelis are hard workers and they invest a lot . when you do n't have natural resources , you need brain resources , and that 's how the hi-tech community and the biotech community came to life . one of the things you see in israel is everyone knows everyone . so , if you are looking for someone bright , you either met him during your army service or someone knows someone . they say you need three contacts to know anyone in the world -- in israel , you need one . on the eurozone ... what should happen is that the citizens will realize that they have to pay in order to bring greece back to what it used to be and what it should be . as long as they are not willing to pay the price , everyone has a problem . i wish i knew what the solution is . that would make me a hero . but we probably will all have to be patient . more from leading women : saudi female entrepreneurs exploit changing attitudes on biomedical investment ... a very interesting sector . it 's the future of the world , i believe . that 's what 's going to save the human race . on having a mathematics degree ... being a mathematician always appeals to everyone . they are so afraid of those who really understand mathematics . on being the israeli security service 's first female manager ... they always treated me as an equal , but they also told me i am not an example . it does n't mean that now they believe that women can do it . i never knew whether to treat that as a compliment or an insult . i decided it was a compliment . | in the 1970s , she created the israeli security services'it division |
levanon <tsp> ester levanon rejects the notion of having it all . ' the head of the tel aviv stock exchange says women should do whatever feels right for them , not what society thinks is best . i do n't believe i have to prove to the world that i am a success only because i have a husband and two children and two grandchildren , ' says levanon , who split childcare with her husband while head of the israeli security service 's computer division . that 's me , that 's my life , that 's what i wanted to do . ' after graduating from hebrew university with a masters in math , levanon was was scouted to join the israeli security service ( shin bet ) in 1973 while working at a software company . the service was in the early stages of computerization , and levanon , whose brother was killed in the yom kippur war , wanted to do something more than just work . ' it really appealed to me , because i felt i could serve my country , ' she says . she spent 12 years with the service , initially as a consultant , but eventually launching its it division . she says being the first and only female manager at the israeli security service was not as difficult as convincing the organization that it needed to adopt new technology . they knew absolutely nothing about it , ' she recalls . more than that , they really hated the idea . ' levanon also brought wide-sweeping technology adoption to the tel aviv stock exchange , which she joined as chief information officer in 1986 before becoming ceo in 2006 . the exchange , which includes more than 600 companies -- more than 50 dual-listed on the nasdaq -- now offers automated trading , clearing and settlement . in january , it was one of several israeli businesses attacked by hackers , who managed to crash the exchange 's website , although not its trading system . in 2010 , the exchange was upgraded from emerging to developed market status by index provider msci inc and this year also topped bloomberg 's riskless return rankings of developed markets . here , the 65-year-old tells cnn about israel 's tight-knit business community , the sector she 's most excited by , and what she 's learned about children . on having it all ' ... it 's pure nonsense . i do n't know the meaning of'have it all .'everyone should have what they would like to have . if someone becomes a manager and she does n't have a family , i do n't think that she does n't have it all . maybe that 's the way she likes things . ( people ) should do what they believe is right , not what society believes is right for them . more from leading women : female racer 's lessons from life in the fast lane on childcare ... my husband and i split the responsibility , and we were helped by other people from time to time . we both managed to have careers . but that was so uncommon at the time that , at first , i pitied myself and said i 'm working harder and look at the men ! ' and then , i realized that he 's paying a higher price . i do n't believe he looked at it as a sacrifice . that 's the life we built together and it was very natural . each couple builds its own life ; that 's what we did . when ( my sons ) were 10 and 12 , one of them complained that all of his friends come back ( from school ) knowing they have their mothers at home . why am i not there ? his brother told him , if she wants to succeed and have a better job , she must work harder . ' i found out two things about children . first of all , they will always complain . if the mother is always home , they will complain . if she 's not at home , they will complain . second , i believe that my sons are very proud of what i achieve . i have to tell you that one time i stayed at home for one week and they went crazy . i started playing mother , asking them all kinds of questions i never asked . they wanted me out of the house . on israel ... in about 64 years , we managed to come from nothing to being a developed market . israelis are hard workers and they invest a lot . when you do n't have natural resources , you need brain resources , and that 's how the hi-tech community and the biotech community came to life . one of the things you see in israel is everyone knows everyone . so , if you are looking for someone bright , you either met him during your army service or someone knows someone . they say you need three contacts to know anyone in the world -- in israel , you need one . on the eurozone ... what should happen is that the citizens will realize that they have to pay in order to bring greece back to what it used to be and what it should be . as long as they are not willing to pay the price , everyone has a problem . i wish i knew what the solution is . that would make me a hero . but we probably will all have to be patient . more from leading women : saudi female entrepreneurs exploit changing attitudes on biomedical investment ... a very interesting sector . it 's the future of the world , i believe . that 's what 's going to save the human race . on having a mathematics degree ... being a mathematician always appeals to everyone . they are so afraid of those who really understand mathematics . on being the israeli security service 's first female manager ... they always treated me as an equal , but they also told me i am not an example . it does n't mean that now they believe that women can do it . i never knew whether to treat that as a compliment or an insult . i decided it was a compliment . | ester levanon brought automation to the tel aviv stock exchange |
levanon <tsp> ester levanon rejects the notion of having it all . ' the head of the tel aviv stock exchange says women should do whatever feels right for them , not what society thinks is best . i do n't believe i have to prove to the world that i am a success only because i have a husband and two children and two grandchildren , ' says levanon , who split childcare with her husband while head of the israeli security service 's computer division . that 's me , that 's my life , that 's what i wanted to do . ' after graduating from hebrew university with a masters in math , levanon was was scouted to join the israeli security service ( shin bet ) in 1973 while working at a software company . the service was in the early stages of computerization , and levanon , whose brother was killed in the yom kippur war , wanted to do something more than just work . ' it really appealed to me , because i felt i could serve my country , ' she says . she spent 12 years with the service , initially as a consultant , but eventually launching its it division . she says being the first and only female manager at the israeli security service was not as difficult as convincing the organization that it needed to adopt new technology . they knew absolutely nothing about it , ' she recalls . more than that , they really hated the idea . ' levanon also brought wide-sweeping technology adoption to the tel aviv stock exchange , which she joined as chief information officer in 1986 before becoming ceo in 2006 . the exchange , which includes more than 600 companies -- more than 50 dual-listed on the nasdaq -- now offers automated trading , clearing and settlement . in january , it was one of several israeli businesses attacked by hackers , who managed to crash the exchange 's website , although not its trading system . in 2010 , the exchange was upgraded from emerging to developed market status by index provider msci inc and this year also topped bloomberg 's riskless return rankings of developed markets . here , the 65-year-old tells cnn about israel 's tight-knit business community , the sector she 's most excited by , and what she 's learned about children . on having it all ' ... it 's pure nonsense . i do n't know the meaning of'have it all .'everyone should have what they would like to have . if someone becomes a manager and she does n't have a family , i do n't think that she does n't have it all . maybe that 's the way she likes things . ( people ) should do what they believe is right , not what society believes is right for them . more from leading women : female racer 's lessons from life in the fast lane on childcare ... my husband and i split the responsibility , and we were helped by other people from time to time . we both managed to have careers . but that was so uncommon at the time that , at first , i pitied myself and said i 'm working harder and look at the men ! ' and then , i realized that he 's paying a higher price . i do n't believe he looked at it as a sacrifice . that 's the life we built together and it was very natural . each couple builds its own life ; that 's what we did . when ( my sons ) were 10 and 12 , one of them complained that all of his friends come back ( from school ) knowing they have their mothers at home . why am i not there ? his brother told him , if she wants to succeed and have a better job , she must work harder . ' i found out two things about children . first of all , they will always complain . if the mother is always home , they will complain . if she 's not at home , they will complain . second , i believe that my sons are very proud of what i achieve . i have to tell you that one time i stayed at home for one week and they went crazy . i started playing mother , asking them all kinds of questions i never asked . they wanted me out of the house . on israel ... in about 64 years , we managed to come from nothing to being a developed market . israelis are hard workers and they invest a lot . when you do n't have natural resources , you need brain resources , and that 's how the hi-tech community and the biotech community came to life . one of the things you see in israel is everyone knows everyone . so , if you are looking for someone bright , you either met him during your army service or someone knows someone . they say you need three contacts to know anyone in the world -- in israel , you need one . on the eurozone ... what should happen is that the citizens will realize that they have to pay in order to bring greece back to what it used to be and what it should be . as long as they are not willing to pay the price , everyone has a problem . i wish i knew what the solution is . that would make me a hero . but we probably will all have to be patient . more from leading women : saudi female entrepreneurs exploit changing attitudes on biomedical investment ... a very interesting sector . it 's the future of the world , i believe . that 's what 's going to save the human race . on having a mathematics degree ... being a mathematician always appeals to everyone . they are so afraid of those who really understand mathematics . on being the israeli security service 's first female manager ... they always treated me as an equal , but they also told me i am not an example . it does n't mean that now they believe that women can do it . i never knew whether to treat that as a compliment or an insult . i decided it was a compliment . | levanon rejects the concept of having it all ' |
obama <tsp> cedar rapids , iowa ( cnn ) -- saying she felt compelled to support the man i believe has a new vision for america , ' oprah winfrey spoke passionately about democratic presidential hopeful barack obama at two rallies in iowa saturday . oprah winfrey joins democratic presidential candidate barack obama at a rally in des moines , iowa , saturday . i 've never taken this kind of risk before nor felt compelled to stand up and speak out before because there was n't anyone to to stand up and speak up for , ' winfrey told thousands of people in cedar rapids saturday evening . we need a president who can bring us all together , ' she said . i know [ barack obama ] is the one . ' earlier in des moines , she focused on world affairs . watch winfrey endorse obama » ' these are dangerous times , you can feel it . we need a leader who shows us how to hope again in america as a force for peace , ' winfrey told the enthusiastic crowd . i believe barack obama will bring statesmanship to the white house , ' she said . he 's a man who knows who we are and knows who we can be . ' winfrey said she has voted for as many republicans as she has democrats over the years , so her endorsement was n't about partisanship . this is very , very personal . i 'm here because of my personal conviction about barack obama and what i know he can do for america , ' she said to applause . winfrey also told the crowd that she 's looking for more than a candidate with experience in the hallways of government . ' i challenge you to see through those people who try to convince you that experience with politics as usual is more valuable than wisdom won from years of serving people outside the walls of washington , d.c. , ' she said . obama thanked winfrey for drawing a big crowd and coming out to the event . there are some people here who are here to see oprah . i 'm sort of a by-product of that and i appreciate that , but what i know is that for her to take the risk of stepping out of her comfort zone is extraordinary , ' the senator from illinois said . before winfrey 's speech in des moines , her best friend and fellow talk show host gayle king , tried to quietly slip into the rally . she walked up to the set of bleachers behind the stage and asked some women if she could scoot in . within seconds cameras were clicking and fans were yelling . king spent the speech in the first row of bleachers chatting up supporters , listening and and mingling with fans . winfrey 's campaign appearance comes less than one month before the iowa caucuses . after iowa , the three-state oprah-bama ' tour moves on to south carolina and new hampshire on sunday . the nod by the empress of daytime television comes at a time when independent politicos and campaign aides believe the democratic senator from illinois is picking up steam . the latest des moines register poll puts obama ahead of sen. hillary clinton , d-new york , in iowa and shows him gaining ground among women . women are proving to be a crucial voting block in 2008 for all the democratic hopefuls , but most especially clinton . at a recent obama rally in iowa city , many women expressed the difficulty they had in deciding whether to vote for him or for clinton because she could be a first for their gender . watch how winfrey 's campaigning could give obama a boost » winfrey 's endorsement is an obvious boost for obama in his effort to steal women voters from clinton . i think it 's going to help him with the women my age because she 's very popular , very respected among my age group , ' said linda peterson , a middle aged mother and probable obama voter from north liberty , iowa . according to the new york times , women make up 75 percent of the audience for the oprah winfrey show ' and more than half are over 50 . more than 40 percent make less than $ 40,000 and a quarter have no more than a high school education . one of the secretaries was just so excited about the fact that oprah was coming , ' said jodi plumert , a university of iowa professor and ardent obama supporter . she said'who would 've thought oprah , coming to little old iowa !'' i think that having oprah here on saturday will definitely pull women out , ' said iowa city resident and obama precinct captain cheryl carter . i think it will just show that women in iowa are barack obama supporters . ' although clinton will be campaigning in iowa on friday and saturday , rival campaigns acknowledge winfrey will leave little air in the hawkeye state . watch what issues are important to iowans » ' sen. clinton is a big fan [ of winfrey 's ] and thinks it 's great for every candidate to bring in surrogates , ' said a clinton aide . but ultimately the voters of iowa , new hampshire , south carolina and america are going to vote based on the actual candidate 's experience , strength , record and the ability to do the job on day one . ' the clinton campaign will put its star on stage the day before oprah-bama hits south carolina when former president bill clinton makes campaign stops in charleston on saturday . check out some other celebrities who are endorsing candidates » bill clinton said friday that his trip is totally coincidental . ' also saturday , the couple 's daughter , chelsea clinton , made her first appearance on her mother 's campaign trail along with the senator 's mother , dorothy rodham -- comprising three generations of clinton women . e-mail to a friend | winfrey a boost as obama tries to steal women voters from hillary clinton |
mcstay <tsp> ( cnn ) -- it 's been one year since the bodies of the mcstay family were found in the mojave desert . an off-road motorcyclist reported possible skeletal remains in two shallow graves on november 11 , 2013 . dental records confirmed that those graves held the bodies of joseph mcstay , his wife summer and their two young sons , gianni and joseph jr. just last week , authorities announced a major break in the case with the arrest of charles chase ' merritt , the man they think is responsible for the deaths . who is chase merritt ? in his first on-camera interview since merritt 's arrest , joseph mcstay 's father described his reaction to the latest development . a lot of people will say it 's like lifting a ton off your shoulders . i said , no , it was more to me like a boulder falling on me , ' patrick mcstay told cnn 's randi kaye . the mcstay family disappeared in february 2010 , and patrick mcstay has been working tirelessly to figure out what happened to them . he has even had numerous conversations with merritt . asked what he would like to ask merritt now , patrick mcstay said he would n't ask anything . there 'd be one person coming out of that room , ' he said . merritt , 57 , is charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of the mcstay family . his arraignment is set for november 12 . police say they believe the family died of blunt force trauma ' inside their home north of san diego , but they declined to discuss specifics of the deaths or a motive . earlier this year , kaye interviewed merritt , who was a close friend and business partner of joseph mcstay . merritt said at the time he had absolutely no clue ' what happened to the mcstays . merritt and mcstay met for a business lunch in rancho cucamonga on february 4 , 2010 , the day the family disappeared . i am definitely the last person he saw , ' merritt said during the january interview . merritt also told cnn they were also on the phone constantly , perhaps 12 to 13 times that day . there was another call from mcstay 's phone to merritt the night of the family 's disappearance . it came about 40 minutes after a neighbor 's security camera captured the family 's isuzu pulling out of their cul-de-sac . merritt did n't answer . merritt told cnn 's kaye he was watching television with his then-girlfriend , and he picked up the phone , looked at it and set it back down . he was tired . he called back the next day , he said . there are hundreds of scenarios . i have gone over all of them in my head , ' he said . of course i regret not picking up the phone . ' merritt was questioned by police after the disappearance . they just asked him the standard questions , ' he said . he also claimed to have taken a polygraph test . police had never named merritt as a suspect before his arrest last wednesday . he has served time in prison , according to criminal records from california , but none of the crimes involved violence . san bernardino authorities said friday that after reviewing 4,500 pages of investigative records , executing 60 search warrants and conducting 200 interviews , they believe merritt acted alone . five questions about the mcstay case cnn 's jessica small and michael pearson contributed to this report . watch anderson cooper 360° weeknights 8pm et . for the latest from ac360° click here . | merritt is charged with four counts of murder in mcstay family deaths |
mcstay <tsp> ( cnn ) -- it 's been one year since the bodies of the mcstay family were found in the mojave desert . an off-road motorcyclist reported possible skeletal remains in two shallow graves on november 11 , 2013 . dental records confirmed that those graves held the bodies of joseph mcstay , his wife summer and their two young sons , gianni and joseph jr. just last week , authorities announced a major break in the case with the arrest of charles chase ' merritt , the man they think is responsible for the deaths . who is chase merritt ? in his first on-camera interview since merritt 's arrest , joseph mcstay 's father described his reaction to the latest development . a lot of people will say it 's like lifting a ton off your shoulders . i said , no , it was more to me like a boulder falling on me , ' patrick mcstay told cnn 's randi kaye . the mcstay family disappeared in february 2010 , and patrick mcstay has been working tirelessly to figure out what happened to them . he has even had numerous conversations with merritt . asked what he would like to ask merritt now , patrick mcstay said he would n't ask anything . there 'd be one person coming out of that room , ' he said . merritt , 57 , is charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of the mcstay family . his arraignment is set for november 12 . police say they believe the family died of blunt force trauma ' inside their home north of san diego , but they declined to discuss specifics of the deaths or a motive . earlier this year , kaye interviewed merritt , who was a close friend and business partner of joseph mcstay . merritt said at the time he had absolutely no clue ' what happened to the mcstays . merritt and mcstay met for a business lunch in rancho cucamonga on february 4 , 2010 , the day the family disappeared . i am definitely the last person he saw , ' merritt said during the january interview . merritt also told cnn they were also on the phone constantly , perhaps 12 to 13 times that day . there was another call from mcstay 's phone to merritt the night of the family 's disappearance . it came about 40 minutes after a neighbor 's security camera captured the family 's isuzu pulling out of their cul-de-sac . merritt did n't answer . merritt told cnn 's kaye he was watching television with his then-girlfriend , and he picked up the phone , looked at it and set it back down . he was tired . he called back the next day , he said . there are hundreds of scenarios . i have gone over all of them in my head , ' he said . of course i regret not picking up the phone . ' merritt was questioned by police after the disappearance . they just asked him the standard questions , ' he said . he also claimed to have taken a polygraph test . police had never named merritt as a suspect before his arrest last wednesday . he has served time in prison , according to criminal records from california , but none of the crimes involved violence . san bernardino authorities said friday that after reviewing 4,500 pages of investigative records , executing 60 search warrants and conducting 200 interviews , they believe merritt acted alone . five questions about the mcstay case cnn 's jessica small and michael pearson contributed to this report . watch anderson cooper 360° weeknights 8pm et . for the latest from ac360° click here . | the mcstay family disappeared in february 2010 |
twitter <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the recent hacking of a twitter employee 's personal e-mail account is raising questions about the security of storing personal information and business data on the internet . a twitter co-founder says password toughness is important to online security . the web has been buzzing since a hacker allegedly broke into a twitter administrator 's personal e-mail account about a month ago and used that information to access the employee 's google apps account . that account housed some of twitter 's private financial documents and notes , according to twitter 's official blog . some of those documents circulated the blogosphere on wednesday , and techcrunch , a technology blog , published a twitter financial forecast . the hacker sent 310 documents to the tech site , according to a post by michael arrington , techcrunch 's founder and co-editor . in what appears to be a separate incident , a hacker broke into twitter chief executive evan williams'wife 's e-mail account and then accessed williams'paypal and amazon accounts , twitter says . it 's unclear what if any impact the incidents will have on the future of cloud computing , the idea that documents and computing power can be stored in the cloud ' of the internet rather than on desktops or laptops . many tech blogs are weighing in on the hacking 's impact . some see the incident as an indication of serious security flaws at twitter . others say it 's a sign twitter has gotten big , and any rising company makes a good target for a cyberattack . people outside the silicon valley micro-blogging company , such as twitter account holders , reportedly were not affected in the incident . this was not a hack on the twitter service , it was a personal attack followed by the theft of private company documents , ' twitter co-founder biz stone writes on the company 's official blog . google 's suite of online applications , which allows users to share and store calendars , spreadsheets and text documents , is not to blame for the hacking , stone said in the post , adding that twitter continues to use google apps . this is n't about any flaw in web apps , ' stone writes . it speaks to the importance of following good personal security guidelines such as choosing strong passwords . ' security experts say it 's best for users to create new passwords for each of their online accounts . the passwords generally should be complicated , combining letters , numbers and symbols . and they should be changed often . cnet , a tech site that partners with cnn , says the hack highlights how interconnected information is online -- and how vulnerable that setup is to attack . although it seems that twitter has been thrust into this situation a bit unfairly , a hack along these lines could have happened to the executives of more web companies than anybody would like to admit , ' josh lowensohn and caroline mccarthy write on the news site . what it really highlights is the extreme interconnectedness of the social web : with the likes of e-mail contact importing and data-portability services like facebook connect now commonplace , a savvy hacker can have access to multiple accounts simply by accessing one . ' ken colburn , a computer security expert , recently told cnn.com/live that google docs are as secure as anything you 're going to do on the internet . it 's not any more or less secure than microsoft office . ' writing for mashable , a blog that covers online social media , stan schroeder says the latest twitter breach proves the micro-blogging site needs to address nagging security flaws . there have been so many problems [ at twitter ] over the past couple of months that it 's getting hard to keep track of them , ' he writes . it 's time to fix it once and for all , because these security issues are a dark shadow looming over the otherwise bright future of this company . ' adam ostrow , editor-in-chief at mashable , says the hacking is another embarrassing moment in twitter 's torrid growth , but nothing that 's likely to bring the house down . ' peter kafka , senior editor at allthingsd.com , offers another analogy . this looks roughly akin to having your underwear drawer rifled : embarrassing , but no one 's really going to be surprised about what 's in there , ' he writes . another debate happening online concerns techcrunch 's decision to publish some of the information stolen from twitter . arrington , of techcrunch , writes that a few of the documents have so much news value that we think it 's appropriate to publish them . ' still , there is clearly an ethical line here that we do n't want to cross , and the vast majority of these documents are n't going to be published , at least by us , ' he writes . some , including techcrunch readers , have criticized the blog 's decision to publish any of the information . twitter has said it is seeking legal counsel on the matter . we are in touch with our legal counsel about what this theft means for twitter , the hacker , and anyone who accepts and subsequently shares or publishes these stolen documents , ' stone writes on the site 's blog . ostrow , of mashable , writes that there 's nothing really juicy ' in the twitter documents . the bottom line seems to be this : your twitter accounts are safe , but there are a number of documents that twitter would rather not have published publicly in other people 's hands , ' he says . but if you 're expecting something really juicy ( like , how twitter plans to make money ) , you should probably prepare to be disappointed . ' what do you think of the news ? are you worried about security and cloud computing ? do you use google docs and will you continue to ? what about techcrunch 's decision to publish the info stolen from twitter ? feel free to chime in with comments below . | twitter says it is seeking legal counsel on the matter |
