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england <tsp> ( cnn ) -- england went into the rugby world cup quarterfinals on saturday after a dramatic late 16-12 victory over scotland at eden park in new zealand . needing to win by more than seven points to reach the last eight , scotland led 12-3 with 24 minutes to go . but jonny wilkinson found his touch to deny scotland a famous victory , kicking a penalty and a drop kick before chris ashton scored a try with three minutes to go . scotland picked up a bonus point , but need georgia to beat argentina by more than seven points on sunday to reach the quarterfinals .'auld enemies'bring rivalry to new zealand ' it 's tough to take . we knew it would take an extraordinary effort to beat england today but once again we slipped at crucial times . it 's been the story of the last couple of weeks , ' said scotland captain alastair kellock . i 'm gutted , gutted . ' england were unbeaten in four group b matches and move on to a quarterfinal against france , whom they beat in the semifinals in paris four years ago . full credit to scotland , we knew this was going to be an incredibly tough game and they made it that way , ' said england skipper lewis moody . we 've come up on the right side of the result , but it was a tough game . ' france went through despite losing for the second time in group a , going down 19-14 against tonga in wellington on saturday in the biggest upset of the tournament so far . the pacific islanders needed a bonus-point win , but fell short as les bleus went through in second place behind unbeaten new zealand -- who face canada on sunday . we played really bad rugby , ' france captain thierry dusautoir said . congratulations to tonga . they played with their hearts . we made too many mistakes and just could n't play a good game . now we have got to sit down and talk about what we did today . ' tonga 's only try came in the 27th minute through scrumhalf taniela moa , with kurt morath converting for a 10-6 halftime lead . morath made it 19-9 in the 71st minute after two second-half penalties , as france replacement fabrice estebanez was sin-binned , but a late try by vincent clerc made it safe for the 2007 tournament hosts . two-time world champions australia clinched a quarterfinal place by beating russia 68-22 in nelson , but could lose drew mitchell for the rest of the competition . the winger scored two of the wallabies'10 tries before suffering a suspected torn hamstring russia coach nikolay nerush stood down after a fourth successive defeat in the nation 's first world cup appearance , but can take some heart after his side scored three tries against a team who had conceded just one in three previous matches . ireland can regain top spot in group c by beating third-placed italy on sunday , meaning australia would play world champions south africa in the last eight . italy can also go through with a victory which would eliminate the irish depending on bonus points , and give nick mallett 's team a clash against the springboks side he once coached . wales and fiji will battle for second place in group d on sunday , with the british side needing just one point to progress . | england reach world cup quarterfinals after dramatic 16-12 victory over scotland |
england <tsp> ( cnn ) -- england went into the rugby world cup quarterfinals on saturday after a dramatic late 16-12 victory over scotland at eden park in new zealand . needing to win by more than seven points to reach the last eight , scotland led 12-3 with 24 minutes to go . but jonny wilkinson found his touch to deny scotland a famous victory , kicking a penalty and a drop kick before chris ashton scored a try with three minutes to go . scotland picked up a bonus point , but need georgia to beat argentina by more than seven points on sunday to reach the quarterfinals .'auld enemies'bring rivalry to new zealand ' it 's tough to take . we knew it would take an extraordinary effort to beat england today but once again we slipped at crucial times . it 's been the story of the last couple of weeks , ' said scotland captain alastair kellock . i 'm gutted , gutted . ' england were unbeaten in four group b matches and move on to a quarterfinal against france , whom they beat in the semifinals in paris four years ago . full credit to scotland , we knew this was going to be an incredibly tough game and they made it that way , ' said england skipper lewis moody . we 've come up on the right side of the result , but it was a tough game . ' france went through despite losing for the second time in group a , going down 19-14 against tonga in wellington on saturday in the biggest upset of the tournament so far . the pacific islanders needed a bonus-point win , but fell short as les bleus went through in second place behind unbeaten new zealand -- who face canada on sunday . we played really bad rugby , ' france captain thierry dusautoir said . congratulations to tonga . they played with their hearts . we made too many mistakes and just could n't play a good game . now we have got to sit down and talk about what we did today . ' tonga 's only try came in the 27th minute through scrumhalf taniela moa , with kurt morath converting for a 10-6 halftime lead . morath made it 19-9 in the 71st minute after two second-half penalties , as france replacement fabrice estebanez was sin-binned , but a late try by vincent clerc made it safe for the 2007 tournament hosts . two-time world champions australia clinched a quarterfinal place by beating russia 68-22 in nelson , but could lose drew mitchell for the rest of the competition . the winger scored two of the wallabies'10 tries before suffering a suspected torn hamstring russia coach nikolay nerush stood down after a fourth successive defeat in the nation 's first world cup appearance , but can take some heart after his side scored three tries against a team who had conceded just one in three previous matches . ireland can regain top spot in group c by beating third-placed italy on sunday , meaning australia would play world champions south africa in the last eight . italy can also go through with a victory which would eliminate the irish depending on bonus points , and give nick mallett 's team a clash against the springboks side he once coached . wales and fiji will battle for second place in group d on sunday , with the british side needing just one point to progress . | england will next face france , who went through despite loss to tonga |
carlsbad <tsp> it 's been a cruel irony for ancient mariners and any thirsty person who has ever gazed upon a sparkling blue ocean : water , water everywhere , and not a drop to drink . but imagine a coastal city of the future , say in 2035 . along with basic infrastructure such as a port , roads , sewer lines and an electrical grid , it 's increasingly likely this city by the sea will contain a newer feature . a desalination plant . thanks to improved technology , turning ocean water into freshwater is becoming more economically feasible . and a looming global water crisis may make it crucial to the planet 's future . the united nations predicts that by 2025 , two-thirds of the world 's population will suffer water shortages , especially in the developing world and the parched middle east . scientists say climate change is making the problem worse . even in the united states , demand for water in drought-ravaged california and the desert southwest is outpacing supply . this is why a huge desalination plant is under construction in carlsbad , california , some 30 miles north of san diego . when completed in 2016 , it will be the largest such facility in the western hemisphere and create 50 million gallons of freshwater a day . whenever a drought exacerbates freshwater supplies in california , people tend to look toward the ocean for an answer , ' said jennifer bowles , executive director of the california-based water education foundation . it is , after all , a seemingly inexhaustible supply . ' a growing trend most desalination technology follows one of two methods : distillation through thermal energy or the use of membranes to filter salt from water . in the distillation process , saltwater is heated to produce water vapor , which is then condensed and collected as freshwater . the other method employs reverse osmosis to pump seawater through semi-permeable membranes -- paper-like filters with microscopic holes -- that trap the salt while allowing freshwater molecules to pass through . the remaining salty water is then pumped back into the ocean . officials at the carlsbad plant say they can covert two gallons of seawater into one gallon of freshwater by filtering out 99.9 % of the salt . there are some 16,000 desalination plants on the planet , and their numbers are rising . the amount of desalted water produced around the world has more than tripled since 2000 , according to the center for inland desalination systems at the university of texas at el paso . desalination is growing in arid regions , ' said tom davis , director of the center . we are making progress in the usa , but the countries around the persian gulf are way ahead in the use of desalination , primarily because they have no alternative supplies of freshwater . ' israel , in an arid region with a coastline on the mediterranean , meets half its freshwater needs through desalination . australia , algeria , oman , saudi arabia and the united arab emirates also rely heavily on the ocean for their municipal water . in the united states , desalination projects are concentrated in coastal states such as california , florida and texas . some environmentalists are wary of desalination , which consumes large amounts of energy , produces greenhouse gases and kills vital marine organisms that are sucked into intake pipes . but proponents believe the technology offers a long-term , sustainable solution to the globe 's water shortages . one entrepreneur has even built an experimental solar desalination plant in california 's san joaquin valley . when other freshwater sources are depleted , desalination will be our best choice , ' said davis , a utep professor of engineering . california dreaming within the united states , the water crisis is especially severe in california , which has been stricken by drought over the last three years . california 's biggest source of freshwater is the snow that falls in the sierras and other mountains , where it slowly melts into creeks and makes its way into aquifers and reservoirs . but if the planet continues to grow warmer , snow will increasingly fall as rain and will be harder to collect because it will swell creeks faster and create more flooding , said bowles of the water education foundation . seventeen desalination plants are being built or planned along the state 's 840-mile coastline . city officials in santa barbara recently voted to reactivate their desalination plant , which was built in 1991 but shut after heavy rains filled nearby reservoirs in the early 1990s . another $ 200 million facility has been proposed for the bay area , although construction wo n't likely begin for several years . the key question with ocean desalination is how much are you willing to pay for it ? the amount of energy required to desalt ocean water can be daunting , ' said bowles , adding that operating costs at the santa barbara plant alone are estimated at $ 5 million per year . but advocates believe the price of desalination will continue to decrease as the process improves . this will be true of the massive carlsbad plant , said bob yamada , water resources manager with the san diego county water authority . the cost for this water will be about double what it costs us to import water into san diego , ' yamada said . however , over time we expect that the cost of desalinated water will equal , and be less than , the cost of imported water . that may take 15 or 20 years , but we expect that to occur . ' ultimately , experts say , municipalities will need to balance desalination projects with conservation and water from more traditional sources , such as rivers , reservoirs and recycled wastewater . you ca n't get all your water from one source and have that source be hundreds of miles away , ' said peter maclaggan , senior vice president at poseidon resources corporation , which is leading development of the carlsbad plant . when and if the drought does come , and you do n't have enough snowpack in the sierras -- after 12 dry years the rockies are seeing the impact of that today -- you 've got ( water ) sources here within the boundaries of san diego county , ' he said . we have a $ 190 billion economy in this region . it 's dependent on water to sustain that economy . so the question you need to consider , is'what 's the cost of not having enough water ?'' drought-ravaged california turns to tech for help | a huge desalination plant is under construction in carlsbad , california |
bay area council <tsp> ( cnn ) -- san francisco 's public transit strike was in its third day wednesday , with the financial toll so far likely to top $ 200 million , economists estimate . negotiations between bay area rapid transit and union leaders stretched until nearly 3 a.m. wednesday , cnn affiliate kgo reported . progress was made , but no deal was reached . we decided we would make more progress if we get more sleep , ' said josie mooney , chief negotiator for the service employees international union in the talks , according to kgo . the two sides returned to the table at 1 p.m. wednesday , and california gov . jerry brown appointed two new high-level mediators to handle negotiations , the station reported . about 400,000 daily commuters use bart . the bay area council economic institute says its conservative estimate ' finds that lost worker productivity alone is costing the region at least $ 73 million a day . the loss of economic activity could add tens of millions of dollars to that figure , the council said . the strike is also having a costly environmental impact , ' the council said . increased traffic congestion is generating almost 16 million pounds of carbon , and wasting almost 800,000 gallons of gas every day at a cost of almost $ 3.3 million . ' bart planned limited charter bus service for those working on independence day in case no deal is reached wednesday . regardless of when the strike ends , bart said , it will still take about 18 hours for train service to resume . the dispute centers on pay and benefits . unions asked for a 21 % pay increase . bart initially offered to increase salaries by 4 % over four years , but later proposed an 8 % increase ; that was on top of a 1 % increase scheduled to go into effect monday . roxanne sanchez , president of seiu local 1021 , said workers are fed up . years of layoffs have affected public safety and services . crippling cuts have not just made our jobs more difficult , but put undue strain on our livelihoods , our families and our communities , ' she said in a written statement . we are sorry that the actions of atu and seiu have caused such a tremendous disruption to the people of the bay area , ' bart said in a statement tuesday announcing no indication ' that employees would return to work wednesday . we are working hard to bring a fair and responsible resolution to labor talks . bart is the nation 's fifth-largest all-rail train system in the united states , with 44 stations in 26 cities that make up the bay area , according to the transit authority . it handles more than 40 % of bay area commuters , according to cnn affiliate kpix . a study last year found san francisco among the 10 cities with the worst commutes . | increased traffic is generating 16 million pounds of carbon , the bay area council says |
cnn <tsp> ( cnn ) -- san francisco 's public transit strike was in its third day wednesday , with the financial toll so far likely to top $ 200 million , economists estimate . negotiations between bay area rapid transit and union leaders stretched until nearly 3 a.m. wednesday , cnn affiliate kgo reported . progress was made , but no deal was reached . we decided we would make more progress if we get more sleep , ' said josie mooney , chief negotiator for the service employees international union in the talks , according to kgo . the two sides returned to the table at 1 p.m. wednesday , and california gov . jerry brown appointed two new high-level mediators to handle negotiations , the station reported . about 400,000 daily commuters use bart . the bay area council economic institute says its conservative estimate ' finds that lost worker productivity alone is costing the region at least $ 73 million a day . the loss of economic activity could add tens of millions of dollars to that figure , the council said . the strike is also having a costly environmental impact , ' the council said . increased traffic congestion is generating almost 16 million pounds of carbon , and wasting almost 800,000 gallons of gas every day at a cost of almost $ 3.3 million . ' bart planned limited charter bus service for those working on independence day in case no deal is reached wednesday . regardless of when the strike ends , bart said , it will still take about 18 hours for train service to resume . the dispute centers on pay and benefits . unions asked for a 21 % pay increase . bart initially offered to increase salaries by 4 % over four years , but later proposed an 8 % increase ; that was on top of a 1 % increase scheduled to go into effect monday . roxanne sanchez , president of seiu local 1021 , said workers are fed up . years of layoffs have affected public safety and services . crippling cuts have not just made our jobs more difficult , but put undue strain on our livelihoods , our families and our communities , ' she said in a written statement . we are sorry that the actions of atu and seiu have caused such a tremendous disruption to the people of the bay area , ' bart said in a statement tuesday announcing no indication ' that employees would return to work wednesday . we are working hard to bring a fair and responsible resolution to labor talks . bart is the nation 's fifth-largest all-rail train system in the united states , with 44 stations in 26 cities that make up the bay area , according to the transit authority . it handles more than 40 % of bay area commuters , according to cnn affiliate kpix . a study last year found san francisco among the 10 cities with the worst commutes . | gov . jerry brown appoints new mediators , cnn affiliate kgo reports |
chen guangcheng <tsp> beijing ( cnn ) -- a chinese musician famous for playing a two-stringed fiddle , a 1994 hollywood drama about two prison inmates , a united airlines flight bound for washington and cnn -- what do they have in common ? if you try to search abing , ' the shawshank redemption , ' ua898 ' and cnn ' on sina weibo , china 's equivalent of twitter , you receive this terse message : according to relevant laws and policies , results are not displayed . ' these terms have joined a fast-growing list of keywords blocked by chinese censors as they try to prevent the public from obtaining news on a prominent human rights activist who recently escaped his more than 18 months of house arrest in eastern china . chen guangcheng is now in the u.s. embassy in beijing , and american and chinese officials are scrambling to resolve his situation , his friends and supporters have said . in a video posted online friday , the blind activist recounted the brutal treatment he and his family received during confinement . while chen 's plight and dramatic escape have made top headlines around the world , news outlets in china , all of which are state-controlled , have mostly ignored the story . clinton traveling to china amid tensions over chen major web portals and social networking sites , though not state-owned , have to comply with strict government censorship rules -- or risk being shut down . after launching a campaign to clean up rampant online rumors , ' chinese authorities in late march ordered the country 's leading micro-blogging sites -- including sina weibo -- to disable their comment function for three days . outside a busy beijing subway station monday , cnn randomly asked more than three dozen people about chen -- only two had heard of him and his escape . one of the two , a young man who declined to give his name , said : it was all over weibo for a while before the topic was censored . ' it 's a typical response by officials and quite a successful strategy in making it extremely difficult to spread information beyond some small circles of activists , ' explained jeremy goldkorn , a leading commentator on china 's social media . but people interested in such things will still manage to find out . ' they also get creative in chinese cyberspace to evade censors , especially on the popular sina weibo site , where a third of china 's more than 500 million internet users share news and information . with chen guangcheng 's name long-since banned , netizens have come up with various code words . the obvious ones , like his initials cgc ' or blind man , ' were caught by censors quickly and added to the search blacklist . then people tried abing , the famous early 20th century chinese musician who was also blind . the shawshank redemption ' was used to tell chen 's saga as some see the parallel in the storyline of inmates -- chen was a prisoner in his own home -- enduring great suffering before eventually breaking free . the united flight number went viral online friday as chen was rumored to be on that plane en route the united states . it turned out to be a false alarm . cnn , like most other international news media , has followed chen 's story for years and provided extensive coverage on his situation since his escape . other newly banned keywords include chen 's home village dongshigu , ' u.s. embassy ' and pearl ' -- nickname of chen 's friend he peirong , who drove him to beijing and was taken into custody after the news broke . despite the official blackout , some chinese journalists have tried to spread the word in covert ways . on netease , one the country 's biggest web portals , editors monday morning posted a clip of a tv news story on the sudden early arrival ' of a senior u.s. official ahead of a scheduled visit by secretary of state hillary clinton later this week . one of the tags for the video was chen guangcheng . ' within a few hours , the 25-second clip has attracted some 25,000 comments . one of the top comments reads : i know why he came but i ca n't say it -- or i 'd be revealing state secrets . ' i took a screenshot of the webpage showing chen 's name and posted it on my sina weibo account . it was reposted several hundred times before censors removed it . chen 's name disappeared from the video tags on the netease page shortly after that . since friday , eight of my last ten weibo posts have fallen victim to the site 's censors . most of them are related to chen , including reaction from supporter and hollywood actor christian bale as well as links to my cnn stories . by monday afternoon , stevencnn ' -- my weibo name -- has become a banned search term . | chen guangcheng is now in the u.s. embassy in beijing after fleeing house arrest |
china <tsp> ( cnn ) -- china has developed a vaccine for swine flu and is set to become the first country in the world to begin mass inoculations , but there are concerns over possible side effects , the world health organization ( who ) has said . a swine flu vaccine has been approved in china and inoculations could begin in the next few weeks . who spokesman gregory hartl told cnn , we have to be ready for the fact that there might be adverse effects . ' no matter what vaccine you 're looking at , sometimes there are extremely rare side effects . we do n't even know what those are yet , but they will show up in one in every two or 10 million vaccinated . ' inoculations could begin in the next few weeks , according to the south china morning post , before celebrations begin on october 1 to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the people 's republic . the vaccine , panflu.1 , was developed by sinovac biotech ltd and is suitable for people aged three to 60 . sinovac says the single-shot vaccine has been approved by china 's national institute for the control of pharmaceutical and biological products and has obtained the certificate for the release of biological products . it says more than five million doses will be ready by the end of september . the south china morning post reports health minister chen zhu as saying that some 200,000 people taking part in the anniversary celebrations will be the first to receive the vaccine . others considered to be high priority are students aged five to 19 , those with medical conditions , especially chronic respiratory and coronary diseases , and pregnant women . the inoculation program will also target medical staff and key workers , including police officers , soldiers and quarantine officials . chen said on tuesday that there have so far been 5592 recorded cases of h1n1 in china 's 31 inland provinces , but no one has yet died from the illness . due to the rising number of cases , especially since late august , we have indeed started seeing some serious cases , ' he said . the post reported that there are plans to vaccinate 65 million people before the end of the year and that chen admitted the amount of available vaccine was not nearly enough to inoculate the country 's population of 1.3 billion people . the chinese state food and drug administration ( sfda ) last week approved two factories to produce the vaccine -- sinovac , based in beijing , and hualan biological engineering , based in henan -- according to the post . but it reports the sfda has announced that more qualified enterprises which could produce swine flu vaccines ' would be licensed by the end of september . hartl said that in europe , several drug firms are set to submit clinical trial data in the next few weeks , with glaxosmithkline likely to be among the first . weidong yin , ceo of sinovac , said last week , with the support of the ministry of health , state sfda , and chinese center for disease control and prevention , sinovac was able to successfully and rapidly complete the clinical trials and registration process for the h1n1 vaccine . ' | china has approved a swine-flu vaccine and is set to begin inoculations |
china <tsp> ( cnn ) -- china has developed a vaccine for swine flu and is set to become the first country in the world to begin mass inoculations , but there are concerns over possible side effects , the world health organization ( who ) has said . a swine flu vaccine has been approved in china and inoculations could begin in the next few weeks . who spokesman gregory hartl told cnn , we have to be ready for the fact that there might be adverse effects . ' no matter what vaccine you 're looking at , sometimes there are extremely rare side effects . we do n't even know what those are yet , but they will show up in one in every two or 10 million vaccinated . ' inoculations could begin in the next few weeks , according to the south china morning post , before celebrations begin on october 1 to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the people 's republic . the vaccine , panflu.1 , was developed by sinovac biotech ltd and is suitable for people aged three to 60 . sinovac says the single-shot vaccine has been approved by china 's national institute for the control of pharmaceutical and biological products and has obtained the certificate for the release of biological products . it says more than five million doses will be ready by the end of september . the south china morning post reports health minister chen zhu as saying that some 200,000 people taking part in the anniversary celebrations will be the first to receive the vaccine . others considered to be high priority are students aged five to 19 , those with medical conditions , especially chronic respiratory and coronary diseases , and pregnant women . the inoculation program will also target medical staff and key workers , including police officers , soldiers and quarantine officials . chen said on tuesday that there have so far been 5592 recorded cases of h1n1 in china 's 31 inland provinces , but no one has yet died from the illness . due to the rising number of cases , especially since late august , we have indeed started seeing some serious cases , ' he said . the post reported that there are plans to vaccinate 65 million people before the end of the year and that chen admitted the amount of available vaccine was not nearly enough to inoculate the country 's population of 1.3 billion people . the chinese state food and drug administration ( sfda ) last week approved two factories to produce the vaccine -- sinovac , based in beijing , and hualan biological engineering , based in henan -- according to the post . but it reports the sfda has announced that more qualified enterprises which could produce swine flu vaccines ' would be licensed by the end of september . hartl said that in europe , several drug firms are set to submit clinical trial data in the next few weeks , with glaxosmithkline likely to be among the first . weidong yin , ceo of sinovac , said last week , with the support of the ministry of health , state sfda , and chinese center for disease control and prevention , sinovac was able to successfully and rapidly complete the clinical trials and registration process for the h1n1 vaccine . ' | there have been 5592 recorded cases of h1n1 in china 's 31 inland provinces |
corporate japan <tsp> tokyo , japan ( cnn ) -- change a few circumstances in her life and sakie fukushima says she would have been a housewife . she was raised to be a good japanese wife and homemaker , after all . that 's what was expected of women of her generation -- to sit behind their men , make their bentos , iron their shirts and watch them rise to lead japan 's economy . life did not go as fukushima expected . 60-year-old fukushima is one of japan 's most powerful executives , sitting on the board of both u.s. and japanese-based multi-national companies . the fact that she is a female in one of the most male-dominated business cultures is a stunning backstory in one woman 's remarkable ascent through the so-called bamboo ceiling . ' bamboo bends , and unlike glass , never breaks . but fukushima managed to crack through , by working for a u.s. company . i was lucky to be in a place where the hard work was appreciated , ' said fukushima , of her corporate beginnings at korn-ferry international . the american company saw her sales output , the highest in the asia-pacific region , as the reason for promotion . an american mentor and her supportive husband urged fukushima to push beyond her japanese cultural expectations . if i was to work for a japanese company , a large japanese company , i do n't think i would have come this far . ' the world economic forum 's global gender gap index ranks japan 101 out of 134 countries . part of the reason for the low ranking is that just 1.4 percent of japanese executives are women . what that has meant for women in the workplace is they are pushed to traditionally female roles : secretary and store clerk . it is a dismal reality for the world 's second-largest economy , said beth brooke , ernst and young 's global vice chairwoman and a forbes magazine 100 most powerful woman . japan is a very homogeneous society . so on the spectrum of diversity , not just gender ; it is more difficult to embrace diversity because it 's not a terribly diverse culture to begin with . ' ironically , brooke believes the global economic slowdown and japan 's aging population is a chance to rediscover the people under-utilized in the workforce . i think we have an opportunity to change the conversation here . whether you 're a country or a company , you need growth . japan has an enormous opportunity , frankly , to see the opportunity to spark innovation through a gender lens of diversity . i think gender diversity is a big part of the solution . ' fukushima agreed , as she celebrates her recent appointment to the bridgestone corporation board . she is the first female to be elected to the japanese company 's boardroom . experimenting is the best way to say it , ' said fukushima , describing japan 's corporate sentiment toward women . they know they have to have diversity but they do n't know how to do it and how to use it effectively . as a result of increasing competition outside of japan from china and korea , the japanese business community has realized it has to change . they ca n't rely on the past successful model of the 1970s and '80s . they will have to increase diversity , change the way of doing business in order to compete . ' fukushima 's new colleague , bridgestone americas , inc. ceo and president gary garfield , said he is encouraged that his company in japan is catching up to other global companies . he calls having a female on the board a no-brainer . his advice to japanese companies : just branch out and do it . they 'll be stronger for it . i think they 'll be better companies for it . ' | first woman on board : corporate japan wants to change ; does n't know how |
scottish <tsp> edinburgh , scotland ( cnn ) -- the three main uk party leaders gave a joint promise tuesday that scotland will get extra powers if it opts to stay part of the united kingdom in a landmark vote in two days'time . opinion polls have put the pro-independence and pro-union camps neck-and-neck in the run-up to thursday 's referendum . with the survival of the 300-year-old union of england , scotland and wales as great britain on a knife-edge , uk prime minister david cameron of the conservatives , coalition partner nick clegg of the liberal democrats and labour leader ed miliband have joined forces to beg scotland to stay . in a pledge published on the front page of scotland 's daily record newspaper , the three leaders say that if scotland 's voters reject independence , work to devolve extensive new powers ' from the central government in westminster will start friday . the issue of spending on social welfare and health care , through the national health service , has been central to the pro-independence campaign . questions over the economy and taxation have also been key . in their promise , the leaders say we can state categorically that the final say on how much is spent on the nhs will be a matter for the scottish parliament . ' they conclude , people want to see change . a no vote will deliver faster , safer and better change than separation . ''once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' with a huge turnout expected for the referendum , both sides are desperate to win over the undecided voters who could hold the future of the united kingdom in their hands . in a speech monday in aberdeen , scotland , cameron made an emotional plea for scotland not to end the united kingdom as we know it ' and warned that there was no turning back if voters decide on independence . this is a decision that could break up our family of nations , and rip scotland from the rest of the uk , ' he said . and we must be very clear . there 's no going back from this . no rerun . this is a once-and-for-all decision . if scotland votes yes , the uk will split , and we will go our separate ways forever . ' cameron said he spoke for millions of people across the united kingdom -- including in scotland -- who would be heartbroken ' to see scotland leave , and he warned that it would be a painful divorce . ' photo blog : scottish teens face historic vote the yes scotland ' campaign , led by scotland 's first minister alex salmond , says that only by voting for independence can scotland be sure that it will have full control of its own taxation and spending . salmond , speaking in edinburgh on monday , called the vote a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity ' for scotland . nobody goes back ' from independence , he said . the evidence is that more and more people in scotland are wanting to put scotland 's future into scotland 's hands . ' the yes/no referendum question will ask voters , should scotland be an independent country ? ' scotland 's vote : what you need to know white house : we want a strong , robust uk white house spokesman josh earnest weighed into the debate monday , echoing remarks previously made by u.s. president barack obama . this is a decision for the people of scotland to make , ' he said . we certainly respect the right of individual scots to make a decision about the -- along these lines . but , you know , as the president himself said , we have an interest in seeing the united kingdom remain strong , robust , united and an effective partner . ' many unanswered questions revolve around defense if scotland votes for independence . the scottish national party , headed by salmond , has said it wants to remove the uk nuclear submarine fleet from scottish waters as soon as possible .'a fool 's errand' the debate has polarized opinion in the business world , as well as in political circles . the financial times published a full-page editorial last week headlined , the case for union is overwhelming . the path of separation is a fool 's errand . ' speaking to cnn 's christiane amanpour this week , editor lionel barber said , we really believe that it would be very dangerous and highly risky in terms of economics . ... we believe that the'yes'campaign has not answered important questions -- notably : what will the currency be ? we do n't know . ' the three main parties in westminster have said that an independent scotland would not be able to keep the pound . there are also unanswered questions about tax increases and the fiscal implications of independence , barber said . while the newspaper does not deny that scotland has the right to choose independence , he said , we are just pointing to the dangers of uncertainty , the price of uncertainty , which will affect ordinary people . ' salmond , who met with business leaders in edinburgh , said the impressive array ' of business leaders who back the independence campaign is a very strong point in the'yes'campaign . ' these are the people looking forward to the realization that scotland can have a more prosperous economy but also wants a more just society . and their voice and that combination of things is something that will carry a good deal of weight off the ballot sheet . ' cnn 's max foster reported from edinburgh , and laura smith-spark wrote and reported in london . | pro-independence chief alex salmond says scottish people want their future in their hands |
illinois <tsp> ( cnn ) six suspects linked to terrorist activity referred to syria and iraq as the beach , ' and used other coded language to avoid detection in the united states , authorities say . the bosnian immigrants , including a husband and a wife , were arrested this month in illinois and st. louis , according to court records released friday . three of the suspects are naturalized american citizens . a federal indictment alleges they communicated via social media and conspired to send money and military equipment to terrorists in syria and iraq . they allegedly shipped firearms accessories , military uniforms and combat boots through intermediaries in turkey . suspects named in the indictment are nihad rosic , armin harcevic , and married couple ramiz and sedina hodzic , all from st. louis , along with illinois residents mediha salkicevic and jasminka ramic . they face various charges , including conspiracy to kill , and sending money and weapons to terrorists , the indictment shows . also named in the indictment is abdullah ramo pazara , who allegedly traveled to syria and iraq to support terrorists . to support pazara , the suspects sought out backers in the u.s. and used the money to purchase military supplies , which they sent to him , the indictment said . they used coded words and nicknames on social media to avoid detection , referring to each other with titles such as lions or bosnian brothers , ' the indictment alleges . pazara traveled to syria in july 2013 , and allegedly started receiving money from the defendants within a month . shipments of military equipment soon followed , according to the indictment . federal prosecutors indicted the six suspects this month in st. louis county . information on their attorneys was not immediately available . | they were arrested this month in illinois and st. louis , according to court records |
nelson <tsp> democratic sen. ben nelson of nebraska announced tuesday that he will not run for re-election next year . nelson , 70 , said in a statement that it was time to step away from elective office , spend more time with my family , and look for ways to serve our state and nation . ' simply put : it is time to move on , ' nelson said in the statement . despite his record as a conservative democrat who sometimes voted against his party , nelson had been considered a top target of republicans heading into the 2012 elections . a former two-term governor of nebraska , nelson narrowly won election to the senate in 2000 and easily won re-election in 2006 . his departure increases the difficulty for democrats to retain their senate majority next year . democrats currently have a 53-47 margin in the senate , including two independents who caucus with them . in the 2012 elections , 23 of the 33 seats up for grabs are currently held by democrats and the two independents . so far , six other democratic senators and two republicans have announced they will retire instead of running for re-election next year . a senate democratic leadership aide , speaking on condition of not being identified , told cnn that party officials are reaching out to former nebraska sen. bob kerrey to possibly run for nelson 's seat . kerrey , 68 , is a medal of honor winner from the vietnam war who , like nelson , served as both a democratic governor and senator . nelson was known for looking out for his state 's interests , especially on agriculture issues . he sided with republicans on some high-profile issues , opposing the supreme court nomination of elena kagan and a climate-change measure pushed by the white house and democrats . president barack obama commended nelson for working with both parties during his career , saying in a statement it was a trait far too often overlooked in today 's politics . ' jim manley , the former long-time spokesman for senate majority leader harry reid , d-nevada , said nelson was often a thorn in harry reid 's side . ' however , manley said reid always respected the fact that nelson was trying to do what was best for nebraska . ' according to the senate democratic leadership aide , reid and sen. chuck schumer , d-new york , tried to convince nelson to stay in congress after nelson told a local newspaper a few weeks ago he was still deciding on whether to run . over the last several weeks , there were intense conversations with reid and schumer trying to make nelson understand how needed he was and how valued he is as a member of the caucus , ' the senate aide said . ultimately they understood that this is a personal decision . ' a democratic strategist who spoke on condition of not being identified characterized nelson 's decision as disloyal to the party . he typically takes the easy way out , ' the strategist said . the party has stood by him , but when the going gets tough , he abandons the party . ' in his statement , nelson called for those who will follow in my footsteps to look for common ground and to work together in bipartisan ways to do what 's best for the country , not just one political party . ' public office is a place for public service , not personal profit , ' nelson 's statement said . it 's about promoting the common good , not the agenda of the radical right or the radical left . it 's about fairness for all , not privileges for the few . and , it 's about protecting the rights of individuals , even if it angers the majority . i hope and believe i have fulfilled these principles to the best of my ability . ' | party officials are reaching out to former sen. bob kerrey regarding nelson 's seat |