twitter <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the recent hacking of a twitter employee 's personal e-mail account is raising questions about the security of storing personal information and business data on the internet . a twitter co-founder says password toughness is important to online security . the web has been buzzing since a hacker allegedly broke into a twitter administrator 's personal e-mail account about a month ago and used that information to access the employee 's google apps account . that account housed some of twitter 's private financial documents and notes , according to twitter 's official blog . some of those documents circulated the blogosphere on wednesday , and techcrunch , a technology blog , published a twitter financial forecast . the hacker sent 310 documents to the tech site , according to a post by michael arrington , techcrunch 's founder and co-editor . in what appears to be a separate incident , a hacker broke into twitter chief executive evan williams'wife 's e-mail account and then accessed williams'paypal and amazon accounts , twitter says . it 's unclear what if any impact the incidents will have on the future of cloud computing , the idea that documents and computing power can be stored in the cloud ' of the internet rather than on desktops or laptops . many tech blogs are weighing in on the hacking 's impact . some see the incident as an indication of serious security flaws at twitter . others say it 's a sign twitter has gotten big , and any rising company makes a good target for a cyberattack . people outside the silicon valley micro-blogging company , such as twitter account holders , reportedly were not affected in the incident . this was not a hack on the twitter service , it was a personal attack followed by the theft of private company documents , ' twitter co-founder biz stone writes on the company 's official blog . google 's suite of online applications , which allows users to share and store calendars , spreadsheets and text documents , is not to blame for the hacking , stone said in the post , adding that twitter continues to use google apps . this is n't about any flaw in web apps , ' stone writes . it speaks to the importance of following good personal security guidelines such as choosing strong passwords . ' security experts say it 's best for users to create new passwords for each of their online accounts . the passwords generally should be complicated , combining letters , numbers and symbols . and they should be changed often . cnet , a tech site that partners with cnn , says the hack highlights how interconnected information is online -- and how vulnerable that setup is to attack . although it seems that twitter has been thrust into this situation a bit unfairly , a hack along these lines could have happened to the executives of more web companies than anybody would like to admit , ' josh lowensohn and caroline mccarthy write on the news site . what it really highlights is the extreme interconnectedness of the social web : with the likes of e-mail contact importing and data-portability services like facebook connect now commonplace , a savvy hacker can have access to multiple accounts simply by accessing one . ' ken colburn , a computer security expert , recently told cnn.com/live that google docs are as secure as anything you 're going to do on the internet . it 's not any more or less secure than microsoft office . ' writing for mashable , a blog that covers online social media , stan schroeder says the latest twitter breach proves the micro-blogging site needs to address nagging security flaws . there have been so many problems [ at twitter ] over the past couple of months that it 's getting hard to keep track of them , ' he writes . it 's time to fix it once and for all , because these security issues are a dark shadow looming over the otherwise bright future of this company . ' adam ostrow , editor-in-chief at mashable , says the hacking is another embarrassing moment in twitter 's torrid growth , but nothing that 's likely to bring the house down . ' peter kafka , senior editor at allthingsd.com , offers another analogy . this looks roughly akin to having your underwear drawer rifled : embarrassing , but no one 's really going to be surprised about what 's in there , ' he writes . another debate happening online concerns techcrunch 's decision to publish some of the information stolen from twitter . arrington , of techcrunch , writes that a few of the documents have so much news value that we think it 's appropriate to publish them . ' still , there is clearly an ethical line here that we do n't want to cross , and the vast majority of these documents are n't going to be published , at least by us , ' he writes . some , including techcrunch readers , have criticized the blog 's decision to publish any of the information . twitter has said it is seeking legal counsel on the matter . we are in touch with our legal counsel about what this theft means for twitter , the hacker , and anyone who accepts and subsequently shares or publishes these stolen documents , ' stone writes on the site 's blog . ostrow , of mashable , writes that there 's nothing really juicy ' in the twitter documents . the bottom line seems to be this : your twitter accounts are safe , but there are a number of documents that twitter would rather not have published publicly in other people 's hands , ' he says . but if you 're expecting something really juicy ( like , how twitter plans to make money ) , you should probably prepare to be disappointed . ' what do you think of the news ? are you worried about security and cloud computing ? do you use google docs and will you continue to ? what about techcrunch 's decision to publish the info stolen from twitter ? feel free to chime in with comments below . | a hacker allegedly broke into a twitter administrator 's personal e-mail account |
twitter <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the recent hacking of a twitter employee 's personal e-mail account is raising questions about the security of storing personal information and business data on the internet . a twitter co-founder says password toughness is important to online security . the web has been buzzing since a hacker allegedly broke into a twitter administrator 's personal e-mail account about a month ago and used that information to access the employee 's google apps account . that account housed some of twitter 's private financial documents and notes , according to twitter 's official blog . some of those documents circulated the blogosphere on wednesday , and techcrunch , a technology blog , published a twitter financial forecast . the hacker sent 310 documents to the tech site , according to a post by michael arrington , techcrunch 's founder and co-editor . in what appears to be a separate incident , a hacker broke into twitter chief executive evan williams'wife 's e-mail account and then accessed williams'paypal and amazon accounts , twitter says . it 's unclear what if any impact the incidents will have on the future of cloud computing , the idea that documents and computing power can be stored in the cloud ' of the internet rather than on desktops or laptops . many tech blogs are weighing in on the hacking 's impact . some see the incident as an indication of serious security flaws at twitter . others say it 's a sign twitter has gotten big , and any rising company makes a good target for a cyberattack . people outside the silicon valley micro-blogging company , such as twitter account holders , reportedly were not affected in the incident . this was not a hack on the twitter service , it was a personal attack followed by the theft of private company documents , ' twitter co-founder biz stone writes on the company 's official blog . google 's suite of online applications , which allows users to share and store calendars , spreadsheets and text documents , is not to blame for the hacking , stone said in the post , adding that twitter continues to use google apps . this is n't about any flaw in web apps , ' stone writes . it speaks to the importance of following good personal security guidelines such as choosing strong passwords . ' security experts say it 's best for users to create new passwords for each of their online accounts . the passwords generally should be complicated , combining letters , numbers and symbols . and they should be changed often . cnet , a tech site that partners with cnn , says the hack highlights how interconnected information is online -- and how vulnerable that setup is to attack . although it seems that twitter has been thrust into this situation a bit unfairly , a hack along these lines could have happened to the executives of more web companies than anybody would like to admit , ' josh lowensohn and caroline mccarthy write on the news site . what it really highlights is the extreme interconnectedness of the social web : with the likes of e-mail contact importing and data-portability services like facebook connect now commonplace , a savvy hacker can have access to multiple accounts simply by accessing one . ' ken colburn , a computer security expert , recently told cnn.com/live that google docs are as secure as anything you 're going to do on the internet . it 's not any more or less secure than microsoft office . ' writing for mashable , a blog that covers online social media , stan schroeder says the latest twitter breach proves the micro-blogging site needs to address nagging security flaws . there have been so many problems [ at twitter ] over the past couple of months that it 's getting hard to keep track of them , ' he writes . it 's time to fix it once and for all , because these security issues are a dark shadow looming over the otherwise bright future of this company . ' adam ostrow , editor-in-chief at mashable , says the hacking is another embarrassing moment in twitter 's torrid growth , but nothing that 's likely to bring the house down . ' peter kafka , senior editor at allthingsd.com , offers another analogy . this looks roughly akin to having your underwear drawer rifled : embarrassing , but no one 's really going to be surprised about what 's in there , ' he writes . another debate happening online concerns techcrunch 's decision to publish some of the information stolen from twitter . arrington , of techcrunch , writes that a few of the documents have so much news value that we think it 's appropriate to publish them . ' still , there is clearly an ethical line here that we do n't want to cross , and the vast majority of these documents are n't going to be published , at least by us , ' he writes . some , including techcrunch readers , have criticized the blog 's decision to publish any of the information . twitter has said it is seeking legal counsel on the matter . we are in touch with our legal counsel about what this theft means for twitter , the hacker , and anyone who accepts and subsequently shares or publishes these stolen documents , ' stone writes on the site 's blog . ostrow , of mashable , writes that there 's nothing really juicy ' in the twitter documents . the bottom line seems to be this : your twitter accounts are safe , but there are a number of documents that twitter would rather not have published publicly in other people 's hands , ' he says . but if you 're expecting something really juicy ( like , how twitter plans to make money ) , you should probably prepare to be disappointed . ' what do you think of the news ? are you worried about security and cloud computing ? do you use google docs and will you continue to ? what about techcrunch 's decision to publish the info stolen from twitter ? feel free to chime in with comments below . | the hacker stole twitter financial documents and leaked them to several blogs |
john kerry <tsp> u.s. secretary of state john kerry met iraqi leaders monday as radical sunni militants continue their march toward baghdad during the country 's tensest time since the u.s. withdrawal of troops in 2011 . the future of iraq depends on decisions made in the next few days and weeks , ' kerry said after meeting with iraqi prime minister nuri al-maliki , the man who some observers say needs to step down . al-maliki has agreed to a july 1 deadline to begin the process to form a new government , a requirement for u.s. assistance in fighting the islamic state in iraq and syria , or isis , kerry said . our support will be intense , sustained , ' and will be effective if iraqi leaders unite to face the militant threat , he said . with al-maliki 's shiite-led government losing more ground to isis , kerry implored the leader to rise above sectarian motivations ' to become more inclusive and make the government more representative of iraq 's population . map : on the ground , who controls what ? kerry also met with iraq 's foreign minister as well as shiite and sunni leaders . al-malaki 's office issued a statement after his meeting with kerry , saying the prime minister told kerry the current situation poses a threat ' not only to iraq but the region as well . al-malaki called on the countries of the world , especially countries in the region , to take it seriously , ' the statement said . but outside the rooms of high-level talks , parts of iraq are falling by the day . here 's the latest on the crisis that is spilling far beyond iraq 's borders : where is iraq 's military ? the united states believes multiple iraqi military divisions ' outside baghdad have dissolved and are plagued by problems in morale , leadership , training and equipment , according to a senior u.s. defense official . the readiness outside of baghdad is certainly in question as they have ceded multiple towns . forces in baghdad seems to be holding today , ' the official said . the united states believes there are around 10,000 fighters who are either affiliated with isis or members of the group , the official said , and while they are stretched thin over vast territory , they are getting support in the sunni areas they increasingly control . kerry said monday in baghdad that president barack obama has prepared a range of options for iraq , ' including enhanced intelligence , joint operations centers , military advisers and steady supplies of munitions . ' but the united states is being more careful about sending additional weapons and ammunition to iraq , because of a lack of confidence in the iraqi troops , the defense official said . isis captures more ground militant fighters believed to be isis have seized the baiji oil refinery , the largest in iraq , three iraqi security sources told cnn monday . earlier in the day , an iraqi military spokesman had said that an attack was under way , but had been repelled by security forces . cnn can not independently confirm either claim . the baiji refinery is a key strategic resource because it refines much of the fuel needed for internal consumption . there are already long lines at many gas stations across the country . isis militants also advanced toward baghdad over the weekend from the north and the west . at least 70 % of anbar province is now under the control of isis , two security officials in the region told cnn . isis is on a mission to create an islamic state across sunni areas of iraq and in syria . militants have taken over the tal afar airbase in northern iraq as well as the city of tal afar , officials said . on monday , iraqi troops prepared to recapture the airbase , iraqi maj. gen. abu al-waleed said . at least 1,000 iraqi troops have amassed to the north of tal afar and are firing rockets at militants in control of the city , ' he said . the fighters also seized the western anbar town of rutba , 70 miles ( 113 kilometers ) from the borders of jordan and saudi arabia , security sources in baghdad and anbar told cnn on sunday . then there 's qaim . isis captured the city along the syrian border saturday , and the militants now enjoy a stronghold and a number of other towns in anbar province . the fighters have a direct line to the western outskirts of baghdad , where tension simmers just beneath the surface . checkpoints in the capital seemed to pop up overnight , particularly the closer one got to central baghdad . security forces appeared to be controlling access to neighborhoods through a mix of checkpoints and road closures . dozens of prisoners , five police killed at least 71 prisoners and five police officers were killed monday when militants attacked an iraqi police convoy transferring inmates from one prison to another , police said . five militants were also killed . it was not immediately clear whether isis was behind the attack . the convoy was traveling from hilla , a predominately shiite city south of baghdad , to another prison north of the city . police did not provide further details about the attack . iraq 's military is accusing isis of carrying out massacres . hundreds of iraqi soldiers have been beheaded and hung and their bodies have been desecrated , ' said iraq 's military spokesman , maj. gen. qassim atta . why has the u.n. not decried these atrocious crimes , which are among the biggest crimes against humanity ? ' sharia law spreads one of isis'biggest victories came when it took over mosul , iraq 's second-largest city , this month . on sunday , witnesses said militants paraded around the city in vehicles , announcing on loudspeakers that they have decided to form islamic sharia courts in mosul . sharia law covers religious and nonreligious aspects of life , and isis has begun imposing sharia law in the towns it controls . boys and girls must be separated at school . women must wear the niqab , or full veil , in public . music is banned , and fasting is enforced during ramadan . the military denies huge losses but iraq 's military said it 's not losing as much ground to isis as some may think . the military made a strategic withdrawal ' in some areas , atta , the military spokesman , told reporters . he said the withdrawals were part of a campaign to open all these fronts so we can strengthen our positions . ' but atta did not detail the specific locations . two security officials told cnn that iraqi forces have withdrawn from haditha , 168 miles ( about 270 kilometers ) northwest of baghdad . but even if some withdrawals were strategic , it 's unclear when or how iraqi forces could retake areas now in the hands of well-armed isis fighters . the military said it has fought back against militants with airstrikes . officials showed reporters footage of airstrikes they said took place in tal afar . atta said the video showed a large number of isis forces fleeing these strikes ' that left up to 50 people dead . recruiting station gets pummeled apparently , those trying to join iraqi forces are at risk before they even enlist . in the shiite-dominated hilla , at least four people were killed in a shelling attack on a recruiting station . another 34 people were wounded . hundreds of predominantly shiite men went to the recruiting station to answer a call to arms to protect iraq . u.s. sends more help the u.s. will have a greater presence in iraq aside from kerry 's visit this week . about 300 u.s. military advisers will arrive , a senior defense official said . they will not be deployed all at once . the united states has reached an agreement with the iraqi government over legal protection for those advisers , pentagon spokesman rear adm. john kirby said monday . we believe these protections are adequate to the short-term assessment and advisory mission our troops will be performing in iraq . with this agreement , we will be able to start establishing the first few assessment teams , ' he said . in addition , some u.s. military personnel already at the u.s. embassy in baghdad will be reassigned and become advisers . the first military advisers will focus on assessing the strengths and weaknesses of iraqi security forces , u.s. officials said . the advisers will also assess what iraqi military equipment and weapons may now be in the hands of isis , and try to get better intelligence on isis strategy , weapons , and movements of its fighters . but obama said there 's only so much the united states can do . part of the task now is to see whether iraqi leaders are prepared to rise above sectarian motivations , come together , compromise , ' the president told cnn 's kate bolduan . if they ca n't , there 's not going to be a military solution to this problem . there 's no amount of american firepower that 's going to be able to hold the country together , and i 've made that very clear to mr. maliki and all the other leadership inside of iraq . ' how has isis become one of the richest ever militant groups ? political chatter : the new iraq debate view from baghdad : answering your questions about iraq | john kerry says iraqi leaders agree to form a new government by july 1 |
iraq <tsp> u.s. secretary of state john kerry met iraqi leaders monday as radical sunni militants continue their march toward baghdad during the country 's tensest time since the u.s. withdrawal of troops in 2011 . the future of iraq depends on decisions made in the next few days and weeks , ' kerry said after meeting with iraqi prime minister nuri al-maliki , the man who some observers say needs to step down . al-maliki has agreed to a july 1 deadline to begin the process to form a new government , a requirement for u.s. assistance in fighting the islamic state in iraq and syria , or isis , kerry said . our support will be intense , sustained , ' and will be effective if iraqi leaders unite to face the militant threat , he said . with al-maliki 's shiite-led government losing more ground to isis , kerry implored the leader to rise above sectarian motivations ' to become more inclusive and make the government more representative of iraq 's population . map : on the ground , who controls what ? kerry also met with iraq 's foreign minister as well as shiite and sunni leaders . al-malaki 's office issued a statement after his meeting with kerry , saying the prime minister told kerry the current situation poses a threat ' not only to iraq but the region as well . al-malaki called on the countries of the world , especially countries in the region , to take it seriously , ' the statement said . but outside the rooms of high-level talks , parts of iraq are falling by the day . here 's the latest on the crisis that is spilling far beyond iraq 's borders : where is iraq 's military ? the united states believes multiple iraqi military divisions ' outside baghdad have dissolved and are plagued by problems in morale , leadership , training and equipment , according to a senior u.s. defense official . the readiness outside of baghdad is certainly in question as they have ceded multiple towns . forces in baghdad seems to be holding today , ' the official said . the united states believes there are around 10,000 fighters who are either affiliated with isis or members of the group , the official said , and while they are stretched thin over vast territory , they are getting support in the sunni areas they increasingly control . kerry said monday in baghdad that president barack obama has prepared a range of options for iraq , ' including enhanced intelligence , joint operations centers , military advisers and steady supplies of munitions . ' but the united states is being more careful about sending additional weapons and ammunition to iraq , because of a lack of confidence in the iraqi troops , the defense official said . isis captures more ground militant fighters believed to be isis have seized the baiji oil refinery , the largest in iraq , three iraqi security sources told cnn monday . earlier in the day , an iraqi military spokesman had said that an attack was under way , but had been repelled by security forces . cnn can not independently confirm either claim . the baiji refinery is a key strategic resource because it refines much of the fuel needed for internal consumption . there are already long lines at many gas stations across the country . isis militants also advanced toward baghdad over the weekend from the north and the west . at least 70 % of anbar province is now under the control of isis , two security officials in the region told cnn . isis is on a mission to create an islamic state across sunni areas of iraq and in syria . militants have taken over the tal afar airbase in northern iraq as well as the city of tal afar , officials said . on monday , iraqi troops prepared to recapture the airbase , iraqi maj. gen. abu al-waleed said . at least 1,000 iraqi troops have amassed to the north of tal afar and are firing rockets at militants in control of the city , ' he said . the fighters also seized the western anbar town of rutba , 70 miles ( 113 kilometers ) from the borders of jordan and saudi arabia , security sources in baghdad and anbar told cnn on sunday . then there 's qaim . isis captured the city along the syrian border saturday , and the militants now enjoy a stronghold and a number of other towns in anbar province . the fighters have a direct line to the western outskirts of baghdad , where tension simmers just beneath the surface . checkpoints in the capital seemed to pop up overnight , particularly the closer one got to central baghdad . security forces appeared to be controlling access to neighborhoods through a mix of checkpoints and road closures . dozens of prisoners , five police killed at least 71 prisoners and five police officers were killed monday when militants attacked an iraqi police convoy transferring inmates from one prison to another , police said . five militants were also killed . it was not immediately clear whether isis was behind the attack . the convoy was traveling from hilla , a predominately shiite city south of baghdad , to another prison north of the city . police did not provide further details about the attack . iraq 's military is accusing isis of carrying out massacres . hundreds of iraqi soldiers have been beheaded and hung and their bodies have been desecrated , ' said iraq 's military spokesman , maj. gen. qassim atta . why has the u.n. not decried these atrocious crimes , which are among the biggest crimes against humanity ? ' sharia law spreads one of isis'biggest victories came when it took over mosul , iraq 's second-largest city , this month . on sunday , witnesses said militants paraded around the city in vehicles , announcing on loudspeakers that they have decided to form islamic sharia courts in mosul . sharia law covers religious and nonreligious aspects of life , and isis has begun imposing sharia law in the towns it controls . boys and girls must be separated at school . women must wear the niqab , or full veil , in public . music is banned , and fasting is enforced during ramadan . the military denies huge losses but iraq 's military said it 's not losing as much ground to isis as some may think . the military made a strategic withdrawal ' in some areas , atta , the military spokesman , told reporters . he said the withdrawals were part of a campaign to open all these fronts so we can strengthen our positions . ' but atta did not detail the specific locations . two security officials told cnn that iraqi forces have withdrawn from haditha , 168 miles ( about 270 kilometers ) northwest of baghdad . but even if some withdrawals were strategic , it 's unclear when or how iraqi forces could retake areas now in the hands of well-armed isis fighters . the military said it has fought back against militants with airstrikes . officials showed reporters footage of airstrikes they said took place in tal afar . atta said the video showed a large number of isis forces fleeing these strikes ' that left up to 50 people dead . recruiting station gets pummeled apparently , those trying to join iraqi forces are at risk before they even enlist . in the shiite-dominated hilla , at least four people were killed in a shelling attack on a recruiting station . another 34 people were wounded . hundreds of predominantly shiite men went to the recruiting station to answer a call to arms to protect iraq . u.s. sends more help the u.s. will have a greater presence in iraq aside from kerry 's visit this week . about 300 u.s. military advisers will arrive , a senior defense official said . they will not be deployed all at once . the united states has reached an agreement with the iraqi government over legal protection for those advisers , pentagon spokesman rear adm. john kirby said monday . we believe these protections are adequate to the short-term assessment and advisory mission our troops will be performing in iraq . with this agreement , we will be able to start establishing the first few assessment teams , ' he said . in addition , some u.s. military personnel already at the u.s. embassy in baghdad will be reassigned and become advisers . the first military advisers will focus on assessing the strengths and weaknesses of iraqi security forces , u.s. officials said . the advisers will also assess what iraqi military equipment and weapons may now be in the hands of isis , and try to get better intelligence on isis strategy , weapons , and movements of its fighters . but obama said there 's only so much the united states can do . part of the task now is to see whether iraqi leaders are prepared to rise above sectarian motivations , come together , compromise , ' the president told cnn 's kate bolduan . if they ca n't , there 's not going to be a military solution to this problem . there 's no amount of american firepower that 's going to be able to hold the country together , and i 've made that very clear to mr. maliki and all the other leadership inside of iraq . ' how has isis become one of the richest ever militant groups ? political chatter : the new iraq debate view from baghdad : answering your questions about iraq | united states , iraq reach agreement over legal protections for u.s. advisers |
iraq <tsp> u.s. secretary of state john kerry met iraqi leaders monday as radical sunni militants continue their march toward baghdad during the country 's tensest time since the u.s. withdrawal of troops in 2011 . the future of iraq depends on decisions made in the next few days and weeks , ' kerry said after meeting with iraqi prime minister nuri al-maliki , the man who some observers say needs to step down . al-maliki has agreed to a july 1 deadline to begin the process to form a new government , a requirement for u.s. assistance in fighting the islamic state in iraq and syria , or isis , kerry said . our support will be intense , sustained , ' and will be effective if iraqi leaders unite to face the militant threat , he said . with al-maliki 's shiite-led government losing more ground to isis , kerry implored the leader to rise above sectarian motivations ' to become more inclusive and make the government more representative of iraq 's population . map : on the ground , who controls what ? kerry also met with iraq 's foreign minister as well as shiite and sunni leaders . al-malaki 's office issued a statement after his meeting with kerry , saying the prime minister told kerry the current situation poses a threat ' not only to iraq but the region as well . al-malaki called on the countries of the world , especially countries in the region , to take it seriously , ' the statement said . but outside the rooms of high-level talks , parts of iraq are falling by the day . here 's the latest on the crisis that is spilling far beyond iraq 's borders : where is iraq 's military ? the united states believes multiple iraqi military divisions ' outside baghdad have dissolved and are plagued by problems in morale , leadership , training and equipment , according to a senior u.s. defense official . the readiness outside of baghdad is certainly in question as they have ceded multiple towns . forces in baghdad seems to be holding today , ' the official said . the united states believes there are around 10,000 fighters who are either affiliated with isis or members of the group , the official said , and while they are stretched thin over vast territory , they are getting support in the sunni areas they increasingly control . kerry said monday in baghdad that president barack obama has prepared a range of options for iraq , ' including enhanced intelligence , joint operations centers , military advisers and steady supplies of munitions . ' but the united states is being more careful about sending additional weapons and ammunition to iraq , because of a lack of confidence in the iraqi troops , the defense official said . isis captures more ground militant fighters believed to be isis have seized the baiji oil refinery , the largest in iraq , three iraqi security sources told cnn monday . earlier in the day , an iraqi military spokesman had said that an attack was under way , but had been repelled by security forces . cnn can not independently confirm either claim . the baiji refinery is a key strategic resource because it refines much of the fuel needed for internal consumption . there are already long lines at many gas stations across the country . isis militants also advanced toward baghdad over the weekend from the north and the west . at least 70 % of anbar province is now under the control of isis , two security officials in the region told cnn . isis is on a mission to create an islamic state across sunni areas of iraq and in syria . militants have taken over the tal afar airbase in northern iraq as well as the city of tal afar , officials said . on monday , iraqi troops prepared to recapture the airbase , iraqi maj. gen. abu al-waleed said . at least 1,000 iraqi troops have amassed to the north of tal afar and are firing rockets at militants in control of the city , ' he said . the fighters also seized the western anbar town of rutba , 70 miles ( 113 kilometers ) from the borders of jordan and saudi arabia , security sources in baghdad and anbar told cnn on sunday . then there 's qaim . isis captured the city along the syrian border saturday , and the militants now enjoy a stronghold and a number of other towns in anbar province . the fighters have a direct line to the western outskirts of baghdad , where tension simmers just beneath the surface . checkpoints in the capital seemed to pop up overnight , particularly the closer one got to central baghdad . security forces appeared to be controlling access to neighborhoods through a mix of checkpoints and road closures . dozens of prisoners , five police killed at least 71 prisoners and five police officers were killed monday when militants attacked an iraqi police convoy transferring inmates from one prison to another , police said . five militants were also killed . it was not immediately clear whether isis was behind the attack . the convoy was traveling from hilla , a predominately shiite city south of baghdad , to another prison north of the city . police did not provide further details about the attack . iraq 's military is accusing isis of carrying out massacres . hundreds of iraqi soldiers have been beheaded and hung and their bodies have been desecrated , ' said iraq 's military spokesman , maj. gen. qassim atta . why has the u.n. not decried these atrocious crimes , which are among the biggest crimes against humanity ? ' sharia law spreads one of isis'biggest victories came when it took over mosul , iraq 's second-largest city , this month . on sunday , witnesses said militants paraded around the city in vehicles , announcing on loudspeakers that they have decided to form islamic sharia courts in mosul . sharia law covers religious and nonreligious aspects of life , and isis has begun imposing sharia law in the towns it controls . boys and girls must be separated at school . women must wear the niqab , or full veil , in public . music is banned , and fasting is enforced during ramadan . the military denies huge losses but iraq 's military said it 's not losing as much ground to isis as some may think . the military made a strategic withdrawal ' in some areas , atta , the military spokesman , told reporters . he said the withdrawals were part of a campaign to open all these fronts so we can strengthen our positions . ' but atta did not detail the specific locations . two security officials told cnn that iraqi forces have withdrawn from haditha , 168 miles ( about 270 kilometers ) northwest of baghdad . but even if some withdrawals were strategic , it 's unclear when or how iraqi forces could retake areas now in the hands of well-armed isis fighters . the military said it has fought back against militants with airstrikes . officials showed reporters footage of airstrikes they said took place in tal afar . atta said the video showed a large number of isis forces fleeing these strikes ' that left up to 50 people dead . recruiting station gets pummeled apparently , those trying to join iraqi forces are at risk before they even enlist . in the shiite-dominated hilla , at least four people were killed in a shelling attack on a recruiting station . another 34 people were wounded . hundreds of predominantly shiite men went to the recruiting station to answer a call to arms to protect iraq . u.s. sends more help the u.s. will have a greater presence in iraq aside from kerry 's visit this week . about 300 u.s. military advisers will arrive , a senior defense official said . they will not be deployed all at once . the united states has reached an agreement with the iraqi government over legal protection for those advisers , pentagon spokesman rear adm. john kirby said monday . we believe these protections are adequate to the short-term assessment and advisory mission our troops will be performing in iraq . with this agreement , we will be able to start establishing the first few assessment teams , ' he said . in addition , some u.s. military personnel already at the u.s. embassy in baghdad will be reassigned and become advisers . the first military advisers will focus on assessing the strengths and weaknesses of iraqi security forces , u.s. officials said . the advisers will also assess what iraqi military equipment and weapons may now be in the hands of isis , and try to get better intelligence on isis strategy , weapons , and movements of its fighters . but obama said there 's only so much the united states can do . part of the task now is to see whether iraqi leaders are prepared to rise above sectarian motivations , come together , compromise , ' the president told cnn 's kate bolduan . if they ca n't , there 's not going to be a military solution to this problem . there 's no amount of american firepower that 's going to be able to hold the country together , and i 've made that very clear to mr. maliki and all the other leadership inside of iraq . ' how has isis become one of the richest ever militant groups ? political chatter : the new iraq debate view from baghdad : answering your questions about iraq | u.s. defense official says iraq 's military is plagued with morale , training problems |
townsend <tsp> editor 's note : frances fragos townsend , a cnn contributor on national security issues , served as president george w. bush 's chief anti-terrorism and homeland security adviser . townsend has spent more than two decades in the fields of intelligence and criminal justice and has served during the past three administrations . townsend is currently a consultant to the u.s. chamber of commerce and a member of the council on foreign relations and the aspen institute homeland security program . frances townsend says the priority for the white house must be protecting the american people . washington ( cnn ) -- the washington post recently reported that gen. jim jones , president obama 's national security adviser , is reviewing plans to reorganize the white house national security and homeland security councils . some , if not all , of the functions of the homeland security council may be folded into an expanded national security council . there is no more solemn responsibility that the president bears than to protect american lives . during my 4½ years at the white house , i came to believe that , for this reason , organization must be dictated by effectiveness . how best to maximize effectiveness will inevitably change over time as we as a country continue to weaken al qaeda and other enemies , as the department of homeland security gains strength , and as our government better integrates the capabilities that have been built since the tragedy of september 11 . as the obama administration considers the most effective means of organizing the white house structure , i respectfully submit that any structure should be judged against three fundamental criteria . first , there must be a single person both responsible and accountable to the president who monitors threat information and who has the authority to marshal all instruments of national power ( military , intelligence , law enforcement , economic , diplomatic and public diplomacy ) to defeat the threat . this individual can not wait until threats arrive on our shores , but must have the responsibility and the means to identify those threats where they originate and to ensure a coordinated response to them . the president 's homeland security adviser must not be constrained by geographic boundaries that our enemies do not respect . second , the homeland security adviser must have direct and immediate access to the president . ultimately , if terrorists successfully strike the united states , it is the president , and not his staff , who will be accountable to the american people for the failure . the homeland security adviser must be able to get to the president quickly without clearance from his or her colleagues on the white house staff . unfortunately , there will be times when american lives are at stake and the president will need to be advised and operational decisions taken and communicated to the relevant cabinet secretary in real time . these sorts of crises do not lend themselves to the normal bureaucratic process . third , the homeland security issues faced by our government are diverse and many . they range from preparedness and response to natural disasters ( ice , flooding , fires and wind ) to pandemic planning and biological and nuclear threats . these issues are often distinct from the more traditional foreign policy issues faced by the national security council and require experienced staff with significant expertise . the staff must understand state and local emergency management policy issues and concerns . they must be organized , not simply to facilitate the homeland security policy process , but also to anticipate and respond to state and local political leaders in a time of crisis . the homeland security adviser requires adequate staffing to deal with the counterterrorism and homeland security issues . we remain a nation at war with a very determined enemy . we have troops deployed in iraq and afghanistan , but the national security adviser has many important responsibilities in addition to those two theaters . for example , he must contend with the middle east peace process and counter proliferation around the world , but most especially in iran and north korea . i worry that increasing the span of control of the national security adviser could dilute the homeland security mission and make it just one more item on a list already overburdened . that said , i wish to be clear . we should judge any reorganization by the substance and criteria that i have suggested above . we must be careful not to assume that a merger means the president cares less about homeland security . we must resist this easy organizational chart test and look to the substance of how responsibilities are allocated and how we are being protected . let me suggest three questions the administration should ask before deciding on a new white house structure : ( 1 ) is there one person responsible and accountable to the president who looks around the world at threats and advises the president ? ( 2 ) does this one person have direct and immediate access to the president ? and ( 3 ) does this person have adequate staff to fulfill his or her responsibilities ? these are the questions that we should be asking and the criteria against which we should judge the effort . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of frances townsend . | fran townsend : white house 's top goal must be protecting american people |
townsend <tsp> editor 's note : frances fragos townsend , a cnn contributor on national security issues , served as president george w. bush 's chief anti-terrorism and homeland security adviser . townsend has spent more than two decades in the fields of intelligence and criminal justice and has served during the past three administrations . townsend is currently a consultant to the u.s. chamber of commerce and a member of the council on foreign relations and the aspen institute homeland security program . frances townsend says the priority for the white house must be protecting the american people . washington ( cnn ) -- the washington post recently reported that gen. jim jones , president obama 's national security adviser , is reviewing plans to reorganize the white house national security and homeland security councils . some , if not all , of the functions of the homeland security council may be folded into an expanded national security council . there is no more solemn responsibility that the president bears than to protect american lives . during my 4½ years at the white house , i came to believe that , for this reason , organization must be dictated by effectiveness . how best to maximize effectiveness will inevitably change over time as we as a country continue to weaken al qaeda and other enemies , as the department of homeland security gains strength , and as our government better integrates the capabilities that have been built since the tragedy of september 11 . as the obama administration considers the most effective means of organizing the white house structure , i respectfully submit that any structure should be judged against three fundamental criteria . first , there must be a single person both responsible and accountable to the president who monitors threat information and who has the authority to marshal all instruments of national power ( military , intelligence , law enforcement , economic , diplomatic and public diplomacy ) to defeat the threat . this individual can not wait until threats arrive on our shores , but must have the responsibility and the means to identify those threats where they originate and to ensure a coordinated response to them . the president 's homeland security adviser must not be constrained by geographic boundaries that our enemies do not respect . second , the homeland security adviser must have direct and immediate access to the president . ultimately , if terrorists successfully strike the united states , it is the president , and not his staff , who will be accountable to the american people for the failure . the homeland security adviser must be able to get to the president quickly without clearance from his or her colleagues on the white house staff . unfortunately , there will be times when american lives are at stake and the president will need to be advised and operational decisions taken and communicated to the relevant cabinet secretary in real time . these sorts of crises do not lend themselves to the normal bureaucratic process . third , the homeland security issues faced by our government are diverse and many . they range from preparedness and response to natural disasters ( ice , flooding , fires and wind ) to pandemic planning and biological and nuclear threats . these issues are often distinct from the more traditional foreign policy issues faced by the national security council and require experienced staff with significant expertise . the staff must understand state and local emergency management policy issues and concerns . they must be organized , not simply to facilitate the homeland security policy process , but also to anticipate and respond to state and local political leaders in a time of crisis . the homeland security adviser requires adequate staffing to deal with the counterterrorism and homeland security issues . we remain a nation at war with a very determined enemy . we have troops deployed in iraq and afghanistan , but the national security adviser has many important responsibilities in addition to those two theaters . for example , he must contend with the middle east peace process and counter proliferation around the world , but most especially in iran and north korea . i worry that increasing the span of control of the national security adviser could dilute the homeland security mission and make it just one more item on a list already overburdened . that said , i wish to be clear . we should judge any reorganization by the substance and criteria that i have suggested above . we must be careful not to assume that a merger means the president cares less about homeland security . we must resist this easy organizational chart test and look to the substance of how responsibilities are allocated and how we are being protected . let me suggest three questions the administration should ask before deciding on a new white house structure : ( 1 ) is there one person responsible and accountable to the president who looks around the world at threats and advises the president ? ( 2 ) does this one person have direct and immediate access to the president ? and ( 3 ) does this person have adequate staff to fulfill his or her responsibilities ? these are the questions that we should be asking and the criteria against which we should judge the effort . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of frances townsend . | townsend : homeland adviser needs direct access to the president |
bangui <tsp> bangui , central african republic ( cnn ) -- in two days i will leave the central african republic ( car ) , concluding a four-month assignment here for the u.n . refugee agency . but today , instead of packing , i 'm assisting with the relocation of 1,259 people facing death threats in the pk12 neighborhood of bangui , the capital city . i arrived here on new year 's day for an emergency humanitarian mission and quickly became a witness to the formation of enclaves like this one , where residents fear for their lives . since december , nearly one million people in car have fled their homes amid brutal attacks and reprisals by warring factions -- chiefly the seleka and anti-balaka militias . more than half the country 's 4.6 million people are now in need of humanitarian help . but few are in graver danger than the people trapped in numerous neighborhoods like pk12 . i first visited one of these enclaves in late january , when i travelled to bozoum in the country 's northwest . passing through misca peacekeepers , i entered a corner of the town where several thousand people had sought refuge . their fear was palpable . i could see it in their eyes , in their posture and most of all in their alertness to everything happening around them . in pk12 i hear similar stories of people displaced from their homes and then trapped during their flight to safety . the humanitarian community is aware of 15 places where entire communities are currently at risk , though their numbers and locations are in continuous flux . some have been evacuated , as with bozoum . some have fled on their own , taking enormous risks in becoming refugees in neighboring countries . and some have fled into the bush , like the people from boboua , midway between the capital and bozoum . when i met them in mid-february , they were in a desperate state , fearing for their lives after a month in the bush . still others , as in boda , west of bangui , have become imprisoned in their own homes . each of these besieged communities faces distinct circumstances , and holds its own views . the people in boda want to stay in boda , where many of them were born and raised . but they also demand freedom of movement : the right to go outside their neighborhood , a small area that would fill only a few city blocks . they 're not just seeking a sense of normalcy and human dignity -- this is about pure survival . a couple weeks ago , anti-balaka fighters killed two women from boda when they went beyond the bounds of their neighborhood to gather food in a nearby forest . some members of the boboua community have returned , while others have fled to different enclaves . a fragile agreement there allows for coexistence , but there is a constant threat of outside interference from anti-balaka groups in neighboring villages . but despite the harrowing conditions in boda , there is also reason for hope . vulnerable members of the boda community -- as well as those who have not been targeted but are also living under a constant threat of the anti-balaka and have been displaced from their homes -- are trying to neutralize a minority of spoilers to open up room for discussions . but hope is harder to find in other enclaves , each of which has its own dynamics and characteristics . the humanitarian community looks at each situation separately , and for months we have been fervently trying to identify the best way to protect these individuals'fundamental rights to physical security and to provide the means for their basic survival . the international forces have been critical , but we have also been grappling with a steadily ticking clock and the stark reality that people can only survive so long in such conditions , both physically and psychologically . we also need to defer to the views of the community . in the case of pk12 this past weekend , people were demanding assistance to safely leave for more peaceful parts of the country . as i interact with members of the community , many of them frighteningly frail , i ask myself : did we wait too long in accepting relocation , a measure of last resort ? and i wonder : will they ever be able to return to their former homes in and around bangui ? right after the convoy departs , belligerents pillage the mosque in pk12 , underscoring the enormous challenges for future returns . but even more revealing , perhaps , is an exchange with three young children . as they follow me after leaving one of the trucks , i encourage them to return to their mothers . they respond , madame , we are central africans , not muslims . ' | mayor of capital city bangui is now interim president , but situation remains tense |