nelson <tsp> democratic sen. ben nelson of nebraska announced tuesday that he will not run for re-election next year . nelson , 70 , said in a statement that it was time to step away from elective office , spend more time with my family , and look for ways to serve our state and nation . ' simply put : it is time to move on , ' nelson said in the statement . despite his record as a conservative democrat who sometimes voted against his party , nelson had been considered a top target of republicans heading into the 2012 elections . a former two-term governor of nebraska , nelson narrowly won election to the senate in 2000 and easily won re-election in 2006 . his departure increases the difficulty for democrats to retain their senate majority next year . democrats currently have a 53-47 margin in the senate , including two independents who caucus with them . in the 2012 elections , 23 of the 33 seats up for grabs are currently held by democrats and the two independents . so far , six other democratic senators and two republicans have announced they will retire instead of running for re-election next year . a senate democratic leadership aide , speaking on condition of not being identified , told cnn that party officials are reaching out to former nebraska sen. bob kerrey to possibly run for nelson 's seat . kerrey , 68 , is a medal of honor winner from the vietnam war who , like nelson , served as both a democratic governor and senator . nelson was known for looking out for his state 's interests , especially on agriculture issues . he sided with republicans on some high-profile issues , opposing the supreme court nomination of elena kagan and a climate-change measure pushed by the white house and democrats . president barack obama commended nelson for working with both parties during his career , saying in a statement it was a trait far too often overlooked in today 's politics . ' jim manley , the former long-time spokesman for senate majority leader harry reid , d-nevada , said nelson was often a thorn in harry reid 's side . ' however , manley said reid always respected the fact that nelson was trying to do what was best for nebraska . ' according to the senate democratic leadership aide , reid and sen. chuck schumer , d-new york , tried to convince nelson to stay in congress after nelson told a local newspaper a few weeks ago he was still deciding on whether to run . over the last several weeks , there were intense conversations with reid and schumer trying to make nelson understand how needed he was and how valued he is as a member of the caucus , ' the senate aide said . ultimately they understood that this is a personal decision . ' a democratic strategist who spoke on condition of not being identified characterized nelson 's decision as disloyal to the party . he typically takes the easy way out , ' the strategist said . the party has stood by him , but when the going gets tough , he abandons the party . ' in his statement , nelson called for those who will follow in my footsteps to look for common ground and to work together in bipartisan ways to do what 's best for the country , not just one political party . ' public office is a place for public service , not personal profit , ' nelson 's statement said . it 's about promoting the common good , not the agenda of the radical right or the radical left . it 's about fairness for all , not privileges for the few . and , it 's about protecting the rights of individuals , even if it angers the majority . i hope and believe i have fulfilled these principles to the best of my ability . ' | democratic sen. ben nelson announces he will not seek re-election |
nelson <tsp> democratic sen. ben nelson of nebraska announced tuesday that he will not run for re-election next year . nelson , 70 , said in a statement that it was time to step away from elective office , spend more time with my family , and look for ways to serve our state and nation . ' simply put : it is time to move on , ' nelson said in the statement . despite his record as a conservative democrat who sometimes voted against his party , nelson had been considered a top target of republicans heading into the 2012 elections . a former two-term governor of nebraska , nelson narrowly won election to the senate in 2000 and easily won re-election in 2006 . his departure increases the difficulty for democrats to retain their senate majority next year . democrats currently have a 53-47 margin in the senate , including two independents who caucus with them . in the 2012 elections , 23 of the 33 seats up for grabs are currently held by democrats and the two independents . so far , six other democratic senators and two republicans have announced they will retire instead of running for re-election next year . a senate democratic leadership aide , speaking on condition of not being identified , told cnn that party officials are reaching out to former nebraska sen. bob kerrey to possibly run for nelson 's seat . kerrey , 68 , is a medal of honor winner from the vietnam war who , like nelson , served as both a democratic governor and senator . nelson was known for looking out for his state 's interests , especially on agriculture issues . he sided with republicans on some high-profile issues , opposing the supreme court nomination of elena kagan and a climate-change measure pushed by the white house and democrats . president barack obama commended nelson for working with both parties during his career , saying in a statement it was a trait far too often overlooked in today 's politics . ' jim manley , the former long-time spokesman for senate majority leader harry reid , d-nevada , said nelson was often a thorn in harry reid 's side . ' however , manley said reid always respected the fact that nelson was trying to do what was best for nebraska . ' according to the senate democratic leadership aide , reid and sen. chuck schumer , d-new york , tried to convince nelson to stay in congress after nelson told a local newspaper a few weeks ago he was still deciding on whether to run . over the last several weeks , there were intense conversations with reid and schumer trying to make nelson understand how needed he was and how valued he is as a member of the caucus , ' the senate aide said . ultimately they understood that this is a personal decision . ' a democratic strategist who spoke on condition of not being identified characterized nelson 's decision as disloyal to the party . he typically takes the easy way out , ' the strategist said . the party has stood by him , but when the going gets tough , he abandons the party . ' in his statement , nelson called for those who will follow in my footsteps to look for common ground and to work together in bipartisan ways to do what 's best for the country , not just one political party . ' public office is a place for public service , not personal profit , ' nelson 's statement said . it 's about promoting the common good , not the agenda of the radical right or the radical left . it 's about fairness for all , not privileges for the few . and , it 's about protecting the rights of individuals , even if it angers the majority . i hope and believe i have fulfilled these principles to the best of my ability . ' | nelson was expected to face a tough republican challenge next year |
friso <tsp> ( cnn ) -- johan friso , the 43-year-old dutch prince who was injured in an avalanche at an austrian ski resort last week , has suffered brain damage , his doctor said friday . after the latest neurological test we conducted yesterday it became clear that the lack of oxygen ( to ) the brain of the patient caused massive damage , ' dr. wolfgang koller told cnn affiliate sbs nl . fifty minutes of reanimation is a very long time . one could also say too long , ' he added . our hope was that the relatively moderate level of hypothermia might have protected the brain somewhat . unfortunately this was not the case . ' friso , a son of queen beatrix of the netherlands , had been airlifted to hospital in innsbruck after the incident . he was skiing outside the bounds of the ski resort with friends at the resort of lech am arlberg when he was hit by an avalanche , a spokesman for the state of vorarlberg said . no one else in the group was injured . the prince was under the snow for a short period of time , ' the spokesman said . he was wearing an electronic beacon that helped rescuers quickly find him . lech am arlberg is in austria 's vorarlberg state , a popular skiing area in western austria . the town 's mayor told the station that we have hoped for a miracle . ' we have hoped that prince friso will recover again , ' said mayor ludwig muxel . there had been similar accidents and people nearly recovered fully . so we hoped that his health conditions would improve . ' the region 's avalanche agency reported there was a considerable to great chance of avalanches in lech last week . it cited new snowfall on top of a packed layer of snow that could cause snow slabs to slide off . | dutch prince johan friso has suffered from brain damage , his doctor says |
friso <tsp> ( cnn ) -- johan friso , the 43-year-old dutch prince who was injured in an avalanche at an austrian ski resort last week , has suffered brain damage , his doctor said friday . after the latest neurological test we conducted yesterday it became clear that the lack of oxygen ( to ) the brain of the patient caused massive damage , ' dr. wolfgang koller told cnn affiliate sbs nl . fifty minutes of reanimation is a very long time . one could also say too long , ' he added . our hope was that the relatively moderate level of hypothermia might have protected the brain somewhat . unfortunately this was not the case . ' friso , a son of queen beatrix of the netherlands , had been airlifted to hospital in innsbruck after the incident . he was skiing outside the bounds of the ski resort with friends at the resort of lech am arlberg when he was hit by an avalanche , a spokesman for the state of vorarlberg said . no one else in the group was injured . the prince was under the snow for a short period of time , ' the spokesman said . he was wearing an electronic beacon that helped rescuers quickly find him . lech am arlberg is in austria 's vorarlberg state , a popular skiing area in western austria . the town 's mayor told the station that we have hoped for a miracle . ' we have hoped that prince friso will recover again , ' said mayor ludwig muxel . there had been similar accidents and people nearly recovered fully . so we hoped that his health conditions would improve . ' the region 's avalanche agency reported there was a considerable to great chance of avalanches in lech last week . it cited new snowfall on top of a packed layer of snow that could cause snow slabs to slide off . | friso , a son of queen beatrix of the netherlands , was airlifted to hospital in innsbruck |
ivor van heerden <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a researcher who warned of hurricane katrina 's catastrophic damage sued louisiana state university on wednesday , accusing university officials of pushing him out of his job over his criticism of the army corps of engineers . ivor van heerden led the investigation into the failure of the levee system surrounding new orleans , which flooded when the levees failed during the 2005 storm . the inquiry put much of the blame for the disaster on the corps , which his lawsuit called an important funding source ' for lsu . the suit accuses lsu of putting the bureaucratic interests of university officials above the health and safety of millions of people who live in the path of the hurricanes that threaten the gulf coast every year . ' it argues that school officials engaged in illegal reprisal ' against van heerden , the deputy director of lsu 's hurricane center , because of his critical research and testimony about the levee system . van heerden was told in 2009 that his contract , which expires in may , would not be renewed . there was no immediate response from lsu officials to the complaint , which was filed in a state court in baton rouge on wednesday . in a statement issued wednesday afternoon , lsu chancellor michael martin said the decision not to renew van heerden 's job was made before martin joined the university administration , but he said he had reviewed the issue and am confident that the process was handled appropriately . ' lsu can not comment on confidential personnel matters or on pending litigation , but i can tell you that lsu wholeheartedly supports its faculty and values their research , teaching and scholarly publishing , ' martin said . lsu also values its role as the state 's flagship university , and , as such , will continue its work to help preserve louisiana 's coastline , mitigate hurricane damage and search for ways to protect the state 's coastal populations . ' katrina killed more than 1,800 people when it struck near the louisiana-mississippi state line in august 2005 . most of the dead were in or around new orleans , where more than three-quarters of the city flooded . van heerden has said the university barred him from testifying as an expert witness in a case against the corps of engineers . but he served as an adviser to the plaintiffs in that suit , which resulted in a finding of negligence against the agency in november . | ivor van heerden led inquiry into failure of new orleans levee system |
afghanistan <tsp> baghdad , iraq ( cnn ) -- a man identified as an iraqi journalist threw shoes at -- but missed -- president bush during a news conference sunday evening in baghdad , where bush was making a farewell visit . president bush , left , ducks a thrown shoe as iraqi prime minister nuri al-maliki tries to protect him sunday . bush ducked , and the shoes , flung one at a time , sailed past his head during the news conference with prime minister nuri al-maliki in his palace in the heavily fortified green zone . the shoe-thrower -- identified as muntadhar al-zaidi , an iraqi journalist with egypt-based al-baghdadia television network -- could be heard yelling in arabic : this is a farewell ... you dog ! ' while pinned on the ground by security personnel , he screamed : you killed the iraqis ! ' al-zaidi was dragged away . while al-zaidi was still screaming in another room , bush said : that was a size 10 shoe he threw at me , you may want to know . ' watch bush duck the shoes » hurling shoes at someone , or sitting so that the bottom of a shoe faces another person , is considered an insult among muslims . al-baghdadia issued a statement sunday demanding al-zaidi 's release . al-zaidi remained in custody monday while the iraqi judiciary decides whether he will face charges of assaulting al-maliki , a government official said . the official said al-zaidi is being tested for alcohol and drugs to determine if he was fully conscious during the incident . al-zaidi drew international attention in november 2007 when he was kidnapped while on his way to work in central baghdad . he was released three days later . bush had been lauding the conclusion of a security pact with iraq as journalists looked on . so what if the guy threw his shoe at me ? ' bush told a reporter in response to a question about the incident . let me talk about the guy throwing his shoe . it 's one way to gain attention . it 's like going to a political rally and having people yell at you . it 's like driving down the street and having people not gesturing with all five fingers . ... ' these journalists here were very apologetic . they ... said this does n't represent the iraqi people , but that 's what happens in free societies where people try to draw attention to themselves . ' bush then directed his comments to the security pact , which he and al-maliki were preparing to sign , hailing it as a major achievement ' but cautioning that there is more work to be done . ' all this basically says is we made good progress , and we will continue to work together to achieve peace , ' bush said . bush 's trip was to celebrate the conclusion of the security pact , called the strategic framework agreement and the status of forces agreement , the white house said . the pact will replace a u.n. mandate for the u.s. presence in iraq that expires at the end of this year . the agreement , reached after months of negotiations , sets june 30 , 2009 , as the deadline for u.s. combat troops to withdraw from all iraqi cities and towns . the date for all u.s. troops to leave iraq is december 31 , 2011 . bush called the passage of the pact a way forward to help the iraqi people realize the blessings of a free society . ' bush said the work has n't been easy , but it has been necessary for american security , iraqi hope and world peace . ' bush landed at baghdad international airport on sunday and traveled by helicopter to meet with president jalal talabani and his two vice presidents at talabani 's palace outside the green zone . it marked the first time he has been outside the heavily fortified green zone in baghdad without being on a military base . the visit was bush 's fourth since the u.s.-led invasion of iraq in march 2003 . afterward , talabani praised his u.s. counterpart as a great friend for the iraqi people ' and the man who helped us to liberate our country and to reach this day , which we have democracy , human rights , and prosperity gradually in our country . ' talabani said he and bush , who is slated to leave office next month , had spoken very frankly and friendly ' and expressed the hope that the two would remain friends even back in texas . ' for his part , bush said he had come to admire talabani and his vice presidents for their courage and for their determination to succeed . ' as the u.s. and iraqi national anthems played and iraqi troops looked on , he and the iraqi president walked along a red carpet . watch president bush and iraq 's president walk the red carpet » bush left iraq on sunday night and arrived monday morning in afghanistan , where he will met with president hamid karzai and speak with u.s. troops . in remarks to reporters , national security adviser stephen hadley , who traveled with bush , described the situation in iraq as in a transition . ' for the first time in iraq 's history and really the first time in the region , you have sunni , shia and kurds working together in a democratic framework to chart a way forward for their country , ' he said . on monday , new violence in iraq showed that work remains to be done . a suicide car bomb attack killed at least three people and wounded 31 others west of baghdad on monday , an iraqi interior ministry official said . the noontime bombing targeted civilians on a road between khan dhari and abu ghraib , according to the official . also , the u.s. military said three militants were killed and 13 others were detained in operations targeting al qaeda in iraq on sunday and monday . the incidents took place in baiji , tall sumayyir , tikrit , near the towns of abu ghraib , mahmoudiya and kirkuk . cnn 's jomana karadsheh and octavia nasr contributed to this report . | bush arrives in afghanistan monday morning for meeting with hamid karzai |
lupito <tsp> editor 's note : journalist karl penhaul spent several weeks tracking the gangs of the mexican underworld , the corrupt officials who support them and the cops trying to halt the violence . this is the second of three exclusive reports . part one looked at the violent rules gangs live by . the faithful leave this holy death ' statue offerings including cigarettes and cocaine , visible in the nose . culiacan , mexico ( cnn ) -- a baseball cap dangles from a cement cross . the slogan on the hat reads power , money , respect . ' on the brim there 's the logo of the classic gangster movie scarface . ' etched on the gravestone , the words : jesus guadalupe parra . 12 december 1986 to 25 august 2008 . ' lupito , ' as friends and family knew him , went down in a hail of bullets before he reached 22 . authorities said he died alongside three others in a gunfight with a rival drug gang high in the sierra madre mountain range that is the backbone of mexico 's pacific coast state of sinaloa . a printed banner draped over his tomb offers a deeper insight . it shows a photo of him alongside a marijuana plantation and an ak-47 assault rifle fitted with a 100-round ammunition drum . the drab grave of this cartel triggerman , at the jardines de humaya cemetery in state capital culiacan , stands in stark contrast to the mausoleums of dead capos , or drug bosses . those are elaborate two- and three-story constructions , some perhaps 25 feet high , made of bullet-proof glass , italian marble and spiral iron staircases . a bricklayer at work in the cemetery told me the fanciest cost between $ 75,000 and $ 150,000 . he said grateful drug barons often pay for loyal hitmen to be buried here , the city 's toniest graveyard . like so many other people we 've met over the last few weeks , he declined to give his name or speak on camera . i ca n't . el patron [ the boss ] would kill me , ' he said . days later i track down lupito 's cousin , giovanni garcia , on the phone . he 's an undertaker and by coincidence he took the call that lupito had been shot . my cousin loved that way of life , ' garcia said briefly before turning down a recorded interview . we ca n't talk . you must understand how things are around here these days . it 's not a good time . ' that sunday , i linger at lupito 's graveside . three young men show up . they look about the same age as the dead gunman , the same cropped-hair , one heavily scarred around his eye . in the breeze they struggle to light a dozen foot-high candles . i introduce myself . a few grunts later and i can see this conversation is going nowhere fast . we could n't make it to the burial . this is the first time we 've come to pay our respects , ' one of them explained . he never offered his name . drug rivalries have been known to spill over at funerals so many mourners opt to stay away leaving only the closest relatives to bury their dead quietly and without public complaints . i stick around hoping to meet more talkative mourners . my wait is cut short . a fourth man appears between the tombstones some 20 yards away , apparently having seen me . as he talks into a phone i hear him say : hey , take your chance . go grab f * * king baldy . ' i look around . no other bald men in sight -- just me . time to leave . at jardines de humaya and across town at the 21 de marzo cemetery , rows of recently dug graves are filled with the young foot soldiers of mexico 's drug war . a crosscheck of their names in the obituary columns of the local newspaper reveal tales of men in their late teens and early 20s , gunned down in firefights , shot in cold blood on their doorsteps or killed in prison clashes . jesus gaston earns around $ 40 for every three graves he digs . but he can see the lure of easy money in the drug trade is little more than a mirage . the easy money lasts for just a few days because it 's all about time before they kill you too . you kill somebody and somebody will come back for you , ' he said . some how , some way they will find you . ' when the reality boils down to kill or be killed , it 's unsurprising the hitmen and the narco-traffickers want to improve their odds of survival . most days , you can hear a brass band or a cowboy trio thumping out tunes in a small building on a culiacan side street . it 's a shrine to a highway robber called jesus malverde . in the century since he died he 's become known as the patron saint of the drug trade . watch men pay respects to their narco-saint » men in cowboy hats and ostrich-skin boots duck in and out of view . some try to conceal their faces behind a musician 's trombone or tuba . the day i dropped in , one man was paying around $ 600 for a band to play for three hours . off camera he told me it was his way of repaying a favor to malverde . i asked him about that favor and he said he was celebrating a bumper harvest -- of beans and corn . he said he was shy about appearing on camera . i told another man , who gave his name as rosario , ' that he looked like a stereotypical narco . he had the ostrich-skin cowboy boots and shaved head . besides that he seemed to be spending a small fortune , by mexican standards , on live music , foot-high candles and fresh flowers to place at malverde 's altar . rosario laughed off my suggestion and laughed again in my face as he told me he was paying tribute to malverde after a good few months working as a carpet fitter in arizona . it was refreshing to find a straight-talking trombone player at the shrine , jaime laveaga . he makes his living playing music and he 's clear about who his main clients are . it sounds bad to say it but culiacan is a city with a big drug mafia . they like brass band music and they love to celebrate -- 15th birthdays , weddings , family birthdays . they even celebrate their dogs'birthdays , ' he explained . needless to say , the catholic church takes a dim view of those who worship malverde and another growing cult known as the holy death , ' which critics say is also popular among thieves and narcos . people are looking for easy solutions where they do n't have to make any sacrifices . if they do n't find any support for their killings or their drug trafficking from the catholic church then they look for other options , ' father esteban robles , spokesman for the culiacan diocese told me . they 're looking for something that will justify their actions . ' tomorrow , penhaul examines how the gangs dispose of their victims and what officials are doing to stem the violence . | lupito , ' who a relative said loved hitman life , was killed when he was 21 |
san francisco <tsp> san francisco , california ( cnn ) -- the owner of luscious garage is wondering whether the electric wall outlet will be the gas tank ' of the future . a toyota prius hybrid , owned by luscious garage , has been converted to run on electricity . drivers of gas-sipping hybrid vehicles are increasingly interested in converting their vehicles from gasoline powered to electric , according to garage owner and lead technician carolyn coquillette . while drivers of conventional gasoline-powered vehicles complain about higher fuel prices , clients of the san francisco garage are investing big bucks to make their green cars even greener . that 's being done through plug-in conversions and adding more powerful batteries to currently available gasoline/electric hybrid cars , such as the toyota prius . the regular prius is a gasoline dependent car ; it does n't get energy from anywhere but the gas tank , ' said coquillette . what this [ conversion ] allows me to do is get energy through an [ electric wall ] outlet , so [ the wall outlet ] is like my electric gas tank , ' she said . coquillette , who has degrees in physics and english , said she gets three or four calls or e-mails a day , asking about the conversion . and , she says , with gas prices at more than $ 4 per gallon , she expects even more interest . a lot of the cars that pull in to luscious garage are toyota prius hybrids , which coquillette calls , the volkswagen beetle of our times . ' coquillette showed off the garage 's psychedelically painted prius , which has undergone the conversion . its original nickel-metal-hydride battery packs have been replaced with lead acid batteries to extend the distance the car can travel on electricity . coquillette expects to begin conversions to even more efficient lithium batteries soon . the plug-in conversion costs about $ 7,500 . gas becomes optional , ' with this conversion , coquillette said . gas is n't required to move this car anymore . if you want to drive a really long way , without recharging , yes , gas is required , but it gives you the flexibility of not having to burn gas anymore if you do n't want to . and that 's very liberating , ' she said . the garage itself strives to be green , with much of its power coming from solar panels . and with gasoline approaching $ 5 per gallon in the san francisco bay area , plugging in cars make a whole lot of sense right at the pocketbook , ' said korthof , who works for energy efficiency solar . what kind of people are converting to this conversion ? we 've seen such a diverse group of people , ' said coquillette . we have some people who come in who are entrepreneurs , who are business people , there are some people who are diehard environmentalists , but there are some people who come in , they just want to burn less gas . ' the corporate folks at toyota do n't have any official position on plug-in conversions . they do n't endorse or discourage it . ireport.com : show us your first car but for hybrid owners who demonstrate exuberant efforts to find more energy efficiency , we really appreciate the fact that the prius is the vehicle of choice , ' said jana hartline , environmental communications manager for toyota . hartline said the prius was not designed with any conversion possibilities in mind , but she said the company welcomes any technology that pushes the envelope on plug-in batteries . while the nickel metal hydride ( ni-mh ) battery will remain the choice for prius , camry and highlander hybrids , toyota is doing some research and development with lithium ion batteries . hartline said toyota will be using lithium ion batteries in some commercial fleets in late 2009 , mostly to learn more about charging behaviors . although the current batteries are durable and reliable , ' hartline said lithium ion batteries pack more energy into a smaller space . much more research is needed , she said , about how hybrid owners would use their vehicles . for example , how often and for how long owners would plug in to the electrical grid , or a solar supply . also , as more drivers become interested in alternative energy , they will need to learn more about infrastructure . for example : • will companies , malls or fast-food joints provide charging stations ? • will they charge for the charge ? • in what other ways will the energy infrastructure have to change ? while the 2004-2008 prius is the most popular hybrid conversion , it is also possible on 2005-2008 mercury mariner and ford escape hybrids . and , as coquillette says on the luscious garage web site , any car can become a plug-in hybrid , if you have enough money . ' and driven customers do n't seem to be letting cost discourage them from the conversion . customers are not coming to me and saying ,'i 'll do this if there is a rebate .'people come to me and say ,'i want to do this right away ,' said coquillette . luscious garage will soon open a second location for the growing number of really green hybrid owners . hybrid technology is one thing . then there is plug-in hybrid technology , which is the next step , which genuinely removes your dependence on fossil fuel , ' said coquillette . however , most u.s. electricity is created from burning fossil fuels -- about 70 percent , according to the u.s. energy information agency of the department of energy . just under 49 percent comes from coal-burning power plants , about 20 percent from natural gas and about 1½ percent from burning oil . cnn 's peter dykstra and miles o'brien contributed to this report . | san francisco garage converts hybrid vehicles to plug-in electric power |
escape <tsp> san francisco , california ( cnn ) -- the owner of luscious garage is wondering whether the electric wall outlet will be the gas tank ' of the future . a toyota prius hybrid , owned by luscious garage , has been converted to run on electricity . drivers of gas-sipping hybrid vehicles are increasingly interested in converting their vehicles from gasoline powered to electric , according to garage owner and lead technician carolyn coquillette . while drivers of conventional gasoline-powered vehicles complain about higher fuel prices , clients of the san francisco garage are investing big bucks to make their green cars even greener . that 's being done through plug-in conversions and adding more powerful batteries to currently available gasoline/electric hybrid cars , such as the toyota prius . the regular prius is a gasoline dependent car ; it does n't get energy from anywhere but the gas tank , ' said coquillette . what this [ conversion ] allows me to do is get energy through an [ electric wall ] outlet , so [ the wall outlet ] is like my electric gas tank , ' she said . coquillette , who has degrees in physics and english , said she gets three or four calls or e-mails a day , asking about the conversion . and , she says , with gas prices at more than $ 4 per gallon , she expects even more interest . a lot of the cars that pull in to luscious garage are toyota prius hybrids , which coquillette calls , the volkswagen beetle of our times . ' coquillette showed off the garage 's psychedelically painted prius , which has undergone the conversion . its original nickel-metal-hydride battery packs have been replaced with lead acid batteries to extend the distance the car can travel on electricity . coquillette expects to begin conversions to even more efficient lithium batteries soon . the plug-in conversion costs about $ 7,500 . gas becomes optional , ' with this conversion , coquillette said . gas is n't required to move this car anymore . if you want to drive a really long way , without recharging , yes , gas is required , but it gives you the flexibility of not having to burn gas anymore if you do n't want to . and that 's very liberating , ' she said . the garage itself strives to be green , with much of its power coming from solar panels . and with gasoline approaching $ 5 per gallon in the san francisco bay area , plugging in cars make a whole lot of sense right at the pocketbook , ' said korthof , who works for energy efficiency solar . what kind of people are converting to this conversion ? we 've seen such a diverse group of people , ' said coquillette . we have some people who come in who are entrepreneurs , who are business people , there are some people who are diehard environmentalists , but there are some people who come in , they just want to burn less gas . ' the corporate folks at toyota do n't have any official position on plug-in conversions . they do n't endorse or discourage it . ireport.com : show us your first car but for hybrid owners who demonstrate exuberant efforts to find more energy efficiency , we really appreciate the fact that the prius is the vehicle of choice , ' said jana hartline , environmental communications manager for toyota . hartline said the prius was not designed with any conversion possibilities in mind , but she said the company welcomes any technology that pushes the envelope on plug-in batteries . while the nickel metal hydride ( ni-mh ) battery will remain the choice for prius , camry and highlander hybrids , toyota is doing some research and development with lithium ion batteries . hartline said toyota will be using lithium ion batteries in some commercial fleets in late 2009 , mostly to learn more about charging behaviors . although the current batteries are durable and reliable , ' hartline said lithium ion batteries pack more energy into a smaller space . much more research is needed , she said , about how hybrid owners would use their vehicles . for example , how often and for how long owners would plug in to the electrical grid , or a solar supply . also , as more drivers become interested in alternative energy , they will need to learn more about infrastructure . for example : • will companies , malls or fast-food joints provide charging stations ? • will they charge for the charge ? • in what other ways will the energy infrastructure have to change ? while the 2004-2008 prius is the most popular hybrid conversion , it is also possible on 2005-2008 mercury mariner and ford escape hybrids . and , as coquillette says on the luscious garage web site , any car can become a plug-in hybrid , if you have enough money . ' and driven customers do n't seem to be letting cost discourage them from the conversion . customers are not coming to me and saying ,'i 'll do this if there is a rebate .'people come to me and say ,'i want to do this right away ,' said coquillette . luscious garage will soon open a second location for the growing number of really green hybrid owners . hybrid technology is one thing . then there is plug-in hybrid technology , which is the next step , which genuinely removes your dependence on fossil fuel , ' said coquillette . however , most u.s. electricity is created from burning fossil fuels -- about 70 percent , according to the u.s. energy information agency of the department of energy . just under 49 percent comes from coal-burning power plants , about 20 percent from natural gas and about 1½ percent from burning oil . cnn 's peter dykstra and miles o'brien contributed to this report . | for $ 7,500 , luscious garage converts prius , mariner , escape models |
tony pulis <tsp> ( cnn ) chelsea relinquished sole leadership of the english premier league after suffering a surprise 5-3 defeat at the hands of a harry kane inspired tottenham hotspur at white hart lane thursday . it was a result few had foreseen , particularly when diego costa put jose mourinho 's men ahead midway through the first half . but kane , pushing for an england call up , leveled with an exquisite individual goal and danny rose put spurs 2-1 ahead after he reacted quickly when nacer chadli 's shot hit the post and rebounded back into play . kane was then fouled by gary cahill with andros townsend scoring from the penalty spot to give the home side a 3-1 lead at the break . it was 4-1 shortly into the second half when kane 's neat footwork set him up for a fourth , but still the points were not sealed . a mistake by federico fazio allowed eden hazard to play a one-two with cesc fabregas to reduce the deficit to two goals . tottenham nerves were finally eased when kane played a neat pass to chadli for the belgian international to score the fifth only for john terry to grab his third in four games for chelsea to complete an eight-goal thriller . earlier , manchester city joined chelsea on 46 points with the same goal difference after a headed goal from former chelsea star frank lampard gave the reigning title holder a 3-2 win over sunderland . lampard , whose extended loan to city from new york city was confirmed on the eve of the match , grabbed a late winner after city had thrown away a two-goal lead at the etihad . the 36-year-old former england midfielder connected with gael clichy 's cross to secure a vital three points with a seventh home league win of the season . city looked to be cruising to victory after a superb strike from yaya toure and a second from stevan jovetic . but sunderland hit back with goals from former city players jack rodwell and adam johnson , who scored from the spot . in the early kickoff on new year 's day , manchester united was held to its second straight draw of the festive period in a 1-1 draw at stoke . the home side went ahead after just two minutes through defender ryan shawcross but radamel falcao leveled for united in the 26th . united , held goalless at tottenham last weekend , remain third in the standings and are unbeaten in 10 games , but manager louis van gaal was unhappy with the display . we did n't deserve any more than a draw , ' he moaned . they were closer to a winning goal than us . we should have played better today . ' struggling west bromwich albion has also confirmed the appointment of former stoke and crystal palace boss tony pulis as its head coach . pulis , widely praised for lifting palace into mid-table last season before leaving before the start of this campaign , watched from the stand as his new team secured a fighting 1-1 draw at west ham . southampton kept up its challenge for a champions league spot by inflicting a damaging 2-0 defeat on arsenal to stay fourth . two goalkeeping errors from wojciech szczesny allowed sadio mane and dusan tadic to score in either half for the saints , who withstood late pressure from arsenal to secure a vital three points . in the relegation battle , bottom side leicester secured an unlikely point after hitting back from two down at liverpool to grab a 2-2 draw , while burnley hit back three times to level 3-3 at newcastle . it denied newcastle caretaker boss john carver three points after taking over from alan pardew , who is set to link up with crystal palace and was at villa park to watch them battle to a goalless draw . | wba confirms tony pulis as new head coach |
fei <tsp> ( cnn ) -- while most people can appreciate the grace and athleticism of ballet , dressage -- the precision art of horse riding and training -- remains a puzzling spectacle to all but a few . a new performance by the international equestrian federation ( fei ) aims to show that these two art forms are not so different . for the launch of the flagship fei world cup finals in lyon , france the organizing body assembled the finest talent from the worlds of elite riding and ballet to show off their skills side by side . they 're very similar in terms of athletic ability ; they 're very delicate but they 're very powerful , ' said u.s . jumping rider charlie jacobs , who joined dressage champion charlotte dujardin and dancers from the minsk bolshoi for the photoshoot . double olympic gold medalist charlotte dujardin was just as impressed with her partnership with belarusian maestro kanstantsin geronik -- calling it an exciting ' prelude to the competition in which she once again shattered world records . the fei 's director of dressage , trond asmyr , says the organizers hoped to create a comparison to ballet which would open up the esoteric world to outsiders . he believes the parallels go beyond the athletes'physical abilities . you see a number of different elements in there . you need strength . you need power . you need elegance , ' he said . you need a feeling for what you 're doing : it 's not only a question of jumping as far as you can or as long as you can or as high as you can -- it 's this combination of putting all these elements together to produce the optimal performance . ' he was pleased with how much the riders got out of the day . he called dujardin a full-blown artist herself ' but says seeing her perform alongside geronik highlighted the virtuosos'similarities . the real test , he says , is to close your eyes and listen to the music . in either sport , you can imagine how the performer ( or performer plus horse ) could glide across the space . dujardin , the world number one dressage rider , who took the dressage crown in lyon , has been labeled the girl with the dancing horse , ' but was enthused to see her horse-less dancing counterparts in action . the evening after the photoshoot , organizers fei took the riders to see the dancers on their own turf -- at the lyon amphitheatre where the bolshoi performed swan lake as part of a nationwide french tour . asmyr says dujardin told him she saw dance with new eyes . ' he now has high hopes for developing the cross-cultural collaboration further in future . ballet is certainly more well known around the world than dressage riding , so if we can facilitate an understanding from people about our sport , through the similarities with ballet , then we 're very happy about that . ' read more : globetrotting : the world 's most traveled horse | you need strength . you need power . you need elegance ' says fei dressage chief |