central african republic <tsp> bangui , central african republic ( cnn ) -- in two days i will leave the central african republic ( car ) , concluding a four-month assignment here for the u.n . refugee agency . but today , instead of packing , i 'm assisting with the relocation of 1,259 people facing death threats in the pk12 neighborhood of bangui , the capital city . i arrived here on new year 's day for an emergency humanitarian mission and quickly became a witness to the formation of enclaves like this one , where residents fear for their lives . since december , nearly one million people in car have fled their homes amid brutal attacks and reprisals by warring factions -- chiefly the seleka and anti-balaka militias . more than half the country 's 4.6 million people are now in need of humanitarian help . but few are in graver danger than the people trapped in numerous neighborhoods like pk12 . i first visited one of these enclaves in late january , when i travelled to bozoum in the country 's northwest . passing through misca peacekeepers , i entered a corner of the town where several thousand people had sought refuge . their fear was palpable . i could see it in their eyes , in their posture and most of all in their alertness to everything happening around them . in pk12 i hear similar stories of people displaced from their homes and then trapped during their flight to safety . the humanitarian community is aware of 15 places where entire communities are currently at risk , though their numbers and locations are in continuous flux . some have been evacuated , as with bozoum . some have fled on their own , taking enormous risks in becoming refugees in neighboring countries . and some have fled into the bush , like the people from boboua , midway between the capital and bozoum . when i met them in mid-february , they were in a desperate state , fearing for their lives after a month in the bush . still others , as in boda , west of bangui , have become imprisoned in their own homes . each of these besieged communities faces distinct circumstances , and holds its own views . the people in boda want to stay in boda , where many of them were born and raised . but they also demand freedom of movement : the right to go outside their neighborhood , a small area that would fill only a few city blocks . they 're not just seeking a sense of normalcy and human dignity -- this is about pure survival . a couple weeks ago , anti-balaka fighters killed two women from boda when they went beyond the bounds of their neighborhood to gather food in a nearby forest . some members of the boboua community have returned , while others have fled to different enclaves . a fragile agreement there allows for coexistence , but there is a constant threat of outside interference from anti-balaka groups in neighboring villages . but despite the harrowing conditions in boda , there is also reason for hope . vulnerable members of the boda community -- as well as those who have not been targeted but are also living under a constant threat of the anti-balaka and have been displaced from their homes -- are trying to neutralize a minority of spoilers to open up room for discussions . but hope is harder to find in other enclaves , each of which has its own dynamics and characteristics . the humanitarian community looks at each situation separately , and for months we have been fervently trying to identify the best way to protect these individuals'fundamental rights to physical security and to provide the means for their basic survival . the international forces have been critical , but we have also been grappling with a steadily ticking clock and the stark reality that people can only survive so long in such conditions , both physically and psychologically . we also need to defer to the views of the community . in the case of pk12 this past weekend , people were demanding assistance to safely leave for more peaceful parts of the country . as i interact with members of the community , many of them frighteningly frail , i ask myself : did we wait too long in accepting relocation , a measure of last resort ? and i wonder : will they ever be able to return to their former homes in and around bangui ? right after the convoy departs , belligerents pillage the mosque in pk12 , underscoring the enormous challenges for future returns . but even more revealing , perhaps , is an exchange with three young children . as they follow me after leaving one of the trucks , i encourage them to return to their mothers . they respond , madame , we are central africans , not muslims . ' | one million people in central african republic have fled their homes to avoid ethnic violence |
egypt <tsp> ( cnn ) -- egypt kept their world cup hopes alive as the only goal of the game by ahmed hassan gave them a 1-0 win over rwanda in kigali . star midfielder ahmed hassan scored the vital goal for egypt in kigali . he scored from an ahmed fathi pass after 58 minutes to lift them level on points at the top with algeria in african qualifying group c. but algeria , who host zambia on sunday , can re-open a three point lead with victory . only the top team in each of the five african groups qualifies for the finals in south africa next year , with the top three qualifying for the 2010 nations cup in angola . south africa , who have won the nations cup a record six times , have a poor record in world cup qualifying and have only made two appearances in the final . saturday 's win was vital as they completed the double over rwanda , having beaten them 3-0 in cairo two months ago . substitute chiukepo msowoya scored twice after coming on at half-time as malawi came from behind to defeat guinea 2-1 in a group e game between world cup also-rans . oumar kalabane put the west africans ahead seven minutes before half-time at the kamuzu stadium in blantyre , msowoya leveled a minute after half-time and snatched the 58th-minute winner . african powerhouses cameroon also scored a much-need qualification win as they beat gabon 2-0 in libreville in group a. achille emana and inter milan 's samuel eto'o scored in quick succession in the second half as the'indomitable lions'climbed to second in the group , two points behind gabon . cameroon entertain gabon in yaounde on wednesday , looking for a victory which would further boost their chances of going to south africa . eto'o was scoring his seventh goal of the qualifying campaign to seal the victory . ivory coast kept their iron grip on group e as two goals from chelsea striker didier drogba saw them beat second-placed burkina faso 5-0 . the star-studded ivory coast team need just a single point to make sure they qualify for south africa and they were never troubled by the visitors in abidjan . drogba took his tally to 38 international goals with his second half double . kader keita and yaya toure also scored after the elephants had taken the lead in the 12th minute when saidou panandetiguiri scored an own-goal . in the other match in group e , chiukepo msowoya scored twice as malawi beat guinea 2-1 in group e . | egypt score vital 1-0 win over rwanda in kigali to keep world cup hopes alive |
egypt <tsp> ( cnn ) -- egypt kept their world cup hopes alive as the only goal of the game by ahmed hassan gave them a 1-0 win over rwanda in kigali . star midfielder ahmed hassan scored the vital goal for egypt in kigali . he scored from an ahmed fathi pass after 58 minutes to lift them level on points at the top with algeria in african qualifying group c. but algeria , who host zambia on sunday , can re-open a three point lead with victory . only the top team in each of the five african groups qualifies for the finals in south africa next year , with the top three qualifying for the 2010 nations cup in angola . south africa , who have won the nations cup a record six times , have a poor record in world cup qualifying and have only made two appearances in the final . saturday 's win was vital as they completed the double over rwanda , having beaten them 3-0 in cairo two months ago . substitute chiukepo msowoya scored twice after coming on at half-time as malawi came from behind to defeat guinea 2-1 in a group e game between world cup also-rans . oumar kalabane put the west africans ahead seven minutes before half-time at the kamuzu stadium in blantyre , msowoya leveled a minute after half-time and snatched the 58th-minute winner . african powerhouses cameroon also scored a much-need qualification win as they beat gabon 2-0 in libreville in group a. achille emana and inter milan 's samuel eto'o scored in quick succession in the second half as the'indomitable lions'climbed to second in the group , two points behind gabon . cameroon entertain gabon in yaounde on wednesday , looking for a victory which would further boost their chances of going to south africa . eto'o was scoring his seventh goal of the qualifying campaign to seal the victory . ivory coast kept their iron grip on group e as two goals from chelsea striker didier drogba saw them beat second-placed burkina faso 5-0 . the star-studded ivory coast team need just a single point to make sure they qualify for south africa and they were never troubled by the visitors in abidjan . drogba took his tally to 38 international goals with his second half double . kader keita and yaya toure also scored after the elephants had taken the lead in the 12th minute when saidou panandetiguiri scored an own-goal . in the other match in group e , chiukepo msowoya scored twice as malawi beat guinea 2-1 in group e . | veteran midfielder ahmed hassan scores only goal of the game for egypt |
nicolas almagro <tsp> ( cnn ) -- few people like monday mornings and for world no . 1 novak djokovic , his latest in melbourne very nearly signalled the end of his quest to win a third consecutive australian open title . the serbian survived an epic fourth round encounter with stanislas wawrinka that stretched beyond 1.30am local time , eventually wrapping up a monumental 1-6 7-5 6-4 6-7 12-10 victory . djokovic ripped his shirt off to celebrate a triumph that had looked in serious doubt for nearly five exhausting hours , while his swiss opponent departed from the court on the verge of tears . it keeps alive the 25-year-old 's hopes of becoming the first man in the open era post 1968 to record a successive hat-trick of titles in melbourne , in a match that had echoes of his 2012 final win over rafael nadal . it 's hard to find the words , ' a drained djokovic said in an on court interview . he deserved , equally , to be a winner of this match . i give him a lot of credit and respect . he was the aggressive player on the court , i was just trying to hang in there . it 's midway through the tournament but it feels like a final to me . this means a lot to me , and to him . incredible that so many people stayed until nearly two in the morning . it brings back the memories of 12 months ago with rafa . ' wawrinka gave notice of his intent by wrapping up the first set 6-1 in just 25 minutes before normal order was resumed as djokovic regained his composure to push into a 2-1 lead . but wawrinka battled hard and ensured a deciding set when he took his third set point as the fourth went into a tiebreak . after swapping breaks early in the fifth set , both men repeatedly retained their serve as the epic match pushed into the early hours of monday morning . djokovic held to move into an 11-10 lead and then carved out two match points in the 22nd game of the decider . wawrinka saved two but it proved third time lucky for djokovic as his passing shot ended the match in front of an exhilarated crowd . djokovic will now face tomas berdych in the quarterfinal after the czech fifth seed coolly disposed of south african kevin anderson 6-3 6-2 7-6 . elsewhere , spain 's fourth seed david ferrer cruised past japan 's no . 17 seed kei nishikori with a 6-1 6-2 6-4 win to set up a clash with fellow countryman nicolas almagro . he progressed after opponent janko tipsarevic retired in the second set . in the women 's draw , second seed maria sharapova relinquished just one game as she raced to an emphatic 6-1 6-0 victory over unseeded belgian kirsten flipkens . the russian has dropped just five games in her four matches in melbourne -- an australian open record -- and says she is loving her tennis at the start of the 2013 season . i love competing , ' she told the australian open 's official website . there 's nothing in the world that gives you that adrenalin feel , just being in the moment of a match . there 's nothing that i 've done in my life that has given me that experience . it takes a lot to get to that moment , a feeling , whether it 's pressure or nerves , excitement , it 's a combination of those things , but that feeling , and getting through it and winning , beating your opponent , as an athlete . ' sharapova wrapped up the second set in just 25 minutes to set up an all-russian quarterfinal against ekaterina makarova , the no . 19 seed , who knocked out fifth seed angelique kerber 7-5 6-4 . kerber , from germany , suffered with a back injury during the match helping makarova to reach the last eight for the second time in succession in melbourne . fourth seed agnieszka radwanska , from poland , defeated 2008 french open champion ana ivanovic , from serbia , 6-2 6-4 . she will now face china 's li na in the last eight after the 2011 french open champion beat german 18th seed julia goerges 7-6 6-1 . | david ferrer , nicolas almagro and tomas berdych all through to quarterfinals |
swedish <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the winner of the nobel prize in economics will be announced monday in stockholm , sweden . the prize in economic sciences in memory of alfred nobel is awarded annually by the royal swedish academy of sciences and is worth 10 million swedish kronor , or about about $ 1.47 million . the 2010 prize was awarded jointly to peter a. diamond of mit , dale t. mortensen of northwestern university and christopher a. pissarides of the london school of economics and political science for their analysis of markets with search frictions . ' the three received the prize for research on how economic policy affects the job market . their theories help us understand the ways in which unemployment , job vacancies and wages are affected by regulation and economic policy , ' the academy said . the three economists'research focused on so-called frictions , ' or impediments to trade , such as misinformation , cost of transportation or the disparity between companies'and employees'needs . the royal swedish academy of sciences said that diamond , mortensen and pissarides focused on how these frictions apply to unemployment , by focusing on the disconnect between employers and the unemployed . part of the study examines why unemployment remains high when there are workers available to fill the job openings . nobel prizes for peace , literature , chemistry , physics and physiology or medicine were awarded last week . the nobel peace prize was awarded to three women , ellen johnson sirleaf and leymah gbowee of liberia and tawakkul karman of yemen , on friday for their nonviolent struggle for the safety of women and for women 's rights to full participation in peace-building work , ' the committee said . swedish poet tomas transtromer won the nobel prize in literature on thursday . the swedish academy said it gave the award to transtromer because , through his condensed , translucent images , he gives us fresh access to reality . ' on wednesday , the prize in chemistry was awarded to israeli scientist daniel shechtman . shechtman is a professor at the technion-israel institute of technology and is known for his discovery of quasicrystals . on tuesday , the royal swedish academy of sciences named saul perlmutter from lawrence berkeley national laboratory and the university of california , berkeley ; brian p. schmidt of australian national university and adam g. riess of johns hopkins university and the space telescope science institute , the winners of the 2011 nobel prize in physics . they made the discovery that our universe apparently is expanding at an accelerating rate some 14 billion years after the big bang . on october 3 , the nobel committee named ralph steinman , a biologist with rockefeller university , and scientists bruce a. beutler and jules a. hoffmann , the winners of the 2011 nobel prize in physiology or medicine . the nobel prize for economic sciences has been awarded every year since 1969 , when it was established by sweden 's central bank . the youngest laureate in economic sciences is kenneth j. arrow , who was 51 years old when he was awarded in 1972 . the oldest winner is leonid hurwicz , who was 90 years old when he was awarded in 2007 . he is also the oldest laureate to be awarded the nobel prize in all areas . | it is worth 10 million swedish kronor , or about about $ 1.47 million |
california <tsp> with 100 % of precincts reporting results , cnn can report that the mississippi republican senate primary is headed for a june 24 runoff . sen. thad cochran and chris mcdaniel will battle again after both candidates fell short of the 50 % threshold needed to avoid another contest . the race is a high-profile tea party vs. establishment showdown . for tea party supporters , it 's perhaps their best chance to claim victory after facing a string of defeats this year . tuesday marked the biggest single day of primary voting in 2014 , with contests in eight states . in iowa , the winner of that high-profile gop senate primary had rare support from both sides of the battle between conservatives and the establishment . if republicans can flip the hawkeye state and five other democratic-held seats , they will regain control of the senate . and california used its new jungle ' primary system for the first time in a gubernatorial race . that 's where the top two finishers advance to the november election , regardless of party affiliation . with democratic gov . jerry brown the overwhelming favorite , the race was for second place , and a moderate republican edged out a tea party-backed conservative state lawmaker . top takeaways from tuesday 's primaries mississippi at 76 , cochran is the second-oldest senate incumbent running for re-election . mcdaniel , a state senator , ran on a platform of change , saying cochran , who has served in congress for four decades , has been in washington long enough . we do n't have six more years of the status quo , ' he recently told cnn . i am not going to washington , d.c. , to be a member of the cocktail circuit or to make backroom deals . i 'm going up there to fight and defend the constitution . ' cochran and mcdaniel were separated by fewer than 1,400 votes with mcdaniel slightly ahead , 49.5 % to 49 % , according to numbers compiled by the associated press . a third republican candidate in the primary race , thomas carey , grabbed 1.5 % of the vote . so what happens next ? the two candidates have a little under three weeks before they go head to head again . runoffs usually have lower turnout and tend to favor challengers . money will be key as both dig deeper into their campaign war chests and rely on outside help from independent groups . mcdaniel 's campaign was already asking for more cash wednesday . i 'm going to be brutally honest with you : our campaign is pretty low on money and there 's no way we can win if conservatives from around mississippi and america do n't stand up and make sure we have the resources we need to win , ' he said in an email blast . freedomworks , a national tea party group that backed mcdaniel , pledged to double down ' on its efforts to make sure he wins . another conservative group , club for growth , even called on cochran to drop out , but vowed to vigorously pursue this race ' in support of mcdaniel no matter what . cochran supporters also say they 're ready for another round . henry barbour , who runs the pro-cochran pac mississippi conservatives , told cnn 's dana bash that they 're going to get up and rethink ' their message . really organize from the ground up , ' he added . barbour said complacency ' among cochran voters hurt us ' and he thinks they got outshouted . ' his group dished out six figures to support cochran , who was also backed by the u.s. chamber of commerce , which represents the interests of business . the chamber put out a statement in support of cochran on wednesday , but declined to specify if it will go up with another ad buy . another leading outside group that tends to support establishment candidates , american crossroads , said it would stay out of any runoff . stuart stevens , a cochran adviser and former adviser to mitt romney , told bash that three weeks allows more time to scrutinize mcdaniel 's record and ask tough questions . the winner will face off against former rep. travis childers , who cnn projects will be the democratic nominee , in november . nasty senate race digs deeper in the mud iowa state sen. joni ernst did n't have to take sides in the battle between grass-roots conservatives and the republican establishment : she had the backing of both , and she easily came out on top in a crowded primary race . ernst , a lieutenant colonel in the iowa national guard who grabbed national attention by touting her hog castrating skills in a campaign commercial , had the support of some top names and groups among both the tea party movement and the mainstream gop . at her victory party tuesday night , ernst acknowledged and thanked her gop competitors . it is going to take all of us pulling together to unite this party and win in november , ' she said . the race was originally a free-for-all between four major gop candidates , but in the closing weeks of the campaign , ernst pulled ahead of her rivals . the big question going into primary day was whether she would top 35 % . if no candidate passed that threshold , the nomination would have been decided a week later by delegates at the iowa gop convention . but in the end , ernst won in a landslide . ernst will face off against democratic rep. bruce braley , who had no opposition for his party 's nomination . the winner of november 's general election will succeed longtime democratic sen. tom harkin , who is retiring at the end of the year . republicans believe they have a good shot at flipping harkin 's seat . big-name republicans from both the establishment and conservative wings of the party , like mitt romney , marco rubio and sarah palin , joined ernst on the trail . she also grabbed support from the chamber of commerce and the national rifle association as well groups like the senate conservatives fund , which often backs like-minded candidates who launch primary challenges against incumbent republican senators . midterms : what 's at stake california gubernatorial race brown and republican neel kashkari finished in first and second place , respectively , and will advance to the general election . brown 's first-place finish was never in doubt . kashkari and fellow republican tim donnelly were vying for the second spot . some gop strategists said they were concerned that if donnelly , a conservative with tea party backing , had won , it could have hurt republican candidates come november in down-ballot races in a state where the general election electorate is much more moderate . kashkari , a moderate , was a treasury department official under president george w. bush . one time anti-war protester cindy sheehan was also on the ballot , the nominee of the peace and freedom party , a socialist party . she grabbed about 1 % of the vote . sheehan became the face of the anti-iraq war movement in 2005 when she protested for weeks outside bush 's ranch in crawford , texas , after her son casey was killed in combat . 2014 midterms : what 's at stake | california uses new jungle ' primary system for first time in a gubernatorial race |
sharapova <tsp> ( cnn ) -- three-time major winner maria sharapova has been forced to withdraw from january 's brisbane international event because of an ankle injury . the 24-year-old russian suffered the injury in september 's pan pacific open , and she has failed to shake off the problem . sharapova released a statement saying : i was really looking forward to starting my 2012 season at the brisbane international , which has a fantastic reputation as a great and welcoming event . venus may miss australian open ' unfortunately my ankle is not 100 % and i wo n't be able to make it this year . ' however , sharapova still believes she will be fit for the australian open , which gets underway in melbourne on january 16 . i do expect to be ready for the year 's first grand slam and i am really looking forward to competing on court , ' added sharapova , who won the australian open in 2008 . despite sharapova 's absence , the brisbane tournament -- which begins on new year 's day -- still has a strong entry list with serena williams , samantha stosur and kim clijsters all confirmed starters . | three-time major winner sharapova is suffering from an ankle injury |
sharapova <tsp> ( cnn ) -- three-time major winner maria sharapova has been forced to withdraw from january 's brisbane international event because of an ankle injury . the 24-year-old russian suffered the injury in september 's pan pacific open , and she has failed to shake off the problem . sharapova released a statement saying : i was really looking forward to starting my 2012 season at the brisbane international , which has a fantastic reputation as a great and welcoming event . venus may miss australian open ' unfortunately my ankle is not 100 % and i wo n't be able to make it this year . ' however , sharapova still believes she will be fit for the australian open , which gets underway in melbourne on january 16 . i do expect to be ready for the year 's first grand slam and i am really looking forward to competing on court , ' added sharapova , who won the australian open in 2008 . despite sharapova 's absence , the brisbane tournament -- which begins on new year 's day -- still has a strong entry list with serena williams , samantha stosur and kim clijsters all confirmed starters . | maria sharapova has pulled out of january 's brisbane international tournament |
ogbo <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a man angered ' by manchester united 's defeat to barcelona in the final of the champions league killed four people when he drove a minibus into a crowd celebrating the spanish side 's victory , police in nigeria have told cnn . barcelona fans celebrate in the city 's las ramblas thoroughfare early thursday morning . ten people were also injured in the incident in the town of ogbo , where the driver was subsequently arrested , a port harcourt police spokesperson said . he was displaying his anger at his team losing the match . the driver had passed the crowd then made a u-turn and ran into them , ' spokesperson rita inomey-abbey said . both manchester united and barcelona have a large fan base across the african continent , with millions tuning in to watch european football on a weekly basis . meanwhile , more than 100 people were arrested in barcelona city center in the early hours of thursday morning following the catalan team 's 2-0 victory in rome in the final of europe 's top club competition . police arrested 119 young people after violence flared at a special celebration party in place de catalunya near the las ramblas thoroughfare , while 238 people suffered minor injuries . city officials estimated the damage at up to 100,000 euros ( $ 140,000 ) as the youths attacked police with bottles and damaged shops , parks and public utilities such as lamp-posts . the trouble took some of the gloss off the achievement of barcelona , who became the first team to win the champions league , spanish league and spanish cup titles in one season . manager josep guardiola led the club to glory in his first season in charge , ending a period of three years without a trophy . | man was arrested after incident that took place in the town of ogbo |
mukasey <tsp> ( cnn ) -- after weeks of controversy over michael mukasey 's views on waterboarding , the senate late thursday approved the former judge 's nomination for attorney general by a 53-40 vote . waterboarding threatened to derail the approval of president bush 's nominee to lead the justice department . president bush nominated mukasey to replace longtime ally alberto gonzales , who resigned in september . the nomination had been considered at risk after a number of democratic senators opposed mukasey because of questions that arose from his views on the terror interrogation technique known as waterboarding and the president 's power to order electronic surveillance . mukasey , a former federal judge in new york , told senators he considers waterboarding repugnant , ' but he could not categorically say whether the technique amounts to torture , which u.s. and international law bans . waterboarding is a technique that involves restraining a suspect and pouring water on him to produce the sensation of drowning . mukasey 's confirmation was all but assured last week when two key democrats on the senate judiciary committee -- sens . dianne feinstein of california and chuck schumer of new york -- said they would vote in favor of mukasey despite the controversy . the department of justice , once the crown jewel among government institutions , is adrift and rudderless , ' schumer said tuesday -- the same day the committee voted 11-8 to send mukasey 's nomination to the senate floor . it desperately needs a strong and independent leader at the helm to set it back on course and i believe judge mukasey is that person . ' schumer said that in a meeting friday the nominee said that congress would be within its rights to pass a law that bans waterboarding across all government agencies and that the president would have absolutely no legal authority to ignore ' it . schumer said he believed mukasey would be more likely to find waterboarding illegal than an interim attorney general . indeed , his written answers to our notices have demonstrated more openness to ending the practices we abhor than either of this president 's previous attorney general nominees have . ' but mukasey 's pledge to enforce such a law rang hollow with sen. patrick leahy , d-vermont , the judiciary committee 's chairman . some have sought to find comfort in judge mukasey 's personal assurance that he would enforce a future , new law against waterboarding if this congress were to pass one , ' leahy said tuesday . unsaid , of course , is the fact that any such prohibition would have to be enacted over the veto of this president . ' however , the committee 's ranking republican , sen. arlen specter of pennsylvania , said he believed mukasey would enforce a law banning waterboarding . he could have said a lot of things which would have given me more assurances , ' specter said earlier . but he is intelligent ; he 's really learned in the law . he 's strong , ethical , honest beyond any question . he 's not an intimate of the president . ' a majority of americans consider waterboarding a form of torture , but some of those say it 's ok for the u.s. government to use the technique , according to a poll released tuesday . asked whether they think waterboarding is a form of torture , more than two-thirds of respondents , or 69 percent , said yes ; 29 percent said no . asked whether they think the u.s. government should be allowed to use the procedure to try to get information from suspected terrorists , 58 percent said no ; 40 percent said yes . the cnn/opinion research corp. telephone poll of 1,024 american adults was carried out over the weekend and had a sampling error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points . e-mail to a friend | mukasey is a former federal chief judge in new york |
mukasey <tsp> ( cnn ) -- after weeks of controversy over michael mukasey 's views on waterboarding , the senate late thursday approved the former judge 's nomination for attorney general by a 53-40 vote . waterboarding threatened to derail the approval of president bush 's nominee to lead the justice department . president bush nominated mukasey to replace longtime ally alberto gonzales , who resigned in september . the nomination had been considered at risk after a number of democratic senators opposed mukasey because of questions that arose from his views on the terror interrogation technique known as waterboarding and the president 's power to order electronic surveillance . mukasey , a former federal judge in new york , told senators he considers waterboarding repugnant , ' but he could not categorically say whether the technique amounts to torture , which u.s. and international law bans . waterboarding is a technique that involves restraining a suspect and pouring water on him to produce the sensation of drowning . mukasey 's confirmation was all but assured last week when two key democrats on the senate judiciary committee -- sens . dianne feinstein of california and chuck schumer of new york -- said they would vote in favor of mukasey despite the controversy . the department of justice , once the crown jewel among government institutions , is adrift and rudderless , ' schumer said tuesday -- the same day the committee voted 11-8 to send mukasey 's nomination to the senate floor . it desperately needs a strong and independent leader at the helm to set it back on course and i believe judge mukasey is that person . ' schumer said that in a meeting friday the nominee said that congress would be within its rights to pass a law that bans waterboarding across all government agencies and that the president would have absolutely no legal authority to ignore ' it . schumer said he believed mukasey would be more likely to find waterboarding illegal than an interim attorney general . indeed , his written answers to our notices have demonstrated more openness to ending the practices we abhor than either of this president 's previous attorney general nominees have . ' but mukasey 's pledge to enforce such a law rang hollow with sen. patrick leahy , d-vermont , the judiciary committee 's chairman . some have sought to find comfort in judge mukasey 's personal assurance that he would enforce a future , new law against waterboarding if this congress were to pass one , ' leahy said tuesday . unsaid , of course , is the fact that any such prohibition would have to be enacted over the veto of this president . ' however , the committee 's ranking republican , sen. arlen specter of pennsylvania , said he believed mukasey would enforce a law banning waterboarding . he could have said a lot of things which would have given me more assurances , ' specter said earlier . but he is intelligent ; he 's really learned in the law . he 's strong , ethical , honest beyond any question . he 's not an intimate of the president . ' a majority of americans consider waterboarding a form of torture , but some of those say it 's ok for the u.s. government to use the technique , according to a poll released tuesday . asked whether they think waterboarding is a form of torture , more than two-thirds of respondents , or 69 percent , said yes ; 29 percent said no . asked whether they think the u.s. government should be allowed to use the procedure to try to get information from suspected terrorists , 58 percent said no ; 40 percent said yes . the cnn/opinion research corp. telephone poll of 1,024 american adults was carried out over the weekend and had a sampling error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points . e-mail to a friend | president bush nominated mukasey to replace alberto gonzales |
nazi <tsp> ( cnn ) -- russian singer evgeny nikitin has pulled out of one of the world 's best-known opera events , the bayreuth festival in germany , because he has a nazi tattoo , organizers said sunday . nikitin was in a heavy metal band as a young man , and got the swastika tattoo then , said festival spokesman gunther philipowski . that is a problem in bayreuth , ' philipowski said . bayreuth has a bad history with the nazis . it 's clear that bayreuth has to be careful about this terrible part of history and has to take a position against it . ' the festival is dedicated to the works of richard wagner , one of nazi dictator adolf hitler 's favorite composers . hitler attended the bayreuth festival regularly , according to the holocaust encyclopedia , which describes wagner as an artist long associated with anti-semitism ' and the racist-nationalist volkisch tradition from which the nazis drew much of their ideology . ' nikitin , 38 , a bass-baritone , has painted over ' his nazi tattoo , and it would not have been visible during his performance in the flying dutchman , ' philipowski said . but there are videos of him online where the tattoo is visible , he said . i had the tattoos made when i was young . it was a big mistake in my life and i wish i had never done it , ' nikitin said in a statement released by the festival . nikitin canceled his appearance after discussions with bayreuth management , the spokesman said . he had already been in germany rehearsing for his premiere on wednesday , philipowski said . nikitin 's agent did not immediately respond to cnn questions about the cancellation . his website still lists him as appearing in the flying dutchman ' at the festival this summer . the festival website does not list him in the cast . | he got a nazi swastika tattoo as a young man in a heavy metal band , the festival says |
newtown <tsp> for many families this holiday season , video games will come wrapped in colorful paper , ribbons and bows -- and lots of questions . inevitably , in the wake of the tragic school shootings in newtown , connecticut , video games have become part of the national conversation about the roots of violence . to be sure , any role they may have played in newtown remains unclear . police have said nothing about them , and scattered news reports have gunman adam lanza playing games ranging from the military strategy starcraft ' to kid-friendly dance dance revolution , ' neither of which rank among the more violent titles on the market . and while violent video-game controversies date back to the 1970s , studies into whether games cause violent behavior have been inconclusive . for many gamers , it 's an old and tired debate . but after the newtown shootings , which claimed the lives of 20 children and seven adults -- including lanza 's mother -- some shoppers are weighing whether it 's appropriate to give certain video games to children or young teens this holiday season . cnn reached out to ireporters and commenters on the site for their thoughts on the issue . i have two boys , age 9 , that want'call of duty ,' said a cnn commenter using the screen name goldeneagle78 , referring to the popular military-shooter game series . they will not be getting it , or any other game that is rated above their age level . ' reader crysty harper of maricopa , arizona , said she understands that millions play games with no ill effect , but that for the mentally unstable , these fantasy scenarios are fueling the violence , and being re-enacted in real life . ' the entertainment software rating board created a ratings system for video games similar to the classification used in movies , such as pg-13 and r. call of duty : black ops 2 , ' like many other games depicting violence , adult language or sexual content , is rated m for mature , ' or suggested for players 17 and older . some readers lumped video games in with other media that depict violence . if they want to ban guns , why not ban them in movies , television and video games ? ' asked reader bill smells in an ireport article inviting ideas for halting mass shootings . why do we allow the media and entertainment industries to glorify weapons and killings ? if we 're going to start regulating and banning weapons , why not start by aggressively banning and preventing the abuse of weapons in media ? ' smells added . why do we allow our children and young adults to buy video games that put them in the position of being rewarded for shooting and killing other players ? ' commenters repeatedly mentioned the entertainment software rating board 's system , saying parents should be as responsible about games their children play as they are about the movies they allow them to see . david kaelin , president of texas-based video game chain game over , said part of the confusion around the issue is because some parents and other adults only deal with video games once a year , around christmas . kaelin said he tries to help uninformed parents get the information they need , including ratings , before choosing gifts . but ultimately , he said , parents are responsible for keeping an eye on their kids . i have two young kids myself , ' kaelin said . for any parent to be able to be involved in whatever your kid 's doing , you need to be ( educated ) . you need to know what those things are . ' kaelin said he does n't believe games are responsible for societal violence . but he said he thinks the way kids play them can tell parents a lot about possible problems , especially when a child is spending a lot of time alone on the computer . go into their room and see what they 're doing and what they 're into , ' kaelin said . being an active and involved parent is being a good parent . ' that 's a view echoed by many others . i would not consider buying my child a first-person shooter game , ' wrote a reader using the handle dxp2718 . my kids , admittedly , are too young to play video games like that , but they could play with toy guns , swords or soldiers if i let them have them -- and i would n't even think of it . not hurting others is lesson # 1 . it comes before reading , writing , counting or anything else . ' antwand pearman , ceo of gaming and health company gamer fit nation , said he does n't believe games are to blame . but he started a movement , including a hashtag on twitter , urging people to give up playing first-person shooter games on friday , december 21 , as a show of sympathy and understanding for the newtown victims . it 's not to say that video games are to blame . it 's more to show that we as gamers give a damn , ' pearman said . video games are more so a reflection of real life . gaming is an outlet , just like movies and music . ' cnn commenter sean s. said he hopes people will look deeper for answers . he said parents have the most responsibility to teach their kids , especially since they are often the ones buying the games and they cost so much . people blame the video games because it is easier than blaming themselves , but the fact is millions of kids around this country and around the world play the same violent and destructive video games , and yet only a very select few have made the choice to take that violence and killing from the game and bring it into real life , ' he said . what do you think ? share your views in the comments area below or post video commentary on cnn ireport . | newtown shootings prompted conversation , though no gaming link has been found |
monsters vs. aliens <tsp> ( cnn ) -- watch out ! lock up your loved ones ! another bloated , over-produced , high-concept monstrosity has escaped from the labs at dreamworks animation , and it 's out to devour your kids . susan , aka ginormica , ' has to save the world in monsters vs . aliens . ' but do n't be too alarmed . monsters vs. aliens ' is relatively harmless -- a toothless satire with a knee-jerk feminist theme and a sorry excuse for a plot . that sounds harsh , i know . who does n't want to see a 50-foot woman careening through san francisco on skates that turn out to be automobiles -- the ultimate demolition roller derby ? but think about that , just for a second . roller skates work because they have fixed wheels . try it with motorcars and you wo n't get very far . is that too picky ? perhaps , but you would n't find pixar playing so fast and loose with the laws of physics , and that kind of inattention to detail is typical of the lackadaisical storytelling here and in other dreamworks animated features . ( the talent pool for this one includes the directors of shrek 2 ' and shark tale ' and the writers of kung fu panda ' and the rocker , ' incidentally . ) high concepts , top-notch voice talent and scattershot pop cultural references are no compensation for a coherent script . the xxxl lady in question -- dubbed ginormica ' by her u.s. military guards -- starts out plain and petite susan murphy ( voiced by reese witherspoon ) , until a meteorite hits her just minutes before she 's supposed to tie the knot with unctuous chauvinist derek ( paul rudd ) . her rapid growth spurt saves her from that particular fate worse than death , even if at first glance her new roommates do n't look like much of an improvement . there 's dr. cockroach ( hugh laurie ) , a mad scientist who semi-advertently mutated with a bug ; b.o.b . ( seth rogen ) an amorphous blue jelly-like blob who gets on just fine without a brain ; missing link ( will arnett ) , a gung-ho amphibian who 's all mouth ; and a giant dust mite called insectosaurus who is n't voiced by anyone because he does n't have anything to say . sci-fi fans will have fun counting off the references to myriad classics -- close encounters of the third kind , ' invaders from mars , ' the fly , ' the creature from the black lagoon , ' the blob , ' mothra ' and attack of the 50-foot woman , ' for starters -- and noting a few clever bits and pieces ( kiefer sutherland , as general w.r. monger , riffs on george c. scott in dr. strangelove ' ) . the trouble is , once the introductions are over , the filmmakers can only launch their desperately limp plot : the white house turns to these monstrous superheroes to save the planet from evil gallaxhar ( rainn wilson ) , a squidlike creature with four eyes and twice as many legs , and a one-eyed tin robot to do his dirty work for him . ginormica gets a kick-butt finale , and is a much stronger character -- in any number of ways -- than the movie 's president . ( in a genuinely witty casting touch he 's voiced by stephen colbert . ) that may be good politics or at least a sound marketing decision from the studio 's perspective -- it 's been awhile since a family animated feature produced a genuinely strong female character ( unless you count coraline , ' which was way too scary for my family ) -- but susan 's self-esteem is an awfully long time coming . ireport.com : what do you think of'monsters vs. aliens'? ( bizarrely -- and maybe it 's just my imagination -- gallaxhar bears a passing resemblance to president obama . i wonder ... would that make susan/ginormica a surrogate for sarah palin or hillary clinton ? ) visually , too , monsters vs aliens ' is undistinguished , although its shortcomings may be disguised if you seek out the 3-d version . funny how 3-d movies tend to produce two-dimensional characters , with coraline ' again the exception to the rule . jocular and unpretentiously trashy , monsters vs. aliens ' should be a lot of fun -- and it is , in places . but the truth is it 's as hung up on itself as susan 's preening fiance . hand on heart , i had a better time at space chimps . ' monsters vs. aliens ' runs 94 minutes and is rated pg . for entertainment weekly 's take , click here . | monsters vs. aliens ' about earth-born monsters ' taking on megalomaniacal alien |
al-bashir <tsp> ( cnn ) -- sudanese president omar al-bashir asked arab leaders meeting in qatar on monday to strongly reject an arrest warrant issued against him by the international criminal court for war crimes . omar al-bashir is the subject of an icc arrest warrant over allaged war crimes in darfur . al-bashir landed in qatar on sunday and met with qatar 's emir , sheikh hamad bin khalifa al-thani . on monday , he expressed his gratitude to the arab league summit . we appreciate your support for sudan in many areas , ' al-bashir said . this support will , god willing , lead to issuing clear and unequivocal decisions -- rejecting the decision [ the icc arrest warrant ] . ' u.n. secretary general ban ki-moon also attended the meeting but avoided any confrontation with al-bashir . the u.n. leader focused instead on efforts to have humanitarian aid workers allowed back into sudan . sudan expelled 13 international aid agencies from the darfur region after the icc issued the arrest warrant . the march 4 arrest warrant is the first issued for a sitting head of state by the world 's only permanent war crimes tribunal , based at the hague in the netherlands . but the icc has no arrest powers and depends on its 106 member states to take suspects into custody . qatar , site of the summit , is not a member of the tribunal . sudan refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the icc , and has made no efforts to hand over two other officials indicted by the court . al-bashir has called the charges an attempt by western powers to recolonize sudan . the international criminal court accuses al-bashir of complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity in his government 's campaign against rebels in darfur , in western sudan . the united nations estimates that 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million have been forced to flee their homes because of the conflict . qatar had been mediating talks between sudanese officials and representatives of one of the rebel factions , who signed a confidence-building agreement in february . at the state department , deputy spokesman gordon duguid said leaders at the summit should deal with the situation in darfur . we would hope that while [ al-bashir ] is in doha that the arab league would focus on the immediate and urgent needs of the people on the ground in sudan and address the humanitarian situation in darfur and meet the priorities of the comprehensive peace agreement , ' he said . the discussions should be on how to stop the violence and support the people . the presence of bashir at this conference should be used as an opportunity to bring forth the international concern to what is happening in darfur and southern sudan . ' in another development , libyan leader moammar gadhafi walked out of the summit after a dispute over whether he would be allowed to talk . i am an international leader , ' gadhafi said before leaving . the dean of arab rulers . the king of kings in africa . the imam to muslims . my international position does not allow me to be reduced . thank you . ' state department spokesman duguid declined to comment . cnn 's stan grant contributed to this report . | al-bashir accused of crimes against humanity in his campaign against darfur rebels |
al-bashir <tsp> ( cnn ) -- sudanese president omar al-bashir asked arab leaders meeting in qatar on monday to strongly reject an arrest warrant issued against him by the international criminal court for war crimes . omar al-bashir is the subject of an icc arrest warrant over allaged war crimes in darfur . al-bashir landed in qatar on sunday and met with qatar 's emir , sheikh hamad bin khalifa al-thani . on monday , he expressed his gratitude to the arab league summit . we appreciate your support for sudan in many areas , ' al-bashir said . this support will , god willing , lead to issuing clear and unequivocal decisions -- rejecting the decision [ the icc arrest warrant ] . ' u.n. secretary general ban ki-moon also attended the meeting but avoided any confrontation with al-bashir . the u.n. leader focused instead on efforts to have humanitarian aid workers allowed back into sudan . sudan expelled 13 international aid agencies from the darfur region after the icc issued the arrest warrant . the march 4 arrest warrant is the first issued for a sitting head of state by the world 's only permanent war crimes tribunal , based at the hague in the netherlands . but the icc has no arrest powers and depends on its 106 member states to take suspects into custody . qatar , site of the summit , is not a member of the tribunal . sudan refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the icc , and has made no efforts to hand over two other officials indicted by the court . al-bashir has called the charges an attempt by western powers to recolonize sudan . the international criminal court accuses al-bashir of complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity in his government 's campaign against rebels in darfur , in western sudan . the united nations estimates that 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million have been forced to flee their homes because of the conflict . qatar had been mediating talks between sudanese officials and representatives of one of the rebel factions , who signed a confidence-building agreement in february . at the state department , deputy spokesman gordon duguid said leaders at the summit should deal with the situation in darfur . we would hope that while [ al-bashir ] is in doha that the arab league would focus on the immediate and urgent needs of the people on the ground in sudan and address the humanitarian situation in darfur and meet the priorities of the comprehensive peace agreement , ' he said . the discussions should be on how to stop the violence and support the people . the presence of bashir at this conference should be used as an opportunity to bring forth the international concern to what is happening in darfur and southern sudan . ' in another development , libyan leader moammar gadhafi walked out of the summit after a dispute over whether he would be allowed to talk . i am an international leader , ' gadhafi said before leaving . the dean of arab rulers . the king of kings in africa . the imam to muslims . my international position does not allow me to be reduced . thank you . ' state department spokesman duguid declined to comment . cnn 's stan grant contributed to this report . | omar al-bashir is charged with war crimes by the international criminal court |
al-bashir <tsp> ( cnn ) -- sudanese president omar al-bashir asked arab leaders meeting in qatar on monday to strongly reject an arrest warrant issued against him by the international criminal court for war crimes . omar al-bashir is the subject of an icc arrest warrant over allaged war crimes in darfur . al-bashir landed in qatar on sunday and met with qatar 's emir , sheikh hamad bin khalifa al-thani . on monday , he expressed his gratitude to the arab league summit . we appreciate your support for sudan in many areas , ' al-bashir said . this support will , god willing , lead to issuing clear and unequivocal decisions -- rejecting the decision [ the icc arrest warrant ] . ' u.n. secretary general ban ki-moon also attended the meeting but avoided any confrontation with al-bashir . the u.n. leader focused instead on efforts to have humanitarian aid workers allowed back into sudan . sudan expelled 13 international aid agencies from the darfur region after the icc issued the arrest warrant . the march 4 arrest warrant is the first issued for a sitting head of state by the world 's only permanent war crimes tribunal , based at the hague in the netherlands . but the icc has no arrest powers and depends on its 106 member states to take suspects into custody . qatar , site of the summit , is not a member of the tribunal . sudan refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the icc , and has made no efforts to hand over two other officials indicted by the court . al-bashir has called the charges an attempt by western powers to recolonize sudan . the international criminal court accuses al-bashir of complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity in his government 's campaign against rebels in darfur , in western sudan . the united nations estimates that 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million have been forced to flee their homes because of the conflict . qatar had been mediating talks between sudanese officials and representatives of one of the rebel factions , who signed a confidence-building agreement in february . at the state department , deputy spokesman gordon duguid said leaders at the summit should deal with the situation in darfur . we would hope that while [ al-bashir ] is in doha that the arab league would focus on the immediate and urgent needs of the people on the ground in sudan and address the humanitarian situation in darfur and meet the priorities of the comprehensive peace agreement , ' he said . the discussions should be on how to stop the violence and support the people . the presence of bashir at this conference should be used as an opportunity to bring forth the international concern to what is happening in darfur and southern sudan . ' in another development , libyan leader moammar gadhafi walked out of the summit after a dispute over whether he would be allowed to talk . i am an international leader , ' gadhafi said before leaving . the dean of arab rulers . the king of kings in africa . the imam to muslims . my international position does not allow me to be reduced . thank you . ' state department spokesman duguid declined to comment . cnn 's stan grant contributed to this report . | u.n. secretary general attends summit , but avoids any confrontation with al-bashir |