olympic <tsp> ( cnn ) -- joao victor marcari oliva could become one of brazil 's brightest olympic talents , if he can step out of the shadows of a legend : his mum . oliva is the son of hortencia marcari , who led brazil 's women to the basketball world title in 1994 and olympic silver at the atlanta games two years later . hortencia is a celebrity at the level of a great soccer star here in brazil , ' says basketball writer marcos antonio . she was a born scorer , a'clutch player'-- it was almost impossible to block her shots . she was always on tv . ' oliva says : every time i 'm walking down the street with my mum , there are a lot of fans taking photos of her and people asking for autographs . sometimes that gets boring -- but it 's nice . ' a fraction taller than his mother at 180 cm ( 5 foot 10 inches ) , the teen has shunned a career in basketball . his heart is set on an entirely different sport : dressage . i have my mother 's blood when it comes to sport , but my father bred horses . when i was young , i spent all my time with them , ' says the 18-year-old , whose mother played in the atlanta'96 basketball final just months after he was born . if my mother was someone else , i would n't be talking to you . a lot of people in the media speak to me because they know my mum . i think that 's a good thing : it 's good for me , and good for my job . ' with a home olympic games two years away , the brazilian equestrian team is in the middle of an unprecedented push for success on the world stage . oliva belongs to the next generation of brazilian riding talent hoping to capture imaginations , if not medals , at rio 2016 . brazil has virtually no history of dressage -- one of three equestrian disciplines at the olympics -- so oliva has moved to germany , one of the sport 's leading nations , to find better tuition . i do n't want to win in rio -- i do n't think that 's possible , ' he says . i have a lot to learn and europe is too strong in the sport . but i 'm here , and i will learn like a european . i think i can be a good rider . ' the nation has hired world-renowned experts to help its riders develop . new zealand 's mark todd , for example , is coaching the brazilian eventing team . todd is one of the most successful riders in the history of eventing , which combines dressage , cross-country riding and showjumping . at 58 , he has twice won olympic titles ( in 1984 and 1988 ) alongside three bronze medals , including one at london 2012 . the brazilians are a long way behind , but they 're very enthusiastic , ' says the 58-year-old , who coaches some of the riders at his base in wiltshire , england , alongside several trips to south america each year . one of the things which struck us most is how little they knew . yes , they could all ride . but as far as training horses goes ? a lot of them did n't have much of an idea about basic stuff . another thing i will say is that the funding system from the government is very hard to fathom . although there is money available , the system is n't practical and there are huge amounts of red tape . you 're asked to do a job and they say there will be help , but you spend six months of the year faffing around . ' moving to europe , like those who have moved to train with todd , is a rite of passage for many brazilian riders . standards are markedly higher east of the atlantic . showjumper marlon zanotelli moved to belgium to further his career , even though -- unlike dressage and eventing -- his discipline has history in brazil . zanotelli is aiming to follow in the footsteps of his hero , rodrigo pessoa , at his home games in rio . pessoa , now 41 , became a star of brazilian horse sport by winning jumping gold at the athens olympics in 2004 . he has a world title and many other honors to his name . rodrigo has always been my idol , ' says zanotelli . when they talk about horses , people talk about rodrigo -- even people who have never seen showjumping . they know who he is . there will never be another rodrigo but i want to win medals and events like he did . ' the 26-year-old spent his childhood on the road with his father , a moderately successful eventer named mario , at tournaments across brazil . everything is completely different in europe , ' says the younger zanotelli . in brazil almost everyone has grooms , everyone is spoiled . here in europe , most people do all the jobs themselves -- they help the horse themselves , they know how to do everything . luckily , my dad always made me do everything too , so i had some experience of that . otherwise , i would have arrived here and been completely lost . ' brazil has no shortage of aspiring talent : comparatively new faces like oliva and zanotelli line up alongside the likes of doda miranda in showjumping and roger clementino -- the first african-brazilian to reach the olympics , who taught a young oliva -- in dressage . then there is luiza almeida , who made her olympic dressage debut at beijing 2008 aged just 16 , the youngest equestrian rider in the history of the games . but todd says brazil 's success in 2016 will depend on finding quality horses before rio . no matter how good the riders are , you 've got to have good horses , too , ' he cautions . and good horses take time to produce . one of the biggest problems for brazil is the lack of horse power . although the olympics are two years away , two years is nothing in terms of getting a horse educated to compete against all the other countries at the top level . ' the alltech fei world equestrian games , taking place in france , are the biggest test of brazilian riders -- and their current lineup of horses -- prior to the rio olympics . but the riders are already looking to rio , and what could be the greatest equestrian show of their lives . brazil will put on a great party , ' says zanotelli , who rode well to sit 22nd , seven places behind compatriot pessoa , after two rounds of showjumping at the world equestrian games . many people said many things about the world cup -- even brazilians were saying bad things about it -- but in the end , it was a big success . this is a big country , and we have a lot of issues , but when the time comes for an event we have really good people who love to host foreigners and put on a good show . every day , when you wake up in the morning , an olympics in your own country gives you the motivation to keep working . i think it 's going to be amazing . ' | showjumpers lead the way for next olympic host thanks to hero ' rodrigo pessoa |
nigeria <tsp> kano , nigeria ( cnn ) -- boko haram insurgents killed 35 people in coordinated early morning raids on three villages in nigeria 's northeastern state of borno , a military source and residents said , the latest deadly attacks by the militant group . dozens of boko haram gunmen dressed in military uniforms raided gumushi , amuda and arbokko wednesday in all-terrain vans and on motorcycles , opening fire on residents and torching homes with molotov cocktails . at least 26 people were killed in gumushi alone , a military officer in maiduguri said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the incidents . the insurgents hurled petrol bombs into homes , setting them ablaze and shot residents as they tried to escape , ' said the army officer about the 6 a.m. raid . attacks on the neighboring farm villages of amuda and arbokko earlier , around 2 a.m. , left nine people dead and several homes destroyed . arbokko resident josiah ali said people were asleep when boko haram struck . the gunmen fired at people as they rushed out of their homes in a bid to escape , ' ali said . thirteen people were seriously injured in the attack in amuda , resident pirda takweshe said . borno state police commissioner lawan tanko confirmed the attacks , but did not give details on casualties . monday , boko haram stormed a military base and a police station in yobe state , also in the northeast , security sources said . the attacks in the town of buni yadi left 18 soldiers and 15 police officers dead , the sources said . the group has stepped up its deadly raids on villages in borno state in recent months . boko haram , which means western education is a sin , ' is still holding more than 200 girls it abducted last month from a school in chibok , also in borno state . the militant group says its aim is to impose a stricter enforcement of sharia law across nigeria , africa 's most populous nation , which is split between a majority muslim north and a mostly christian south . | 35 killed in latest boko haram attacks on villages in northeast nigeria |
electronic entertainment expo <tsp> ( cnn ) -- for a preview of the next big thing in video gaming , look no further than the electronic entertainment expo , the splashy industry showcase that kicks off monday in los angeles . will it be the oddly named wii u , nintendo 's attempt to update its aging wii console for a new wave of gamers ? or halo 4 , ' the next chapter in the massively popular sci-fi action series ? or maybe a surprise device or game that comes out of nowhere to captivate attendees ? this year 's e3 , as the annual trade show is better known , arrives during a time of upheaval for the multibillion-dollar gaming industry , which is scrambling to adapt to changing consumer habits . while home console gaming remains huge , more and more people are playing casual or social games on touchscreen phones and tablets . i think we may be seeing the last generation of dedicated handheld gaming systems with the ps vita and nintendo 3ds , ' said blair herter , co-host g4tv 's x-play . ' what we 've seen is the mobile gaming space really take over what used to be considered the handheld gaming market . ' many analysts , including herter , think this year 's e3 wo n't have as much bang as previous shows . herter said he thinks this is because of expectations for next-generation consoles being developed by sony and microsoft for release in 2013 , and game developers'hesitation to make something that might have a short shelf life . as an industry-only event , e3 is geared toward gaming media , developers and insiders . but in an effort to reach out to the public , many companies will be streaming events and shows throughout the four days of the conference to give fans early glimpses at new games and let them hear from developers directly . the e3 show floor does n't open until tuesday , although festivities begin monday with press announcements by microsoft , sony and several game developers . here 's a roundup of what to look for : the wii u , ready for its closeup most companies at e3 will be showing off what their existing hardware can do or emphasizing new video game titles . nintendo is the only one of the big three console makers -- a trio that includes microsoft and sony -- that will be demonstrating a new gaming system this year -- the wii u . while the wii u was previewed in more primitive form at last year 's e3 , there have reportedly been some changes in how the console looks and what it can do . official word has been hush hush , which is typical for nintendo before a big announcement . however , some images and news have leaked out suggesting the touchscreen controller for the wii u will be different from what was shown last year . there has been some confusion about whether the wii u is just a new controller or a more powerful console . nintendo hopes to clear that up next week by demonstrating a final ' version of the system with games designed specifically for the wii u . at last year 's e3 , nintendo showed a wii u video demo featuring gameplay from xbox 360 and playstation games . pricing remains a mystery for the wii u , which is expected to go on sale in fall 2012 . in april , nintendo chief executive satoru iwata said a price for the new console would not be announced at e3 , but that the company would reveal its initial lineup of games . some industry analysts think nintendo needs to announce a price at e3 to generate buzz for the console . new offerings for vita and kinect some observers think the current lineup of consoles -- the wii , sony playstation 3 and microsoft xbox 360 -- will all be replaced by newer systems by late 2013 . i think it is safe to assume this will be the last e3 where the current generation of consoles are talked about , ' said g4tv 's herter . at e3 , both sony and microsoft will be focusing on new software for their current systems . sony is expected to make a big push for games for its ps vita handheld console . the new gaming platform , released in february , has been suffering from a lack of new content after its initial launch . critics have praised the vita as technologically impressive but agree the device needs major game franchises to make it more popular . help may be on the way in the form of new vita titles . little big planet karting , ' a racing game featuring sackboy , and playstation all stars battle royale , ' a fighting game with some of sony 's top characters , are likely to be announced next week as part of cross-platform gameplay with the playstation 3 . there also have been strong rumors of a monster hunter ' game for the vita to increase support for the console in japan . microsoft will concentrate its e3 efforts on development for the popular kinect motion controller and additional games for the venerable xbox 360 . there also are rumors flying around that microsoft will unveil a more refined recognition system for kinect , including the sensor 's ability to read individual finger movements . microsoft also may announce new partnerships with tv broadcasters and programs in an effort to further transform the gaming console into a home entertainment center . currently , hbo , espn , hulu plus , netflix and others are part of the television lineup for the xbox 360 . big game titles on the software front for the xbox 360 , halo 4 ' will be showcased in a four-hour event with its new developer , 343 industries , and the return of master chief as the main character . the game is due out in november . other exclusive , unannounced titles for the microsoft console and kinect are also expected -- although some franchises may be holding out for a next-generation console in a year or so . while halo 4 ' is one of the biggest titles at e3 , it is far from the only hotly anticipated game . we hope to see more from assassin 's creed iii ' ( made by ubisoft ) and its setting in the american colonies , more from dishonored ' ( bethesda ) and its steampunk action , and more about resident evil 6 ' ( capcom ) and that game 's multiplayer/co-op modes . there are a lot of great [ big-name ] games that are going to be there and be talked about , ' herter said . but even the software is going to be a little less than what people expect because of the potential for next-gen consoles next year . ' on the other end of the gaming spectrum , there are also plans for several new massive multiplayer online games . one , defiance ' ( trion worlds ) , features a unique tie-in with a new sci-fi tv series , where what happens on the show can affect what happens in the game . what we wo n't see at e3 for all the hype and excitement about e3 announcements , there are some notable titles and companies that are choosing to bypass this year 's event . the makers of bioshock infinite , ' one of the most highly anticipated games for 2012 , were originally scheduled to show off new gameplay and features . but the game 's release was pushed back to february 2013 , and creative director ken levine said the next time people will see the game is when it 's ready to go in the box for delivery . grand theft auto v , ' the latest in the blockbuster urban action series , also may skip e3 . rockstar , developer for the game , said it has no plans for the show , although some watchers speculate that could change at the last minute . despite persistent rumors , valve software has said it does n't expect to reveal any new hardware -- or popular games such as half-life 3 ' or portal 3 ' -- next week . but valve does plan to attend e3 , and misdirection from gaming companies has been known to occur before the show . by next week at this time , we 'll know much more about the best gaming has to offer for the next 12 months . gamers , what are you hoping to see at e3 ? and what are you most looking forward to later this year ? | the annual electronic entertainment expo kicks off monday in los angeles |
texas <tsp> texas gov . rick perry will immediately send up to 1,000 national guard troops to help secure the southern border , where tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors from central america have crossed into the united states this year in a surge that is deemed a humanitarian crisis . perry also wants president barack obama and congress to hire an additional 3,000 border patrol agents for the texas border , which would eventually replace the temporary guard forces . i will not stand idly by , ' perry said in austin monday , announcing what he called operation strong safety . the price of inaction is too high . ' perry 's state has received the majority of migrant children , especially in the rio grande region , and he has repeatedly called on the federal government to beef up border security . white house spokesman josh earnest said the white house has not yet received the formal communication required for perry to deploy guard troops . but he said if perry follows through , he hopes those forces would be coordinated with the significant ongoing efforts already in place . ' on border crisis , jeb bush , rubio and perry remake image the rio grande sector , where most of the immigrant children are turning themselves into the border patrol , has a large number of agents but it is also the largest crossing . it currently has 3,000 border patrol agents covering 320 miles of land and 250 miles of water , which equates to 5.4 agents per mile . the tucson sector , for instance , has approximately 15.7 agents per mile . both perry and obama have the authority to deploy national guard troops , but whoever authorizes it has to pay for it . the deployment at perry 's direction means texas will have to pick up the price tag of $ 12 million per month . one border sheriff , omar lucio of cameron county , said he is skeptical of perry 's plan . at this time , a lot of people do things for political reasons . i do n't know that it helps , ' he told the dallas morning news . conservatives largely point to border security as their top immigration priority and perry has been an outspoken proponent of securing the border since the influx of immigrants began . is the immigration crisis rick perry 's second act ? the potential 2016 presidential candidate previewed his plan in iowa over the weekend in a television interview while campaigning for republican candidates . he has used the issue to remake his image on immigration . his previous white house campaign was crippled partly because of a law he signed giving children of undocumented immigrants in-state college tuition . obama asked for $ 3.7 billion in emergency funds to address the influx of young immigrants , which has n't gained much traction in congress . it includes money to fortify the border . the house and senate are working on their own plan , which includes a controversial proposal to change a law that prohibits the youth , mostly from el salvador , honduras , and guatemala , from being immediately deported . the obama administration questioned perry 's motives since many of the minors are not trying to evade the border patrol but are turning themselves in after crossing the border . children at the border : what 's happening and why but perry said the guard will be force multipliers , ' helping customs and border protection agents both on the ground and in the air to catch the 80 % of people crossing the border who are n't children and to combat cartel and trafficking crime . you can not have ( national security ) without border security , ' perry said . while the number of unaccompanied youth crossing the border has doubled to nearly 60,000 in the past year , the total number of undocumented immigrants has mostly declined . about 1 million people have been caught crossing the border nearly every year between 1983 until 2006 , but that number has dropped to about 400,000 in 2013 . at the same time , resources for border security have steadily increased : more than 18,000 agents patrolled the border in 2013 compared to 10,000 a decade ago . and the amount spent on border security has more than doubled . the customs and border patrol budget jumped from $ 5 billion in 2002 to $ 12.4 billion this year . the issue has hit a national nerve . protests have erupted along the border with activists demanding immediate deportation . counter protests have also erupted , pointing out that many of the migrants are said to have fled violence at home . protesters vent anger at'alien invasion'of the u.s . | texas gov . rick perry announces plans to fortify security at southern border |
berlin <tsp> ( cnn ) -- for a time monday if you looked up the wikipedia entry on john brooks , this is what you 'd find : ' john anthony brooks , jr. referred to as john brooks ( born january 28 , 1993 in berlin ) is a german-american footballer . he is the greatest american since abraham lincoln . ' if you had n't heard his name before , you certainly have now : john brooks is the 21-year-old who came in as a substitute into the usa vs ghana game monday , and scored a header to keep america 's hope alive in the world cup in brazil . his 86th minute goal was sweet payback against ghana -- a team that dashed america 's hopes in the last two world cups . here 's what you need to know about america 's new hero : he straddles two cultures each of brooks'elbows sport a tattoo . on the left is an outline of berlin , with a star marking the neighborhood he grew up in . the state of illinois covers his right , with a star representing chicago , his father 's hometown . and while he has relatives stateside , his main attachments are in berlin where his mother 's from , he said in his u.s. soccer video portrait . my mom , it 's the most important person in my life . ' his american father , a serviceman , has moved on to switzerland . he is bilingual brooks mixes it up on twitter and facebook with posts in english and in german , and sometimes in both -- like the one he wrote about his nomination for the u.s. team . happy to be called into the preliminary usmnt roster ! will work hard to be part of it ! - glücklich über meine nominierung für die us nationalmannschaft ! werde mein bestes geben um dabei zu sein ! ' his video portrait on u.s. soccer 's website is heavily edited , sometimes in mid-sentence , and his german accent comes through at times , but he says he 's proud to be part of the u.s. team . it was a big dream to come to this team . it 's an honor to wear this jersey , ' he said . he made history monday brooks was n't in the starting lineup for monday 's game against nemesis ghana . but he was called into service when matt besler complained of hamstring problems -- and the coach did n't want to take chances . brooks goal was one for the record books . he 's the first substitute in u.s. soccer history to score in a world cup match . he seems to leave an impression just like monday , he made a grand entrance during his first game with hertha bsc , after the berlin team he plays for ascended from the minors to the major league . brooks scored a goal in his first game of the season in august . then , he rushed to the airport to make his first u.s. national team match . he 's part of a german presence on team usa brooks is not the only german national soccer league player to make the jump across the atlantic to kick for the u.s. national team . four more have joined him on this world cup journey on a soccer mayflower of sorts . when jürgen klinsmann , a household name in german soccer , took over as u.s. coach , he went shopping for quality talent made in germany -- with a u.s. passport . in addition to brooks , the team boasts jermaine jones , timothy chandler , julian green and fabian johnson -- all of them u.s.-german dual nationals . this will make for a particularly interesting game next week , when the united states team faces soccer powerhouse germany in the coastal resort town of recife . if you hear someone on the u.s. team scream tor ! ! ' after a score ... ... well , that 's german for goal ! ! ' for team usa . world cup : ronaldo and portugal humbled as germany runs riot 5 things : what to watch for tuesday at the world cup | he was born and raised in berlin and posts to twitter in both english and german |
german <tsp> ( cnn ) -- for a time monday if you looked up the wikipedia entry on john brooks , this is what you 'd find : ' john anthony brooks , jr. referred to as john brooks ( born january 28 , 1993 in berlin ) is a german-american footballer . he is the greatest american since abraham lincoln . ' if you had n't heard his name before , you certainly have now : john brooks is the 21-year-old who came in as a substitute into the usa vs ghana game monday , and scored a header to keep america 's hope alive in the world cup in brazil . his 86th minute goal was sweet payback against ghana -- a team that dashed america 's hopes in the last two world cups . here 's what you need to know about america 's new hero : he straddles two cultures each of brooks'elbows sport a tattoo . on the left is an outline of berlin , with a star marking the neighborhood he grew up in . the state of illinois covers his right , with a star representing chicago , his father 's hometown . and while he has relatives stateside , his main attachments are in berlin where his mother 's from , he said in his u.s. soccer video portrait . my mom , it 's the most important person in my life . ' his american father , a serviceman , has moved on to switzerland . he is bilingual brooks mixes it up on twitter and facebook with posts in english and in german , and sometimes in both -- like the one he wrote about his nomination for the u.s. team . happy to be called into the preliminary usmnt roster ! will work hard to be part of it ! - glücklich über meine nominierung für die us nationalmannschaft ! werde mein bestes geben um dabei zu sein ! ' his video portrait on u.s. soccer 's website is heavily edited , sometimes in mid-sentence , and his german accent comes through at times , but he says he 's proud to be part of the u.s. team . it was a big dream to come to this team . it 's an honor to wear this jersey , ' he said . he made history monday brooks was n't in the starting lineup for monday 's game against nemesis ghana . but he was called into service when matt besler complained of hamstring problems -- and the coach did n't want to take chances . brooks goal was one for the record books . he 's the first substitute in u.s. soccer history to score in a world cup match . he seems to leave an impression just like monday , he made a grand entrance during his first game with hertha bsc , after the berlin team he plays for ascended from the minors to the major league . brooks scored a goal in his first game of the season in august . then , he rushed to the airport to make his first u.s. national team match . he 's part of a german presence on team usa brooks is not the only german national soccer league player to make the jump across the atlantic to kick for the u.s. national team . four more have joined him on this world cup journey on a soccer mayflower of sorts . when jürgen klinsmann , a household name in german soccer , took over as u.s. coach , he went shopping for quality talent made in germany -- with a u.s. passport . in addition to brooks , the team boasts jermaine jones , timothy chandler , julian green and fabian johnson -- all of them u.s.-german dual nationals . this will make for a particularly interesting game next week , when the united states team faces soccer powerhouse germany in the coastal resort town of recife . if you hear someone on the u.s. team scream tor ! ! ' after a score ... ... well , that 's german for goal ! ! ' for team usa . world cup : ronaldo and portugal humbled as germany runs riot 5 things : what to watch for tuesday at the world cup | he is one of a handful of german pro soccer players on team u.s.a . |
german <tsp> ( cnn ) -- for a time monday if you looked up the wikipedia entry on john brooks , this is what you 'd find : ' john anthony brooks , jr. referred to as john brooks ( born january 28 , 1993 in berlin ) is a german-american footballer . he is the greatest american since abraham lincoln . ' if you had n't heard his name before , you certainly have now : john brooks is the 21-year-old who came in as a substitute into the usa vs ghana game monday , and scored a header to keep america 's hope alive in the world cup in brazil . his 86th minute goal was sweet payback against ghana -- a team that dashed america 's hopes in the last two world cups . here 's what you need to know about america 's new hero : he straddles two cultures each of brooks'elbows sport a tattoo . on the left is an outline of berlin , with a star marking the neighborhood he grew up in . the state of illinois covers his right , with a star representing chicago , his father 's hometown . and while he has relatives stateside , his main attachments are in berlin where his mother 's from , he said in his u.s. soccer video portrait . my mom , it 's the most important person in my life . ' his american father , a serviceman , has moved on to switzerland . he is bilingual brooks mixes it up on twitter and facebook with posts in english and in german , and sometimes in both -- like the one he wrote about his nomination for the u.s. team . happy to be called into the preliminary usmnt roster ! will work hard to be part of it ! - glücklich über meine nominierung für die us nationalmannschaft ! werde mein bestes geben um dabei zu sein ! ' his video portrait on u.s. soccer 's website is heavily edited , sometimes in mid-sentence , and his german accent comes through at times , but he says he 's proud to be part of the u.s. team . it was a big dream to come to this team . it 's an honor to wear this jersey , ' he said . he made history monday brooks was n't in the starting lineup for monday 's game against nemesis ghana . but he was called into service when matt besler complained of hamstring problems -- and the coach did n't want to take chances . brooks goal was one for the record books . he 's the first substitute in u.s. soccer history to score in a world cup match . he seems to leave an impression just like monday , he made a grand entrance during his first game with hertha bsc , after the berlin team he plays for ascended from the minors to the major league . brooks scored a goal in his first game of the season in august . then , he rushed to the airport to make his first u.s. national team match . he 's part of a german presence on team usa brooks is not the only german national soccer league player to make the jump across the atlantic to kick for the u.s. national team . four more have joined him on this world cup journey on a soccer mayflower of sorts . when jürgen klinsmann , a household name in german soccer , took over as u.s. coach , he went shopping for quality talent made in germany -- with a u.s. passport . in addition to brooks , the team boasts jermaine jones , timothy chandler , julian green and fabian johnson -- all of them u.s.-german dual nationals . this will make for a particularly interesting game next week , when the united states team faces soccer powerhouse germany in the coastal resort town of recife . if you hear someone on the u.s. team scream tor ! ! ' after a score ... ... well , that 's german for goal ! ! ' for team usa . world cup : ronaldo and portugal humbled as germany runs riot 5 things : what to watch for tuesday at the world cup | he was born and raised in berlin and posts to twitter in both english and german |
world no.5 <tsp> ( cnn ) -- rafael nadal extinguished any doubts over his long-term fitness after being forced to play two matches in less than 24 hours at the barcelona open . the 26-year-old recorded a 37th consecutive victory at barcelona with a 6-3 6-0 quarterfinal win over fellow spaniard albert ramos just hours after finishing off his rain-delayed third round match . after returning from a seven-month injury enforced absence with a knee problem in february , nadal has reached six finals in six tournaments this year . bad weather in barcelona thursday forced the world no.5 to complete his match against frenchman benoit paire on friday morning . a 7-6 6-2 win set up a last eight clash with ramos , who nadal swept aside in just 66 minutes following a commanding display . i played much better this afternoon than in the morning , ' nadal told the atp website . i 'm very happy to be in the semifinals another time in a very important tournament . i 'm enjoying the week playing here . i love the tournament . i know everybody well . it feels like home , always . ' nadal , who lost out in the final of the monte carlo masters to novak djokovic last week , is hoping to secure an eighth french open title next month . the spaniard had hoped to win a ninth consecutive title at monte carlo before suffering his first defeat at the clay court tournament since 2003 . he will now hope to bounce back with canada 's milos raonic standing in between him and a place in sunday 's final . raonic , who has lost both of his previous encounters with nadal , overcame tommy robredo 6-7 6-3 7-6 . in the other semifinal , spain 's nicolas almagro will face germany 's philipp kohlschreiber . almagro , ranked 12th in the world , defeated compatriot juan monaco 6-3 7-5 in a contest where he saved 10 break points . he had many break points and played really good , but i can rest now for a little bit and we 'll see what comes tomorrow in the semi-finals , ' almagro told the official atp website . i played really good today and that 's the most important thing . i 've felt great during this week and i 'm going to fight to reach my first final here in barcelona . ' kohlschreiber , seeded eighth , saw off slovakia 's martin klizan in three sets before his quarterfinal opponent , thomaz bellucci , withdrew injured . meanwhile , juan martin del potro has withdrawn from next week 's lisbon open . according to the tournament 's organizers , the argentine , ranked seventh in the world , has been suffering with a stomach virus . in stuttgart , defending champion maria sharapova overcame serbia 's ana ivanovic in 7-5 4-6 6-4 to ensure her place in the last four . it 's good to face different styles of playing from different opponents , ' sharapova told reporters . ana is a bit more aggressive , while lucie safarova had a bit more variety in her game yesterday . i am happy to get through , but i had to push myself . it was a tough battle , it was hard to get my body going again after the last game , but it was good to get another three sets under the belt . ' the world no.2 will face germany 's angelique kerber on saturday after the home favorite saw off kazakhstan 's yaroslava shvedova 6-3 7-6 . we both played well , ' kerber told the wta website . i was fully concentrated right from the first point and tried to make her move around and not let her get into the match -- luckily enough my tactics worked well today . it was extremely important for me to play as well as possible at my home tournament . reaching the semifinals is a big achievement for me . but i 'm not going to put myself under any pressure . i 'm naturally going to have the crowd behind me - they 've been supporting me so fantastically all week . ' in the other semifinal , u.s qualifier bethanie mattek-sands will take on china 's li na . mattek-sands , ranked 104th in the world , overcame germany 's sabine lisicki 6-4 6-2 , while li defeated fifth seed petra kvitova 6-3 7-5 . the world no.5 was beaten in three sets by mattek-sands in their previous meeting at the quarterfinal stage of the 2011 madrid open and is expecting another tough test . i saw bethanie play earlier on and she looks like a good , aggressive , player , ' li told reporters . we 'll see how tomorrow 's match goes . ' | world no.5 will face milos raonic in last four |
philipp kohlschreiber <tsp> ( cnn ) -- rafael nadal extinguished any doubts over his long-term fitness after being forced to play two matches in less than 24 hours at the barcelona open . the 26-year-old recorded a 37th consecutive victory at barcelona with a 6-3 6-0 quarterfinal win over fellow spaniard albert ramos just hours after finishing off his rain-delayed third round match . after returning from a seven-month injury enforced absence with a knee problem in february , nadal has reached six finals in six tournaments this year . bad weather in barcelona thursday forced the world no.5 to complete his match against frenchman benoit paire on friday morning . a 7-6 6-2 win set up a last eight clash with ramos , who nadal swept aside in just 66 minutes following a commanding display . i played much better this afternoon than in the morning , ' nadal told the atp website . i 'm very happy to be in the semifinals another time in a very important tournament . i 'm enjoying the week playing here . i love the tournament . i know everybody well . it feels like home , always . ' nadal , who lost out in the final of the monte carlo masters to novak djokovic last week , is hoping to secure an eighth french open title next month . the spaniard had hoped to win a ninth consecutive title at monte carlo before suffering his first defeat at the clay court tournament since 2003 . he will now hope to bounce back with canada 's milos raonic standing in between him and a place in sunday 's final . raonic , who has lost both of his previous encounters with nadal , overcame tommy robredo 6-7 6-3 7-6 . in the other semifinal , spain 's nicolas almagro will face germany 's philipp kohlschreiber . almagro , ranked 12th in the world , defeated compatriot juan monaco 6-3 7-5 in a contest where he saved 10 break points . he had many break points and played really good , but i can rest now for a little bit and we 'll see what comes tomorrow in the semi-finals , ' almagro told the official atp website . i played really good today and that 's the most important thing . i 've felt great during this week and i 'm going to fight to reach my first final here in barcelona . ' kohlschreiber , seeded eighth , saw off slovakia 's martin klizan in three sets before his quarterfinal opponent , thomaz bellucci , withdrew injured . meanwhile , juan martin del potro has withdrawn from next week 's lisbon open . according to the tournament 's organizers , the argentine , ranked seventh in the world , has been suffering with a stomach virus . in stuttgart , defending champion maria sharapova overcame serbia 's ana ivanovic in 7-5 4-6 6-4 to ensure her place in the last four . it 's good to face different styles of playing from different opponents , ' sharapova told reporters . ana is a bit more aggressive , while lucie safarova had a bit more variety in her game yesterday . i am happy to get through , but i had to push myself . it was a tough battle , it was hard to get my body going again after the last game , but it was good to get another three sets under the belt . ' the world no.2 will face germany 's angelique kerber on saturday after the home favorite saw off kazakhstan 's yaroslava shvedova 6-3 7-6 . we both played well , ' kerber told the wta website . i was fully concentrated right from the first point and tried to make her move around and not let her get into the match -- luckily enough my tactics worked well today . it was extremely important for me to play as well as possible at my home tournament . reaching the semifinals is a big achievement for me . but i 'm not going to put myself under any pressure . i 'm naturally going to have the crowd behind me - they 've been supporting me so fantastically all week . ' in the other semifinal , u.s qualifier bethanie mattek-sands will take on china 's li na . mattek-sands , ranked 104th in the world , overcame germany 's sabine lisicki 6-4 6-2 , while li defeated fifth seed petra kvitova 6-3 7-5 . the world no.5 was beaten in three sets by mattek-sands in their previous meeting at the quarterfinal stage of the 2011 madrid open and is expecting another tough test . i saw bethanie play earlier on and she looks like a good , aggressive , player , ' li told reporters . we 'll see how tomorrow 's match goes . ' | spain 's nicolas almagro to play philipp kohlschreiber in other semifinal |
south korean <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a north korean soldier on guard duty at the border dividing the two koreas defected , telling authorities who received him in the south that he killed his superiors before fleeing across the military demarcation line . south korean soldiers at their guard posts reported hearing gunfire before he crossed into the south shortly after noon local time , according to a news release from south korea 's joint chiefs of staff . soldiers in the south took the defector in on their side of the border and brought him to a safe place for questioning then tightened security in the area . the north korean said that while he was on guard duty , he killed his platoon and squad leaders and defected thereafter , ' the jcs said . defections over land through the heavily armed and fortified demilitarized zone ( dmz ) are rare , as most fleeing the communist north prefer the greater odds of success of crossing by sea . the last north korean soldier who defected ( over land ) was in march 2010 , ' said a spokesman from the defense ministry in seoul . but with his comrades dead and no longer capable of hindering him , it was easy for the soldier to flee south . the distance between the north korean guard post and the south korean guard post is 500 meters , ' the official said , who asked not to be named , because he is not authorized to speak with the media . more than 24,000 refugees have entered the south from the north since the country 's division , according to the ministry of unification in seoul , over two-thirds of them women . the annual number of refugees has climbed steadily from less than 100 in the 1990s to more than 2,000 per year since 2006 . north korea defector living with quarter of a century of guilt north korean defector stands for south korean election after escape from north korea , artist turns from propaganda to pop art from the archives : south korea wo n't return 9 defectors from the north | south korean soldiers hear gunfire before the defector crosses |
dmz <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a north korean soldier on guard duty at the border dividing the two koreas defected , telling authorities who received him in the south that he killed his superiors before fleeing across the military demarcation line . south korean soldiers at their guard posts reported hearing gunfire before he crossed into the south shortly after noon local time , according to a news release from south korea 's joint chiefs of staff . soldiers in the south took the defector in on their side of the border and brought him to a safe place for questioning then tightened security in the area . the north korean said that while he was on guard duty , he killed his platoon and squad leaders and defected thereafter , ' the jcs said . defections over land through the heavily armed and fortified demilitarized zone ( dmz ) are rare , as most fleeing the communist north prefer the greater odds of success of crossing by sea . the last north korean soldier who defected ( over land ) was in march 2010 , ' said a spokesman from the defense ministry in seoul . but with his comrades dead and no longer capable of hindering him , it was easy for the soldier to flee south . the distance between the north korean guard post and the south korean guard post is 500 meters , ' the official said , who asked not to be named , because he is not authorized to speak with the media . more than 24,000 refugees have entered the south from the north since the country 's division , according to the ministry of unification in seoul , over two-thirds of them women . the annual number of refugees has climbed steadily from less than 100 in the 1990s to more than 2,000 per year since 2006 . north korea defector living with quarter of a century of guilt north korean defector stands for south korean election after escape from north korea , artist turns from propaganda to pop art from the archives : south korea wo n't return 9 defectors from the north | defections over land via the heavily armed dmz are rare |
olympic games <tsp> ( cnn ) the bad news for rio de janeiro ahead of the 2016 olympics keeps coming after scores of dead fish appeared in the rodrigo de freitas lagoon . with just over a year to go before the city hosts the games'rowing and canoe competitions , officials with the legislative assembly of rio de janeiro monday launched an investigation into the causes of death both in the lagoon and in other lakes and bays in the state in which this phenomenon has occurred . the group will work in partnership with the state environmental institute ( inea ) and the secretariat of state for the environment . officials defended the belief that the latest rains caused a temperature change of the water and the excess of decaying organic matter , which would have led to a black of oxygen , killing the fish . the note released by officials highlighted that the amount of dead fish has generated a bad smell and inconvenience to those who live near the lagoon and all the tourists who flock to the area . last week , newly obtained video from newspaper o globo showed a sailor crashing into trash floating on guanabara bay . the incident took place on february 14 and involved professional sailors breno osthoff , 20 , and rafael de almeida sampaio , 35 . according to osthoff , the impact was so great the boat was forced onto its side . rio de janeiro has pledged to reduce pollution in the notoriously fetid bay , but last month in an interview with the country 's largest sports channel sportv , mayor eduardo paes admitted that the bay will remain mostly polluted for the games . the olympics are also in a time that has very little rain , then this amount of debris that comes from five municipalities in the metropolitan region , with poor sanitation , is also controllable ... i do not see as a problem for the olympics , ' said paes . last year biologists said rivers leading into the bay contained a superbacteria that is resistant to antibiotics and can cause urinary , gastrointestinal and pulmonary infections . 2016 olympics predictions | pollution was a problem even before the preparations for the olympic games began |
south korean <tsp> seoul , south korea ( cnn ) -- one could say she has the determination ... but lacks the drive . driving agency estimates woman has spent more than $ 2,888 in exam fees . a 68-year-old south korean woman this week signed up to take her driving test once again -- after failing to earn a license the first 771 times . the woman , identified only as cha , first took the written portion of the exam in april 2005 , said choi young-cheol of the driver 's license agency in the southwestern city of jeonju . at the time , she made her living selling goods door-to-door and figured she would need a car to help her get around , choi told cnn . she failed the test . she retook the test the next day and failed again . and again . and again . you have to get at least 60 points to pass the written part , ' said kim rahn , who wrote about the unflappable woman in the korea times , an english-language daily . she usually gets under 50 . ' in the beginning , cha went to the license office almost every day . now , she no longer works but still turns up once a week , choi said . the office estimates she has spent more than 4 million won ( $ 2,888 ) in exam fees . cha 's last failed attempt was monday . she tries for the 772nd time either thursday or friday . -- cnn 's kathy paik and saeed ahmed contributed to this report . | 68-year-old south korean woman has signed up to take her 772nd driving test |
richard pan <tsp> ( cnn ) two state senators in california are proposing legislation that would eliminate the personal beliefs ' exemption for parents who do n't want their children to be vaccinated . dr. richard pan and ben allen 's announcement came on the day the state of california announced the number of measles cases had grown to 99 . many of those cases are tied to an outbreak at disneyland in mid-december . the comparatively large number of cases in california this year and in the united states the past year have sparked debate over whether unvaccinated children should be allowed in public school . dr. sanjay gupta : vaccines are a matter of fact california allows exemptions from vaccinations for medical reasons and personal beliefs , ' and parents have been using them . as a pediatrician i have personally witnessed children suffering lifelong injury or death from vaccine-preventable infection , ' said pan , who also wrote the california law that requires people who want to file a personal exemption to consult a doctor . he said the proposed bill would focus on vaccinations required to attend school . we 're not reaching sufficient immunization rates and we want to reach the rates necessary to protect the public from those diseases , ' he told reporters in sacramento . cnn affiliate ktla reported several members of the california state assembly will be co-authors of the bill . measles outbreak : different states , different rules on vaccinations measles starts with a fever , runny nose , cough , red eyes and sore throat . for most people , it does n't get much worse than that -- and yet one out of every 20 children with measles also contract pneumonia , and one or two out of every 1,000 children with the disease die from it , according to the centers for disease control and prevention . while once widespread in the united states , cases dropped significantly because of vaccines . in 2000 , health authorities declared that measles had been eliminated in the united states , which meant it was no longer native to the united states but continued to be brought in by international travelers . on monday , a southern california day care shut down because an infant there -- who is too young to be vaccinated -- contracted measles . the samohi infant toddler center inside santa monica high school , a facility for 24 children of students and staff members , closed monday after it was learned that a baby under 12 months old being cared for there had measles . it 's not clear when , where or how the child got the disease . california day care closes due to measles in baby too young to be vaccinated | dr. richard pan also wrote law that requires parents have health care professional sign form for exemption |
pakistanis <tsp> nowshera , pakistan ( cnn ) -- the start of the muslim holy month of ramadan coincided in pakistan on wednesday with the nation 's worst natural disaster , the staggering scope of human suffering revealing itself in wretched ways . from the swat valley in the north to sindh province in the south , as many as 15 million pakistanis have been affected by torrential monsoon rains that have washed away villages and bloated rivers , authorities said wednesday . pakistan 's representative to the united nations said many people have not yet grasped the massive scale of pakistan 's suffering and warned it could still get worse because of ongoing rain . it is horrendous , ' said abdullah hussain haroon . it is going to put us back so many years that we 're not even starting on the infrastructure . ' the pakistan disaster authority confirmed 1,313 deaths wednesday . it said 1,588 people have been injured and 352,291 people have been rescued . more than 722,000 houses have been damaged . many pakistanis now face severe food shortages , and aid agencies stepped up appeals for global assistance . the united nations launched a flash appeal for $ 460 million in humanitarian assistance , and the united states pledged another $ 20 million on top of the $ 35 million already pledged . the pakistani military has 55 helicopters and 621 boats taking part in aid and rescue efforts . for many parts of southern pakistan , the worst is yet to come . the indus river is expected to crest thursday in parts of sindh , according to the pakistani meteorological department . and pakistanis will be forced to endure the consequences of damaged infrastructure and crops lost to flooding for months . nowshera 's khushal pur market , once a vibrant place of 250 food stalls , stood covered in thick , foul-smelling sludge as tractors worked to remove the mud and debris . among the muck were tons of rotting produce that shop keepers abandoned when they fled the flooding . juma gul surveyed the damage . his vegetable stall has been a family business for two decades . he said he has lost more than $ 1,000 in business , a huge amount in this town in northwestern pakistan , where the cia world factbook estimated the average annual income at $ 2,600 . gul , who set up a temporary stall on the road , said prices of fresh produce , including tomatoes and cucumbers , have doubled . that made customer niaz ali anxious . he has already lost work and money is tight , but with the cost of food soaring , he said he and his family will simply have to eat less . market manager ikram ullah said it would be particularly difficult during the month of ramadan , when muslims abstain from food and water during the day and break their fast with a feast at sunset . the back-breaking clean-up tasks will be hard , too , because of ramadan fasting . the economic impact of the disaster is sure to be felt for a long time with crops sitting in soggy fields . the crop has been lost and it is a race against time to ensure the next sowing season can be met , ' said united nations special envoy jean-maurice ripert . john holmes , u.n. under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs , said the disaster is one of the most challenging that any country has faced in recent years . ' although the death toll is lower , the 14 million people affected are more than those affected in the 2005 pakistan earthquakes , the 2004 indonesia tsunami and the january earthquake in haiti combined . the death toll has so far been relatively low compared to other major natural disasters , but the numbers affected are extraordinarily high , ' holmes said . if we do n't act fast enough , many more people could die of diseases and food shortages . ' holmes said thousands of villages and at least 288,000 homes have been destroyed . six thousand villages wiped out the face of the earth , ' haroon said . from 5,000 to 50,000 per village , we have no way of counting . we have nothing operational as to how many of those have died and how many are alive . ' huge swaths of pakistan remain without power , clean water or communication . bridges and roads have been destroyed , and many regions are accessible only by air or water transport . millions of hectares of crops have been washed away in khyber pakhtunkhwa province ( kpk ) , punjab and sindh , and seed stocks have been destroyed , severely compromising the possibility to plant staple food crops in september for hundreds of thousands of farmers , ' holmes said . the floods , which started in pakistan 's northern regions , are traveling through the southern province of sindh . millions more are expected to suffer from the combined impact of continuing torrential rains and unprecedented water levels in the rivers , ' holmes said . the monsoon could last for at least another month , worsening the flooding we have seen so far . ' the money will enable u.n. organizations , international partners and ngos to partner with the pakistani government to address emergency needs of flood-affected families , holmes says . the agencies will provide food , drinking water , tents and supplies in the seven hardest-hit areas : balochistan , punjab , the federally administered tribal area , gilgit baltistan , kpk , pakistan-administered kashmir and sindh . the u.n. reports $ 99.5 million has been pledged , and donors have committed or contributed $ 47.8 million to the u.n. emergency response in pakistan , but $ 300 million more is needed . individual countries have also gotten involved . u.s. secretary of defense robert gates on wednesday authorized 19 marine and navy heavy-lift helicopters to pakistan to relieve six u.s. army helicopters that have been taking part in flood relief since saturday . the new group of helicopters will come from units on board the uss peleliu which has been off the coast of western pakistan in recent days in anticipation of orders to assist . gates said the uss kearsarge -- another helicopter landing ship -- is headed to pakistan to relieve the peleliu . gates said the pakistanis will decide the speed of distribution . we want to be as helpful as we can be , ' he said . we do n't want to overstretch the capacity of the pakistanis to absorb the help . ' also wednesday , germany said it was increasing aid for flood victims to about $ 12.8 million . in total , about $ 600 million in aid is heading to pakistan -- the equivalent of about $ 40 for each of the nation 's 15 million residents . islamic militants , however , called on the pakistani government to reject any aid provided by the united states for flood relief . for the sake of god , do n't accept donations from the u.s. because they are our enemies , ' said azem tariq , spokesman for the taliban in pakistan . whatever amount the u.s. will give as donation , we will give the government of pakistan more . ' many pakistanis have not been happy with the government 's response to the floods , calling it slow and ineffective . the taliban 's offer of aid may be an attempt to win the hearts and minds of flood victims . pakistani president asif ali zardari has taken much of the heat . he was in england for talks with british prime minister david cameron during the worst of the crisis . cnn 's reza sayah , dan rivers , samson desta , brooke elliott and journalist nasir habib contributed to this report . | pakistanis face soaring food costs and long-term shortages |
cdc <tsp> ( cnn ) -- as a child , ranjan avasthi was once bitten by the family 's german shepherd . his parents responded quickly by separating the two , bandaging his wounds and gradually reintroducing healthy interaction with the dog . fast-forward a few decades . avasthi , now a doctor , has a wife , child and his very own german shepherd mix . his toddler may be a bit young for cautionary tales , but avasthi fully understands the risks and rewards of kids and pets sharing a household . as a doctor who specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry , he has seen kids transform in the presence of pets . he also knows that kids will be kids . they love to grab ears , pull tails and simply rub pets the wrong way . while cats and dogs reside in roughly 84 million u.s. households without incident , accidents happen . the centers for disease control and prevention estimates that nearly half of the 800,000 medically treated dog bites each year involve children , mostly between the ages of 5 and 9 years old . even with the most well-behaved fur kids , it 's best to avoid leaving children and pets unsupervised . kids naturally do things that upset cats and dogs — hugging , staring , petting on the head , ' says animal behaviorist kristen collins of the american society for the prevention of cruelty to animals ( aspca.org ) . these can stress animals , and any stressed animal is more dangerous . ' mnn : rescue dogs sniff out endangered species we all know that kids and pets can peacefully coexist . but it also helps to have an action plan , just in case your child is bitten by a pet ( yes , cats bite , too ) . take measures to help prevent emotional scars after a pet bites or scratches your child . collins and avasthi offer expert advice : take swift action : remove the pet immediately , then discuss why pets may have reacted negatively . a lot of it is talking about what happened and asking ,'why do you think this happened ?'' avasthi says . allow children to discuss what can be done to prevent the situation from recurring . ' teach kids to read a pet 's body language : collins strongly encourages parents to discuss body language while watching pets . aspca.org provides guidelines , photos and safety tips to help kids and parents recognize signs — such as flattened ears or wrinkled forehead — that indicate distress . reinforce healthy interaction : help kids understand how to safely approach a cat or dog . start by asking human handlers if you can approach , then extend a closed hand for the cat or dog to smell . it 's best if you let the pet come to you , ' collins says . it can prevent a lot of bad situations . ' she also recommends that kids and parents practice the proper way to pet a cat or dog using stuffed animals . focus on areas where animals like to be petted , such as their chest or side . we sit with kids and talk about things dogs do n't like and cats do n't like , ' collins says . it 's equally important to explain what they do like . ' mnn : why do cats purr ? reintroduce pets slowly : each situation differs , but psychiatrists often use exposure therapy to help patients deal with phobias , avasthi says . the process resembles slow and deliberate steps that his parents took many years ago . therapy may begin with kids seeing photos of puppies , then pint-sized pups and , eventually , larger dogs . during subsequent sessions , kids watch videos of pets and gradually interact with an adult cat or dog . the goal is to help kids overcome a fearful response when they think about the pet . try a training class : avasthi and collins recommend training to build confidence — for kids and pets . many dog trainers encourage kids to participate in group classes , setting the foundation for safe interaction at an early age . then the child is not afraid and does n't learn the wrong behaviors , ' avasthi says . collins also encourages games such as fetch , along with obedience and teaching trick training . these activities help kids learn positive interaction , and dogs learn that kids are great treat dispensers , she says . encourage a healthy respect for mother nature : educate kids that our house pets — even though domesticated and pets — they are animals , ' avasthi says . sometimes they may not mean to hurt us ; they may be playing , irritated or even frightened . ' respecting pets also means giving them space when they show signs of being distressed , overstimulated or tired . continue the conversation @ soulpup on twitter . © copyright 2011 mother nature network | cdc : nearly half of medically treated dog bites involve children |
north charleston <tsp> ( cnn ) the world learned his name after he was killed by a south carolina police officer . but in his life , 50-year-old walter scott was also the father of four children and served in the coast guard before being honorably discharged . he was outgoing -- loved everybody , ( was ) very known in the community and got along with everybody , ' his brother anthony scott told cnn 's don lemon . all the family loves him , and his kids loved him . ' until it all came crashing down saturday morning , when north charleston police officer michael slager pulled scott over , reportedly for a faulty brake light . dash cam video released thursday shows the two talking , then shows scott get out of his car and run . why did he run ? justin bamberg , a lawyer for scott 's family , speculated thursday it could have been related to child support and a fear of maybe going back to ( jail ) . ' at the time of his death , scott owed over $ 18,000 in back payments for two children and had n't made a payment since july 2012 , according to charleston county family court documents . another family lawyer , chris stewart , acknowledged that scott had been arrested previously for outstanding warrants for not paying child support , but stewart said that had been scott 's lone issue with the law for the past 20 years . i know that it had nothing to do with anything violent , ' bamberg said of scott 's legal history . he was not a dangerous person . ' according to a police report , scott did not comply with an officer 's demands and tried to grab slager 's stun gun . slager fired eight shots , five of which struck scott . he was pronounced dead at the scene . regardless of why walter scott ran , running from an officer does n't result in the death penalty , ' stewart said . slager has been charged with murder , a charge that might not have come about if not for a bystander 's video of the shooting . anthony scott said he watched the video that showed his brother getting shot dead , footage that has traumatized the family . when i saw that video for the first time , my family was deeply hurt that someone would gun down a human being in that way , ' the brother said . we just could n't believe it . ' the last time the family got together with walter scott was when the siblings threw a surprise wedding anniversary party for their parents . it was a great celebration , ' anthony scott said . my dad and brothers planned it , and ( my mother ) was totally surprised . now this happens , ' scott said , referring to his brother 's shooting . it 's so tragic . ' cnn 's greg botelho contributed to this report . | he was shot in the back and killed by a north charleston police officer |
walter scott <tsp> ( cnn ) the world learned his name after he was killed by a south carolina police officer . but in his life , 50-year-old walter scott was also the father of four children and served in the coast guard before being honorably discharged . he was outgoing -- loved everybody , ( was ) very known in the community and got along with everybody , ' his brother anthony scott told cnn 's don lemon . all the family loves him , and his kids loved him . ' until it all came crashing down saturday morning , when north charleston police officer michael slager pulled scott over , reportedly for a faulty brake light . dash cam video released thursday shows the two talking , then shows scott get out of his car and run . why did he run ? justin bamberg , a lawyer for scott 's family , speculated thursday it could have been related to child support and a fear of maybe going back to ( jail ) . ' at the time of his death , scott owed over $ 18,000 in back payments for two children and had n't made a payment since july 2012 , according to charleston county family court documents . another family lawyer , chris stewart , acknowledged that scott had been arrested previously for outstanding warrants for not paying child support , but stewart said that had been scott 's lone issue with the law for the past 20 years . i know that it had nothing to do with anything violent , ' bamberg said of scott 's legal history . he was not a dangerous person . ' according to a police report , scott did not comply with an officer 's demands and tried to grab slager 's stun gun . slager fired eight shots , five of which struck scott . he was pronounced dead at the scene . regardless of why walter scott ran , running from an officer does n't result in the death penalty , ' stewart said . slager has been charged with murder , a charge that might not have come about if not for a bystander 's video of the shooting . anthony scott said he watched the video that showed his brother getting shot dead , footage that has traumatized the family . when i saw that video for the first time , my family was deeply hurt that someone would gun down a human being in that way , ' the brother said . we just could n't believe it . ' the last time the family got together with walter scott was when the siblings threw a surprise wedding anniversary party for their parents . it was a great celebration , ' anthony scott said . my dad and brothers planned it , and ( my mother ) was totally surprised . now this happens , ' scott said , referring to his brother 's shooting . it 's so tragic . ' cnn 's greg botelho contributed to this report . | walter scott owed over $ 18,000 in back child support payments , documents show |
walter scott <tsp> ( cnn ) the world learned his name after he was killed by a south carolina police officer . but in his life , 50-year-old walter scott was also the father of four children and served in the coast guard before being honorably discharged . he was outgoing -- loved everybody , ( was ) very known in the community and got along with everybody , ' his brother anthony scott told cnn 's don lemon . all the family loves him , and his kids loved him . ' until it all came crashing down saturday morning , when north charleston police officer michael slager pulled scott over , reportedly for a faulty brake light . dash cam video released thursday shows the two talking , then shows scott get out of his car and run . why did he run ? justin bamberg , a lawyer for scott 's family , speculated thursday it could have been related to child support and a fear of maybe going back to ( jail ) . ' at the time of his death , scott owed over $ 18,000 in back payments for two children and had n't made a payment since july 2012 , according to charleston county family court documents . another family lawyer , chris stewart , acknowledged that scott had been arrested previously for outstanding warrants for not paying child support , but stewart said that had been scott 's lone issue with the law for the past 20 years . i know that it had nothing to do with anything violent , ' bamberg said of scott 's legal history . he was not a dangerous person . ' according to a police report , scott did not comply with an officer 's demands and tried to grab slager 's stun gun . slager fired eight shots , five of which struck scott . he was pronounced dead at the scene . regardless of why walter scott ran , running from an officer does n't result in the death penalty , ' stewart said . slager has been charged with murder , a charge that might not have come about if not for a bystander 's video of the shooting . anthony scott said he watched the video that showed his brother getting shot dead , footage that has traumatized the family . when i saw that video for the first time , my family was deeply hurt that someone would gun down a human being in that way , ' the brother said . we just could n't believe it . ' the last time the family got together with walter scott was when the siblings threw a surprise wedding anniversary party for their parents . it was a great celebration , ' anthony scott said . my dad and brothers planned it , and ( my mother ) was totally surprised . now this happens , ' scott said , referring to his brother 's shooting . it 's so tragic . ' cnn 's greg botelho contributed to this report . | walter scott had four children and served in the coast guard , his brother says |
coast guard <tsp> ( cnn ) the world learned his name after he was killed by a south carolina police officer . but in his life , 50-year-old walter scott was also the father of four children and served in the coast guard before being honorably discharged . he was outgoing -- loved everybody , ( was ) very known in the community and got along with everybody , ' his brother anthony scott told cnn 's don lemon . all the family loves him , and his kids loved him . ' until it all came crashing down saturday morning , when north charleston police officer michael slager pulled scott over , reportedly for a faulty brake light . dash cam video released thursday shows the two talking , then shows scott get out of his car and run . why did he run ? justin bamberg , a lawyer for scott 's family , speculated thursday it could have been related to child support and a fear of maybe going back to ( jail ) . ' at the time of his death , scott owed over $ 18,000 in back payments for two children and had n't made a payment since july 2012 , according to charleston county family court documents . another family lawyer , chris stewart , acknowledged that scott had been arrested previously for outstanding warrants for not paying child support , but stewart said that had been scott 's lone issue with the law for the past 20 years . i know that it had nothing to do with anything violent , ' bamberg said of scott 's legal history . he was not a dangerous person . ' according to a police report , scott did not comply with an officer 's demands and tried to grab slager 's stun gun . slager fired eight shots , five of which struck scott . he was pronounced dead at the scene . regardless of why walter scott ran , running from an officer does n't result in the death penalty , ' stewart said . slager has been charged with murder , a charge that might not have come about if not for a bystander 's video of the shooting . anthony scott said he watched the video that showed his brother getting shot dead , footage that has traumatized the family . when i saw that video for the first time , my family was deeply hurt that someone would gun down a human being in that way , ' the brother said . we just could n't believe it . ' the last time the family got together with walter scott was when the siblings threw a surprise wedding anniversary party for their parents . it was a great celebration , ' anthony scott said . my dad and brothers planned it , and ( my mother ) was totally surprised . now this happens , ' scott said , referring to his brother 's shooting . it 's so tragic . ' cnn 's greg botelho contributed to this report . | walter scott had four children and served in the coast guard , his brother says |
interior ministry <tsp> a wave of explosions targeting syrian government forces killed dozens of people at a popular aleppo square wednesday in an attack for which a syria-based extremist group has claimed responsibility . al-nusra front said the strikes were carried out by suicide bombers driving cars packed with explosives , followed by raiders disguised in syrian military uniforms , according to a statement posted on a website that publishes claims from extreme islamist groups . ' the second explosion happened at 8:17 a.m. outside the governorate building where a suicide bomber blew up a car bomb loaded with 500 kg of explosive material , ' the interior ministry said in a statement . two mortar shells also fell near the municipal palace , it said . at least 40 people were killed and about 90 were wounded when three car bombs exploded in saadallah al-jabiri square , according to the syrian observatory for human rights . though syrian state-run media put the death toll at 34 , with 122 injured . state television , meanwhile , aired footage of the carnage , which included the bloody and mangled bodies of men in military uniforms . why syria turmoil threatens the middle east a fourth car bomb exploded near aleppo 's chamber of commerce , the government and opposition said . the number of casualties from that incident was not immediately known . the blasts highlight the escalating crisis in aleppo , syria 's most populous city , which has morphed into a major battleground between government and rebel forces . aleppo is also a major financial lifeline for president bashar al-assad 's government ; a rebel takeover of the city would deal a significant blow to four decades of assad family rule . opposition groups later reported that a number of regime forces ' had been killed following the shelling of a syrian military center near the town of tal abyad . the deaths were not part of the wednesday toll distributed by the opposition local coordination committees of syria . it said at least 200 people died across syria on wednesday , including 67 in damascus and its suburbs and 29 in idlib province . more than 28,000 people have been killed across syria since march 2011 , the lcc says . cnn is unable to independently confirm casualty reports , as the syrian government has severely limited access by international journalists . 300,000 and counting : the crisis of syria 's refugees in other developments : shelling from syria strikes house in turkey at least five people were killed and 10 injured when a shell landed on a house in the turkish town of akcakale , near the syrian border , the town 's mayor said wednesday . the artillery shell was fired from the syrian district of tel abayad , according to turkey 's semiofficial anadolu news agency . however , it is not yet clear what military force or group launched it . mayor abdulhakim ayhan said those killed were three children , their mother and a female neighbor . two police officers were among those hurt , he said . in return , turkey fired on syrian government targets . our armed forces on the border responded immediately to this atrocious attack within the rules of engagement , and points in syria determined by radar were hit with artillery fire , ' a statement from prime minister recep tayyip erdogan 's office said . turkey , within the confines of the rules of engagement and international law , will never leave these types of provocations aimed at our national security unanswered . ' uk steps up aid for syrian refugees in turkey the united kingdom will provide an additional 1 million pounds ( $ 1.6 million ) to help syrian refugees through the turkish winter , deputy prime minister nick clegg said wednesday . refugees from syria face what is likely to be a bitterly cold winter . the supplies this extra funding will deliver will go some way to helping them through this difficult time , ' clegg said in a written statement . the united kingdom has given 38.5 million pounds ( $ 62 million ) in humanitarian aid during the syrian crisis . the added funding is expected to help about 10,000 refugees with supplies such as blankets , clothing and heaters turkey has taken in more than 93,000 syrian refugees , more than any other country in the region . refugees in turkey : police are forcing us from homes | two mortar shells also fell near the municipal palace , the interior ministry says |
interior ministry <tsp> a wave of explosions targeting syrian government forces killed dozens of people at a popular aleppo square wednesday in an attack for which a syria-based extremist group has claimed responsibility . al-nusra front said the strikes were carried out by suicide bombers driving cars packed with explosives , followed by raiders disguised in syrian military uniforms , according to a statement posted on a website that publishes claims from extreme islamist groups . ' the second explosion happened at 8:17 a.m. outside the governorate building where a suicide bomber blew up a car bomb loaded with 500 kg of explosive material , ' the interior ministry said in a statement . two mortar shells also fell near the municipal palace , it said . at least 40 people were killed and about 90 were wounded when three car bombs exploded in saadallah al-jabiri square , according to the syrian observatory for human rights . though syrian state-run media put the death toll at 34 , with 122 injured . state television , meanwhile , aired footage of the carnage , which included the bloody and mangled bodies of men in military uniforms . why syria turmoil threatens the middle east a fourth car bomb exploded near aleppo 's chamber of commerce , the government and opposition said . the number of casualties from that incident was not immediately known . the blasts highlight the escalating crisis in aleppo , syria 's most populous city , which has morphed into a major battleground between government and rebel forces . aleppo is also a major financial lifeline for president bashar al-assad 's government ; a rebel takeover of the city would deal a significant blow to four decades of assad family rule . opposition groups later reported that a number of regime forces ' had been killed following the shelling of a syrian military center near the town of tal abyad . the deaths were not part of the wednesday toll distributed by the opposition local coordination committees of syria . it said at least 200 people died across syria on wednesday , including 67 in damascus and its suburbs and 29 in idlib province . more than 28,000 people have been killed across syria since march 2011 , the lcc says . cnn is unable to independently confirm casualty reports , as the syrian government has severely limited access by international journalists . 300,000 and counting : the crisis of syria 's refugees in other developments : shelling from syria strikes house in turkey at least five people were killed and 10 injured when a shell landed on a house in the turkish town of akcakale , near the syrian border , the town 's mayor said wednesday . the artillery shell was fired from the syrian district of tel abayad , according to turkey 's semiofficial anadolu news agency . however , it is not yet clear what military force or group launched it . mayor abdulhakim ayhan said those killed were three children , their mother and a female neighbor . two police officers were among those hurt , he said . in return , turkey fired on syrian government targets . our armed forces on the border responded immediately to this atrocious attack within the rules of engagement , and points in syria determined by radar were hit with artillery fire , ' a statement from prime minister recep tayyip erdogan 's office said . turkey , within the confines of the rules of engagement and international law , will never leave these types of provocations aimed at our national security unanswered . ' uk steps up aid for syrian refugees in turkey the united kingdom will provide an additional 1 million pounds ( $ 1.6 million ) to help syrian refugees through the turkish winter , deputy prime minister nick clegg said wednesday . refugees from syria face what is likely to be a bitterly cold winter . the supplies this extra funding will deliver will go some way to helping them through this difficult time , ' clegg said in a written statement . the united kingdom has given 38.5 million pounds ( $ 62 million ) in humanitarian aid during the syrian crisis . the added funding is expected to help about 10,000 refugees with supplies such as blankets , clothing and heaters turkey has taken in more than 93,000 syrian refugees , more than any other country in the region . refugees in turkey : police are forcing us from homes | a suicide bomber blew up a car bomb loaded with 500 kg bomb , the interior ministry says |
woods <tsp> ( cnn ) -- tiger woods is no longer officially considered one of golf 's top 50 players , ending a streak that extended back 15 years . according to the official world golf ranking , the 35-year-old woods entered the weekend as the sport 's 50th best player . but he lost that standing when louis oosthuizen finished tied for fifth at this weekend 's dunhill links championship in scotland , earning him a place in the standings and ousting woods . the rankings are endorsed by professional golf association tours in the united states , europe , australia , asia and elsewhere , according to the world golf ranking website . an updated ranking comes out every monday . the last time woods was not among the top 50 was on october 13 , 1996 . since then , he won 14 major championships -- a distinction used for the masters , u.s. open , british open and pga championship -- and , for much of the next 778 weeks , ranked as the game 's best player . in recent years , woods has been plagued by the fallout surrounding his infidelity and divorce from his wife as well as numerous injuries . his last tournament win was the australian masters in november 2009 . his next competition will be this week at the frys.com open in corde valley , california . despite his recent slump , american team captain fred couples chose woods as one of his wild card picks for next month 's presidents cup in australia . cnn 's jason durand contributed to this report . | a strong performance by louis oosthuizen led to woods'drop in rankings |
woods <tsp> ( cnn ) -- tiger woods is no longer officially considered one of golf 's top 50 players , ending a streak that extended back 15 years . according to the official world golf ranking , the 35-year-old woods entered the weekend as the sport 's 50th best player . but he lost that standing when louis oosthuizen finished tied for fifth at this weekend 's dunhill links championship in scotland , earning him a place in the standings and ousting woods . the rankings are endorsed by professional golf association tours in the united states , europe , australia , asia and elsewhere , according to the world golf ranking website . an updated ranking comes out every monday . the last time woods was not among the top 50 was on october 13 , 1996 . since then , he won 14 major championships -- a distinction used for the masters , u.s. open , british open and pga championship -- and , for much of the next 778 weeks , ranked as the game 's best player . in recent years , woods has been plagued by the fallout surrounding his infidelity and divorce from his wife as well as numerous injuries . his last tournament win was the australian masters in november 2009 . his next competition will be this week at the frys.com open in corde valley , california . despite his recent slump , american team captain fred couples chose woods as one of his wild card picks for next month 's presidents cup in australia . cnn 's jason durand contributed to this report . | the last time woods was not in the top 50 was in october 1996 |
woods <tsp> ( cnn ) -- tiger woods is no longer officially considered one of golf 's top 50 players , ending a streak that extended back 15 years . according to the official world golf ranking , the 35-year-old woods entered the weekend as the sport 's 50th best player . but he lost that standing when louis oosthuizen finished tied for fifth at this weekend 's dunhill links championship in scotland , earning him a place in the standings and ousting woods . the rankings are endorsed by professional golf association tours in the united states , europe , australia , asia and elsewhere , according to the world golf ranking website . an updated ranking comes out every monday . the last time woods was not among the top 50 was on october 13 , 1996 . since then , he won 14 major championships -- a distinction used for the masters , u.s. open , british open and pga championship -- and , for much of the next 778 weeks , ranked as the game 's best player . in recent years , woods has been plagued by the fallout surrounding his infidelity and divorce from his wife as well as numerous injuries . his last tournament win was the australian masters in november 2009 . his next competition will be this week at the frys.com open in corde valley , california . despite his recent slump , american team captain fred couples chose woods as one of his wild card picks for next month 's presidents cup in australia . cnn 's jason durand contributed to this report . | woods entered this weekend as golf 's 50th best player |