vermont <tsp> ( cnn ) -- you 've heard of aspen , jackson hole and whistler , but how about copper mountain , grand targhee and revelstoke ? these ski resorts may lack the buzz of their more glamorous neighbors , but they make up for it in snowfall , value and fewer crowds . so hop on a lift before winter winds down . revelstoke mountain resort - british columbia opened in 2007 , revelstoke has remained largely off the radar thanks to its relative inaccessibility in british columbia 's selkirk mountain range . it 's a five-hour drive from calgary and two hours from the nearest international airport , but it 's unlikely to stay that way for long . with some 60 feet of annual snowfall at the highest elevations , 5,620 feet of vertical -- the longest descent of any resort in north america -- and lift , cat-skiing and heli-skiing from one village base . copper mountain - colorado sandwiched between breckenridge and vail , copper mountain has long been a local favorite , but a new high-speed quad-lift and ski-in , ski-out lodging put it on par with its big-name neighbors . naturally divided terrain separates skiers and snowboarders by ability , which gives the entire resort more elbow room . bonus : guests get free snow cat access on tucker mountain . the high four ' deal this season packs in four days of skiing or riding for $ 234 . grand targhee resort - wyoming perched on the western slope of the tetons , grand targhee is perfectly positioned to reap the lion 's share of powder from eastern-moving storms . there can be times when jackson hole can receive zero snow and the grand targhee can get a foot , ' says dan sherman , spokesman for ski.com . plus , he adds , the terrain is fantastic . ' this year , the resort is offering free skiing and snowboarding to lodge guests with a 2012 season pass to any ski resort in the united states or canada to make up for the lack of snow elsewhere . lodging typically starts at $ 99 ; adult lift tickets run $ 69 . mad river glen - vermont stowe or killington may be vermont 's most recognizable resorts , but mad river glen best reflects the green mountain state 's independent streak . the cooperative-owned ski area does n't groom its trails , forbids snowboarding and keeps snowmaking to a minimum . we prefer it from the heavens not the hoses , ' says resort spokesman eric friedman . ski magazine has ranked its terrain as the most challenging on the east coast . the resort 's biggest claim to fame is its single-chair lift , the only one in north america . the mountain does n't own lodging , but there are plenty of classic ski lodges and cozy bed and breakfasts nearby , with rates from $ 85 . adult lift tickets start at $ 45 . schweitzer mountain resort - idaho high up in idaho 's panhandle nine miles outside of sandpoint , schweitzer is n't as accessible as other west coast resorts . as a result , it 's unlikely you 'll wait more than five minutes in the lift line . then there 's the 2,900 skiable acres -- more than neighbor sun valley . while the mountain is known for its off-trail skiing among the trees , the terrain varies from the bunny hill to steep , double-black pitches . the 6,400-foot summit affords skiers panoramic views of idaho , montana , washington and canada , as well as lake pend oreille . slopeside digs start at $ 164 ; adult lift tickets at $ 67 . tignes , france with its postcard-perfect alpine scenery , breathtaking verticals and charming chalets , val-d'isã¨re is one of the most beloved ski resorts in europe . but tignes , its neighbor in the l'espace killy -- a ski area in france 's tarentaise valley named for famed alpine ski racer and native son jean-claude killy -- offers a similar experience and then some . a slew of off-beat activities like ice-karting , bungee-trampoline and ice-diving under a frozen lake appeal to families . together , the resorts , which are linked by cable cars , tunneled funitels and gondolas , offer nearly 200 miles of runs serviced by 102 lifts . valle nevado , chile serious skiers know the season does n't end come summertime . it just shifts south of the equator . come august , valle nevado ski resort , 35 miles northeast of santiago , is blanketed in deep powder . newer than the storied chilean resort of portillo , valle nevado has all the bells and whistles of most modern mountains , including the only high-speed quad lift in south america , a brand new gondola and an onsite heli-pad . backcountry skiing : beauty and fear at roughly $ 200 a shot and up to 4,500 feet of vertical in one run , heli-skiing is a relative bargain here . ( ca n't wait for that first run ? hitch a chopper ride straight from santiago . the resort will send your bags ahead ) . lodging ranges from the budget hotel tres puntas to the luxe hotel valle nevado . hotel tres puntas runs $ 2,266 for seven nights ( friday to friday ) for two people , including lift tickets . seven-night packages include two interconnect tickets to neighboring resorts la parva and el colorado , opening up 7,400 acres of skiable terrain . | mad river glen 's vermont terrain has been rated the most challenging on the east coast |
barney miller <tsp> ( cnn ) -- steve landesberg , best known for his role as a cerebral detective on the tv sitcom barney miller , ' has died of cancer , his agent said . he was 65 . steve was a true'gentleman ,' landesberg 's agent jeffrey leavitt said late monday , shortly after the actor 's death . working with steve was an honor both personally and professionally . ... he will be missed . ' landesberg played with deadpan delivery detective arthur dietrich on barney miller , ' an often infuriatingly intellectual member of a new york city police station in greenwich village , who toyed with those who crossed his path in the precinct . the series ran from 1975 to 1982 . in addition to his stint on the sitcom , landesberg made guest appearances on a number of shows , including saturday night live , ' the golden girls ' and law & order . ' he also appeared in the 2008 movie forgetting sarah marshall . ' he is credited with the quote honesty is the best policy , but insanity is a better defense , ' according to worldofquotes.com . cnn 's matthew carey contributed to this report . | steve landesberg played detective arthur dietrich on barney miller ' series |
mediterranean <tsp> studies already suggest that the mediterranean diet -- rich in fish , fruits , nuts , and olive oil -- can prevent second heart attacks , delay alzheimer 's disease , and maybe even lower your cancer risk . forty-four percent on mediterranean diet needed diabetes medication , compared to 70 percent on low-fat diet . now , new research says the mediterranean diet may also be a winning solution for people with type 2 diabetes . compared to people on a low-fat diet , those with type 2 diabetes who ate a mediterranean diet lost more weight and went longer without blood-sugar-lowering medication , according to a study published this week in annals of internal medicine . type 2 diabetes , the most common form of the disease , affects more than 20 million people in the u.s . researchers estimate that one in three children born this century will get diabetes at some point in their lives . health.com : how i lost 100 pounds after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis ' a mediterranean diet is n't a magic diet , but it has a lot of features that we know are generally healthful , ' said dr. richard hellman , an endocrinologist and clinical professor of medicine at the university of missouri -- kansas city school of medicine , who was not involved in the research . in the new study , 215 overweight people -- newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes -- were randomly assigned to either a low-fat diet or a low-carbohydrate mediterranean diet . after four years , the researchers from second university of naples , in italy , found that only 44 percent of the people who stuck to a mediterranean diet needed blood-sugar-lowering medication , compared to 70 percent of people who followed the low-fat diet . unlike people with type 1 diabetes , who need insulin injections to survive , those with type 2 can sometimes keep blood-sugar levels in the safe range with diet and exercise alone . health.com : getting a good night 's sleep may lower your diabetes risk however , if those methods stop working , they may need a pill or insulin injections to manage blood sugar . the people on the mediterranean diet had better blood-sugar control because of the diet , and the trigger for diabetic drugs is when blood sugar is higher than you want it to be , ' explained dr. christine laine , the editor of the journal . a mediterranean diet includes vegetables , whole grains , fish , poultry , and healthy fats , such as olive oil . in the study , women on the diet were allowed 1,500 calories per day , and men were allowed 1,800 calories per day ; no more than 50 percent of calories could come from carbohydrates . carbohydrates are found in fruit , pasta , and other healthy ( and unhealthy ) foods , and are largely responsible for the rise in blood sugar after eating . people with type 2 diabetes can sometimes keep their blood sugar in a healthy range by watching their carbohydrate intake . health.com : why carbohydrates are so important in diabetes study subjects who ate a low-fat diet followed american heart association guidelines and consumed a diet rich in whole grains and low in fatty foods and sweets . women were restricted to 1,500 calories , and men were allowed 1,800 calories ; no more than 30 percent of calories could come from fat . those on the mediterranean diet lost 13.6 pounds after one year and maintained an 8.4-pound loss four years later . in comparison , the low-fat-diet group lost 9.2 pounds the first year and maintained a 7-pound loss at four years . overall , the researchers aimed to meet three american diabetes association goals : keep blood pressure under control ; lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( ldl ) ; and limit levels of hemoglobin a1c , a protein that 's a measure of out-of-control blood sugar . people who have diabetes are at high risk of heart attacks and strokes , so it 's important to keep an eye on all three factors . health.com : 20 meals that wo n't kill your cholesterol both diets helped people reach those goals , but more people on the mediterranean diet reached their goals than those on the low-fat diet . hellman said he is not surprised by the findings . after all , past studies have found that the mediterranean diet can decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes . however , he said this study provides new information about diabetes , and it 's an important trial . ' health.com : 15 diabetes-friendly recipes one limitation of the study is that the researchers who prescribed medication knew if a patient was on the low-fat or mediterranean diet . laine said she does n't think this affected the results , but hellman pointed out that a researcher who is more biased toward a specific diet may have a higher threshold ' of when to give medication . regardless , hellman said he would recommend the mediterranean diet to his patients . if you had a choice , this would be the better choice , ' he said . enter to win a monthly room makeover giveaway from myhomeideas.com copyright health magazine 2009 | eating mediterranean diet , people lost more weight and needed less medication |
mediterranean <tsp> studies already suggest that the mediterranean diet -- rich in fish , fruits , nuts , and olive oil -- can prevent second heart attacks , delay alzheimer 's disease , and maybe even lower your cancer risk . forty-four percent on mediterranean diet needed diabetes medication , compared to 70 percent on low-fat diet . now , new research says the mediterranean diet may also be a winning solution for people with type 2 diabetes . compared to people on a low-fat diet , those with type 2 diabetes who ate a mediterranean diet lost more weight and went longer without blood-sugar-lowering medication , according to a study published this week in annals of internal medicine . type 2 diabetes , the most common form of the disease , affects more than 20 million people in the u.s . researchers estimate that one in three children born this century will get diabetes at some point in their lives . health.com : how i lost 100 pounds after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis ' a mediterranean diet is n't a magic diet , but it has a lot of features that we know are generally healthful , ' said dr. richard hellman , an endocrinologist and clinical professor of medicine at the university of missouri -- kansas city school of medicine , who was not involved in the research . in the new study , 215 overweight people -- newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes -- were randomly assigned to either a low-fat diet or a low-carbohydrate mediterranean diet . after four years , the researchers from second university of naples , in italy , found that only 44 percent of the people who stuck to a mediterranean diet needed blood-sugar-lowering medication , compared to 70 percent of people who followed the low-fat diet . unlike people with type 1 diabetes , who need insulin injections to survive , those with type 2 can sometimes keep blood-sugar levels in the safe range with diet and exercise alone . health.com : getting a good night 's sleep may lower your diabetes risk however , if those methods stop working , they may need a pill or insulin injections to manage blood sugar . the people on the mediterranean diet had better blood-sugar control because of the diet , and the trigger for diabetic drugs is when blood sugar is higher than you want it to be , ' explained dr. christine laine , the editor of the journal . a mediterranean diet includes vegetables , whole grains , fish , poultry , and healthy fats , such as olive oil . in the study , women on the diet were allowed 1,500 calories per day , and men were allowed 1,800 calories per day ; no more than 50 percent of calories could come from carbohydrates . carbohydrates are found in fruit , pasta , and other healthy ( and unhealthy ) foods , and are largely responsible for the rise in blood sugar after eating . people with type 2 diabetes can sometimes keep their blood sugar in a healthy range by watching their carbohydrate intake . health.com : why carbohydrates are so important in diabetes study subjects who ate a low-fat diet followed american heart association guidelines and consumed a diet rich in whole grains and low in fatty foods and sweets . women were restricted to 1,500 calories , and men were allowed 1,800 calories ; no more than 30 percent of calories could come from fat . those on the mediterranean diet lost 13.6 pounds after one year and maintained an 8.4-pound loss four years later . in comparison , the low-fat-diet group lost 9.2 pounds the first year and maintained a 7-pound loss at four years . overall , the researchers aimed to meet three american diabetes association goals : keep blood pressure under control ; lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( ldl ) ; and limit levels of hemoglobin a1c , a protein that 's a measure of out-of-control blood sugar . people who have diabetes are at high risk of heart attacks and strokes , so it 's important to keep an eye on all three factors . health.com : 20 meals that wo n't kill your cholesterol both diets helped people reach those goals , but more people on the mediterranean diet reached their goals than those on the low-fat diet . hellman said he is not surprised by the findings . after all , past studies have found that the mediterranean diet can decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes . however , he said this study provides new information about diabetes , and it 's an important trial . ' health.com : 15 diabetes-friendly recipes one limitation of the study is that the researchers who prescribed medication knew if a patient was on the low-fat or mediterranean diet . laine said she does n't think this affected the results , but hellman pointed out that a researcher who is more biased toward a specific diet may have a higher threshold ' of when to give medication . regardless , hellman said he would recommend the mediterranean diet to his patients . if you had a choice , this would be the better choice , ' he said . enter to win a monthly room makeover giveaway from myhomeideas.com copyright health magazine 2009 | mediterranean diets are rich in fish , fruits , nuts , and olive oil |
kyron <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the mother and father of missing oregon boy kyron horman repeatedly urged stepmother terri horman to co-operate with police during a news conference thursday . i really want her to do the right thing , ' said kyron 's mother , desiree young . kyron is still out there and needs to be home . ' court records released thursday revealed that kaine horman , the boy 's father , believes the stepmother is involved in kyron 's disappearance . the revelation was made public after a restraining order against terri horman was unsealed by multnomah county court authorities in portland . the father alleges his wife knows what happened to kyron , who was last seen at school more than one month ago . i believe respondent is involved in the disappearance of my son kyron who has been missing since june 4 , ' horman wrote in his request for the restraining order . i also recently learned that respondent attempted to hire someone to murder me . the police have provided me with probable cause to believe the above two statements to be true . ' the restraining order bars terri horman from having any contact with kaine horman or the couple 's 20-month-old daughter . when asked by reporters at the thursday news conference in beaverton , oregon , how he processed the information discovered in the restraining order he said , i did n't process it . it 's not important right now . kyron is still missing . he 's still missing . ' this is the second time in a week that the boy 's biological parents pleaded with the stepmother to work with investigators . but there have not been any changes since the earlier request , said young . she is still not co-operating . ' i 'm so angry , i do n't have the words , ' said young . she is not taking an active role in trying to find kyron . she is not telling the truth . ' i 've known her for a long time , said young , i know she 's lying . ' all three adults have taken polygraph tests as the investigation into kyron 's disappearance continues , said kaine . terri horman was subjected to two , but did not pass either , he said . young and kaine horman said they have been totally blindsided by the disappearance of their son and by the events that followed . terri horman 's lawyer could not be reached for comment later thursday . lt. mary lindstrand said the multnomah county sheriff 's office had no comment on the allegations made by kaine horman . authorities have not named any suspect or person of interest in connection with kyron 's disappearance . asked if the department believes kyron is alive , lindstrand said , we are going with the premise , that , yes , kyron is alive and we are going to bring him home . ' relatives of kyron have said they are trying to keep the focus on finding the boy and not suspicions about the boy 's stepmother . kyron went missing after terri horman dropped him off at school on june 4 . the stepmother said she last saw kyron walking down a hallway toward his second-grade classroom at skyline elementary school in portland , according to police . sources told cnn affiliates that investigators believe that terri horman has lied to them , and cell phone records could show she was n't where she claimed to be . kyron 's family members said they hope people will focus more on the missing boy . our main goal is to keep kyron in the front of everyone 's mind because we have a better chance of finding him . so we are constantly working to keep him the focus of the story and not terri , ' the family members said in an e-mail . terri horman was in the headlines monday when cnn affiliates kgw and katu reported that she had attempted to hire a landscaper to kill her husband several months ago . kgw reported that sources believe terri horman approached the landscaper , who had been working on the family 's property in northwest portland , and offered the man a large sum of money ' to kill kaine horman . repeated efforts by cnn to reach terri horman have been unsuccessful . cnn 's gabriel falcon contributed to this report . | family members remain hopeful ' that kyron is still alive |
kyron <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the mother and father of missing oregon boy kyron horman repeatedly urged stepmother terri horman to co-operate with police during a news conference thursday . i really want her to do the right thing , ' said kyron 's mother , desiree young . kyron is still out there and needs to be home . ' court records released thursday revealed that kaine horman , the boy 's father , believes the stepmother is involved in kyron 's disappearance . the revelation was made public after a restraining order against terri horman was unsealed by multnomah county court authorities in portland . the father alleges his wife knows what happened to kyron , who was last seen at school more than one month ago . i believe respondent is involved in the disappearance of my son kyron who has been missing since june 4 , ' horman wrote in his request for the restraining order . i also recently learned that respondent attempted to hire someone to murder me . the police have provided me with probable cause to believe the above two statements to be true . ' the restraining order bars terri horman from having any contact with kaine horman or the couple 's 20-month-old daughter . when asked by reporters at the thursday news conference in beaverton , oregon , how he processed the information discovered in the restraining order he said , i did n't process it . it 's not important right now . kyron is still missing . he 's still missing . ' this is the second time in a week that the boy 's biological parents pleaded with the stepmother to work with investigators . but there have not been any changes since the earlier request , said young . she is still not co-operating . ' i 'm so angry , i do n't have the words , ' said young . she is not taking an active role in trying to find kyron . she is not telling the truth . ' i 've known her for a long time , said young , i know she 's lying . ' all three adults have taken polygraph tests as the investigation into kyron 's disappearance continues , said kaine . terri horman was subjected to two , but did not pass either , he said . young and kaine horman said they have been totally blindsided by the disappearance of their son and by the events that followed . terri horman 's lawyer could not be reached for comment later thursday . lt. mary lindstrand said the multnomah county sheriff 's office had no comment on the allegations made by kaine horman . authorities have not named any suspect or person of interest in connection with kyron 's disappearance . asked if the department believes kyron is alive , lindstrand said , we are going with the premise , that , yes , kyron is alive and we are going to bring him home . ' relatives of kyron have said they are trying to keep the focus on finding the boy and not suspicions about the boy 's stepmother . kyron went missing after terri horman dropped him off at school on june 4 . the stepmother said she last saw kyron walking down a hallway toward his second-grade classroom at skyline elementary school in portland , according to police . sources told cnn affiliates that investigators believe that terri horman has lied to them , and cell phone records could show she was n't where she claimed to be . kyron 's family members said they hope people will focus more on the missing boy . our main goal is to keep kyron in the front of everyone 's mind because we have a better chance of finding him . so we are constantly working to keep him the focus of the story and not terri , ' the family members said in an e-mail . terri horman was in the headlines monday when cnn affiliates kgw and katu reported that she had attempted to hire a landscaper to kill her husband several months ago . kgw reported that sources believe terri horman approached the landscaper , who had been working on the family 's property in northwest portland , and offered the man a large sum of money ' to kill kaine horman . repeated efforts by cnn to reach terri horman have been unsuccessful . cnn 's gabriel falcon contributed to this report . | husband kaine horman believes she is involved in kyron 's disappearance |
kyron <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the mother and father of missing oregon boy kyron horman repeatedly urged stepmother terri horman to co-operate with police during a news conference thursday . i really want her to do the right thing , ' said kyron 's mother , desiree young . kyron is still out there and needs to be home . ' court records released thursday revealed that kaine horman , the boy 's father , believes the stepmother is involved in kyron 's disappearance . the revelation was made public after a restraining order against terri horman was unsealed by multnomah county court authorities in portland . the father alleges his wife knows what happened to kyron , who was last seen at school more than one month ago . i believe respondent is involved in the disappearance of my son kyron who has been missing since june 4 , ' horman wrote in his request for the restraining order . i also recently learned that respondent attempted to hire someone to murder me . the police have provided me with probable cause to believe the above two statements to be true . ' the restraining order bars terri horman from having any contact with kaine horman or the couple 's 20-month-old daughter . when asked by reporters at the thursday news conference in beaverton , oregon , how he processed the information discovered in the restraining order he said , i did n't process it . it 's not important right now . kyron is still missing . he 's still missing . ' this is the second time in a week that the boy 's biological parents pleaded with the stepmother to work with investigators . but there have not been any changes since the earlier request , said young . she is still not co-operating . ' i 'm so angry , i do n't have the words , ' said young . she is not taking an active role in trying to find kyron . she is not telling the truth . ' i 've known her for a long time , said young , i know she 's lying . ' all three adults have taken polygraph tests as the investigation into kyron 's disappearance continues , said kaine . terri horman was subjected to two , but did not pass either , he said . young and kaine horman said they have been totally blindsided by the disappearance of their son and by the events that followed . terri horman 's lawyer could not be reached for comment later thursday . lt. mary lindstrand said the multnomah county sheriff 's office had no comment on the allegations made by kaine horman . authorities have not named any suspect or person of interest in connection with kyron 's disappearance . asked if the department believes kyron is alive , lindstrand said , we are going with the premise , that , yes , kyron is alive and we are going to bring him home . ' relatives of kyron have said they are trying to keep the focus on finding the boy and not suspicions about the boy 's stepmother . kyron went missing after terri horman dropped him off at school on june 4 . the stepmother said she last saw kyron walking down a hallway toward his second-grade classroom at skyline elementary school in portland , according to police . sources told cnn affiliates that investigators believe that terri horman has lied to them , and cell phone records could show she was n't where she claimed to be . kyron 's family members said they hope people will focus more on the missing boy . our main goal is to keep kyron in the front of everyone 's mind because we have a better chance of finding him . so we are constantly working to keep him the focus of the story and not terri , ' the family members said in an e-mail . terri horman was in the headlines monday when cnn affiliates kgw and katu reported that she had attempted to hire a landscaper to kill her husband several months ago . kgw reported that sources believe terri horman approached the landscaper , who had been working on the family 's property in northwest portland , and offered the man a large sum of money ' to kill kaine horman . repeated efforts by cnn to reach terri horman have been unsuccessful . cnn 's gabriel falcon contributed to this report . | new : kyron horman 's parents urge stepmother to co-operate with police |