eu <tsp> ( cnn ) -- european leaders are meeting in brussels thursday to discuss further sanctions against russia . so far the eu has imposed financial and visa restrictions against 21 carefully selected russian and ukrainian officials -- but avoided anyone from president vladimir putin 's inner circle and stayed clear of any large-scale economic sanctions . the eu and u.s. have condemned russian annexation of crimea as illegal and stepped up their rhetoric towards the kremlin , but whether they are willing to put more economic pressure on russia is unclear . the leaders of europe 's biggest economies are likely to be cautious . here 's why . how important is russia 's economy ? russia is the eight biggest economy in the world , with gdp of more than $ 2 trillion . but its economy -- which is heavily reliant on commodities , particularly oil and gas , was growing just 1.3 % last year compared to 2012 , one of the sharpest slowdowns in the emerging markets . with the ukraine crisis taking its toll , russia 's economy may not grow at all in 2014 , some analysts have warned . hopes russia would be one of the decade 's powerhouse economies may have faded , but its close links with the european union have not . would sanctions hit europe back ? the eu is russia 's largest trading partner , and there are deep economic links between the two . almost half of russia 's exports -- $ 292 billion worth -- end up in eu countries . 15 % of russia 's gdp comes directly from the country 's exports to eu . russia , in turn , is the third biggest trading partner for the eu , with $ 169 billion in imports . but the eurozone itself has only just emerged from its own crisis , and is wary of cutting ties with such a powerful economic partner . its reliance on gas out of russia would also feed caution . robert pape , political science professor at university of chicago with expertise in security studies , says the sanctions would hurt both sides . between great powers , leverage is a two-way street , russia can squeeze us almost as effectively as we can squeeze them , ' pape wrote for cnn . while steps that would push the price of oil down for a sustained period would really bite , these would be hitting right back . energy supplies remain vitally important for the european union , to which russia supplies a third of eu 's natural gas . germany , the eurozone 's biggest economy , imports around 40 % of its gas from russia . what is russia 's economic relationship with the u.s ? the economic relationship between russia and the u.s. is more unbalanced . russia is the 20th largest trading partner for the u.s. , with $ 27 billion worth of trade exported across the atlantic . on the flip-side , the u.s. is russia 's fifth largest partner , with just $ 11 billion worth of trade . according to russian foundation chair david clark , trade is a relatively unimportant ' component of relations . energy links are also weakening as the u.s. looks to shale gas for its energy supplies and heads towards self-sufficiency . clark told cnn the u.s. could get greater leverage over russia from financial sanctions aimed at the country 's banking system and stability of the ruble . measures targeted at named individuals , similar to those contained in the magnitsky act , could also be effective . russia 's angry response to the act shows that it works , ' clark said . but again , the financial links between russia and the west would mean huge losses for european banks which have lent billions to russia . while the eu and u.s. adopted sanctions against 28 individuals , clark said these have little more than nuisance value and would have to be dramatically expanded to have a real impact . ' travel bans and asset freezes aimed at all members of the duma and federation council who voted to annex crimea would be a start , ' clark said . targeting the money men who handle the finances and assets ( often illicit ) of top tier politicians would really hurt , he added . and the names of these individuals are quite well known . but again , the financial links between russia and the west would mean huge losses for european banks which have lent billions to russia . are there other options ? the eu has a wide range of legal options here . its economic significance means sanctions can be very powerful tool . export and import bans or restrictions that apply to specific products such as oil or diamonds , flights restrictions or investment freezes have been successful in the past . restricting access to foreign capital and the international banking system could prove very damaging indeed because russia 's economy is stagnating and it needs inward investment , ' clark said . but experience shows that economic sanctions rarely work in the pursuit of non-economic goals . imposing economic sanctions on a state is similar to backing an angry dog into a corner -- in most cases , the dog will become more vicious , and more defensive , ' pape said . at the end , targeting russia 's national pride may prove more useful . a decision by a large group of countries to boycott the 2018 football world cup in russia would probably hurt russian prestige rather more , especially if fifa had to move the event to another country , ' david clark said . read more : why annexing crimea may prove costly for russia west 's sanctions on russia : are they just for show ? is russia 's annexation of crimea opportune or opportunistic ? cnn 's irene chapple and mark thompson contributed to this report . | tight economic links between russia and the eu could mean sanctions hurt both sides |
english <tsp> editor 's note : the staff at cnn.com has recently been intrigued by the journalism of vice , an independent media company and website based in brooklyn , new york . vbs.tv is vice 's broadband television network . the reports , which are produced solely by vice , reflect a transparent approach to journalism , where viewers are taken along on every step of the reporting process . we believe this unique reporting approach is worthy of sharing with our cnn.com readers . london , england ( vbs.tv ) -- in april this year i embedded with the elite soldiers of the 2nd battalion british parachute regiment at their training facility in thetford , united kingdom . we went there to film the british army 's much-talked-about , multimillion pound replica afghanistan village . ' the focus of the piece was to be on the younger members of the battalion . some of them are as young as 18 and only months away from their first visit to helmand province in september 2010 . the majority of british casualties are all recorded in that area . i 'd heard about the afghan village training facility from an ex-para turned photographer called stuart griffiths . a couple of years ago , vice magazine published a photo essay in which he visited the homes of badly injured soldiers returned from iraq or afghanistan . perhaps more shocking than the horrific injuries the soldiers had sustained was the lack of support of these men from the british government of the time -- particularly those who suffered psychological problems as a result of combat shock . stuart served his time in the paras on tours of northern ireland in the late 80s to early 90s . but after being discharged he fell on hard times . he became homeless and spent a long time wandering the streets of london . he slept in cardboard boxes in doorways , often coming across fellow army veterans who faced a similar lack of support and sympathy from society , the government or the army . happily , stuart managed to get himself off the streets and , inspired by the stories of his fellow homeless veterans , became a campaigner of sorts for veterans rights , using his photography . his story and those of other ex-paras is now available to watch in a moving british documentary called isolation . ' a week before we set off for the embed , i asked stuart what kind of experience we were letting ourselves in for and he said : not only are the parachute regiment britain 's most elite soldiers , they are the most brutal of british troops . that means the rest of the british army are simply in awe of them . i would say around 90 per cent of the sas ( the british equivalent of the special forces ) comes from the paras . and so the troops you are going to be sleeping next to every night are some of the hardest men in the world . ' recently what 's happened is that many former veterans have had a call to arms ' and returned to the forces again . life in civvy ( civilian ) street has been a huge disappointment for many of these guys . once you 've fought'in-theater'a number of times it 's really hard for you to come back and fit in with the hum-drum of modern life . especially if you 're a para . they miss the camaraderie and the discipline and the action that you get when you 're in combat . ' see the rest of afghanistan in the uk at vbs.tv ' when afghanistan first kicked off , all three battalions of the paras were sent straight there because of their reputation for violence and bravery . i remember it was in helmand 2006 that afghanistan became very hairy indeed . the parachute regiment were there when it became very intense and at the time a member of parliament called john reid was quoted as saying ,'i 'd be quite happy that a single shot is not fired in afghanistan .'in reality the parachute regiment were firing off more rounds in helmand than the entire korean war ! ' grinning nervously , i asked him if there 's anything else i should know and he looked at me and said , they all drink rivers of lager . ' before we set off to meet the paras , stuart introduced us to a young man named richard dare who 'd been a private in the royal anglians . richard had a significant part of his brain blown out of his head by a mortar attack and was slowly rehabilitating himself at his home in a small town near leicestershire . richard talked to us about his love for the army and for war . the severe injuries to his brain did n't seem to change his love for army life one iota . the more we spoke to him , the more we knew we had to include him in our film . but first we had to go meet the paras . with the help of my co-producer jason mojica , we packed two small cameras into our bags and traveled to the middle of the british countryside to try and ingratiate ourselves with the most brutal soldiers in the whole of the british army . it all started off nice and civilized . we were met on the door by a dashing officer who arranged for a private to show us our room -- a basic little number in the middle of the barracks which , while not five star , would certainly meet our needs for the week . i remember feeling pretty pleased with ourselves that we 'd been given this amazing access , thinking we 'd have carte blanche to wander around and check out the comings and goings of the most elite units in the world . ah , ' we thought , this should be an informative and relaxing few days in the countryside . i do n't know what we were worried about at all . ' soon we were put in jeep , driven an hour-and-a-half away to a gloomy brick building in the middle of nowhere and told that the next time we slept in a bed would be in five days time . as we stepped out of the van about 200 para troops stared at us with eyes that said : who are these wimps ? ' the dark fell fast . a cold wind started blowing and i suddenly realized we 'd left all our warm clothes in the barracks miles away . then the sergeant major introduced himself and told us to get in line with the rest of the troops . and off we marched into the night . | training facility in english countryside modeled after afghan village |
afghan <tsp> editor 's note : the staff at cnn.com has recently been intrigued by the journalism of vice , an independent media company and website based in brooklyn , new york . vbs.tv is vice 's broadband television network . the reports , which are produced solely by vice , reflect a transparent approach to journalism , where viewers are taken along on every step of the reporting process . we believe this unique reporting approach is worthy of sharing with our cnn.com readers . london , england ( vbs.tv ) -- in april this year i embedded with the elite soldiers of the 2nd battalion british parachute regiment at their training facility in thetford , united kingdom . we went there to film the british army 's much-talked-about , multimillion pound replica afghanistan village . ' the focus of the piece was to be on the younger members of the battalion . some of them are as young as 18 and only months away from their first visit to helmand province in september 2010 . the majority of british casualties are all recorded in that area . i 'd heard about the afghan village training facility from an ex-para turned photographer called stuart griffiths . a couple of years ago , vice magazine published a photo essay in which he visited the homes of badly injured soldiers returned from iraq or afghanistan . perhaps more shocking than the horrific injuries the soldiers had sustained was the lack of support of these men from the british government of the time -- particularly those who suffered psychological problems as a result of combat shock . stuart served his time in the paras on tours of northern ireland in the late 80s to early 90s . but after being discharged he fell on hard times . he became homeless and spent a long time wandering the streets of london . he slept in cardboard boxes in doorways , often coming across fellow army veterans who faced a similar lack of support and sympathy from society , the government or the army . happily , stuart managed to get himself off the streets and , inspired by the stories of his fellow homeless veterans , became a campaigner of sorts for veterans rights , using his photography . his story and those of other ex-paras is now available to watch in a moving british documentary called isolation . ' a week before we set off for the embed , i asked stuart what kind of experience we were letting ourselves in for and he said : not only are the parachute regiment britain 's most elite soldiers , they are the most brutal of british troops . that means the rest of the british army are simply in awe of them . i would say around 90 per cent of the sas ( the british equivalent of the special forces ) comes from the paras . and so the troops you are going to be sleeping next to every night are some of the hardest men in the world . ' recently what 's happened is that many former veterans have had a call to arms ' and returned to the forces again . life in civvy ( civilian ) street has been a huge disappointment for many of these guys . once you 've fought'in-theater'a number of times it 's really hard for you to come back and fit in with the hum-drum of modern life . especially if you 're a para . they miss the camaraderie and the discipline and the action that you get when you 're in combat . ' see the rest of afghanistan in the uk at vbs.tv ' when afghanistan first kicked off , all three battalions of the paras were sent straight there because of their reputation for violence and bravery . i remember it was in helmand 2006 that afghanistan became very hairy indeed . the parachute regiment were there when it became very intense and at the time a member of parliament called john reid was quoted as saying ,'i 'd be quite happy that a single shot is not fired in afghanistan .'in reality the parachute regiment were firing off more rounds in helmand than the entire korean war ! ' grinning nervously , i asked him if there 's anything else i should know and he looked at me and said , they all drink rivers of lager . ' before we set off to meet the paras , stuart introduced us to a young man named richard dare who 'd been a private in the royal anglians . richard had a significant part of his brain blown out of his head by a mortar attack and was slowly rehabilitating himself at his home in a small town near leicestershire . richard talked to us about his love for the army and for war . the severe injuries to his brain did n't seem to change his love for army life one iota . the more we spoke to him , the more we knew we had to include him in our film . but first we had to go meet the paras . with the help of my co-producer jason mojica , we packed two small cameras into our bags and traveled to the middle of the british countryside to try and ingratiate ourselves with the most brutal soldiers in the whole of the british army . it all started off nice and civilized . we were met on the door by a dashing officer who arranged for a private to show us our room -- a basic little number in the middle of the barracks which , while not five star , would certainly meet our needs for the week . i remember feeling pretty pleased with ourselves that we 'd been given this amazing access , thinking we 'd have carte blanche to wander around and check out the comings and goings of the most elite units in the world . ah , ' we thought , this should be an informative and relaxing few days in the countryside . i do n't know what we were worried about at all . ' soon we were put in jeep , driven an hour-and-a-half away to a gloomy brick building in the middle of nowhere and told that the next time we slept in a bed would be in five days time . as we stepped out of the van about 200 para troops stared at us with eyes that said : who are these wimps ? ' the dark fell fast . a cold wind started blowing and i suddenly realized we 'd left all our warm clothes in the barracks miles away . then the sergeant major introduced himself and told us to get in line with the rest of the troops . and off we marched into the night . | training facility in english countryside modeled after afghan village |
british <tsp> editor 's note : the staff at cnn.com has recently been intrigued by the journalism of vice , an independent media company and website based in brooklyn , new york . vbs.tv is vice 's broadband television network . the reports , which are produced solely by vice , reflect a transparent approach to journalism , where viewers are taken along on every step of the reporting process . we believe this unique reporting approach is worthy of sharing with our cnn.com readers . london , england ( vbs.tv ) -- in april this year i embedded with the elite soldiers of the 2nd battalion british parachute regiment at their training facility in thetford , united kingdom . we went there to film the british army 's much-talked-about , multimillion pound replica afghanistan village . ' the focus of the piece was to be on the younger members of the battalion . some of them are as young as 18 and only months away from their first visit to helmand province in september 2010 . the majority of british casualties are all recorded in that area . i 'd heard about the afghan village training facility from an ex-para turned photographer called stuart griffiths . a couple of years ago , vice magazine published a photo essay in which he visited the homes of badly injured soldiers returned from iraq or afghanistan . perhaps more shocking than the horrific injuries the soldiers had sustained was the lack of support of these men from the british government of the time -- particularly those who suffered psychological problems as a result of combat shock . stuart served his time in the paras on tours of northern ireland in the late 80s to early 90s . but after being discharged he fell on hard times . he became homeless and spent a long time wandering the streets of london . he slept in cardboard boxes in doorways , often coming across fellow army veterans who faced a similar lack of support and sympathy from society , the government or the army . happily , stuart managed to get himself off the streets and , inspired by the stories of his fellow homeless veterans , became a campaigner of sorts for veterans rights , using his photography . his story and those of other ex-paras is now available to watch in a moving british documentary called isolation . ' a week before we set off for the embed , i asked stuart what kind of experience we were letting ourselves in for and he said : not only are the parachute regiment britain 's most elite soldiers , they are the most brutal of british troops . that means the rest of the british army are simply in awe of them . i would say around 90 per cent of the sas ( the british equivalent of the special forces ) comes from the paras . and so the troops you are going to be sleeping next to every night are some of the hardest men in the world . ' recently what 's happened is that many former veterans have had a call to arms ' and returned to the forces again . life in civvy ( civilian ) street has been a huge disappointment for many of these guys . once you 've fought'in-theater'a number of times it 's really hard for you to come back and fit in with the hum-drum of modern life . especially if you 're a para . they miss the camaraderie and the discipline and the action that you get when you 're in combat . ' see the rest of afghanistan in the uk at vbs.tv ' when afghanistan first kicked off , all three battalions of the paras were sent straight there because of their reputation for violence and bravery . i remember it was in helmand 2006 that afghanistan became very hairy indeed . the parachute regiment were there when it became very intense and at the time a member of parliament called john reid was quoted as saying ,'i 'd be quite happy that a single shot is not fired in afghanistan .'in reality the parachute regiment were firing off more rounds in helmand than the entire korean war ! ' grinning nervously , i asked him if there 's anything else i should know and he looked at me and said , they all drink rivers of lager . ' before we set off to meet the paras , stuart introduced us to a young man named richard dare who 'd been a private in the royal anglians . richard had a significant part of his brain blown out of his head by a mortar attack and was slowly rehabilitating himself at his home in a small town near leicestershire . richard talked to us about his love for the army and for war . the severe injuries to his brain did n't seem to change his love for army life one iota . the more we spoke to him , the more we knew we had to include him in our film . but first we had to go meet the paras . with the help of my co-producer jason mojica , we packed two small cameras into our bags and traveled to the middle of the british countryside to try and ingratiate ourselves with the most brutal soldiers in the whole of the british army . it all started off nice and civilized . we were met on the door by a dashing officer who arranged for a private to show us our room -- a basic little number in the middle of the barracks which , while not five star , would certainly meet our needs for the week . i remember feeling pretty pleased with ourselves that we 'd been given this amazing access , thinking we 'd have carte blanche to wander around and check out the comings and goings of the most elite units in the world . ah , ' we thought , this should be an informative and relaxing few days in the countryside . i do n't know what we were worried about at all . ' soon we were put in jeep , driven an hour-and-a-half away to a gloomy brick building in the middle of nowhere and told that the next time we slept in a bed would be in five days time . as we stepped out of the van about 200 para troops stared at us with eyes that said : who are these wimps ? ' the dark fell fast . a cold wind started blowing and i suddenly realized we 'd left all our warm clothes in the barracks miles away . then the sergeant major introduced himself and told us to get in line with the rest of the troops . and off we marched into the night . | vbs embeds with esteemed , aggressive british army unit |
trinidad <tsp> ( cnn ) -- seven players involved in last week 's champions league final have been excused from england 's trip to trinidad and tobago for their friendly international on sunday . only jermaine defoe ( second right ) of the england players congratulating john terry will travel to trinidad . coach fabio capello confirmed that of the men involved in moscow last week , only manchester united central defender rio ferdinand , who has links with the caribbean , and chelsea full-back wayne bridge , who did not get onto the pitch at the luzhniki stadium , will be part of his 22-man squad for the final game of the season . chelsea 's john terry , who opened the scoring in wednesday 's 2-0 win over the united states at wembley , is one of those given a holiday along with wayne rooney , wes brown , ashley cole , frank lampard , joe cole and owen hargreaves . england squad : goalkeepers : david james ( portsmouth ) , joe hart ( manchester city ) , joe lewis ( peterborough ) . defenders : wayne bridge ( chelsea ) , rio ferdinand ( manchester united ) , phil jagielka ( everton ) , glen johnson ( portsmouth ) , stephen warnock ( blackburn ) , david wheater ( middlesbrough ) , jonathan woodgate ( tottenham ) . midfielders : gareth barry ( aston villa ) , david beckham ( la galaxy ) , david bentley ( blackburn ) , stewart downing ( middlesbrough ) , steven gerrard ( liverpool ) , tom huddlestone ( tottenham ) . forwards : theo walcott ( arsenal ) , ashley young ( aston villa ) , gabriel agbonlahor ( aston villa ) , dean ashton ( west ham ) , peter crouch ( liverpool ) , jermain defoe ( portsmouth ) . | seven players have been cut from the england squad for friendly in trinidad |
mcfaul <tsp> an architect of the obama administration 's reset ' policy with russia says he will step down as the american ambassador to the country later this month . michael mcfaul , u.s. ambassador to russia since january 2012 , announced tuesday he 'll leave the post shortly after the winter olympics conclude in the southern russian resort town of sochi . mcfaul has been a controversial figure in russia , with some state-run media viewing him with suspicion for his outspoken support of pro-democracy groups . but in his online journal , mcfaul said tuesday that he would miss the job , stressing he was leaving for family considerations . mcfaul said his wife and two sons moved back to california last summer because his oldest son wanted to be home for the last few years of high school . we tried to make a 9,000 kilometer commute work for our family . but after seven months of separation , i simply need to be with my family again , ' mcfaul wrote . i will leave russia reluctantly , ' he said . i love this job . it is a tremendous honor to represent my country here . i will miss interacting with my partners in the russian government and with russians from all sectors of society . ' as a stanford university political science professor , mcfaul became one of the best-known american experts on russia . after advising then-sen. barack obama on russia during the 2008 presidential campaign , mcfaul took a leave from stanford to become senior director for russia and eurasian affairs at the national security council . he helped develop the u.s. reset ' policy with russia , after which the countries signed the new start arms control deal and agreed on a transit treaty allowing the united states and nato to use a route through russia into afghanistan . on his arrival in moscow as ambassador in 2012 , he got a rough reception from government-controlled media . an analyst on a government network said mcfaul was a specialist purely in the promotion of democracy ' and suggested his agenda was dedicated to supporting opposition leaders in the country . that criticism came as protesters in moscow were rallying against then-prime minister vladimir putin , who was running again for president . putin , who went on to win the presidency , accused the u.s. state department of stirring things up . mcfaul 's ambassadorship came at a time of strained relations between the two countries , with quarrels over , among other things , syria 's civil war and the arrival in moscow of admitted national security agency leaker edward snowden . u.s. deputy national security adviser ben rhodes said tuesday that president obama is deeply grateful for ambassador mcfaul 's extraordinary service over the last five years . ' from the white house to spaso house ( the u.s. embassy in moscow ) , mike helped shape policies that advanced america 's interest -- from the new start treaty , to resupplying our troops in afghanistan ; from sustaining u.s.-russian cooperation on negotiations with iran , to deepening trade and commercial ties , ' rhodes said . cnn first learned of mcfaul 's planned departure on twitter . | mcfaul helped develop obama administration 's first-term reset ' policy with russia |
mcfaul <tsp> an architect of the obama administration 's reset ' policy with russia says he will step down as the american ambassador to the country later this month . michael mcfaul , u.s. ambassador to russia since january 2012 , announced tuesday he 'll leave the post shortly after the winter olympics conclude in the southern russian resort town of sochi . mcfaul has been a controversial figure in russia , with some state-run media viewing him with suspicion for his outspoken support of pro-democracy groups . but in his online journal , mcfaul said tuesday that he would miss the job , stressing he was leaving for family considerations . mcfaul said his wife and two sons moved back to california last summer because his oldest son wanted to be home for the last few years of high school . we tried to make a 9,000 kilometer commute work for our family . but after seven months of separation , i simply need to be with my family again , ' mcfaul wrote . i will leave russia reluctantly , ' he said . i love this job . it is a tremendous honor to represent my country here . i will miss interacting with my partners in the russian government and with russians from all sectors of society . ' as a stanford university political science professor , mcfaul became one of the best-known american experts on russia . after advising then-sen. barack obama on russia during the 2008 presidential campaign , mcfaul took a leave from stanford to become senior director for russia and eurasian affairs at the national security council . he helped develop the u.s. reset ' policy with russia , after which the countries signed the new start arms control deal and agreed on a transit treaty allowing the united states and nato to use a route through russia into afghanistan . on his arrival in moscow as ambassador in 2012 , he got a rough reception from government-controlled media . an analyst on a government network said mcfaul was a specialist purely in the promotion of democracy ' and suggested his agenda was dedicated to supporting opposition leaders in the country . that criticism came as protesters in moscow were rallying against then-prime minister vladimir putin , who was running again for president . putin , who went on to win the presidency , accused the u.s. state department of stirring things up . mcfaul 's ambassadorship came at a time of strained relations between the two countries , with quarrels over , among other things , syria 's civil war and the arrival in moscow of admitted national security agency leaker edward snowden . u.s. deputy national security adviser ben rhodes said tuesday that president obama is deeply grateful for ambassador mcfaul 's extraordinary service over the last five years . ' from the white house to spaso house ( the u.s. embassy in moscow ) , mike helped shape policies that advanced america 's interest -- from the new start treaty , to resupplying our troops in afghanistan ; from sustaining u.s.-russian cooperation on negotiations with iran , to deepening trade and commercial ties , ' rhodes said . cnn first learned of mcfaul 's planned departure on twitter . | state-run media criticized mcfaul for outspoken support of pro-democracy groups |
mcfaul <tsp> an architect of the obama administration 's reset ' policy with russia says he will step down as the american ambassador to the country later this month . michael mcfaul , u.s. ambassador to russia since january 2012 , announced tuesday he 'll leave the post shortly after the winter olympics conclude in the southern russian resort town of sochi . mcfaul has been a controversial figure in russia , with some state-run media viewing him with suspicion for his outspoken support of pro-democracy groups . but in his online journal , mcfaul said tuesday that he would miss the job , stressing he was leaving for family considerations . mcfaul said his wife and two sons moved back to california last summer because his oldest son wanted to be home for the last few years of high school . we tried to make a 9,000 kilometer commute work for our family . but after seven months of separation , i simply need to be with my family again , ' mcfaul wrote . i will leave russia reluctantly , ' he said . i love this job . it is a tremendous honor to represent my country here . i will miss interacting with my partners in the russian government and with russians from all sectors of society . ' as a stanford university political science professor , mcfaul became one of the best-known american experts on russia . after advising then-sen. barack obama on russia during the 2008 presidential campaign , mcfaul took a leave from stanford to become senior director for russia and eurasian affairs at the national security council . he helped develop the u.s. reset ' policy with russia , after which the countries signed the new start arms control deal and agreed on a transit treaty allowing the united states and nato to use a route through russia into afghanistan . on his arrival in moscow as ambassador in 2012 , he got a rough reception from government-controlled media . an analyst on a government network said mcfaul was a specialist purely in the promotion of democracy ' and suggested his agenda was dedicated to supporting opposition leaders in the country . that criticism came as protesters in moscow were rallying against then-prime minister vladimir putin , who was running again for president . putin , who went on to win the presidency , accused the u.s. state department of stirring things up . mcfaul 's ambassadorship came at a time of strained relations between the two countries , with quarrels over , among other things , syria 's civil war and the arrival in moscow of admitted national security agency leaker edward snowden . u.s. deputy national security adviser ben rhodes said tuesday that president obama is deeply grateful for ambassador mcfaul 's extraordinary service over the last five years . ' from the white house to spaso house ( the u.s. embassy in moscow ) , mike helped shape policies that advanced america 's interest -- from the new start treaty , to resupplying our troops in afghanistan ; from sustaining u.s.-russian cooperation on negotiations with iran , to deepening trade and commercial ties , ' rhodes said . cnn first learned of mcfaul 's planned departure on twitter . | michael mcfaul became u.s. ambassador to russia in 2012 |
mcfaul <tsp> an architect of the obama administration 's reset ' policy with russia says he will step down as the american ambassador to the country later this month . michael mcfaul , u.s. ambassador to russia since january 2012 , announced tuesday he 'll leave the post shortly after the winter olympics conclude in the southern russian resort town of sochi . mcfaul has been a controversial figure in russia , with some state-run media viewing him with suspicion for his outspoken support of pro-democracy groups . but in his online journal , mcfaul said tuesday that he would miss the job , stressing he was leaving for family considerations . mcfaul said his wife and two sons moved back to california last summer because his oldest son wanted to be home for the last few years of high school . we tried to make a 9,000 kilometer commute work for our family . but after seven months of separation , i simply need to be with my family again , ' mcfaul wrote . i will leave russia reluctantly , ' he said . i love this job . it is a tremendous honor to represent my country here . i will miss interacting with my partners in the russian government and with russians from all sectors of society . ' as a stanford university political science professor , mcfaul became one of the best-known american experts on russia . after advising then-sen. barack obama on russia during the 2008 presidential campaign , mcfaul took a leave from stanford to become senior director for russia and eurasian affairs at the national security council . he helped develop the u.s. reset ' policy with russia , after which the countries signed the new start arms control deal and agreed on a transit treaty allowing the united states and nato to use a route through russia into afghanistan . on his arrival in moscow as ambassador in 2012 , he got a rough reception from government-controlled media . an analyst on a government network said mcfaul was a specialist purely in the promotion of democracy ' and suggested his agenda was dedicated to supporting opposition leaders in the country . that criticism came as protesters in moscow were rallying against then-prime minister vladimir putin , who was running again for president . putin , who went on to win the presidency , accused the u.s. state department of stirring things up . mcfaul 's ambassadorship came at a time of strained relations between the two countries , with quarrels over , among other things , syria 's civil war and the arrival in moscow of admitted national security agency leaker edward snowden . u.s. deputy national security adviser ben rhodes said tuesday that president obama is deeply grateful for ambassador mcfaul 's extraordinary service over the last five years . ' from the white house to spaso house ( the u.s. embassy in moscow ) , mike helped shape policies that advanced america 's interest -- from the new start treaty , to resupplying our troops in afghanistan ; from sustaining u.s.-russian cooperation on negotiations with iran , to deepening trade and commercial ties , ' rhodes said . cnn first learned of mcfaul 's planned departure on twitter . | russia expert mcfaul took leave from stanford to serve obama administration in 2009 |
charles czeisler <tsp> los angeles ( cnn ) -- michael jackson died while preparing to set a world record for the most successful concert run , but he unknowingly set another record that led to his death . jackson may be the only human ever to go two months without rem -- rapid eye movement -- sleep , which is vital to keep the brain and body alive . the 60 nights of propofol infusions dr. conrad murray said he gave jackson to treat his insomnia is something a sleep expert says no one had ever undergone . the symptoms that mr. jackson was exhibiting were consistent with what someone might expect to see of someone suffering from total sleep deprivation over a chronic period , ' dr. charles czeisler , a harvard medical school sleep expert , testified friday at the wrongful-death trial of concert promoter aeg live . the symptoms documented by e-mails among show producers and testimony from his chef , hairstylist and choreographers included his inability to do standard dances or remember words to songs he sang for decades , paranoia , talking to himself and hearing voices , and severe weight loss , czeisler said . i believe that that constellation of symptoms was more probably than not induced by total sleep deprivation over a chronic period , ' he testified . propofol disrupts the normal sleep cycle and offers no rem sleep , yet it leaves a patient feeling refreshed as if they had experienced genuine sleep , according to czeisler . if the singer had not died on june 25 , 2009 , of an overdose of the surgical anesthetic , the lack of rem sleep may have taken his life within days anyway , according czeisler 's testimony friday . lab rats die after five weeks of getting no rem sleep , he said . it was never tried on a human until murray gave jackson nightly propofol infusions for two months . translating that to a human , czeisler estimated , jackson would have died before his 80th day of propofol infusions . murray told police he had given it to him for 60 nights before trying to wean him off it on june 22 , 2009 -- three days before his death . czeisler -- who serves as a sleep consultant to nasa , the cia and the rolling stones -- testified thursday that the drug-induced coma ' induced by propofol leaves a patient with the same refreshed feeling of a good sleep but without the benefits that genuine sleep delivers in repairing brain cells and the body . it would be like eating some sort of cellulose pellets instead of dinner , ' he said . your stomach would be full , and you would not be hungry , but it would be zero calories and not fulfill any of your nutrition needs . ' depriving someone of rem sleep for a long period of time makes them paranoid , anxiety-filled , depressed , unable to learn , distracted and sloppy , czeisler testified . they lose their balance and appetite while their physical reflexes get 10 times slower and their emotional responses 10 times stronger , he said . those symptoms are strikingly similar to descriptions of jackson in his last weeks , as described in e-mails from show producers and testimony by witnesses in the trial . jackson 's mother and children are suing aeg live , contending that the company is liable in his death because it hired , retained or supervised murray , who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter . they argue that the promoter pressured murray to get jackson to rehearsals while failing to get jackson help despite numerous red flags warning that he was in trouble . paris , prince jackson testimonies shown in jackson death trial aeg live lawyers contend that it was jackson who chose , hired and supervised murray , and their executives had no way of knowing about the dangerous propofol treatments administered in the privacy of jackson 's rented mansion . a very long question czeisler was back on the witness stand friday to answer a question that was asked just as court ended thursday . jackson lawyer michael koskoff asked his expert what may also be a record-breaker in a trial : a 15-minute-long hypothetical question . he was asked to render an opinion based on a long list of circumstances presented so far in the trial about jackson 's condition and behavior , including : • that murray administered propofol to jackson 60 consecutive nights before june 22 , 2009 . • that murray began to wean jackson from propofol on june 22 , 2009 , and gave him none of the drug on june 23 . • that a paramedic who tried to revive him the day he died initially assumed he was a hospice patient . • that show producers reported jackson became progressively thinner and paranoid and was talking to himself in his final weeks . • that the production manager warned that jackson had deteriorated over eight weeks , was a basket case ' who he feared might hurt himself on stage and could not do the multiple 360-degree spins that he was known for . • that show director kenny ortega wrote that jackson was having trouble grasping the work ' at rehearsals and needed psychiatric help . • that jackson needed a teleprompter to remember the words to songs he had sung many times before over several decades . • that show workers reported the singer was talking to himself and repeatedly saying that god is talking to me . ' • that jackson was suffering severe chills on a summer day in los angeles and his skin was cold as ice to the touch . lawsuit evidence : michael jackson lost dance moves in last days jackson lawyers revised the question friday morning after aeg live lawyers objected to the information about murray 's nightly propofol treatments , since it was derived only from the doctor 's statement to police after jackson 's death . the judge previously ruled that statement inadmissible . instead , they brought up evidence that murray ordered more than four gallons of propofol between april and june , which czeisler said equaled 155,000 milliliters of the drug . an anesthesiologist uses between 20 and 30 milliliters to induce a coma for surgery , he said . the expert testified that his review of jackson 's medical records convinced him that the singer suffered a chronic sleep disorder that was greatly exaggerated ' while he was on tour or preparing for a tour . jackson died just two weeks before he would have traveled to london for the premiere of his this is it ' comeback concerts , produced and promoted by aeg live . a lecture on sleep jurors appeared quite interested as czeisler lectured them thursday on his sleep research , including an explanation of circadian rhythm : the internal clock in the brain that controls the timing of when we sleep and wake and the timing of the release of hormones ' that 's why we sleep at night and are awake in the day , ' he said . your brain needs sleep to repair and maintain its neurons every night , he said . blood cells cycle out every few weeks , but brain cells are for a lifetime , he said . like a computer , the brain has to go offline to maintain cells that we keep for life , since we do n't make more , ' he said . sleep is the repair and maintenance of the brain cells . ' cnn health : sleep an adult should get seven to eight hours of sleep each night to allow for enough sleep cycles , he said . you prune out ' unimportant neuron connections and consolidate important ones during your slow-eyed sleep ' each night , he said . those connections -- which is the information you have acquired during the day -- are consolidated by the rem sleep cycle . your eyes actually dart back and forth rapidly during rem sleep . in rem , we are integrating the memories that we have stored during slow-eyed sleep , integrating memories with previous life experiences , ' he said . we are able to make sense of things that we may not have understood while awake . ' learning and memory happen when you are asleep , he said . a laboratory mouse rehearses a path through a maze to get to a piece of cheese while asleep . the area of a basketball player 's brain that is used to shoot a ball will have much greater slow-eyed sleep period since there is more for it to store , he said . players shoot better after sleep . the portland trailblazers consulted with him after they lost a series of east coast basketball games , he said . he was able to give their players strategies for being sharper when traveling across time zones . he 's worked with the rolling stones on their sleep problems , he said . musicians are vulnerable since they are often traveling across time zones and usually all keyed up ' to perform at night , he said . czeisler developed a program for nasa to help astronauts deal with sleep issues in orbit , where they have a sunrise and sunset every 90 minutes . other clients include major industries that are concerned about night shift workers falling asleep on the job , the cia , the secret service and the u.s. air force , he said . jackson lawyers argue that aeg live should have consulted a sleep expert like czeisler for jackson instead of hiring murray -- a cardiologist -- for $ 150,000 to treat the artist . the trial ends its eighth week in a los angeles courtroom friday . lawyers estimate that the case will conclude in early august . | propofol deprives patient of vital rem sleep , dr. charles czeisler testifies |
rem <tsp> los angeles ( cnn ) -- michael jackson died while preparing to set a world record for the most successful concert run , but he unknowingly set another record that led to his death . jackson may be the only human ever to go two months without rem -- rapid eye movement -- sleep , which is vital to keep the brain and body alive . the 60 nights of propofol infusions dr. conrad murray said he gave jackson to treat his insomnia is something a sleep expert says no one had ever undergone . the symptoms that mr. jackson was exhibiting were consistent with what someone might expect to see of someone suffering from total sleep deprivation over a chronic period , ' dr. charles czeisler , a harvard medical school sleep expert , testified friday at the wrongful-death trial of concert promoter aeg live . the symptoms documented by e-mails among show producers and testimony from his chef , hairstylist and choreographers included his inability to do standard dances or remember words to songs he sang for decades , paranoia , talking to himself and hearing voices , and severe weight loss , czeisler said . i believe that that constellation of symptoms was more probably than not induced by total sleep deprivation over a chronic period , ' he testified . propofol disrupts the normal sleep cycle and offers no rem sleep , yet it leaves a patient feeling refreshed as if they had experienced genuine sleep , according to czeisler . if the singer had not died on june 25 , 2009 , of an overdose of the surgical anesthetic , the lack of rem sleep may have taken his life within days anyway , according czeisler 's testimony friday . lab rats die after five weeks of getting no rem sleep , he said . it was never tried on a human until murray gave jackson nightly propofol infusions for two months . translating that to a human , czeisler estimated , jackson would have died before his 80th day of propofol infusions . murray told police he had given it to him for 60 nights before trying to wean him off it on june 22 , 2009 -- three days before his death . czeisler -- who serves as a sleep consultant to nasa , the cia and the rolling stones -- testified thursday that the drug-induced coma ' induced by propofol leaves a patient with the same refreshed feeling of a good sleep but without the benefits that genuine sleep delivers in repairing brain cells and the body . it would be like eating some sort of cellulose pellets instead of dinner , ' he said . your stomach would be full , and you would not be hungry , but it would be zero calories and not fulfill any of your nutrition needs . ' depriving someone of rem sleep for a long period of time makes them paranoid , anxiety-filled , depressed , unable to learn , distracted and sloppy , czeisler testified . they lose their balance and appetite while their physical reflexes get 10 times slower and their emotional responses 10 times stronger , he said . those symptoms are strikingly similar to descriptions of jackson in his last weeks , as described in e-mails from show producers and testimony by witnesses in the trial . jackson 's mother and children are suing aeg live , contending that the company is liable in his death because it hired , retained or supervised murray , who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter . they argue that the promoter pressured murray to get jackson to rehearsals while failing to get jackson help despite numerous red flags warning that he was in trouble . paris , prince jackson testimonies shown in jackson death trial aeg live lawyers contend that it was jackson who chose , hired and supervised murray , and their executives had no way of knowing about the dangerous propofol treatments administered in the privacy of jackson 's rented mansion . a very long question czeisler was back on the witness stand friday to answer a question that was asked just as court ended thursday . jackson lawyer michael koskoff asked his expert what may also be a record-breaker in a trial : a 15-minute-long hypothetical question . he was asked to render an opinion based on a long list of circumstances presented so far in the trial about jackson 's condition and behavior , including : • that murray administered propofol to jackson 60 consecutive nights before june 22 , 2009 . • that murray began to wean jackson from propofol on june 22 , 2009 , and gave him none of the drug on june 23 . • that a paramedic who tried to revive him the day he died initially assumed he was a hospice patient . • that show producers reported jackson became progressively thinner and paranoid and was talking to himself in his final weeks . • that the production manager warned that jackson had deteriorated over eight weeks , was a basket case ' who he feared might hurt himself on stage and could not do the multiple 360-degree spins that he was known for . • that show director kenny ortega wrote that jackson was having trouble grasping the work ' at rehearsals and needed psychiatric help . • that jackson needed a teleprompter to remember the words to songs he had sung many times before over several decades . • that show workers reported the singer was talking to himself and repeatedly saying that god is talking to me . ' • that jackson was suffering severe chills on a summer day in los angeles and his skin was cold as ice to the touch . lawsuit evidence : michael jackson lost dance moves in last days jackson lawyers revised the question friday morning after aeg live lawyers objected to the information about murray 's nightly propofol treatments , since it was derived only from the doctor 's statement to police after jackson 's death . the judge previously ruled that statement inadmissible . instead , they brought up evidence that murray ordered more than four gallons of propofol between april and june , which czeisler said equaled 155,000 milliliters of the drug . an anesthesiologist uses between 20 and 30 milliliters to induce a coma for surgery , he said . the expert testified that his review of jackson 's medical records convinced him that the singer suffered a chronic sleep disorder that was greatly exaggerated ' while he was on tour or preparing for a tour . jackson died just two weeks before he would have traveled to london for the premiere of his this is it ' comeback concerts , produced and promoted by aeg live . a lecture on sleep jurors appeared quite interested as czeisler lectured them thursday on his sleep research , including an explanation of circadian rhythm : the internal clock in the brain that controls the timing of when we sleep and wake and the timing of the release of hormones ' that 's why we sleep at night and are awake in the day , ' he said . your brain needs sleep to repair and maintain its neurons every night , he said . blood cells cycle out every few weeks , but brain cells are for a lifetime , he said . like a computer , the brain has to go offline to maintain cells that we keep for life , since we do n't make more , ' he said . sleep is the repair and maintenance of the brain cells . ' cnn health : sleep an adult should get seven to eight hours of sleep each night to allow for enough sleep cycles , he said . you prune out ' unimportant neuron connections and consolidate important ones during your slow-eyed sleep ' each night , he said . those connections -- which is the information you have acquired during the day -- are consolidated by the rem sleep cycle . your eyes actually dart back and forth rapidly during rem sleep . in rem , we are integrating the memories that we have stored during slow-eyed sleep , integrating memories with previous life experiences , ' he said . we are able to make sense of things that we may not have understood while awake . ' learning and memory happen when you are asleep , he said . a laboratory mouse rehearses a path through a maze to get to a piece of cheese while asleep . the area of a basketball player 's brain that is used to shoot a ball will have much greater slow-eyed sleep period since there is more for it to store , he said . players shoot better after sleep . the portland trailblazers consulted with him after they lost a series of east coast basketball games , he said . he was able to give their players strategies for being sharper when traveling across time zones . he 's worked with the rolling stones on their sleep problems , he said . musicians are vulnerable since they are often traveling across time zones and usually all keyed up ' to perform at night , he said . czeisler developed a program for nasa to help astronauts deal with sleep issues in orbit , where they have a sunrise and sunset every 90 minutes . other clients include major industries that are concerned about night shift workers falling asleep on the job , the cia , the secret service and the u.s. air force , he said . jackson lawyers argue that aeg live should have consulted a sleep expert like czeisler for jackson instead of hiring murray -- a cardiologist -- for $ 150,000 to treat the artist . the trial ends its eighth week in a los angeles courtroom friday . lawyers estimate that the case will conclude in early august . | propofol deprives patient of vital rem sleep , dr. charles czeisler testifies |
rem <tsp> los angeles ( cnn ) -- michael jackson died while preparing to set a world record for the most successful concert run , but he unknowingly set another record that led to his death . jackson may be the only human ever to go two months without rem -- rapid eye movement -- sleep , which is vital to keep the brain and body alive . the 60 nights of propofol infusions dr. conrad murray said he gave jackson to treat his insomnia is something a sleep expert says no one had ever undergone . the symptoms that mr. jackson was exhibiting were consistent with what someone might expect to see of someone suffering from total sleep deprivation over a chronic period , ' dr. charles czeisler , a harvard medical school sleep expert , testified friday at the wrongful-death trial of concert promoter aeg live . the symptoms documented by e-mails among show producers and testimony from his chef , hairstylist and choreographers included his inability to do standard dances or remember words to songs he sang for decades , paranoia , talking to himself and hearing voices , and severe weight loss , czeisler said . i believe that that constellation of symptoms was more probably than not induced by total sleep deprivation over a chronic period , ' he testified . propofol disrupts the normal sleep cycle and offers no rem sleep , yet it leaves a patient feeling refreshed as if they had experienced genuine sleep , according to czeisler . if the singer had not died on june 25 , 2009 , of an overdose of the surgical anesthetic , the lack of rem sleep may have taken his life within days anyway , according czeisler 's testimony friday . lab rats die after five weeks of getting no rem sleep , he said . it was never tried on a human until murray gave jackson nightly propofol infusions for two months . translating that to a human , czeisler estimated , jackson would have died before his 80th day of propofol infusions . murray told police he had given it to him for 60 nights before trying to wean him off it on june 22 , 2009 -- three days before his death . czeisler -- who serves as a sleep consultant to nasa , the cia and the rolling stones -- testified thursday that the drug-induced coma ' induced by propofol leaves a patient with the same refreshed feeling of a good sleep but without the benefits that genuine sleep delivers in repairing brain cells and the body . it would be like eating some sort of cellulose pellets instead of dinner , ' he said . your stomach would be full , and you would not be hungry , but it would be zero calories and not fulfill any of your nutrition needs . ' depriving someone of rem sleep for a long period of time makes them paranoid , anxiety-filled , depressed , unable to learn , distracted and sloppy , czeisler testified . they lose their balance and appetite while their physical reflexes get 10 times slower and their emotional responses 10 times stronger , he said . those symptoms are strikingly similar to descriptions of jackson in his last weeks , as described in e-mails from show producers and testimony by witnesses in the trial . jackson 's mother and children are suing aeg live , contending that the company is liable in his death because it hired , retained or supervised murray , who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter . they argue that the promoter pressured murray to get jackson to rehearsals while failing to get jackson help despite numerous red flags warning that he was in trouble . paris , prince jackson testimonies shown in jackson death trial aeg live lawyers contend that it was jackson who chose , hired and supervised murray , and their executives had no way of knowing about the dangerous propofol treatments administered in the privacy of jackson 's rented mansion . a very long question czeisler was back on the witness stand friday to answer a question that was asked just as court ended thursday . jackson lawyer michael koskoff asked his expert what may also be a record-breaker in a trial : a 15-minute-long hypothetical question . he was asked to render an opinion based on a long list of circumstances presented so far in the trial about jackson 's condition and behavior , including : • that murray administered propofol to jackson 60 consecutive nights before june 22 , 2009 . • that murray began to wean jackson from propofol on june 22 , 2009 , and gave him none of the drug on june 23 . • that a paramedic who tried to revive him the day he died initially assumed he was a hospice patient . • that show producers reported jackson became progressively thinner and paranoid and was talking to himself in his final weeks . • that the production manager warned that jackson had deteriorated over eight weeks , was a basket case ' who he feared might hurt himself on stage and could not do the multiple 360-degree spins that he was known for . • that show director kenny ortega wrote that jackson was having trouble grasping the work ' at rehearsals and needed psychiatric help . • that jackson needed a teleprompter to remember the words to songs he had sung many times before over several decades . • that show workers reported the singer was talking to himself and repeatedly saying that god is talking to me . ' • that jackson was suffering severe chills on a summer day in los angeles and his skin was cold as ice to the touch . lawsuit evidence : michael jackson lost dance moves in last days jackson lawyers revised the question friday morning after aeg live lawyers objected to the information about murray 's nightly propofol treatments , since it was derived only from the doctor 's statement to police after jackson 's death . the judge previously ruled that statement inadmissible . instead , they brought up evidence that murray ordered more than four gallons of propofol between april and june , which czeisler said equaled 155,000 milliliters of the drug . an anesthesiologist uses between 20 and 30 milliliters to induce a coma for surgery , he said . the expert testified that his review of jackson 's medical records convinced him that the singer suffered a chronic sleep disorder that was greatly exaggerated ' while he was on tour or preparing for a tour . jackson died just two weeks before he would have traveled to london for the premiere of his this is it ' comeback concerts , produced and promoted by aeg live . a lecture on sleep jurors appeared quite interested as czeisler lectured them thursday on his sleep research , including an explanation of circadian rhythm : the internal clock in the brain that controls the timing of when we sleep and wake and the timing of the release of hormones ' that 's why we sleep at night and are awake in the day , ' he said . your brain needs sleep to repair and maintain its neurons every night , he said . blood cells cycle out every few weeks , but brain cells are for a lifetime , he said . like a computer , the brain has to go offline to maintain cells that we keep for life , since we do n't make more , ' he said . sleep is the repair and maintenance of the brain cells . ' cnn health : sleep an adult should get seven to eight hours of sleep each night to allow for enough sleep cycles , he said . you prune out ' unimportant neuron connections and consolidate important ones during your slow-eyed sleep ' each night , he said . those connections -- which is the information you have acquired during the day -- are consolidated by the rem sleep cycle . your eyes actually dart back and forth rapidly during rem sleep . in rem , we are integrating the memories that we have stored during slow-eyed sleep , integrating memories with previous life experiences , ' he said . we are able to make sense of things that we may not have understood while awake . ' learning and memory happen when you are asleep , he said . a laboratory mouse rehearses a path through a maze to get to a piece of cheese while asleep . the area of a basketball player 's brain that is used to shoot a ball will have much greater slow-eyed sleep period since there is more for it to store , he said . players shoot better after sleep . the portland trailblazers consulted with him after they lost a series of east coast basketball games , he said . he was able to give their players strategies for being sharper when traveling across time zones . he 's worked with the rolling stones on their sleep problems , he said . musicians are vulnerable since they are often traveling across time zones and usually all keyed up ' to perform at night , he said . czeisler developed a program for nasa to help astronauts deal with sleep issues in orbit , where they have a sunrise and sunset every 90 minutes . other clients include major industries that are concerned about night shift workers falling asleep on the job , the cia , the secret service and the u.s. air force , he said . jackson lawyers argue that aeg live should have consulted a sleep expert like czeisler for jackson instead of hiring murray -- a cardiologist -- for $ 150,000 to treat the artist . the trial ends its eighth week in a los angeles courtroom friday . lawyers estimate that the case will conclude in early august . | jackson may be the only human ever to go two months without rem sleep , expert says |
rem <tsp> los angeles ( cnn ) -- michael jackson died while preparing to set a world record for the most successful concert run , but he unknowingly set another record that led to his death . jackson may be the only human ever to go two months without rem -- rapid eye movement -- sleep , which is vital to keep the brain and body alive . the 60 nights of propofol infusions dr. conrad murray said he gave jackson to treat his insomnia is something a sleep expert says no one had ever undergone . the symptoms that mr. jackson was exhibiting were consistent with what someone might expect to see of someone suffering from total sleep deprivation over a chronic period , ' dr. charles czeisler , a harvard medical school sleep expert , testified friday at the wrongful-death trial of concert promoter aeg live . the symptoms documented by e-mails among show producers and testimony from his chef , hairstylist and choreographers included his inability to do standard dances or remember words to songs he sang for decades , paranoia , talking to himself and hearing voices , and severe weight loss , czeisler said . i believe that that constellation of symptoms was more probably than not induced by total sleep deprivation over a chronic period , ' he testified . propofol disrupts the normal sleep cycle and offers no rem sleep , yet it leaves a patient feeling refreshed as if they had experienced genuine sleep , according to czeisler . if the singer had not died on june 25 , 2009 , of an overdose of the surgical anesthetic , the lack of rem sleep may have taken his life within days anyway , according czeisler 's testimony friday . lab rats die after five weeks of getting no rem sleep , he said . it was never tried on a human until murray gave jackson nightly propofol infusions for two months . translating that to a human , czeisler estimated , jackson would have died before his 80th day of propofol infusions . murray told police he had given it to him for 60 nights before trying to wean him off it on june 22 , 2009 -- three days before his death . czeisler -- who serves as a sleep consultant to nasa , the cia and the rolling stones -- testified thursday that the drug-induced coma ' induced by propofol leaves a patient with the same refreshed feeling of a good sleep but without the benefits that genuine sleep delivers in repairing brain cells and the body . it would be like eating some sort of cellulose pellets instead of dinner , ' he said . your stomach would be full , and you would not be hungry , but it would be zero calories and not fulfill any of your nutrition needs . ' depriving someone of rem sleep for a long period of time makes them paranoid , anxiety-filled , depressed , unable to learn , distracted and sloppy , czeisler testified . they lose their balance and appetite while their physical reflexes get 10 times slower and their emotional responses 10 times stronger , he said . those symptoms are strikingly similar to descriptions of jackson in his last weeks , as described in e-mails from show producers and testimony by witnesses in the trial . jackson 's mother and children are suing aeg live , contending that the company is liable in his death because it hired , retained or supervised murray , who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter . they argue that the promoter pressured murray to get jackson to rehearsals while failing to get jackson help despite numerous red flags warning that he was in trouble . paris , prince jackson testimonies shown in jackson death trial aeg live lawyers contend that it was jackson who chose , hired and supervised murray , and their executives had no way of knowing about the dangerous propofol treatments administered in the privacy of jackson 's rented mansion . a very long question czeisler was back on the witness stand friday to answer a question that was asked just as court ended thursday . jackson lawyer michael koskoff asked his expert what may also be a record-breaker in a trial : a 15-minute-long hypothetical question . he was asked to render an opinion based on a long list of circumstances presented so far in the trial about jackson 's condition and behavior , including : • that murray administered propofol to jackson 60 consecutive nights before june 22 , 2009 . • that murray began to wean jackson from propofol on june 22 , 2009 , and gave him none of the drug on june 23 . • that a paramedic who tried to revive him the day he died initially assumed he was a hospice patient . • that show producers reported jackson became progressively thinner and paranoid and was talking to himself in his final weeks . • that the production manager warned that jackson had deteriorated over eight weeks , was a basket case ' who he feared might hurt himself on stage and could not do the multiple 360-degree spins that he was known for . • that show director kenny ortega wrote that jackson was having trouble grasping the work ' at rehearsals and needed psychiatric help . • that jackson needed a teleprompter to remember the words to songs he had sung many times before over several decades . • that show workers reported the singer was talking to himself and repeatedly saying that god is talking to me . ' • that jackson was suffering severe chills on a summer day in los angeles and his skin was cold as ice to the touch . lawsuit evidence : michael jackson lost dance moves in last days jackson lawyers revised the question friday morning after aeg live lawyers objected to the information about murray 's nightly propofol treatments , since it was derived only from the doctor 's statement to police after jackson 's death . the judge previously ruled that statement inadmissible . instead , they brought up evidence that murray ordered more than four gallons of propofol between april and june , which czeisler said equaled 155,000 milliliters of the drug . an anesthesiologist uses between 20 and 30 milliliters to induce a coma for surgery , he said . the expert testified that his review of jackson 's medical records convinced him that the singer suffered a chronic sleep disorder that was greatly exaggerated ' while he was on tour or preparing for a tour . jackson died just two weeks before he would have traveled to london for the premiere of his this is it ' comeback concerts , produced and promoted by aeg live . a lecture on sleep jurors appeared quite interested as czeisler lectured them thursday on his sleep research , including an explanation of circadian rhythm : the internal clock in the brain that controls the timing of when we sleep and wake and the timing of the release of hormones ' that 's why we sleep at night and are awake in the day , ' he said . your brain needs sleep to repair and maintain its neurons every night , he said . blood cells cycle out every few weeks , but brain cells are for a lifetime , he said . like a computer , the brain has to go offline to maintain cells that we keep for life , since we do n't make more , ' he said . sleep is the repair and maintenance of the brain cells . ' cnn health : sleep an adult should get seven to eight hours of sleep each night to allow for enough sleep cycles , he said . you prune out ' unimportant neuron connections and consolidate important ones during your slow-eyed sleep ' each night , he said . those connections -- which is the information you have acquired during the day -- are consolidated by the rem sleep cycle . your eyes actually dart back and forth rapidly during rem sleep . in rem , we are integrating the memories that we have stored during slow-eyed sleep , integrating memories with previous life experiences , ' he said . we are able to make sense of things that we may not have understood while awake . ' learning and memory happen when you are asleep , he said . a laboratory mouse rehearses a path through a maze to get to a piece of cheese while asleep . the area of a basketball player 's brain that is used to shoot a ball will have much greater slow-eyed sleep period since there is more for it to store , he said . players shoot better after sleep . the portland trailblazers consulted with him after they lost a series of east coast basketball games , he said . he was able to give their players strategies for being sharper when traveling across time zones . he 's worked with the rolling stones on their sleep problems , he said . musicians are vulnerable since they are often traveling across time zones and usually all keyed up ' to perform at night , he said . czeisler developed a program for nasa to help astronauts deal with sleep issues in orbit , where they have a sunrise and sunset every 90 minutes . other clients include major industries that are concerned about night shift workers falling asleep on the job , the cia , the secret service and the u.s. air force , he said . jackson lawyers argue that aeg live should have consulted a sleep expert like czeisler for jackson instead of hiring murray -- a cardiologist -- for $ 150,000 to treat the artist . the trial ends its eighth week in a los angeles courtroom friday . lawyers estimate that the case will conclude in early august . | lab rats die after five weeks of no rem sleep , expert says |
kim <tsp> jindo , south korea ( cnn ) -- through the unrelenting rain , with the biting winds whipping against her tear-stained face , christine kim stands on the cold , gray harbor . inside that water , ' she says , pointing to the choppy waves on the yellow sea , there are children whom i teach and my own child . ' kim is an english teacher at a private tutoring center . some of her students were aboard the sewol headed to the resort island of jeju when the passenger ferry listed and sank . twenty people were confirmed dead , and 276 were still missing early friday , according to the south korean ministry of security and public administration . one of them is kim 's youngest daughter . my daughter 's in the water , ' kim said , her voice breaking . regret when the school trip came up at the anson daewon high school , her daughter , billy , was initially reluctant . the family had taken a visit to jeju less than two months earlier . she did n't want to go on a four-day trip . i do n't want to go there because i went there one time , ' her daughter told her . kim convinced her otherwise . i think this travel would be a great experience for your school days , ' she recalls telling her . so , tuesday night , billy boarded the ferry . the next morning , shortly before 9 a.m. , students heard a loud bang and the ship began to list . some jumped into the frigid water and were rescued . others have not been heard from . all of this , ' kim laments , happened because of me . ' sadness throughout the night wednesday and into thursday , family members have camped out at the paeng mok harbor , about 20 kilometers ( 12 miles ) from where the ship capsized . they sit on plastic chairs , huddled together for warmth with blankets on their shoulders . they 're handed coffee cups and instant noodles as they stand vigil . mothers and grandmothers cry and console each other . one elderly man sits on a chair -- his cell phone in his hands , his hands clasped together as if in prayer . all of them waiting for answers , hoping for a sign . it 's been almost 30 hours , ' kim says . i ca n't sleep because my daughter 's in the water , in the cold , cold water -- i can never sleep . ' anger after the accident , local media lit up with reports of text messages they said were from passengers . in one , a passenger describes women screaming in the darkness . in another , a father learns his child is trapped . in a third , a son , fearing death , tells his mother he loves her . they have n't been authenticated . but they are reason enough for some parents to believe more survivors will be found . the parents here are angry that officials are n't taking the messages seriously . we 're getting texts from our children from the boat , but they do n't believe us , ' kim said . kim is n't alone in pointing the finger at the south korean government . it has failed to expend all necessary efforts to rescue the students , she says . rescue officials say they are at the mercy of the elements . it 's drizzling , making for poor visibility . the water currents are powerful , making for dangerous operations . three divers who took it upon themselves to go look for the missing were momentarily swept away by the tide thursday . a fishing boat eventually picked them up . the massive rescue efforts has included 169 boats , 29 planes and 512 divers . crews will next bring in cranes to stabilize the ship . the families must be so heartbroken , i know it 's hard , ' south korean president park geun-hye said after touring the accident site thursday . please , ' she told rescuers , i urge you , do your best . ' chang min , whose second-grade son is among the missing , says he 's willing to trust the government one last time . but kim is critical . the government is doing nothing for us , as our children are drowning , ' she says . hope the despondent mother breaks into a smile when she talks about how billy came to pick such a typically american boy 's name for herself . she loved goats when she was little . so she decided to call herself one . billy promised her mom she would bring back some delicious snacks from jeju . she waits for her daughter . freelancer kim jung eun contributed to this article . | kim convinced her daughter to make the trip |
shane dronett <tsp> ( cnn ) -- former nfl lineman shane dronett 's transformation from an affable prankster , quick to flash a wry smile , to a person who was often frightened -- and frightening -- was subtle at first . it began in 2006 , with a bad dream . he woke up in the middle of the night and started screaming and told everyone to run out of the house , ' said chris dronett , shane dronett 's wife . he thought that someone was blowing up our house . it was very frightening . ' chris tried to dismiss the incident as isolated , except that two weeks later , there was another outburst , then another , until they were an almost-nightly occurrence . and as shane 's fear and paranoia began overwhelming him , so did episodes of confusion and rage that sometimes turned violent . only three years after retiring from the nfl in 2006 , shane was suffering . the tragic culmination of his pain came when he committed suicide in 2009 at 38 . scientists at the boston university school of medicine 's center for the study of traumatic encephalopathy tested shane 's brain tissue and confirmed that before he died he was suffering with a brain disease -- chronic traumatic encephalopathy -- that seems to afflict football players . there is evidence of cte in his brain making him yet another former nfl player who had definite cte , ' said chris nowinski , co-director of the traumatic encephalopathy center . nowinski said the center has found evidence of cte in the brains of 13 of 14 former nfl players , including dronett . usually found in much older dementia patients , cte is an accumulation of an abnormal protein in the brain called tau , which is associated with repeated head traumas -- concussions or subconcussive hits -- that are not allowed to heal . cte can also diminish brain tissue and is associated with memory loss , depression , impulsive behavior and rage . outrage comes out of nowhere the dronetts'daughter recalled an incident at a local burger joint : he was ordering , and he got mad at ( an employee ) and just punched him in the face , ' said 16-year-old hayley dronett . he thought the guy was shaking the ice weird or something , and he took him down in the restaurant , ' added chris . it was all uncharacteristic for a man whom chris described as someone who would light up the room , ' outgoing , affable , funny . it was incongruous behavior for a father who had been involved and close with his two daughters -- taking them four-wheeling , volunteering at school , even painting their fingernails . he was just the best dad in the world , ' said hayley . researchers believe that the battering shane dronett took as an nfl lineman -- and the hits he accumulated over two decades of playing -- might explain his brain 's deterioration . what we know is that by definition , a lineman will have their head hit almost every play of every game and every practice , ' said dr. robert stern , co-director of the bu cste . the estimates are around 1,000 or more hits for a lineman every season . ' it might have been the accumulation of tens of thousands of subconcussive hits -- which might not result in overt concussion symptoms such as dizziness , short-term memory loss and confusion but could still cause brain damage -- that finally took a toll on shane . i think the issue is that the brain was not meant to be hit even subconcussively 1,000 times a year , ' said stern . the nfl would not comment about shane 's case specifically , but it emphasized that the league supports the bu center 's work and that it continues to take steps limit contact to the head and to ensure that concussions , when they occur , are properly treated . 10 hard seasons of hard hits shane played for 10 seasons , first with the denver broncos and then the atlanta falcons . he played defense on the 1998 falcons team that had a storybook super bowl run . chris said her husband never let a concussion deter him . shane did n't come out of games because he always said nfl players are so expendable , ' said chris . and if you 're not out there , the next guy will be . ' kurt warner : playing with concussion part of the game ' shane played through dizzying hits . there were times when he 'd be slow getting up and kind of try to shake it off and get back in there , ' said chris . he would have headaches and he would say'i wish someone would split my head open with an ax and relieve the pressure ,'but it was n't even an option to come out ( of the game ) . ' could a tumor explain his behavior ? when shane was found to have a brain tumor in 2007 , at the height of his unorthodox behavior , it was actually a glimmer of hope for his wife . i was almost relieved because i was thinking ,'ok , here is the answer to why he 's acting like this , because he had a tumor ,' said chris . and then after he recovered from the tumor being removed , he was back to the same symptoms of paranoia . ' shane 's neurosurgeon said that he most likely had the tumor all his life and that the benign growth could not explain his behavior , chris said . researchers at bu cste call the brain tumor potentially confounding , but most likely not a factor in shane 's behavior . there 's no way we would ever know what was specifically caused by the tumor or the surgery for the tumor or cte , ' said stern . but more than likely at least some of his behavior and symptoms were associated with the worsening of the cte . ' the reasons for shane 's behavioral changes soon became secondary to a bubbling fear for his wife and daughters . it came to a head during a ski trip that chris took with her daughter hayley in january of 2009 . he called us 100 times a day , wondering where we were and we 'd tell him we 're in utah ... and he just did n't believe it , ' said chris . he thought people were driving around the house and he was wondering who had been following him that day . it was just very scary . ' shane was supposed to pick up his family at the airport but never showed up . the next morning , chris encountered her husband in the hallway of their home , brandishing a gun . i saw the gun , and i ran out the front door , ' said chris . he had gone into the kitchen , and as soon as i put my hand on the front door , i heard it . ' what chris had heard was the firing of the gun that killed shane when he turned the gun on himself . in a moment , months of consternation and abject fear ended , giving way to profound sadness for a family that , even as they waded through the mire of shane 's condition , could not have foreseen this end . he was always so full of life , ' said chris . even his darkest moments , i just still never imagined that he would do that . ' two years removed from the terrible events of that january morning , chris finds some solace knowing that a brain disease that could explain why she and her daughters lost shane . i had nowhere to turn . i did n't know anything about ( cte ) . i did n't know other players were going through this type of stuff , ' said chris . i think if shane knew at the time how serious ( playing through concussion ) could be down the road , he would have backed off . ' chris is heartened by rules changes and progress at the nfl level , but chafes when she hears about players who oppose those changes . i know a lot of the players are against that , but they 're young and they have n't seen what i 've seen , ' said chris . chris says that if she could speak directly to players , i would tell them what i went through , what shane went through and what other people i know have gone through and then let them make that decision . because i feel like they 're making their statements without being educated . ' | researchers believe the battering shane dronett took may explain his brain 's deterioration |
drexler <tsp> ( cnn ) -- yes -- - marissa mayer posed for vogue . her skin is creamy , her hair perfect . she looks gorgeous . it 's not surprising ; it 's vogue . it 's also not surprising that the conversation about mayer 's vogue piece -- the first major profile she agreed to since becoming ceo of yahoo -- has remained squarely focused on how she looks in the accompanying photograph . most criticisms , my own included , have examined mayer 's role in this : at a time when women in the workplace desperately need role models , why did she allow herself to be depicted in a manner so far removed from most women 's realities ? on cnn.com , pepper schwartz writes that a significant number of women ... were less than thrilled at the idea of one of the few women of real power still needing the affirmation of a vogue fashion shoot , ' and here 's a woman who has made it to the top because of her brains , does she still need to self-validate by having a beautiful fashion gig ? ' but what 's so inexcusable about a woman wanting to look her best ? how is it self-validating to let a respectable magazine profile you in the way they know how ? or is the issue more about the audacity of a powerful woman sitting for a portrait that might be -- gasp -- flattering ? the truth is that we ca n't blame mayer , or vogue , for society 's obsession with , and response to , appearance . women , especially women who happen to be both beautiful and brilliant like mayer , are very often reduced to , or at least measured by , their looks . this was a reality before mayer 's vogue spread , and it will be a reality after . the debate over mayer 's culpability in agreeing to be sexed up for a fashion magazine implies that she has some power over the fact , some ability to change the truth , that looks matter , and that pretty people succeed more . because they do , with or without the affirmation of a vogue fashion shoot . ' according to a 2007 paper from the u.s. bureau of labor statistics , overweight and obese white women face a significant wage penalty . ' according to research by daniel hamermesh , author of beauty pays : why attractive people are more successful , ' the top one-third of attractive females earn about 10 % more annually than those in the bottom sixth of the genetic pool . and in her groundbreaking 1999 book , survival of the prettiest , ' harvard medical school psychologist nancy etcoff argues that good-looking people get better jobs , are better paid , and have an easier time in life . the evidence is in : evolutionarily speaking , pretty people win . mayer 's looks likely helped her get ahead in some manner throughout her career ; as such , it 's unreasonable to expect that she 'd do anything but agree to play them up for a national audience . for women , who are faced with any number of disadvantages in the workplace , why not use what you can ? that 's not to say mayer is n't brilliant or hardworking ; it 's not an either/or in business or in life . but it 's unrealistic , and unfair , to expect that mayer would n't sit for a photo that was n't expected to turn out at least somewhat flattering . that 's not self-validation , or even narcissism . it 's nothing more than completely human . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of peggy drexler . | drexler : we ca n't blame mayer , or vogue , for society 's obsession with appearance . |