terri horman <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the mother and father of missing oregon boy kyron horman repeatedly urged stepmother terri horman to co-operate with police during a news conference thursday . i really want her to do the right thing , ' said kyron 's mother , desiree young . kyron is still out there and needs to be home . ' court records released thursday revealed that kaine horman , the boy 's father , believes the stepmother is involved in kyron 's disappearance . the revelation was made public after a restraining order against terri horman was unsealed by multnomah county court authorities in portland . the father alleges his wife knows what happened to kyron , who was last seen at school more than one month ago . i believe respondent is involved in the disappearance of my son kyron who has been missing since june 4 , ' horman wrote in his request for the restraining order . i also recently learned that respondent attempted to hire someone to murder me . the police have provided me with probable cause to believe the above two statements to be true . ' the restraining order bars terri horman from having any contact with kaine horman or the couple 's 20-month-old daughter . when asked by reporters at the thursday news conference in beaverton , oregon , how he processed the information discovered in the restraining order he said , i did n't process it . it 's not important right now . kyron is still missing . he 's still missing . ' this is the second time in a week that the boy 's biological parents pleaded with the stepmother to work with investigators . but there have not been any changes since the earlier request , said young . she is still not co-operating . ' i 'm so angry , i do n't have the words , ' said young . she is not taking an active role in trying to find kyron . she is not telling the truth . ' i 've known her for a long time , said young , i know she 's lying . ' all three adults have taken polygraph tests as the investigation into kyron 's disappearance continues , said kaine . terri horman was subjected to two , but did not pass either , he said . young and kaine horman said they have been totally blindsided by the disappearance of their son and by the events that followed . terri horman 's lawyer could not be reached for comment later thursday . lt. mary lindstrand said the multnomah county sheriff 's office had no comment on the allegations made by kaine horman . authorities have not named any suspect or person of interest in connection with kyron 's disappearance . asked if the department believes kyron is alive , lindstrand said , we are going with the premise , that , yes , kyron is alive and we are going to bring him home . ' relatives of kyron have said they are trying to keep the focus on finding the boy and not suspicions about the boy 's stepmother . kyron went missing after terri horman dropped him off at school on june 4 . the stepmother said she last saw kyron walking down a hallway toward his second-grade classroom at skyline elementary school in portland , according to police . sources told cnn affiliates that investigators believe that terri horman has lied to them , and cell phone records could show she was n't where she claimed to be . kyron 's family members said they hope people will focus more on the missing boy . our main goal is to keep kyron in the front of everyone 's mind because we have a better chance of finding him . so we are constantly working to keep him the focus of the story and not terri , ' the family members said in an e-mail . terri horman was in the headlines monday when cnn affiliates kgw and katu reported that she had attempted to hire a landscaper to kill her husband several months ago . kgw reported that sources believe terri horman approached the landscaper , who had been working on the family 's property in northwest portland , and offered the man a large sum of money ' to kill kaine horman . repeated efforts by cnn to reach terri horman have been unsuccessful . cnn 's gabriel falcon contributed to this report . | restraining order against stepmother terri horman unsealed |
cnn <tsp> ( cnn ) -- burt reinhardt , a television pioneer who helped lead the evolution of 24-hour news coverage as president of cnn , died tuesday at 91 , according to family members . reinhardt died in georgia , according to his daughter , cheryl reinhardt . she said he had been suffering complications following a series of strokes earlier this year . cable news network founder ted turner remembered reinhardt , who stayed away from the limelight , as an influential , if taciturn , executive . we both wanted to run a great news organization , ' turner said . he just did a masterful job . he got the stories covered , but he did it within the budget . ' after a stint as a vice president , reinhardt served as cnn president from 1983 to 1990 . he later was vice chairman of the organization until his retirement in 2000 . former cnn chief international correspondent christiane amanpour said reinhardt was a leader who made the trains run on time . he had a steely demeanor , but had a heart of gold , ' said amanpour , who said reinhardt hired her as a producer-reporter in new york after she pleaded her case . i 'm not sure cnn would be here without him , ' said turner , who launched cnn in 1980 . his colleague was an integral part of getting the whole operation going and keeping it going . he ran it close to 20 years . ' a native of new york , reinhardt filmed u.s. army signal corps combat footage during world war ii , including gen. douglas macarthur 's historic return to the philippines . reinhardt later served as news editor for fox movietone news , according to his daughter . he also was vice president for united press international television news and executive vice president at paramount pictures , where he nurtured the development of home video . i tell people that in my opinion , he 's probably the most important and powerful news executive you 've never heard of , ' said nephew harlan reinhardt . amanpour said reinhardt 's past as a world war ii photographer helped . i realized there and then that this was n't just an executive in a suit . it 's a man who 's been there . this is a man who 's one of us . this is a man who was in the field who covered the wars and so he knew what it took to run a news operation like cnn and keep it afloat when everybody was digging its grave . ' reese schoenfeld , who was the first president of cnn and was replaced by reinhardt , said reinhardt 's work was pivotal to the growth of the network . he was a person of integrity and a great newsman , ' said schoenfeld . i 'm not sure that i would 've had the financial discipline or the capability of doing that nearly as well as burt did and it really saved the company -- it 's the only reason cnn exists today . ' tom johnson , who replaced reinhardt as cnn 's third president , said he developed an unusual relationship with him over the years . i will never forget that after ted turner and i reached an agreement that i would become the new president of cnn in 1990 , i asked ted , could i retain burt reinhardt as vice chairman of the company , ' johnson said . most new ceo 's coming in do not wish to have the former ceo around . but i just felt i needed - i needed burt . ' johnson also credited reinhardt for steering the news organization through trying financial times . i 'm sure a lot of people will talk about burt 's fiscal responsibility . but i think what set burt apart from everyone else who has been at cnn was that he was quietly strong , ' said jim walton , president of cnn worldwide . and behind the scenes , this man has integrity and he 's very competitive , but he wants to do things the right way . he 's fair , but firm and he treated everyone with respect . ' reinhardt helped solidify the cnn logo as a strong symbol . the logo , now commonly known as a bug ' in broadcast jargon , is almost always on the television screen during cnn 's news coverage . this idea was the brainchild of reinhardt . reinhardt , who grew up in the bronx , is survived by his wife , diana shaw ; children , cheryl reinhardt of chapel hill , north carolina ; gary reinhardt of provincetown , massachusetts ; and one grandchild . he was predeceased by son , barry , and his identical twin , sheldon . cnn 's richard roth , katie silver and brian vitagliano contributed to this report . | burt reinhardt was a key cnn executive during the network 's crucial early years |
cnn <tsp> ( cnn ) -- burt reinhardt , a television pioneer who helped lead the evolution of 24-hour news coverage as president of cnn , died tuesday at 91 , according to family members . reinhardt died in georgia , according to his daughter , cheryl reinhardt . she said he had been suffering complications following a series of strokes earlier this year . cable news network founder ted turner remembered reinhardt , who stayed away from the limelight , as an influential , if taciturn , executive . we both wanted to run a great news organization , ' turner said . he just did a masterful job . he got the stories covered , but he did it within the budget . ' after a stint as a vice president , reinhardt served as cnn president from 1983 to 1990 . he later was vice chairman of the organization until his retirement in 2000 . former cnn chief international correspondent christiane amanpour said reinhardt was a leader who made the trains run on time . he had a steely demeanor , but had a heart of gold , ' said amanpour , who said reinhardt hired her as a producer-reporter in new york after she pleaded her case . i 'm not sure cnn would be here without him , ' said turner , who launched cnn in 1980 . his colleague was an integral part of getting the whole operation going and keeping it going . he ran it close to 20 years . ' a native of new york , reinhardt filmed u.s. army signal corps combat footage during world war ii , including gen. douglas macarthur 's historic return to the philippines . reinhardt later served as news editor for fox movietone news , according to his daughter . he also was vice president for united press international television news and executive vice president at paramount pictures , where he nurtured the development of home video . i tell people that in my opinion , he 's probably the most important and powerful news executive you 've never heard of , ' said nephew harlan reinhardt . amanpour said reinhardt 's past as a world war ii photographer helped . i realized there and then that this was n't just an executive in a suit . it 's a man who 's been there . this is a man who 's one of us . this is a man who was in the field who covered the wars and so he knew what it took to run a news operation like cnn and keep it afloat when everybody was digging its grave . ' reese schoenfeld , who was the first president of cnn and was replaced by reinhardt , said reinhardt 's work was pivotal to the growth of the network . he was a person of integrity and a great newsman , ' said schoenfeld . i 'm not sure that i would 've had the financial discipline or the capability of doing that nearly as well as burt did and it really saved the company -- it 's the only reason cnn exists today . ' tom johnson , who replaced reinhardt as cnn 's third president , said he developed an unusual relationship with him over the years . i will never forget that after ted turner and i reached an agreement that i would become the new president of cnn in 1990 , i asked ted , could i retain burt reinhardt as vice chairman of the company , ' johnson said . most new ceo 's coming in do not wish to have the former ceo around . but i just felt i needed - i needed burt . ' johnson also credited reinhardt for steering the news organization through trying financial times . i 'm sure a lot of people will talk about burt 's fiscal responsibility . but i think what set burt apart from everyone else who has been at cnn was that he was quietly strong , ' said jim walton , president of cnn worldwide . and behind the scenes , this man has integrity and he 's very competitive , but he wants to do things the right way . he 's fair , but firm and he treated everyone with respect . ' reinhardt helped solidify the cnn logo as a strong symbol . the logo , now commonly known as a bug ' in broadcast jargon , is almost always on the television screen during cnn 's news coverage . this idea was the brainchild of reinhardt . reinhardt , who grew up in the bronx , is survived by his wife , diana shaw ; children , cheryl reinhardt of chapel hill , north carolina ; gary reinhardt of provincetown , massachusetts ; and one grandchild . he was predeceased by son , barry , and his identical twin , sheldon . cnn 's richard roth , katie silver and brian vitagliano contributed to this report . | he was an integral part of the network 's organization , cnn founder ted turner says |
cnn <tsp> ( cnn ) -- burt reinhardt , a television pioneer who helped lead the evolution of 24-hour news coverage as president of cnn , died tuesday at 91 , according to family members . reinhardt died in georgia , according to his daughter , cheryl reinhardt . she said he had been suffering complications following a series of strokes earlier this year . cable news network founder ted turner remembered reinhardt , who stayed away from the limelight , as an influential , if taciturn , executive . we both wanted to run a great news organization , ' turner said . he just did a masterful job . he got the stories covered , but he did it within the budget . ' after a stint as a vice president , reinhardt served as cnn president from 1983 to 1990 . he later was vice chairman of the organization until his retirement in 2000 . former cnn chief international correspondent christiane amanpour said reinhardt was a leader who made the trains run on time . he had a steely demeanor , but had a heart of gold , ' said amanpour , who said reinhardt hired her as a producer-reporter in new york after she pleaded her case . i 'm not sure cnn would be here without him , ' said turner , who launched cnn in 1980 . his colleague was an integral part of getting the whole operation going and keeping it going . he ran it close to 20 years . ' a native of new york , reinhardt filmed u.s. army signal corps combat footage during world war ii , including gen. douglas macarthur 's historic return to the philippines . reinhardt later served as news editor for fox movietone news , according to his daughter . he also was vice president for united press international television news and executive vice president at paramount pictures , where he nurtured the development of home video . i tell people that in my opinion , he 's probably the most important and powerful news executive you 've never heard of , ' said nephew harlan reinhardt . amanpour said reinhardt 's past as a world war ii photographer helped . i realized there and then that this was n't just an executive in a suit . it 's a man who 's been there . this is a man who 's one of us . this is a man who was in the field who covered the wars and so he knew what it took to run a news operation like cnn and keep it afloat when everybody was digging its grave . ' reese schoenfeld , who was the first president of cnn and was replaced by reinhardt , said reinhardt 's work was pivotal to the growth of the network . he was a person of integrity and a great newsman , ' said schoenfeld . i 'm not sure that i would 've had the financial discipline or the capability of doing that nearly as well as burt did and it really saved the company -- it 's the only reason cnn exists today . ' tom johnson , who replaced reinhardt as cnn 's third president , said he developed an unusual relationship with him over the years . i will never forget that after ted turner and i reached an agreement that i would become the new president of cnn in 1990 , i asked ted , could i retain burt reinhardt as vice chairman of the company , ' johnson said . most new ceo 's coming in do not wish to have the former ceo around . but i just felt i needed - i needed burt . ' johnson also credited reinhardt for steering the news organization through trying financial times . i 'm sure a lot of people will talk about burt 's fiscal responsibility . but i think what set burt apart from everyone else who has been at cnn was that he was quietly strong , ' said jim walton , president of cnn worldwide . and behind the scenes , this man has integrity and he 's very competitive , but he wants to do things the right way . he 's fair , but firm and he treated everyone with respect . ' reinhardt helped solidify the cnn logo as a strong symbol . the logo , now commonly known as a bug ' in broadcast jargon , is almost always on the television screen during cnn 's news coverage . this idea was the brainchild of reinhardt . reinhardt , who grew up in the bronx , is survived by his wife , diana shaw ; children , cheryl reinhardt of chapel hill , north carolina ; gary reinhardt of provincetown , massachusetts ; and one grandchild . he was predeceased by son , barry , and his identical twin , sheldon . cnn 's richard roth , katie silver and brian vitagliano contributed to this report . | reinhardt worked for several organizations before cnn |
colombian <tsp> new york ( cnn ) -- convicted russian arms dealer viktor bout could face life in prison after a federal jury returned guilty verdicts wednesday on four counts related to a conspiracy to kill americans , acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles and provide material support to a terrorist organization . bout 's attorney , albert dayan , said the verdict will be appealed . i still stand by my position that viktor was wrongfully accused , ' said dayan . the jury has spoken but his position is still that he 's innocent . ' widely dubbed the merchant of death , ' bout was often referred to by u.s. and united nations officials as among the most notorious of global arms traffickers . he had pleaded not guilty to all the charges . dayan said during the trial that the former soviet air force officer was not involved in illegal arms sales , and that federal agents had baited bout into selling the weapons alongside a deal to sell airplanes . but preet bharara , the u.s. attorney for manhattan , called the russian tycoon a very dangerous man ' in a statement wednesday . he aimed to sell those weapons to terrorists for the purpose of killing americans . ' commentary : three chilling moments from the trial the heart of the case stemmed from a 2008 sting operation in thailand by the u.s. drug enforcement agency . undercover agents posing as colombian rebels attempted to buy larges caches of weapons , according to a 2008 federal indictment . both the united states and the european union identify the rebel group -- the revolutionary armed forces of colombia , or farc -- as a terrorist organization . the agents tried to purchase 700 to 800 surface-to-air missiles , thousands of ak-47s and landmines , telling bout that they wanted the arms to kill americans , ' the indictment said . bout responded , it said , by saying he was going to prepare everything the farc needed . ' during closing arguments tuesday , assistant u.s. attorney brendan mcguire called the evidence against bout overwhelming , ' pointing to alleged ties with various armed conflicts . he did everything he could to show that he could be a one-stop shop ' for farc , said mcguire . prior to his arrest , the dea had struggled to draw bout out of his russian homeland , which is long thought to have sheltered and defended him . undercover agents met with bout 's associates the world over , from curacao to copenhagen , in an attempt to set up a meeting with their target , according to the indictment . he was extradited to the united states in 2010 following his arrest and a protracted court proceeding in thailand . the russian businessman has also been accused of assembling a fleet of cargo planes to traffic military-grade weapons to conflict zones around the world since the 1990s . according to the indictment , he was suspected of creating front companies that used his planes to deliver food and medical supplies , as well as arms . his alleged trafficking activities in liberia prompted u.s. authorities to freeze his american assets in 2004 and prohibited u.s. transactions with him , it said . less than a year later , the treasury department 's office of foreign assets control placed 30 companies and four people on a specially designated list that carried similar actions against them . bout has maintained that he operated legitimate businesses and had acted as a mere logistics provider . his exact age is unclear , but he is believed to be in his late 40s or 50s , with his age in dispute due to different passports and documents . the u.s. attorney 's office said it had no confirmed age . critics have accused bout of providing arms to rebels in several countries and fueling bloody conflicts in places such as liberia and sierra leone . in 2000 , then-british foreign office peter hain branded him africa 's chief merchant of death ' at a time when bout is believed to have supplied arms to officials in sierra leone , a former british colony then embroiled in civil war . the 2005 movie lord of war , ' starring nicolas cage , is considered to be largely inspired by bout 's life . | bout is convicted of trying to sell weapons to u.s. agents posing as colombian rebels |
libya <tsp> fierce fighting raged on the outskirts of tripoli on sunday as militias continued to battle for control of the airport in what 's being called the worst fighting in libya since the 2011 revolution . clashes were concentrated around the airport , the airport road and a number of residential areas where militias have fought over the past week , residents said . at least five people have been killed , one local official said . the latest assaults were launched by militias from the city of misrata and an islamist militia umbrella group in the capital known as the libyan revolutionaries operations room . ' the airport has been under the control of militia from the western mountains city of zintan for the past three years . according to residents in different parts of tripoli , thick plumes of black smoke rose from the direction of the airport and large blasts and gunfire echoed across the city . speaking by phone to libyan television on sunday , a spokesman for the municipal council of qasr bin ghasheer , the area around the airport , said at least five people from the area had been killed in the fighting so far .'libya 's future can not be left to one renegade general' the spokesman , mohammed abdul rahman , said it was hard to get an accurate casualty figure because of the intensity of fighting and limited movement in the area . shells are falling on houses , children are terrified and most people have evacuated . ... our area is suffering , ' he told the privately run al-nabaa tv . there was no official overall casualty figure for the fighting in other areas impacted over the last seven days . at the airport , the libyan government said 90 % of planes parked there were damaged and images on social media showed various parts of the facility destroyed . the united nations and other international organizations and businesses have temporarily evacuated staff from libya . the u.s. embassy in tripoli said in a statement that some rounds from the fighting have hit near the compound , but all personnel are safe and accounted for . ' it called for an end to the violence . addressing the u.n. security council on thursday , tarek mitri , head of its mission in libya , issued a stark warning . as the number of military actors mobilizing and consolidating their presence within the capital continues to grow , there is a mounting sense of a probable imminent and significant escalation in the conflict . the stakes are high for all sides , ' mitri said . we are in the middle of an all-out confrontation between two major rival groups in the libyan capital . that confrontation , born out of the deep political polarization , is playing itself out at the country 's international airport . ' mitri said . libya 's foreign minister mohamed abdulaziz also addressed the security council . he warned of libya heading toward becoming a failed state . ' abdulaziz said libya needed more international support and asked the united nations to consider a stabilization and institution-building mission . ' he insisted that his country was not requesting foreign military intervention . the libyan interim government said earlier in the week it was discussing the possibility of requesting international forces . three years after the revolution and nato military intervention that overthrew the gadhafi regime , a weak central government has been outgunned by increasingly powerful militias . the militia fighting for control of the airport from the city of zintan and misrata are among the most heavily armed in the country . | fierce fighting in libya worst since 2011 revolution |
libya <tsp> fierce fighting raged on the outskirts of tripoli on sunday as militias continued to battle for control of the airport in what 's being called the worst fighting in libya since the 2011 revolution . clashes were concentrated around the airport , the airport road and a number of residential areas where militias have fought over the past week , residents said . at least five people have been killed , one local official said . the latest assaults were launched by militias from the city of misrata and an islamist militia umbrella group in the capital known as the libyan revolutionaries operations room . ' the airport has been under the control of militia from the western mountains city of zintan for the past three years . according to residents in different parts of tripoli , thick plumes of black smoke rose from the direction of the airport and large blasts and gunfire echoed across the city . speaking by phone to libyan television on sunday , a spokesman for the municipal council of qasr bin ghasheer , the area around the airport , said at least five people from the area had been killed in the fighting so far .'libya 's future can not be left to one renegade general' the spokesman , mohammed abdul rahman , said it was hard to get an accurate casualty figure because of the intensity of fighting and limited movement in the area . shells are falling on houses , children are terrified and most people have evacuated . ... our area is suffering , ' he told the privately run al-nabaa tv . there was no official overall casualty figure for the fighting in other areas impacted over the last seven days . at the airport , the libyan government said 90 % of planes parked there were damaged and images on social media showed various parts of the facility destroyed . the united nations and other international organizations and businesses have temporarily evacuated staff from libya . the u.s. embassy in tripoli said in a statement that some rounds from the fighting have hit near the compound , but all personnel are safe and accounted for . ' it called for an end to the violence . addressing the u.n. security council on thursday , tarek mitri , head of its mission in libya , issued a stark warning . as the number of military actors mobilizing and consolidating their presence within the capital continues to grow , there is a mounting sense of a probable imminent and significant escalation in the conflict . the stakes are high for all sides , ' mitri said . we are in the middle of an all-out confrontation between two major rival groups in the libyan capital . that confrontation , born out of the deep political polarization , is playing itself out at the country 's international airport . ' mitri said . libya 's foreign minister mohamed abdulaziz also addressed the security council . he warned of libya heading toward becoming a failed state . ' abdulaziz said libya needed more international support and asked the united nations to consider a stabilization and institution-building mission . ' he insisted that his country was not requesting foreign military intervention . the libyan interim government said earlier in the week it was discussing the possibility of requesting international forces . three years after the revolution and nato military intervention that overthrew the gadhafi regime , a weak central government has been outgunned by increasingly powerful militias . the militia fighting for control of the airport from the city of zintan and misrata are among the most heavily armed in the country . | libya 's foreign minister says the country needs foreign help |