drexler <tsp> ( cnn ) -- yes -- - marissa mayer posed for vogue . her skin is creamy , her hair perfect . she looks gorgeous . it 's not surprising ; it 's vogue . it 's also not surprising that the conversation about mayer 's vogue piece -- the first major profile she agreed to since becoming ceo of yahoo -- has remained squarely focused on how she looks in the accompanying photograph . most criticisms , my own included , have examined mayer 's role in this : at a time when women in the workplace desperately need role models , why did she allow herself to be depicted in a manner so far removed from most women 's realities ? on cnn.com , pepper schwartz writes that a significant number of women ... were less than thrilled at the idea of one of the few women of real power still needing the affirmation of a vogue fashion shoot , ' and here 's a woman who has made it to the top because of her brains , does she still need to self-validate by having a beautiful fashion gig ? ' but what 's so inexcusable about a woman wanting to look her best ? how is it self-validating to let a respectable magazine profile you in the way they know how ? or is the issue more about the audacity of a powerful woman sitting for a portrait that might be -- gasp -- flattering ? the truth is that we ca n't blame mayer , or vogue , for society 's obsession with , and response to , appearance . women , especially women who happen to be both beautiful and brilliant like mayer , are very often reduced to , or at least measured by , their looks . this was a reality before mayer 's vogue spread , and it will be a reality after . the debate over mayer 's culpability in agreeing to be sexed up for a fashion magazine implies that she has some power over the fact , some ability to change the truth , that looks matter , and that pretty people succeed more . because they do , with or without the affirmation of a vogue fashion shoot . ' according to a 2007 paper from the u.s. bureau of labor statistics , overweight and obese white women face a significant wage penalty . ' according to research by daniel hamermesh , author of beauty pays : why attractive people are more successful , ' the top one-third of attractive females earn about 10 % more annually than those in the bottom sixth of the genetic pool . and in her groundbreaking 1999 book , survival of the prettiest , ' harvard medical school psychologist nancy etcoff argues that good-looking people get better jobs , are better paid , and have an easier time in life . the evidence is in : evolutionarily speaking , pretty people win . mayer 's looks likely helped her get ahead in some manner throughout her career ; as such , it 's unreasonable to expect that she 'd do anything but agree to play them up for a national audience . for women , who are faced with any number of disadvantages in the workplace , why not use what you can ? that 's not to say mayer is n't brilliant or hardworking ; it 's not an either/or in business or in life . but it 's unrealistic , and unfair , to expect that mayer would n't sit for a photo that was n't expected to turn out at least somewhat flattering . that 's not self-validation , or even narcissism . it 's nothing more than completely human . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of peggy drexler . | peggy drexler : talk of marissa mayer 's vogue piece focused on her appearance |
daily curriculum <tsp> ( cnn student news ) -- march 27 , 2014 science , politics , geography , and math all factor in to thursday 's edition of cnn student news ! if you 've never heard of the latitudinal roaring forties , you ca n't fathom why fish would travel by truck , and you do n't know what the record is for girl scout cookie sales , you wo n't want to miss this show . on this page you will find today 's show transcript , the daily curriculum , and a place for you to leave feedback . transcript click here to access the transcript of today 's cnn student news program . please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published . daily curriculum click here for a printable version of the daily curriculum ( pdf ) . media literacy question of the day : what audio and video elements might a journalist want to include when reporting on a meeting of two world leaders ? key concepts : identify or explain these subjects you heard about in today 's show : 1 . roman catholic church 2 . national labor relations board 3 . u.s . fish and wildlife service fast facts : how well were you listening to today 's program ? 1 . with whom is president obama scheduled to meet at the vatican today ? according to the report : what are some issues on which these two leaders disagree ? on which issues do they have similar viewpoints ? how might their personalities factor in to how they collaborate on issues on which they agree ? why do some experts predict a positive , friendly meeting between the two ? 2 . what is the latest lead in the search for malaysia airlines flight 370 ? when was this debris found ? what happened when planes searched the area yesterday ? what may be responsible for this ? how is geography presenting a challenge to the search ? what is an auv ? how does it create a map of the ocean floor ? 3 . what has chicago 's regional national labor relations board ruled regarding a case brought by football players at northwestern university ? what was the rationale for this decision ? how has the university responded ? if the decision is upheld , how might it impact college sports in the future ? 4 . why are chinook salmon at the coleman national fish hatchery being loaded onto trucks ? where are the trucks taking them ? what weather condition in california is jeopardizing salmon spawning season ? discussion questions : 1 . what do you think that president obama and pope francis will discuss in their meeting ? if they disagree on any of these topics , what conclusions , if any , might they reach ? what do you think is the purpose of a meeting between world leaders who might disagree on some major issues ? how might they collaborate on other issues ? 2 . do you agree or disagree with the decision by the regional national labor relations board allowing northwestern university 's football players to unionize ? state your rationale . 3 . the salmon transportation seen in the video is one consequence of the drought being faced in some parts of the u.s. what other effects do you think drought could have on a region 's environment and economy ? cnn student news is created by a team of journalists and educators who consider the common core state standards , national standards in different subject areas , and state standards when producing the show and curriculum . we hope you use our free daily materials along with the program , and we welcome your feedback on them . feedback we 're looking for your feedback about cnn student news . please use this page to leave us comments about today 's program , including what you think about our stories and our resources . also , feel free to tell us how you use them in your classroom . the educators on our staff will monitor this page and may respond to your comments as well . thank you for using cnn student news ! click here to submit your roll call request . | the daily curriculum offers the media literacy question of the day , key concepts , fast facts and discussion questions |
daily curriculum <tsp> ( cnn student news ) -- march 27 , 2014 science , politics , geography , and math all factor in to thursday 's edition of cnn student news ! if you 've never heard of the latitudinal roaring forties , you ca n't fathom why fish would travel by truck , and you do n't know what the record is for girl scout cookie sales , you wo n't want to miss this show . on this page you will find today 's show transcript , the daily curriculum , and a place for you to leave feedback . transcript click here to access the transcript of today 's cnn student news program . please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published . daily curriculum click here for a printable version of the daily curriculum ( pdf ) . media literacy question of the day : what audio and video elements might a journalist want to include when reporting on a meeting of two world leaders ? key concepts : identify or explain these subjects you heard about in today 's show : 1 . roman catholic church 2 . national labor relations board 3 . u.s . fish and wildlife service fast facts : how well were you listening to today 's program ? 1 . with whom is president obama scheduled to meet at the vatican today ? according to the report : what are some issues on which these two leaders disagree ? on which issues do they have similar viewpoints ? how might their personalities factor in to how they collaborate on issues on which they agree ? why do some experts predict a positive , friendly meeting between the two ? 2 . what is the latest lead in the search for malaysia airlines flight 370 ? when was this debris found ? what happened when planes searched the area yesterday ? what may be responsible for this ? how is geography presenting a challenge to the search ? what is an auv ? how does it create a map of the ocean floor ? 3 . what has chicago 's regional national labor relations board ruled regarding a case brought by football players at northwestern university ? what was the rationale for this decision ? how has the university responded ? if the decision is upheld , how might it impact college sports in the future ? 4 . why are chinook salmon at the coleman national fish hatchery being loaded onto trucks ? where are the trucks taking them ? what weather condition in california is jeopardizing salmon spawning season ? discussion questions : 1 . what do you think that president obama and pope francis will discuss in their meeting ? if they disagree on any of these topics , what conclusions , if any , might they reach ? what do you think is the purpose of a meeting between world leaders who might disagree on some major issues ? how might they collaborate on other issues ? 2 . do you agree or disagree with the decision by the regional national labor relations board allowing northwestern university 's football players to unionize ? state your rationale . 3 . the salmon transportation seen in the video is one consequence of the drought being faced in some parts of the u.s. what other effects do you think drought could have on a region 's environment and economy ? cnn student news is created by a team of journalists and educators who consider the common core state standards , national standards in different subject areas , and state standards when producing the show and curriculum . we hope you use our free daily materials along with the program , and we welcome your feedback on them . feedback we 're looking for your feedback about cnn student news . please use this page to leave us comments about today 's program , including what you think about our stories and our resources . also , feel free to tell us how you use them in your classroom . the educators on our staff will monitor this page and may respond to your comments as well . thank you for using cnn student news ! click here to submit your roll call request . | this page includes the show transcript and the daily curriculum |
sean callebs <tsp> ( cnn ) -- as walter thomas knows , it 's hard to look for a job when your stomach is rumbling . samirah , 2 , asked her mom to take this photo to show that hungry people are like everyone else . ' the 52-year-old from washington , d.c. , started skipping meals in early january when his savings account was running dry and his kitchen cabinets were almost empty . thomas at first did n't want to turn to the united states'food safety net , the food stamp program , for help . but after being laid off in july from what seemed like a steady job in sales at a furniture store , thomas swallowed his pride and applied for the monthly food aid . it lets me think ,'ok , well , tomorrow i 'll be able to eat . if nothing else , i 'll be able to eat ,' he said . with the national economy in meltdown , more americans than ever are relying on the federal aid program to keep from going hungry . in october , more than one in 10 people -- about 31 million -- were using the food stamp program to get by , according to the u.s. department of agriculture . more recent numbers are not available , but advocates for the poor say the number of those in need of aid probably has increased since then . stereotypes associated with food stamps abound , and recipients are often seen as prone to taking handouts , sometimes when they may not be needed . but the profile of hunger in america is multifaceted , as diverse as the nation itself , especially in these times of economic hardship . to get a better idea of what it 's like to live on a food stamp budget , cnn correspondent sean callebs has decided to eat for a month on $ 176 and blog about the experience on cnn.com . watch reporter 's struggle to buy food with food stamps » that 's a situation many people , thomas included , can relate to . thomas , who said he had been working steadily since he was 13 years old , now receives $ 175 per month for food . that 's about $ 5.83 per day -- less than $ 2 per meal . see what people on food stamps can buy » not that thomas is complaining . after getting his first payment , which is added to an inconspicuous debit card to reduce the stigma associated with the program , thomas went straight to the grocery store . he was hungry and grateful . it 's definitely been a blessing to me , ' he said of the food stamp program , which , since october , has gone by the name supplemental nutrition assistance program , or snap . advocates for the poor , as well as those on federal assistance , hope president obama 's economic stimulus plan will increase food stamp payments . the average family on food stamps would receive $ 79 more per month if the stimulus bill passes in the u.s. senate this week , according to the new york times . ireport.com : how are you doing in this tough economy ? there is some debate about whether giving people money to spend on groceries is a valid form of economic stimulus . few are more hopeful the measure will pass than crystal sears , a 30-year-old mother in germantown , pennsylvania , who said she has been on food stamps for more than three years . sears said she sometimes skips meals so her three children can eat . even with federal assistance , she said , she sometimes has to make a meal for herself out of crackers or food scraps . she said she has been out of work for several years because all three of her children have medical conditions : her 8-year-old son has a seizure disorder that requires frequent hospital visits and constant attention ; her 2-year-old daughter was born with heart problems ; and her 12-year-old daughter has scoliosis , a back condition that recently required two surgeries , she said . without much money , she 's forced to make tough choices . if the kids needed sneakers and their sneakers are getting too small , or if my water bill is past due , i 'd opt not to pay it and risk them sending me a shut-off notice just so my children can eat , ' she said . sometimes she chooses to buy more food instead of paying her gas bill to heat her home . when she does , the family sleeps huddled around their stove or an electric heater , she said . her monthly food stamp payment is $ 489 , she said . that 's sometimes sufficient . but some months , she said , she does n't receive full payments because of mix-ups with paperwork . until recently , she said , she received about $ 250 per month , which she said was far from enough to feed her family of four . the snap program is meant to supplement a person 's food budget , not cover all food expenses , said jean daniel , a spokesperson for the usda , which administers the program . taking on part-time work would further complicate the application process , she said . sears said she worked for seven years at a salvation army shelter before becoming unemployed . for me , i 've always been a helper . and my thing is i do n't like to help people to enable them . i like to help people so they can help themselves in the long run , ' she said . sears stretches her food budget by buying cheap and sometimes fatty meals . she said she does n't like doing that but ca n't avoid it . with food prices high , she said , grocery shopping is stressful . we get like the mac and cheese , which is dehydrated cheese -- basically food that 's no good for you health wise , ' she said . everything is high in sodium and trans fats ... and that 's all we basically can afford . there 's not enough assistance to eat healthy and maintain a healthy weight . ' advocates for the hungry say many people on the food stamp program opt to buy less-healthy foods because they ca n't afford fresh fruits and vegetables on such a tight budget . food stamp benefits are n't really enough for a healthy diet , ' said jim weill , president of the nonprofit food research and action center . sears said she is grateful for the help she does get . maribel diaz , a 36-year-old mother of three boys in los angeles , california , said her $ 319-per-month payment is n't always enough . but she said she would starve herself before letting her boys go hungry . you 're bringing home less bags [ of food ] now , because the milk is almost $ 5 a gallon and the bread is $ 3 a loaf . ... a chicken is , like , now $ 8 , ' diaz said . if you 're really breaking it down , you 're not bringing a lot of groceries home . ' all snap recipients are eligible for free nutritional counseling to help people stretch their food budgets , said daniel , of the usda . advocates for the hungry find flaws in the way the program is set up , but they praise it for being a safety net the government ca n't take away during tough times . unlike aid to soup kitchens , the food stamp program receives federal funding in times thick and thin , and has a $ 6 billion backup fund , daniel said . the money will be found so people are not turned away , ' daniel said . all of the benefits paid to participants come from the federal government . states split the program 's administrative costs . advocates see some flaws in snap but generally give it praise . i say about food stamps what winston churchill said about democracy :'it 's the worst possible system except all the others ,' said joel berg , executive director of the new york coalition against hunger . berg said the program 's benefits are too small and too difficult for people to obtain . but the food stamp program is somewhat successful , he said . the main purpose of the program is to wipe out third world starvation in america , and it 's worked , ' he said , adding that he 's optimistic about improvements that could come as part of the economic stimulus plan . thomas , the laid-off furniture worker in washington , said he does n't want people to feel sorry for him . after being let go from his store , he stopped at an employment center before going anywhere else . he said he faxed about 20 résumés to similar companies on that very day . none has resulted in a job yet , but thomas said he has been to interviews for other types of work and hopes employment will come soon . for now , he 's just happy to continue the job search without the pain of hunger nagging at his stomach . | cnn 's sean callebs will live on $ 176 this month to learn about life on food stamps |
liverpool <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the french season is already up and running and over the weekend the english premier league returned to action , while spanish clubs continue to prepare for the start of la liga on 23 august . so who were the weekend 's winners and losers ? winners liverpool no luis suarez ? no problem for liverpool . in a tight premier league opener against southampton , the attacking talents who still remain at anfield proved last season 's runners-up still have bite , despite the departure of english football 's least favorite uruguayan . big things are expected of livewire raheem sterling and the england starlet continued the electrifying form he displayed at the end of last season . latching onto a perfect jordan henderson through ball in the first half , he produced a calm finish to open the scoring . but after southampton equalized in the second half , it was suarez 's former strike partner daniel sturridge who made the decisive contribution . one half of the sas ' duo that was so prolific last term , sturridge steered home sterling 's 79th-minute header to ensure brendan rodgers'team opened with a 2-1 win . playing in just his 50th match for liverpool , sturridge scored his 36th goal . if sturridge and sterling keep firing , memories of suarez will fade fast . vanishing spray ' consisting of 80 % water and 17 % butane gas , it 's an unlikely football icon . but on its premier league debut , vanishing spray ' was cheered to the rafters by supporters the length and breadth of england . used to great success at the 2014 world cup , having long been a staple of south american football , the foamy substance is sprayed by referees to position players at set pieces . english football is a late adopter of the pocket-sized innovation , but the country 's fans whooped and hollered like cavemen playing with a lighter every time a referee grabbed the canister from his waistband . not everyone is convinced , though . arsenal 's santi cazorla swallowed a mouthful of the stuff after referee jonathan moss suffered a nozzle malfunction . it might be hard for the spaniard to stomach , but it looks like vanishing spray ' is here to stay . cristiano ronaldo the craze which has swept through the united states has made its way into football and , even though he did n't kick a ball this weekend , cristiano ronaldo rounds up our list of winners . the real madrid star became the latest footballer to brave the ice bucket challenge , ' which began in north america as a way of raising money for the degenerative condition amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( als ) , also known as motor neurone disease . a host of celebrities have soaked themselves in icy cold water , and ronaldo joined the likes of mark zuckerberg , justin timberlake and conan o'brien after being nominated by former manchester united teammate darren fletcher . sat in a tiny purple speedo , ronaldo nominated rapper little wayne as well as beyonce and jennifer lopez before being drenched by fellow portugal international fabio coentrao . over to you , j'lo ... losers manchester united how misleading can six pre-season wins be ? manchester united 's 2-1 home defeat by swansea on saturday showed there will be no easy fixes for new manager louis van gaal . the dutch mad genius ' quickly had to rethink his 3-5-2 formation as swansea exposed manifest weaknesses in united 's defence , while comfortably dealing with their ponderous midfield and stuttering attack . more worryingly saturday 's defeat highlighted the lack of investment in united 's squad over the last few years , a legacy bequeathed to former manager david moyes by his predecessor alex ferguson . the club 's owners have spared no effort in lining up myriad global sponsors -- - official noodle and paint partners to name but two -- - so it 's a shame more has n't been done to identify and rectify deficiencies in the playing staff . chief executive ed woodward has a matter of days left in the transfer window to improve united 's strength in depth but his track record of success -- - or arguable lack of -- in bringing in new players is increasingly coming under the spotlight . monaco have monaco lost their mojo ? after finishing second last season , monaco is without a point after two games and sunday 's 4-1 defeat at bordeaux illustrates ligue 1 's noveau riche club might struggle without james rodriguez , who joined real madrid in the summer . two of those four goals came from penalties , which prompted monaco 's new coach leonardo jardim to point the finger at referee tony chapron as a key factor in his side 's defeat . we had two refereeing errors that sealed the match and after that there 's been no game . we must continue to work - we will continue to believe in these players , ' jardim told reporters . there was some good news for jardim and monaco in that colombian international radamel falcao came on as a second substitute as he returns from the serious knee injury that ruled him out of the world cup . brandao elsewhere in france , bastia 's brazilian striker brandao could be in all sorts of trouble after the corsican club 's 2-0 defeat by champions paris saint-germain . thiago motta suffered a broken nose after the game with cctv cameras in the parc des princes tunnel showing brandao waiting for the italian international before the bastia forward headbutted the psg midfielder . french secretary of state for sports thierry braillard told franco info the headbutt was scandalous ' and unacceptable ' and merited a sanction . ' psg president nasser al-khelaifi went further , telling canal plus tv after the game that brandao should be suspended for life ... he is not a football player . ' france 's professional football league disciplinary committee is due to examine the incident on thursday and , given the severity of the biting ' sanction handed out to luis suarez by world governing body fifa , it will be interesting to what the french regulator does . that was n't brandao 's only impact on the match with psg saying their dutch defender gregory van der wiel suffered a fracture of the second lumbar vertebra ' following a knee in the back in the first half . ' last season brandao was suspended for four matches after elbowing psg 's yohan cabaye at the parc des princes while playing for saint-etienne . | without luis suarez , liverpool beat southampton 2-1 |
luis suarez <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the french season is already up and running and over the weekend the english premier league returned to action , while spanish clubs continue to prepare for the start of la liga on 23 august . so who were the weekend 's winners and losers ? winners liverpool no luis suarez ? no problem for liverpool . in a tight premier league opener against southampton , the attacking talents who still remain at anfield proved last season 's runners-up still have bite , despite the departure of english football 's least favorite uruguayan . big things are expected of livewire raheem sterling and the england starlet continued the electrifying form he displayed at the end of last season . latching onto a perfect jordan henderson through ball in the first half , he produced a calm finish to open the scoring . but after southampton equalized in the second half , it was suarez 's former strike partner daniel sturridge who made the decisive contribution . one half of the sas ' duo that was so prolific last term , sturridge steered home sterling 's 79th-minute header to ensure brendan rodgers'team opened with a 2-1 win . playing in just his 50th match for liverpool , sturridge scored his 36th goal . if sturridge and sterling keep firing , memories of suarez will fade fast . vanishing spray ' consisting of 80 % water and 17 % butane gas , it 's an unlikely football icon . but on its premier league debut , vanishing spray ' was cheered to the rafters by supporters the length and breadth of england . used to great success at the 2014 world cup , having long been a staple of south american football , the foamy substance is sprayed by referees to position players at set pieces . english football is a late adopter of the pocket-sized innovation , but the country 's fans whooped and hollered like cavemen playing with a lighter every time a referee grabbed the canister from his waistband . not everyone is convinced , though . arsenal 's santi cazorla swallowed a mouthful of the stuff after referee jonathan moss suffered a nozzle malfunction . it might be hard for the spaniard to stomach , but it looks like vanishing spray ' is here to stay . cristiano ronaldo the craze which has swept through the united states has made its way into football and , even though he did n't kick a ball this weekend , cristiano ronaldo rounds up our list of winners . the real madrid star became the latest footballer to brave the ice bucket challenge , ' which began in north america as a way of raising money for the degenerative condition amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( als ) , also known as motor neurone disease . a host of celebrities have soaked themselves in icy cold water , and ronaldo joined the likes of mark zuckerberg , justin timberlake and conan o'brien after being nominated by former manchester united teammate darren fletcher . sat in a tiny purple speedo , ronaldo nominated rapper little wayne as well as beyonce and jennifer lopez before being drenched by fellow portugal international fabio coentrao . over to you , j'lo ... losers manchester united how misleading can six pre-season wins be ? manchester united 's 2-1 home defeat by swansea on saturday showed there will be no easy fixes for new manager louis van gaal . the dutch mad genius ' quickly had to rethink his 3-5-2 formation as swansea exposed manifest weaknesses in united 's defence , while comfortably dealing with their ponderous midfield and stuttering attack . more worryingly saturday 's defeat highlighted the lack of investment in united 's squad over the last few years , a legacy bequeathed to former manager david moyes by his predecessor alex ferguson . the club 's owners have spared no effort in lining up myriad global sponsors -- - official noodle and paint partners to name but two -- - so it 's a shame more has n't been done to identify and rectify deficiencies in the playing staff . chief executive ed woodward has a matter of days left in the transfer window to improve united 's strength in depth but his track record of success -- - or arguable lack of -- in bringing in new players is increasingly coming under the spotlight . monaco have monaco lost their mojo ? after finishing second last season , monaco is without a point after two games and sunday 's 4-1 defeat at bordeaux illustrates ligue 1 's noveau riche club might struggle without james rodriguez , who joined real madrid in the summer . two of those four goals came from penalties , which prompted monaco 's new coach leonardo jardim to point the finger at referee tony chapron as a key factor in his side 's defeat . we had two refereeing errors that sealed the match and after that there 's been no game . we must continue to work - we will continue to believe in these players , ' jardim told reporters . there was some good news for jardim and monaco in that colombian international radamel falcao came on as a second substitute as he returns from the serious knee injury that ruled him out of the world cup . brandao elsewhere in france , bastia 's brazilian striker brandao could be in all sorts of trouble after the corsican club 's 2-0 defeat by champions paris saint-germain . thiago motta suffered a broken nose after the game with cctv cameras in the parc des princes tunnel showing brandao waiting for the italian international before the bastia forward headbutted the psg midfielder . french secretary of state for sports thierry braillard told franco info the headbutt was scandalous ' and unacceptable ' and merited a sanction . ' psg president nasser al-khelaifi went further , telling canal plus tv after the game that brandao should be suspended for life ... he is not a football player . ' france 's professional football league disciplinary committee is due to examine the incident on thursday and , given the severity of the biting ' sanction handed out to luis suarez by world governing body fifa , it will be interesting to what the french regulator does . that was n't brandao 's only impact on the match with psg saying their dutch defender gregory van der wiel suffered a fracture of the second lumbar vertebra ' following a knee in the back in the first half . ' last season brandao was suspended for four matches after elbowing psg 's yohan cabaye at the parc des princes while playing for saint-etienne . | without luis suarez , liverpool beat southampton 2-1 |
southampton <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the french season is already up and running and over the weekend the english premier league returned to action , while spanish clubs continue to prepare for the start of la liga on 23 august . so who were the weekend 's winners and losers ? winners liverpool no luis suarez ? no problem for liverpool . in a tight premier league opener against southampton , the attacking talents who still remain at anfield proved last season 's runners-up still have bite , despite the departure of english football 's least favorite uruguayan . big things are expected of livewire raheem sterling and the england starlet continued the electrifying form he displayed at the end of last season . latching onto a perfect jordan henderson through ball in the first half , he produced a calm finish to open the scoring . but after southampton equalized in the second half , it was suarez 's former strike partner daniel sturridge who made the decisive contribution . one half of the sas ' duo that was so prolific last term , sturridge steered home sterling 's 79th-minute header to ensure brendan rodgers'team opened with a 2-1 win . playing in just his 50th match for liverpool , sturridge scored his 36th goal . if sturridge and sterling keep firing , memories of suarez will fade fast . vanishing spray ' consisting of 80 % water and 17 % butane gas , it 's an unlikely football icon . but on its premier league debut , vanishing spray ' was cheered to the rafters by supporters the length and breadth of england . used to great success at the 2014 world cup , having long been a staple of south american football , the foamy substance is sprayed by referees to position players at set pieces . english football is a late adopter of the pocket-sized innovation , but the country 's fans whooped and hollered like cavemen playing with a lighter every time a referee grabbed the canister from his waistband . not everyone is convinced , though . arsenal 's santi cazorla swallowed a mouthful of the stuff after referee jonathan moss suffered a nozzle malfunction . it might be hard for the spaniard to stomach , but it looks like vanishing spray ' is here to stay . cristiano ronaldo the craze which has swept through the united states has made its way into football and , even though he did n't kick a ball this weekend , cristiano ronaldo rounds up our list of winners . the real madrid star became the latest footballer to brave the ice bucket challenge , ' which began in north america as a way of raising money for the degenerative condition amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( als ) , also known as motor neurone disease . a host of celebrities have soaked themselves in icy cold water , and ronaldo joined the likes of mark zuckerberg , justin timberlake and conan o'brien after being nominated by former manchester united teammate darren fletcher . sat in a tiny purple speedo , ronaldo nominated rapper little wayne as well as beyonce and jennifer lopez before being drenched by fellow portugal international fabio coentrao . over to you , j'lo ... losers manchester united how misleading can six pre-season wins be ? manchester united 's 2-1 home defeat by swansea on saturday showed there will be no easy fixes for new manager louis van gaal . the dutch mad genius ' quickly had to rethink his 3-5-2 formation as swansea exposed manifest weaknesses in united 's defence , while comfortably dealing with their ponderous midfield and stuttering attack . more worryingly saturday 's defeat highlighted the lack of investment in united 's squad over the last few years , a legacy bequeathed to former manager david moyes by his predecessor alex ferguson . the club 's owners have spared no effort in lining up myriad global sponsors -- - official noodle and paint partners to name but two -- - so it 's a shame more has n't been done to identify and rectify deficiencies in the playing staff . chief executive ed woodward has a matter of days left in the transfer window to improve united 's strength in depth but his track record of success -- - or arguable lack of -- in bringing in new players is increasingly coming under the spotlight . monaco have monaco lost their mojo ? after finishing second last season , monaco is without a point after two games and sunday 's 4-1 defeat at bordeaux illustrates ligue 1 's noveau riche club might struggle without james rodriguez , who joined real madrid in the summer . two of those four goals came from penalties , which prompted monaco 's new coach leonardo jardim to point the finger at referee tony chapron as a key factor in his side 's defeat . we had two refereeing errors that sealed the match and after that there 's been no game . we must continue to work - we will continue to believe in these players , ' jardim told reporters . there was some good news for jardim and monaco in that colombian international radamel falcao came on as a second substitute as he returns from the serious knee injury that ruled him out of the world cup . brandao elsewhere in france , bastia 's brazilian striker brandao could be in all sorts of trouble after the corsican club 's 2-0 defeat by champions paris saint-germain . thiago motta suffered a broken nose after the game with cctv cameras in the parc des princes tunnel showing brandao waiting for the italian international before the bastia forward headbutted the psg midfielder . french secretary of state for sports thierry braillard told franco info the headbutt was scandalous ' and unacceptable ' and merited a sanction . ' psg president nasser al-khelaifi went further , telling canal plus tv after the game that brandao should be suspended for life ... he is not a football player . ' france 's professional football league disciplinary committee is due to examine the incident on thursday and , given the severity of the biting ' sanction handed out to luis suarez by world governing body fifa , it will be interesting to what the french regulator does . that was n't brandao 's only impact on the match with psg saying their dutch defender gregory van der wiel suffered a fracture of the second lumbar vertebra ' following a knee in the back in the first half . ' last season brandao was suspended for four matches after elbowing psg 's yohan cabaye at the parc des princes while playing for saint-etienne . | without luis suarez , liverpool beat southampton 2-1 |
al qaeda <tsp> washington ( cnn ) a year after isis became a household name in america , using brutality and savvy propaganda to challenge al qaeda and its affiliates for jihadist adherents , u.s. prosecutions of would-be recruits have exploded . the flurry of arrests -- at least 25 people have been detained since january -- is a sign that complicated , manpower-intensive investigations begun when isis started seizing swaths of territory a year ago are finally being completed . but they also highlight the unique challenges that isis poses in comparison with al qaeda , which has attracted fewer u.s.-based recruits . like a new rock band storming the music charts , isis has benefited from a media environment that amplifies its propaganda , law enforcement officials said . the group quickly reached early recruits through videos that showcased the fear its adherents instilled in nonbelievers . at first , most of the recruits were self-starters -- people radicalized on their own from consuming isis propaganda from youtube videos and other social media . much of the propaganda comes in the form of slick movie trailer-style videos , some glorifying brutal practices such as the beheading of anyone who isis leaders decide does n't comport with their medieval brand of islam . but once those initial western recruits arrived , living in the self-declared isis caliphate spanning parts of syria and iraq , they started to directly entice friends and other contacts back home to join them . in minnesota , nine men have been charged as part of an alleged cell of recruits linked to american abdi nur , who turned up fighting with isis in syria in 2014 and began to appeal to his friends to come to the middle east . each one of those folks who makes it over there has the capability to reach out back to their contacts back here , ' a senior u.s. counterterrorism official said . it 's a phenomenon observed in norway and other european nations , where clusters of young people have been lured to isis . and the isis recruiters have an easier path to drawing supporters than al qaeda has had . a decade ago , that group 's recruits faced formidable obstacles trying to get to training camps deep in hard-to-reach areas of afghanistan and pakistan 's tribal region . few westerners went through the trouble . minneapolis men allegedly trying to join isis highlight role of american recruiter today , isis occupies much more accessible territory , mostly reachable through turkey . istanbul 's airport has easy connections to western europe and much of the rest of the world . from there , turkey 's modern infrastructure offers quick access to the border regions where smugglers can help jihadis get across to syria . the informal recruitment networks and ease of travel have presented a difficult puzzle to intelligence and counterterrorism officials , who are used to tracking networks of facilitators and fundraisers that funnel recruits eastward . it 's harder for us to pick up on , ' the u.s. counterterrorism official said of the peer-to-peer recruitment , which is well below the radar . how isis is luring westerners before isis , investigators could often focus on radicalizing mosques and clerics to figure out those networks . al qaeda recruitment focused on attracting radicals who were motivated to join the fight to protect islamic holy lands . much of the recruitment occurred in countries with strong conservative islamic histories , including saudi arabia and yemen , u.s. officials said . in contrast , isis takes a somewhat secular approach , portraying how much better life purportedly is in the caliphate as compared to the corrupt west . and people attracted to isis'marketing run the gamut from rich to poor , educated to dropout , male to female , teenaged to middle-aged . there are signs western recruits have risen to high levels in the isis organization , with their influence reflected in the latest propaganda , counterterrorism and intelligence officials said . the english is proper , with fewer grammatical and spelling mistakes . and while the large number of arrests show that law enforcement officials are succeeding in their disruption efforts , it also means that u.s. authorities do n't see the lure of isis receding any time soon . we are opening cases quicker than we are closing them , ' the u.s. counterterrorism official said . who has been recruited to isis from the west ? | the recruiting tactics used by isis differ from those traditionally employed by al qaeda |