syria <tsp> ( cnn ) -- iran and turkey signed a trade pact sunday , one which tehran said could be worth $ 30 billion over five years and signaled even stronger ties between the two nations . both nation 's leaders touted the agreement as something that could provide huge mutual economic benefit , according to their respective state media . tehran , especially , played up the deal as evidence of a new era in relations . iran and turkey are two countries that complete each other , ' iranian foreign minister ali akbar salehi said , according to turkey 's official anadolu news . the agreement capped the nations'22nd annual joint economic meeting , evidence that tehran and ankara have a long working relationship . still , it comes amid iran 's nuclear tensions with the united states -- a staunch ally of turkey . in an account from iran 's official irna news agency , salehi said the agreement and other recent moves indicate that turkey is committed to bolstering its ties with middle eastern nations . ankara is strengthening its relations with its neighboring countries , particularly the islamic republic of iran , ' salehi said . the iranian foreign minister further proposed an even greater union to advance both nations'interests , according to press tv , iranian state media . turkish state minister cevdet yilmaz noted that trade between his nation and iran has risen from $ 1 billion to $ 10.7 billion in the past decade . still , he said that it could go even further , with sunday 's pact to ratchet down protectionist measures and promote cooperation potentially instrumental to that cause . also sunday , turkish premier recep tayyip erdogan met with the head of syria , another u.s. nemesis , according to reports from state media in both nations . in an official statement published on syria 's state-run sana news agency , president bashar al-assad said that he and his turkish counterpart stressed the importance of continuing work and coordination by the two countries through high-level transparent dialogue . ' in a speech marking the laying of the cornerstone of the friendship dam , along the nation 's border with syria , erdogan said that turkey wanted peace , stability and prosperity , according to an anadolu report . | also sunday , turkey 's premier met with the president of syria , reports say |
district of columbia <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- a federal court has given the obama administration the go-ahead to continue funding embryonic stem-cell research . the controversial 2-1 decision friday is a victory for supporters of federally funded testing for a range of diseases and illnesses . the u.s. court of appeals for the district of columbia lifted an injunction imposed last year by a federal judge , who said all embryonic stem-cell research at the national institutes of health amounted to destruction of embryos , in violation of congressional spending laws . legislation passed in 1996 law prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars in the creation or destruction of human embryos for research purposes . ' private money had been used to gather batches of the developing cells at u.s.-run labs . the current administration had broken with the bush white house and issued rules in 2009 permitting those cells to be reproduced in controlled conditions and for work on them to move forward . obama officials have been at odds with many members of congress over whether the the nih research actually causes an embryo 's destruction , as prohibited by the dickey-wicker act . two scientists had brought a lawsuit to block further research . but the three-judge panel concluded in its 21-page ruling , the plaintiffs are unlikely to prevail because dickey-wicker is ambiguous and the nih seems reasonably to have concluded ' the law does not ban research using embryonic stem cells . the ruling does not deal with separate research on adult stem cells , which remains permissible under federal law . the plaintiffs have the option of now taking their appeal to the u.s. supreme court for review . the issue at this stage deals only with the lifting of the injunction allowing funding to continue for embryonic stem-cell research . the larger constitutional issues are still being debated at the district court level . the government had argued that an extensive list of research projects outlined by the national institutes of health would have to be shelved if the court had not acted and granted a stay . the field of embryonic stem-cell research has been highly controversial , because in most cases the research process involves destroying the embryo , typically four or five days old , after removing stem cells . these cells are then blank and can become any cell in the body . embryonic stem-cell research differs from other kinds of stem-cell research , which do n't require embryos . some scientists believe embryonic stem cells could help treat many diseases and disabilities because of their potential to develop into many different cell types in the body . the case began with a lawsuit against the nih by scientists opposed to use of embryonic stem cells , a group that seeks adoptive parents for human embryos created through in vitro fertilization , the nonprofit christian medical association and others . when the injunction was first issued by judge royce lamberth in august , ron stoddart , executive director of nightlight christian adoptions -- one of the groups that filed the lawsuit -- said he supported adult stem-cell research that does n't require destroying embryos . frequently people will say ,'why are you opposed to stem-cell research ?'and of course our answer is ,'we 're not ,' stoddart said . we 're opposed to the destruction of the embryos to get embryo stem cells . ' when president george bush first approved federal funding of human embryonic stem-cell research in 2001 , 60 existing stem-cell lines -- which were created before august 9 , 2001 -- qualified for federal funding . of those , only 21 actually were usable for scientists . bush later rescinded the funding . since the obama administration 's rules went into effect , at least total of 75 stem cell lines qualify for federal funding , according to the nih . nih has invested more than $ 500 million in human embryonic stem-cell research . because such embryos are destroyed when stem cells are removed for research , most opponents believe this is moral issue . scientists conducting such research said continued federal funding is necessary , saying they would have greater flexibility to work collaboratively within labs , across labs and around the world on the latest treatments and breakthroughs . supporters of embryonic stem-cell research say their studies have shown promise to treat a range of debilitating conditions including diabetes , parkinson 's disease , cancers , and spinal cord injuries . the case is sherley v. sebelius ( 10-5287 ) . | the district of columbia appeals court rules 2-1 |
myanmar <tsp> hong kong ( cnn ) opium production in southeast asia 's golden triangle ' has tripled since 2006 , fueling an illicit drugs trade worth $ 16.3 billion , a new united nations report says . poppy cultivation in myanmar and laos stood at 63,800 hectares in 2014 , compared with 61,200 hectares in 2013 -- increasing for an eighth year , the u.n. office on drugs and crime said in its southeast asia opium survey 2014 . the region produced approximately 762 tons of opium , which was most likely made into 76 tons of heroin , it said . myanmar accounts for the vast majority of the region 's poppy cultivation . production is particularly entrenched in the northern shan state , near the chinese border , where it 's a staple part of the economy and helps fund rebel groups , the report added . surveys of farmers indicate that , for many , the money made from poppy cultivation is an essential part of family income and support , ' said yury fedetov , the executive director of the united nations on drugs and crime , said . villages threatened with food insecurity and poverty need sustainable alternatives , or they will have little choice beyond growing this cash crop out of desperation , ' he added . the report said there had been an increase in heroin use in china , laos , singapore and thailand in 2014 , driving demand for opium . the golden triangle -- a fabled area that straddles the borders of myanmar , laos and thailand along the mekong river -- was once the largest heroin-producing area in the world but eradication efforts in the late 1990s and early 2000s saw cultivation fall . but production has seen a resurgence since 2006 thanks in part to closer regional integration and better transport infrastructure boosting trade . afghanistan is the world 's biggest cultivator of opium poppies . | myanmar accounts for the vast majority of the region 's poppy cultivation |
myanmar <tsp> hong kong ( cnn ) opium production in southeast asia 's golden triangle ' has tripled since 2006 , fueling an illicit drugs trade worth $ 16.3 billion , a new united nations report says . poppy cultivation in myanmar and laos stood at 63,800 hectares in 2014 , compared with 61,200 hectares in 2013 -- increasing for an eighth year , the u.n. office on drugs and crime said in its southeast asia opium survey 2014 . the region produced approximately 762 tons of opium , which was most likely made into 76 tons of heroin , it said . myanmar accounts for the vast majority of the region 's poppy cultivation . production is particularly entrenched in the northern shan state , near the chinese border , where it 's a staple part of the economy and helps fund rebel groups , the report added . surveys of farmers indicate that , for many , the money made from poppy cultivation is an essential part of family income and support , ' said yury fedetov , the executive director of the united nations on drugs and crime , said . villages threatened with food insecurity and poverty need sustainable alternatives , or they will have little choice beyond growing this cash crop out of desperation , ' he added . the report said there had been an increase in heroin use in china , laos , singapore and thailand in 2014 , driving demand for opium . the golden triangle -- a fabled area that straddles the borders of myanmar , laos and thailand along the mekong river -- was once the largest heroin-producing area in the world but eradication efforts in the late 1990s and early 2000s saw cultivation fall . but production has seen a resurgence since 2006 thanks in part to closer regional integration and better transport infrastructure boosting trade . afghanistan is the world 's biggest cultivator of opium poppies . | poppy cultivation in myanmar and laos rose to 63,800 hectares in 2014 |
colombia <tsp> ( cnn ) -- new details emerged monday about a former american soldier that colombian rebels have said they are holding hostage and plan to release . kevin scott sutay served in the u.s. army from november 2009 to march 2013 and deployed to afghanistan from november 2010 to november 2011 , according to the u.s. defense department . he is from willow spring , north carolina , and won a number of awards , including an army commendation medal and a national defense service medal . the pentagon lists his rank as private . the revolutionary armed forces of colombia said in a statement on friday that it had been holding sutay for about a month and would free him as a gesture of good will . the rebels described him as an american soldier , saying they would release him as a gesture ' to advance peace talks . they pointed to his capture to back up accusations that the u.s. military is operating in their country . a state department official said over the weekend the united states was aware of reports that an american citizen had been kidnapped and was working with colombian authorities to get more information . colombian defense minister juan carlos pinzon criticized the apparent kidnapping and called for his immediate release . but he also noted that the american had been warned to be cautious and avoid certain areas . the information that we have collected indicates that this american citizen came to this area of the country and even at the time the police warned him not to enter certain areas , ' pinzon said . the rebels , who have been at war with the colombian government for decades , said they captured sutay on june 20 after he entered colombia after going through mexico , honduras , costa rica and nicaragua . they did not provide specifics on the circumstances of his capture . farc said it hopes his release will boost peace talks between the government and rebels , and is asking for colombian and red cross delegates to pick him up . the government initiated preliminary peace talks last year . pinzon said the apparent kidnapping showed the rebel group 's promises have been disingenuous in the past . this organization had promised not to kidnap and they kidnapped an ordinary citizen , ' he said . it is absurd that they continue abusing with promises that , it seems , continue to be false . ' cnn 's jamie crawford and catherine e. shoichet contributed to this report . | an american who colombia rebels say they 're holding is a former soldier |
fernández <tsp> ( financial times ) -- a us appeals court has put on hold a new york judge 's order for argentina to pay $ 1.3bn into escrow for holders of its defaulted debt by december 15 , quelling fears of an imminent default . the second circuit court of appeals granted the stay and set a hearing for february 27 . there was no immediate reaction from the argentine government . last week , judge thomas griesa of new york ordered buenos aires to make the escrow payment at the same time as it is due to pay more than $ 3bn to holders of restructured debt . the government had requested the stay in an emergency motion filed late on monday and has since floated the idea of asking congress to lift a so-called lock law in order to reopen a debt swap to holdout creditors led by the us fund elliott associates , but with a tough writedown . the holdouts refused debt swaps in 2005 and 2010 , which restructured about 93 per cent of the almost $ 100bn on which argentina defaulted in 2001 . the government is barred by law from making them any better offer . we are waiting for the appeals court decision . until there is a decision on the matter , we have nothing to add to what we have said in recent days , ' hernán lorenzino , the economy minister , told reporters hours before that court ruled . the court said argentina must now file papers by december 28 . amicus briefs and papers from other interested parties -- including holders of restructured debt led by gramercy and including brevan howard , one of the world 's biggest hedge funds -- are due by january 4 . the elliott-led parties then have until january 25 to make their case and argentina has until february 1 to reply before the hearing . after december , argentina 's next payment on its restructured bonds is due in march . the second circuit 's order signals its understanding of the serious constitutional and equitable issues at stake , ' said sean o'shea , a lawyer for the exchange bondholders . the stay issued late today ensures that the exchange bondholders will receive their rightful payments through december , and the court can carefully consider the significant issues and interests that are involved before rendering its final ruling . ' president cristina fernández had earlier said argentina would keep paying . when the swap was last opened , we reached 93 per cent acceptance . we have paid on time since 2005 , without access to the [ international ] capital market , with our own resources . and we are going to continue to do so because we are going to honour our commitments as befits a country which has recovered its self-esteem , ' she told an industrialists´conference also attended by president dilma rousseff of brazil . argentina 's suggestion that it could reopen the swap again was greeted enthusiastically by political and business leaders at home . analysts say it is a belated concession to vulture funds ' , to whom the government has until now vowed never to pay a dime . but it is not one that will necessarily sway the court , let alone the holdouts ' who spurned the two previous offers . nor is it likely to resolve an intractable dispute that threatens to trigger a new default . indeed , on tuesday fitch ratings slashed argentina 's sovereign credit rating five steps to cc from b on increased probability ' of a default . adam lerrick , a scholar at the american enterprise institute ( aei ) think-tank and former chief negotiator of the argentine bond restructuring agency , the nation 's biggest creditor in the 2005 swap , said : simply reopening the exchange is unlikely to satisfy the court 's concerns . the holdouts will not accept a reopening . a reopening is simply a way to show that the holdouts have not been disenfranchised of their rights . ' argentina passed the lock law at the end of 2004 to twist bondholders'arms to accept a tough restructuring in 2005 that offered about 30 cents on the dollar . holders of about three-quarters of the almost $ 100bn on which argentina defaulted in 2001 took the haircut ' . but with a chunk of debt still outstanding and increasing holdout litigation , argentina suspended the lock law at the end of 2009 and reopened the exchange . after two good-faith offers , the government considered the holdouts history . ms fernández said a ruling that did not take account of the 93 per cent was absolutely inequitable ' . she said argentina had become a countermodel ' to the international monetary fund´s recommendations in a world in which financial capital and its derivatives have set themselves up as masters . . . and want to punish us¨ . miguel kiguel , an economist , said talk of lifting the lock law was obviously coming a bit late . . . they only did it now because they´re on the ropes ' . if argentina does end up having to pay the holdouts more than the restructured creditors , it could trigger more litigation . but as mr lerrick noted : the'most favoured lender provision'of the new bonds expires on december 31 2014 . from january 1 2015 , argentina can settle with the holdouts without any obligation to pay additional amounts to the exchange bondholders . ' © the financial times limited 2012 | president fernández has said argentina would keep paying as befits a country which has recovered its self-esteem ' |
playstation 4 <tsp> ( cnn ) -- sony 's big wednesday event in new york for the new playstation 4 was streamed live online around the world -- filled with gameplay , tech talk and a display of new features . curious gamers watched , flocking to twitter and other social sites to share their thoughts . perhaps ironically , not everyone was a fan of the ps4 's ability to share via social sites . lead system architect mark cerny outlined a menu of new social features built in to the ps4 such as sharing gameplay with friends , being connected through existing social networks and monitoring what you play and what you purchase . why does sony think we want to tell everyone about what games we 're playing ? ' andrew meskill wrote on twitter . i want to sit in a dark room on my own with a pad . ' in the gaming world , some said , sharing is n't always a plus . i would much rather figure out how to beat the game myself rather than have someone complete it for me , ' chris jarvis tweeted . and in the social age , whenever there 's talk of sharing , inevitably the discussion turns to privacy concerns . 'this system is very aware of the player and whatever is going on in the room at any given point , ' tweeted jason evangelho , a tech contributor for forbes . i do not want this , do you ? ' but dennis fong , ceo of gaming-oriented social site raptr , told cnn he thinks the social sharing feature built in to the ps4 is exactly what next-generation devices should be doing . the ability to capture an image , video , or instantly broadcast what 's on your screen to your friends is transformational for the new generation of consoles , ' fong said . providing players community tools to create content for your game in the form of videos and live broadcasts is not simply a cool feature for gamers but also great for business . user-generated content keeps players engaged with the game even while they are n't playing it and also attracts new users from the buzz generated around this content . ' but features aside , a gaming system is only as good as its games . that theme started early in the day when gamers on twitter created the trending hashtag # playstationmemories . many used it to recall fondly playing classic titles such as crash bandicoot ' or spyro the dragon ' on the original playstation console . sony showed off how powerful the ps4 will be with in-game footage and demos from a handful of new titles , including updates to the killzone ' and infamous ' franchises . their visuals and gameplay demos induced a lot of digital drooling . the pre-release video of'killzone 2'convinced me to get a ps3 .'killzone 4'might 've just done the same for the # ps4 . outstanding ! ' jon lomas wrote about the demo for killzone : shadow fall . ' even brand new games , such as deep down ' from capcom , drew praise despite not showing any in-game footage . lauren anne liked what she saw when a dragon appeared on screen . oh yes ! deep down is going to be my top purchase for ps4 ! ' she tweeted . dragons and gorgeous graphics are win-win for me ! ' but the snark twitter is famous for was evident during the rollout of infamous : second son , ' a game set in a dystopian future where cameras monitor your every move . ironically , this game is coming out on a system that will track & broadcast every damn thing you do or play or buy , ' wrote game informer senior features editor matt helgeson . some folks did n't like that while tons of details were rolled out , the playstation 4 console was n't displayed wednesday . # 2hoursillnevergetback , ' tweeted one user in the site 's hashtag-as-punchline style . richard preston went with a more established internet catchphrase . pic or it did n't happen , ' he wrote . in the end , most who paid attention seemed impressed with what they saw . but not all were ready to hand sony the console-wars victory . # ps4 looking nice , but ca n't wait to see what # microsoft has , ' wrote one user . the ball is in your court now . ' many gaming insiders predict that microsoft will show off its new console -- possibly the xbox 720 -- at the electronic entertainment expo in june . that would likely mean new consoles from the two rivals both will hit the market in time for the holidays . | gamers react to news about the new playstation 4 |
interior ministry <tsp> a gunman in an afghan national army uniform and another man shot dead two nato soldiers at a combat outpost in southern afghanistan thursday , authorities said . the dead soldiers were americans , according to niaz mohammad sarhadi , the district chief in kandahar province , where the shooting happened . the nato-led international security assistance force , however , did not immediately specify the service members'nationalities . thursday 's shooting was the third at a base or government building since news emerged that u.s. troops mistakenly burned qurans and other religious materials early last week -- an incident that has sparked outrage , protests , and violence across afghanistan . all three shootings were carried out by men in official clothing . four americans were killed in the earlier attacks . if the troops killed thursday are indeed american , that would bring the death toll from the three attacks to six . a top u.s. lawmaker last month cited at least 42 attacks by afghan security forces on their international allies in the past five years . rep. buck mckeon , who chairs the armed services committee , said 39 of the attacks were by members of the afghan national security force and three were by contractors . though less than 1 % of afghan forces and security guards have attacked coalition forces , this is 42 attacks too many and the new process must do better , ' he said at a congressional hearing . most attackers were acting on their own , rather than being puppets of insurgent groups , defense officials testified . france suspended its operations in afghanistan after four french soldiers were killed by afghan counterparts in eastern kapisa province in january . that shooting came after another afghan soldier killed two french soldiers in december . the french army is not in afghanistan to be shot at by afghan soldiers , ' french president nicolas sarkozy said after the shootings . coalition forces responding to thursday 's incident killed the two gunmen , said capt . justin brockhoff , an isaf spokesman . sarhadi said one gunman was an afghan national army soldier and the other , dressed in civilian clothes , was a teacher who formerly ran literacy courses for afghan army soldiers . afghan civilians are sometimes used to teach afghan soldiers english to improve their ability to work alongside isaf . it appeared that the teacher had been planning the attack for at least a year , sarhadi said , because officials found pictures and other documents related to the taliban among his possessions . u.s. officials have called the quran burning an error by troops who were inadvertently given the qurans and other religious materials to dispose of because they were thought to contain extremist inscriptions . u.s. president barack obama has apologized for the burning . still , gunmen have targeted u.s. troops in the days following the burning . a man wearing an afghan national army uniform killed two american soldiers at a base in eastern nangarhar province early last week . over the weekend , two senior u.s. officers were gunned down inside the heavily secure afghan interior ministry when a junior intelligence officer turned his gun on them . the gunman , who had been fired by the ministry but recently rejoined as a driver , is still on the loose . the incident prompted the united states to pull military advisers and embedded civilians from afghan ministries , and france announced it was temporarily withdrawing all of its public officials in afghan institutions to ensure their safety . the unrest following the quran burning has left at least 41 people dead , including the two deaths thursday , and hundreds more wounded . at least nine people were killed and 12 wounded in an explosion monday near the front gate of the isaf base at jalalabad airport in eastern afghanistan . there were no nato casualties in the bombing . the taliban insurgency said the attack was in retaliation for the quran burning . in northern kunduz province over the weekend , protesters attacked a police chief 's office and a u.s. military base , afghan and u.s. authorities said . some threw hand grenades at the base , known as combat outpost fortitude , and the resulting blasts wounded seven u.s. personnel believed to be special forces members , they said . demonstrations outside the united nations office in kunduz on saturday left four civilians dead and prompted the u.n. mission there to say monday that it is temporarily relocating its international staff . u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton said sunday the unrest and targeting of americans has gotten out of hand ' and needs to stop . the obama administration feels the afghans have not done enough to stem the violence , according to a senior u.s. official who has access to the latest intelligence and is involved in administration discussions , but declined to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the situation . we are not going to settle for what has happened to our troops in recent days , ' the official said . the u.s. ambassador to afghanistan , ryan crocker , maintained sunday that the afghan security forces have given their lives to control the demonstrations and protect u.s. installations . crocker said the afghans are very much in this fight trying to protect us . ' after the interior ministry shooting , lt. col. jimmie cummings , an isaf spokesman , said the united states would not let the incident divide the coalition . | coalition forces have pulled staff from afghan ministries after the interior ministry shooting |
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