isis <tsp> washington ( cnn ) a year after isis became a household name in america , using brutality and savvy propaganda to challenge al qaeda and its affiliates for jihadist adherents , u.s. prosecutions of would-be recruits have exploded . the flurry of arrests -- at least 25 people have been detained since january -- is a sign that complicated , manpower-intensive investigations begun when isis started seizing swaths of territory a year ago are finally being completed . but they also highlight the unique challenges that isis poses in comparison with al qaeda , which has attracted fewer u.s.-based recruits . like a new rock band storming the music charts , isis has benefited from a media environment that amplifies its propaganda , law enforcement officials said . the group quickly reached early recruits through videos that showcased the fear its adherents instilled in nonbelievers . at first , most of the recruits were self-starters -- people radicalized on their own from consuming isis propaganda from youtube videos and other social media . much of the propaganda comes in the form of slick movie trailer-style videos , some glorifying brutal practices such as the beheading of anyone who isis leaders decide does n't comport with their medieval brand of islam . but once those initial western recruits arrived , living in the self-declared isis caliphate spanning parts of syria and iraq , they started to directly entice friends and other contacts back home to join them . in minnesota , nine men have been charged as part of an alleged cell of recruits linked to american abdi nur , who turned up fighting with isis in syria in 2014 and began to appeal to his friends to come to the middle east . each one of those folks who makes it over there has the capability to reach out back to their contacts back here , ' a senior u.s. counterterrorism official said . it 's a phenomenon observed in norway and other european nations , where clusters of young people have been lured to isis . and the isis recruiters have an easier path to drawing supporters than al qaeda has had . a decade ago , that group 's recruits faced formidable obstacles trying to get to training camps deep in hard-to-reach areas of afghanistan and pakistan 's tribal region . few westerners went through the trouble . minneapolis men allegedly trying to join isis highlight role of american recruiter today , isis occupies much more accessible territory , mostly reachable through turkey . istanbul 's airport has easy connections to western europe and much of the rest of the world . from there , turkey 's modern infrastructure offers quick access to the border regions where smugglers can help jihadis get across to syria . the informal recruitment networks and ease of travel have presented a difficult puzzle to intelligence and counterterrorism officials , who are used to tracking networks of facilitators and fundraisers that funnel recruits eastward . it 's harder for us to pick up on , ' the u.s. counterterrorism official said of the peer-to-peer recruitment , which is well below the radar . how isis is luring westerners before isis , investigators could often focus on radicalizing mosques and clerics to figure out those networks . al qaeda recruitment focused on attracting radicals who were motivated to join the fight to protect islamic holy lands . much of the recruitment occurred in countries with strong conservative islamic histories , including saudi arabia and yemen , u.s. officials said . in contrast , isis takes a somewhat secular approach , portraying how much better life purportedly is in the caliphate as compared to the corrupt west . and people attracted to isis'marketing run the gamut from rich to poor , educated to dropout , male to female , teenaged to middle-aged . there are signs western recruits have risen to high levels in the isis organization , with their influence reflected in the latest propaganda , counterterrorism and intelligence officials said . the english is proper , with fewer grammatical and spelling mistakes . and while the large number of arrests show that law enforcement officials are succeeding in their disruption efforts , it also means that u.s. authorities do n't see the lure of isis receding any time soon . we are opening cases quicker than we are closing them , ' the u.s. counterterrorism official said . who has been recruited to isis from the west ? | isis benefits from a media environment that amplifies its propaganda , officials say |
isis <tsp> washington ( cnn ) a year after isis became a household name in america , using brutality and savvy propaganda to challenge al qaeda and its affiliates for jihadist adherents , u.s. prosecutions of would-be recruits have exploded . the flurry of arrests -- at least 25 people have been detained since january -- is a sign that complicated , manpower-intensive investigations begun when isis started seizing swaths of territory a year ago are finally being completed . but they also highlight the unique challenges that isis poses in comparison with al qaeda , which has attracted fewer u.s.-based recruits . like a new rock band storming the music charts , isis has benefited from a media environment that amplifies its propaganda , law enforcement officials said . the group quickly reached early recruits through videos that showcased the fear its adherents instilled in nonbelievers . at first , most of the recruits were self-starters -- people radicalized on their own from consuming isis propaganda from youtube videos and other social media . much of the propaganda comes in the form of slick movie trailer-style videos , some glorifying brutal practices such as the beheading of anyone who isis leaders decide does n't comport with their medieval brand of islam . but once those initial western recruits arrived , living in the self-declared isis caliphate spanning parts of syria and iraq , they started to directly entice friends and other contacts back home to join them . in minnesota , nine men have been charged as part of an alleged cell of recruits linked to american abdi nur , who turned up fighting with isis in syria in 2014 and began to appeal to his friends to come to the middle east . each one of those folks who makes it over there has the capability to reach out back to their contacts back here , ' a senior u.s. counterterrorism official said . it 's a phenomenon observed in norway and other european nations , where clusters of young people have been lured to isis . and the isis recruiters have an easier path to drawing supporters than al qaeda has had . a decade ago , that group 's recruits faced formidable obstacles trying to get to training camps deep in hard-to-reach areas of afghanistan and pakistan 's tribal region . few westerners went through the trouble . minneapolis men allegedly trying to join isis highlight role of american recruiter today , isis occupies much more accessible territory , mostly reachable through turkey . istanbul 's airport has easy connections to western europe and much of the rest of the world . from there , turkey 's modern infrastructure offers quick access to the border regions where smugglers can help jihadis get across to syria . the informal recruitment networks and ease of travel have presented a difficult puzzle to intelligence and counterterrorism officials , who are used to tracking networks of facilitators and fundraisers that funnel recruits eastward . it 's harder for us to pick up on , ' the u.s. counterterrorism official said of the peer-to-peer recruitment , which is well below the radar . how isis is luring westerners before isis , investigators could often focus on radicalizing mosques and clerics to figure out those networks . al qaeda recruitment focused on attracting radicals who were motivated to join the fight to protect islamic holy lands . much of the recruitment occurred in countries with strong conservative islamic histories , including saudi arabia and yemen , u.s. officials said . in contrast , isis takes a somewhat secular approach , portraying how much better life purportedly is in the caliphate as compared to the corrupt west . and people attracted to isis'marketing run the gamut from rich to poor , educated to dropout , male to female , teenaged to middle-aged . there are signs western recruits have risen to high levels in the isis organization , with their influence reflected in the latest propaganda , counterterrorism and intelligence officials said . the english is proper , with fewer grammatical and spelling mistakes . and while the large number of arrests show that law enforcement officials are succeeding in their disruption efforts , it also means that u.s. authorities do n't see the lure of isis receding any time soon . we are opening cases quicker than we are closing them , ' the u.s. counterterrorism official said . who has been recruited to isis from the west ? | the recruiting tactics used by isis differ from those traditionally employed by al qaeda |
citizens united <tsp> ( cnn ) -- two years ago , the supreme court upended the rules for campaign finance , unleashing a tsunami of unregulated , unrestricted and undisclosed spending that has , in effect , allowed donors to buy elections . the full impact of this decision is just now becoming clear , and it 's bad both for america 's businesses and for our democracy . by a 5-4 majority , the supreme court affirmed that money is essentially speech -- a notion first addressed in buckley v. valeo in 1976 -- and it outlawed nearly all restrictions on independent spending by corporations or other groups , including unions , to influence elections . such restrictions are unconstitutional violations of free speech , the court said , and are prohibited by the first amendment . you might expect business owners to welcome the elimination of these restrictions , but if so , you 're about to be surprised . a recent poll conducted by lake research found that 66 % of a random sample of 500 small-business owners believe the citizens united decision was mostly bad ' or somewhat bad ' for small business . since small businesses create 70 % of new jobs in the private sector , according to the small business administration , their view should matter a lot . the poll was commissioned by the american sustainable business council , the main street alliance , and small business majority -- three groups that represent the views of small business and which have a combined membership of more than 100,000 small businesses nationwide . the poll tapped the views of 500 small-business owners nationwide , most of whom are not members of the organizations conducting the survey . in addition to taking a dim view of citizens united , 88 % of the small-business owners in the poll had a negative view of the role money plays in politics . ( the margin of error in the poll is plus or minus 4.4 percentage points . ) do small donations still matter in politics ? tell us what you think . small-business owners believe in our market-based , capitalist system , which depends on open and robust competition . unlimited campaign spending undermines this competition , in three crucial ways . first , allowing unlimited money into politics allows the past to hold the future hostage . companies ( and individuals who own them ) with sufficient resources to sway elections often represent the industries and companies of the past , rather than the industries and companies that are creating the future . the evidence on this is indirect , because since citizens united was announced less than a year before the last federal election , its impact has not yet been fully felt or measured . however , we can gauge its future impact by looking at lobbying expenditures , for which multiyear data is widely available . for the period 2008-2011 , the computer and internet industry -- a wellspring of innovation -- spent $ 458 million on lobbying , according to the center for responsive politics , while the energy and natural resources industry spent more than three times as much : $ 1.55 billion . the ratio for election-related spending , post citizens united , will likely be similar . second , allowing unlimited money in politics allows the big to achieve an unfair advantage over the small . this is ironic in light of the huge role small business plays in creating private sector jobs in america , even as some large corporations act as net destroyers of american jobs , when outsourcing and offshoring are factored in . for example , this kind of money in politics gives power to the push by big companies to repatriate offshore profits , giving some big and profitable multinational corporations lower effective tax rates than the grocer on main street . moreover , unlimited contributions give major wall street firms the edge over community banks , because the big banks can win loan guarantees , taxpayer bailouts and deeply discounted borrowing rates that smaller banks ca n't touch . third , allowing unlimited money in politics allows companies to collect ious for special favors from presidential candidates -- particularly as a result of contributions made early in the election season , when a few million dollars can swing the result in a small state like new hampshire . america 's small-business owners embrace competition -- but they demand the competition be open , robust and vigorous . they do n't want to be whipped by big corporations that bought an unfair advantage from senators , congressional representatives and other elected officials . when that happens , it 's bad for business and america . many solutions have been proposed , ranging from the supreme court reversing its decision , to legislation , to a constitutional amendment . momentum for change is growing , as candidates from both political parties learn what it 's like to have a campaign with broad public support crushed by a single individual with deep pockets who steps in to help the other side . citizens united is an assault on our economy , which is supposed to be based on vigorous , free and open competition . it 's time for us to reinvigorate our economy by getting government out of the protection racket , and preventing industries and companies from buying special favors . we must undo the damage wrought by citizens united . follow cnn opinion on twitter . join the conversation on facebook . the opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of david brodwin . | david brodwin says citizens united ruling is bad for small businesses |
desmond john moses <tsp> los angeles ( cnn ) -- a father and mother showed heroism when a gunman opened fired inside their california home before dawn saturday , but two members of the family could n't overcome their wounds , inglewood police said . the mother ran from the house carrying her youngest child , though she was shot in both legs , in an extraordinary rescue attempt , ' police said . the 4-year-old boy , however , was shot in the head and later died in surgery . the mother was in critical but stable condition saturday afternoon . inside the house , the father used his body as a shield in trying to protect the other three children . despite the father 's efforts , the gunfire wounded two of his children : a 6-year-old boy in the pelvis and a 7-year-old girl in the chest . both were in critical but stable condition , police said . the father later died in surgery of multiple gunshot wounds . the oldest of four children , an 8-year-old boy , was the sole family member who was n't injured , police said . what would motivate an individual to do this is inexplicable , ' inglewood police chief mark fronterotta said . inglewood is adjacent to los angeles and its international airport . police were conducting a manhunt for the suspect , who lived in a house in the rear of the property . that rear house was also set afire , believed to have been ignited by the gunman , police said . police did not release names of the father , 30 ; mother , 28 ; or their children as of saturday afternoon . the incident occurred about 4 a.m. saturday when police received a report of 10 gunshots at the property . the fire department also received a call at the same time . firefighters were hampered by fears that the gunman might have been armed in the rear residence , police said . fallen power lines also hindered firefighting efforts . the suspect was described as a 55-year-old black man with a dark baseball cap and is 5-foot-6 and 160 pounds , police said . they later identified him as desmond john moses . the suspect wore a painter 's mask when he gunned down the family , the police chief said . police did n't provide a motive . the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous , the police chief said . police find body in burned california home after family killings | new : police identify the suspected gunman as 55-year-old desmond john moses |
sony <tsp> ( cnn ) -- it 's the battle of the tech titans . no , not apple versus samsung . sony has gone head-to-head with microsoft after releasing their next-generation gaming platforms for the holiday shopping season . and according to a recent sales report , sony 's playstation4 seems to have won the first round of the battle . the ps4 sold 1.25 million units in the united states during november , while the xbox one sold 750,000 , said michael pachter , an analyst at wedbush morgan , in a recent note to investors . as for global sales , the japanese manufacturer announced they had sold more than 2.1 million ps4 units worldwide at the beginning of december . microsoft say they sold over 2 million systems . with the xbox one starting at $ 499 , and the ps4 at $ 399 , pachter says the the $ 100 price difference is responsible for sony 's success : the reason sony beats microsoft is solely the price . microsoft loses the next generation unless they cut price . ' in at the starting line from the start , it was far from clear which console would reign over the world of gaming . these are two systems that are well-balanced to keep the furious battle between xbox and playstation going for the next decade ... which can only be good for gamers everywhere , ' says david hutchinson , chief video games writer for the times of london . the tech landscape has transformed drastically since the last time these two electronics giants went head to head with the xbox 360 in 2005 and the playstation 3 in 2007 . back then , smartphones and tablet devices did n't even exist . while ps4 is being touted as the perfect machine for social media lovers -- offering games that players can share easily with friends -- xbox one is said to be ideal for those after a multimedia machine that can multitask and switch between games , movies , music and applications quickly and seamlessly . the playstation 4 has been set as more of a games machine versus the xbox one 's aim to be the multimedia entertainment center at the heart of your living room ... both systems are essentially pcs in a console shell , ' explains hutchinson . the two systems have everything from motion tracking and facial recognition to cameras and redesigned controllers . what 's more , the xbox one can not only be plugged into your cable box for on-demand tv and movies , but can also be personalized to a user 's interests running a series of apps and programs , including skype , netflix and lovefilm . smart strategies seven years ago , microsoft pushed development on the xbox 360 so that they could put their console on the market a year ahead of the playstation 3 . hutchinson says this move gave microsoft plenty of time to gain an audience within a gaming community where the playstation had previously ruled supreme . ' they gained a huge market share in that unchallenged year , ' he explains . sony are obviously aware how this has affected their market dominance , so in this cycle of consoles they have made sure to release the ps4 slightly ahead of their rival in the u.s. to make sure they are n't left behind again . ' at the industry 's e3 conference in june , not long after sony went public with their early release date , microsoft announced they 'd priced their console $ 100 more than sony 's ps4 . though the news did n't sit well with gaming enthusiasts , microsoft refused to budge on the price . a gamer backlash ensued when fans found out the xbox one was not going to allow offline gameplay or secondhand games to be used on the device . in turn , resistance from fans forced microsoft to reverse its decision , explains hutchinson . xbox were wise to backtrack on their initial idea that you would n't be able to easily resell secondhand games or pass old games onto friends more than once , ' says hutchinson . it showed a lack of understanding of the importance of selling on games for younger gamers , but also showed microsoft 's maturity in knowing when to backtrack if mistakes have been made . ' the death of consoles ? in recent years , the video game industry has seen users develop a growing appetite for mobile devices . this has led some to question the future of the console industry . rumors of gaming console death are a bit premature , ' says eric smith , a consumer electronics expert from strategy analytics . it 's been a down year in 2013 [ for consoles ] , but going forward , this next generation is going to boost sales for several years to come . ' industry analysts attribute few top game releases and the tail end of the last generation of consoles as contributing factors for this year 's downturn . meanwhile mobile play continues to grow at a significant rate . research firm gartner forecast in their latest report that revenue from mobile gaming alone is predicted to nearly double between 2013 and 2015 from $ 13.2 billion to $ 22 billion . ' casual gamers i think have moved on most likely to mobile platforms . tablets and phones are cheaper [ and ] more easily accessible , ' says smith . these are impressive machines that have been released , they are enjoying great sales and beforehand , they were enjoying great pre-orders ... but the audience has shrunk and i do n't think those casual gamers are going to return . ' so with casual gamers moving over to their smartphones , hardcore gamers have been left to save the console for future generations . smith says : [ xbox one ] does gaming as well , but it is targeted towards a much broader audience and i think there is a risk in that gamers look at it and say :'this is not for me , this is not built for gamers first'... but at the same time , if these functions do catch up , [ microsoft ] stands to gain sales down the road . ' meanwhile , hutchinson hopes that neither electronics giant will reign supreme as it means a better and more competitive experience for the fans themselves . the joint dominance of the xbox 360 and the ps3 marked a great era for the gaming public , ' he says . with no monopoly , gamers get better deals on games and hardware after the initial round of console launches are out of the way . long may this continue . ' | microsoft and sony release their next-gen gaming consoles |
price check <tsp> ( cnn ) -- for her long and impressive résumé of independent films like dazed and confused , ' party girl , ' and best in show , ' parker posey is often referred to as the queen of the indies . ' though much of her work in recent years has focused on memorable television roles , the mississippi native returns to the big screen in michael walker 's price check . ' in the film , which debuts in select theaters on november 16 and is available for rental on itunes . posey plays susan , ' a powerful marketing executive overseeing a chain of grocery stores . for fans who have grown to love posey 's trademark dry wit and pitch perfect edginess , susan lands squarely in the wheelhouse . in her war to take over corporate america , susan faces off with a man at every turn . part genius , part sociopath , part seductress , susan uses her full arsenal of god-given weapons -- from sexual manipulation to full blown tempter tantrums -- to get what she wants . during a recent conversation with cnn , posey discussed her new role , explained her take on the public 's misconceptions about working in hollywood and confessed the whoops moment that just may have cost her angelina jolie 's oscar . cnn : my first impression of you is that you 're fearless . are you fearless ? parker posey : you know , i do n't really see myself that way . i 've been doing this now professionally for 20 years . is n't that wild ? i think the perception is when you 're famous you pick and choose your own material , but , honestly the material comes to me and i do n't feel like i do n't have much of a choice at all . so , when something is good , i end up doing it . but , i do like to show things that maybe most people would n't want to show of themselves , where people can judge you and you 're not perfect . so , maybe that 's where you 're getting that kind of fearlessness . cnn : the character you play in price check ' certainly falls in this category . posey : there are things about susan ' that i think are very of this time right now . i 've certainly seen women like this that are very entitled and powerful and manipulative and seductive . cnn : she 's a woman dominating a man 's world but with what most would consider typically masculine traits . posey : those characteristics excited me ! i do n't read parts like that that have those levels - someone who 's powerful and also someone who 's a loose canon . she has a really strong appetite , even more than these men that are around her and she 's hungry for more ! one of the first ideas or images i had for her was faye dunaway from network . ' her female powers are n't female , they are totally male . and she does n't have those things that make a woman powerful like vulnerability and sensitivity and intuition . she takes and she demands . cnn : she even demands fun . i love the halloween party scene when she keeps saying everyone is going to have fun , but clearly has no idea what fun is . posey : i did n't even think about that . that 's so true . she 's all about planned fun . it 's not like that in other countries . does n't that seem like a very american thing to do ? cnn : i have heard that before , yes . we 're a very type-a culture . but , you seem like a woman who knows how to have a good time . what brings you the most joy these days ? posey : it 's a really laid-back thing like cooking or having friends over and just talking . i like a one-on-one with a friend , really deep conversations . cnn : are you and your friends talking about the election at all ? posey : well , it 's all kind of unsettling what we 're seeing right now being played out . this drama ! that it becomes entertainment , that it becomes a game . i ca n't really watch it , i just get too , there 's so much that needs to be done , i get kind of down about politics . i do n't have the stomach to usually watch it . cnn : there 's a lot of attention being paid to women 's health . posey : yeah , yeah , i think we 're in the '50s . i think we 're at very conservative times as women , as individuals . it 's strange times . cnn : i wonder what susan 's reaction would be to all the men talking about women 's issues . posey : i think she 'd be really mad . then , she would run for president . cnn : ( laughter ) susan is just the latest of many roles you 've made famous , but was there ever a part you passed on and then regretted later ? posey : what i did pass on that may surprise you is girl interrupted . ' the angelina jolie role . and she won the academy award ! is n't that funny ? cnn : oh , i could definitely see you in that role . why did you pass ? posey : i just did n't care enough about it . i do n't know . there was something about it . they probably wanted me to audition and i did n't feel like doing it , or maybe they wanted me to jump through hoops and i did n't feel like doing it . honestly , i just did n't care about it enough to be grounded in it . | the actress portrays a powerful marketing executive in price check ' |
posey <tsp> ( cnn ) -- for her long and impressive résumé of independent films like dazed and confused , ' party girl , ' and best in show , ' parker posey is often referred to as the queen of the indies . ' though much of her work in recent years has focused on memorable television roles , the mississippi native returns to the big screen in michael walker 's price check . ' in the film , which debuts in select theaters on november 16 and is available for rental on itunes . posey plays susan , ' a powerful marketing executive overseeing a chain of grocery stores . for fans who have grown to love posey 's trademark dry wit and pitch perfect edginess , susan lands squarely in the wheelhouse . in her war to take over corporate america , susan faces off with a man at every turn . part genius , part sociopath , part seductress , susan uses her full arsenal of god-given weapons -- from sexual manipulation to full blown tempter tantrums -- to get what she wants . during a recent conversation with cnn , posey discussed her new role , explained her take on the public 's misconceptions about working in hollywood and confessed the whoops moment that just may have cost her angelina jolie 's oscar . cnn : my first impression of you is that you 're fearless . are you fearless ? parker posey : you know , i do n't really see myself that way . i 've been doing this now professionally for 20 years . is n't that wild ? i think the perception is when you 're famous you pick and choose your own material , but , honestly the material comes to me and i do n't feel like i do n't have much of a choice at all . so , when something is good , i end up doing it . but , i do like to show things that maybe most people would n't want to show of themselves , where people can judge you and you 're not perfect . so , maybe that 's where you 're getting that kind of fearlessness . cnn : the character you play in price check ' certainly falls in this category . posey : there are things about susan ' that i think are very of this time right now . i 've certainly seen women like this that are very entitled and powerful and manipulative and seductive . cnn : she 's a woman dominating a man 's world but with what most would consider typically masculine traits . posey : those characteristics excited me ! i do n't read parts like that that have those levels - someone who 's powerful and also someone who 's a loose canon . she has a really strong appetite , even more than these men that are around her and she 's hungry for more ! one of the first ideas or images i had for her was faye dunaway from network . ' her female powers are n't female , they are totally male . and she does n't have those things that make a woman powerful like vulnerability and sensitivity and intuition . she takes and she demands . cnn : she even demands fun . i love the halloween party scene when she keeps saying everyone is going to have fun , but clearly has no idea what fun is . posey : i did n't even think about that . that 's so true . she 's all about planned fun . it 's not like that in other countries . does n't that seem like a very american thing to do ? cnn : i have heard that before , yes . we 're a very type-a culture . but , you seem like a woman who knows how to have a good time . what brings you the most joy these days ? posey : it 's a really laid-back thing like cooking or having friends over and just talking . i like a one-on-one with a friend , really deep conversations . cnn : are you and your friends talking about the election at all ? posey : well , it 's all kind of unsettling what we 're seeing right now being played out . this drama ! that it becomes entertainment , that it becomes a game . i ca n't really watch it , i just get too , there 's so much that needs to be done , i get kind of down about politics . i do n't have the stomach to usually watch it . cnn : there 's a lot of attention being paid to women 's health . posey : yeah , yeah , i think we 're in the '50s . i think we 're at very conservative times as women , as individuals . it 's strange times . cnn : i wonder what susan 's reaction would be to all the men talking about women 's issues . posey : i think she 'd be really mad . then , she would run for president . cnn : ( laughter ) susan is just the latest of many roles you 've made famous , but was there ever a part you passed on and then regretted later ? posey : what i did pass on that may surprise you is girl interrupted . ' the angelina jolie role . and she won the academy award ! is n't that funny ? cnn : oh , i could definitely see you in that role . why did you pass ? posey : i just did n't care enough about it . i do n't know . there was something about it . they probably wanted me to audition and i did n't feel like doing it , or maybe they wanted me to jump through hoops and i did n't feel like doing it . honestly , i just did n't care about it enough to be grounded in it . | posey says she passed on a role in girl interrupted ' |
posey <tsp> ( cnn ) -- for her long and impressive résumé of independent films like dazed and confused , ' party girl , ' and best in show , ' parker posey is often referred to as the queen of the indies . ' though much of her work in recent years has focused on memorable television roles , the mississippi native returns to the big screen in michael walker 's price check . ' in the film , which debuts in select theaters on november 16 and is available for rental on itunes . posey plays susan , ' a powerful marketing executive overseeing a chain of grocery stores . for fans who have grown to love posey 's trademark dry wit and pitch perfect edginess , susan lands squarely in the wheelhouse . in her war to take over corporate america , susan faces off with a man at every turn . part genius , part sociopath , part seductress , susan uses her full arsenal of god-given weapons -- from sexual manipulation to full blown tempter tantrums -- to get what she wants . during a recent conversation with cnn , posey discussed her new role , explained her take on the public 's misconceptions about working in hollywood and confessed the whoops moment that just may have cost her angelina jolie 's oscar . cnn : my first impression of you is that you 're fearless . are you fearless ? parker posey : you know , i do n't really see myself that way . i 've been doing this now professionally for 20 years . is n't that wild ? i think the perception is when you 're famous you pick and choose your own material , but , honestly the material comes to me and i do n't feel like i do n't have much of a choice at all . so , when something is good , i end up doing it . but , i do like to show things that maybe most people would n't want to show of themselves , where people can judge you and you 're not perfect . so , maybe that 's where you 're getting that kind of fearlessness . cnn : the character you play in price check ' certainly falls in this category . posey : there are things about susan ' that i think are very of this time right now . i 've certainly seen women like this that are very entitled and powerful and manipulative and seductive . cnn : she 's a woman dominating a man 's world but with what most would consider typically masculine traits . posey : those characteristics excited me ! i do n't read parts like that that have those levels - someone who 's powerful and also someone who 's a loose canon . she has a really strong appetite , even more than these men that are around her and she 's hungry for more ! one of the first ideas or images i had for her was faye dunaway from network . ' her female powers are n't female , they are totally male . and she does n't have those things that make a woman powerful like vulnerability and sensitivity and intuition . she takes and she demands . cnn : she even demands fun . i love the halloween party scene when she keeps saying everyone is going to have fun , but clearly has no idea what fun is . posey : i did n't even think about that . that 's so true . she 's all about planned fun . it 's not like that in other countries . does n't that seem like a very american thing to do ? cnn : i have heard that before , yes . we 're a very type-a culture . but , you seem like a woman who knows how to have a good time . what brings you the most joy these days ? posey : it 's a really laid-back thing like cooking or having friends over and just talking . i like a one-on-one with a friend , really deep conversations . cnn : are you and your friends talking about the election at all ? posey : well , it 's all kind of unsettling what we 're seeing right now being played out . this drama ! that it becomes entertainment , that it becomes a game . i ca n't really watch it , i just get too , there 's so much that needs to be done , i get kind of down about politics . i do n't have the stomach to usually watch it . cnn : there 's a lot of attention being paid to women 's health . posey : yeah , yeah , i think we 're in the '50s . i think we 're at very conservative times as women , as individuals . it 's strange times . cnn : i wonder what susan 's reaction would be to all the men talking about women 's issues . posey : i think she 'd be really mad . then , she would run for president . cnn : ( laughter ) susan is just the latest of many roles you 've made famous , but was there ever a part you passed on and then regretted later ? posey : what i did pass on that may surprise you is girl interrupted . ' the angelina jolie role . and she won the academy award ! is n't that funny ? cnn : oh , i could definitely see you in that role . why did you pass ? posey : i just did n't care enough about it . i do n't know . there was something about it . they probably wanted me to audition and i did n't feel like doing it , or maybe they wanted me to jump through hoops and i did n't feel like doing it . honestly , i just did n't care about it enough to be grounded in it . | queen of the indies ' parker posey is tackling a new role |
google <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the top government lawyers from three dozen states sent a letter to google on wednesday , expressing strong concerns ' with the privacy policy the web giant intends to roll out soon . on a fundamental level , the policy appears to invade consumer privacy by automatically sharing personal information consumers input into one google product with all google products , ' reads the letter sent to google ceo larry page and signed by 36 state attorneys general . last month , google announced the new policy , which spells out how the company will collect and compile information to create a profile of users based on their activity across all of its various sites and tools . that includes google search , gmail , the google+ social site and phones running its android operating system . privacy advocates objected to the policy -- which is set to go into effect march 1 . eight members of congress , both democrats and republicans , wrote their own letter to page , asking for clarification about the changes . in wednesday 's letter , the state attorneys called the policy troubling for a number of reasons , ' saying that users should be able to use one product without having its information shared with others . consumers have diverse interests and concerns , and may want the information in their web history to be kept separate from the information they exchange via gmail , ' they said . likewise , consumers may be comfortable with google knowing their search queries but not with it knowing their whereabouts , yet the new privacy policy appears to give them no choice in the matter , further invading their privacy . ' google said wednesday it 's willing to discuss the policy with government officials , but that its intention is to make using its products easier and more transparent . our updated privacy policy will make our privacy practices easier to understand , and it reflects our desire to create a seamless experience for our signed-in users , ' a google spokesman said in a written statement . we 've undertaken the most extensive notification effort in google 's history , and we 're continuing to offer choice and control over how people use our services services . of course we are happy to discuss this approach with regulators globally . ' in a blog post when the policy was announced , google 's betsy masiello noted that many of google 's products , including youtube and search , do n't require users to be signed in to use them . other tools allow for incognito ' modes and there are other privacy tools that can be used , she said . a later post from google public policy director pablo chavez said that the company 's privacy policies , but not its privacy controls , are changing . they are trying to make them simpler and more understandable , which is something that lawmakers and regulators have asked technology companies to do , ' he wrote . by folding more than 60 product-specific privacy policies into our main google one , we 're explaining our privacy commitments to users of those products in 85 % fewer words . ' that was n't enough for the attorneys general . they singled out users of android phones , which make up about 50 % of the u.s. smartphone market , saying they wo n't be able to opt out ' without buying a new phone . no doubt many of these consumers bought an android-powered phone in reliance on google 's existing privacy policy , which touted to these consumers that'we will not reduce your rights under this privacy policy without your explicit consent ,' the letter said . that promise appears not to be honored by the new privacy policy . ' the letter asks google to meet with representatives of the attorneys general before the policy goes into effect to work toward a solution that will best protect the privacy needs of those who use google 's products . ' | attorneys general from 36 states object to google privacy changes |
google <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the top government lawyers from three dozen states sent a letter to google on wednesday , expressing strong concerns ' with the privacy policy the web giant intends to roll out soon . on a fundamental level , the policy appears to invade consumer privacy by automatically sharing personal information consumers input into one google product with all google products , ' reads the letter sent to google ceo larry page and signed by 36 state attorneys general . last month , google announced the new policy , which spells out how the company will collect and compile information to create a profile of users based on their activity across all of its various sites and tools . that includes google search , gmail , the google+ social site and phones running its android operating system . privacy advocates objected to the policy -- which is set to go into effect march 1 . eight members of congress , both democrats and republicans , wrote their own letter to page , asking for clarification about the changes . in wednesday 's letter , the state attorneys called the policy troubling for a number of reasons , ' saying that users should be able to use one product without having its information shared with others . consumers have diverse interests and concerns , and may want the information in their web history to be kept separate from the information they exchange via gmail , ' they said . likewise , consumers may be comfortable with google knowing their search queries but not with it knowing their whereabouts , yet the new privacy policy appears to give them no choice in the matter , further invading their privacy . ' google said wednesday it 's willing to discuss the policy with government officials , but that its intention is to make using its products easier and more transparent . our updated privacy policy will make our privacy practices easier to understand , and it reflects our desire to create a seamless experience for our signed-in users , ' a google spokesman said in a written statement . we 've undertaken the most extensive notification effort in google 's history , and we 're continuing to offer choice and control over how people use our services services . of course we are happy to discuss this approach with regulators globally . ' in a blog post when the policy was announced , google 's betsy masiello noted that many of google 's products , including youtube and search , do n't require users to be signed in to use them . other tools allow for incognito ' modes and there are other privacy tools that can be used , she said . a later post from google public policy director pablo chavez said that the company 's privacy policies , but not its privacy controls , are changing . they are trying to make them simpler and more understandable , which is something that lawmakers and regulators have asked technology companies to do , ' he wrote . by folding more than 60 product-specific privacy policies into our main google one , we 're explaining our privacy commitments to users of those products in 85 % fewer words . ' that was n't enough for the attorneys general . they singled out users of android phones , which make up about 50 % of the u.s. smartphone market , saying they wo n't be able to opt out ' without buying a new phone . no doubt many of these consumers bought an android-powered phone in reliance on google 's existing privacy policy , which touted to these consumers that'we will not reduce your rights under this privacy policy without your explicit consent ,' the letter said . that promise appears not to be honored by the new privacy policy . ' the letter asks google to meet with representatives of the attorneys general before the policy goes into effect to work toward a solution that will best protect the privacy needs of those who use google 's products . ' | google says privacy controls are n't changing but the policy is being simplified |
google <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the top government lawyers from three dozen states sent a letter to google on wednesday , expressing strong concerns ' with the privacy policy the web giant intends to roll out soon . on a fundamental level , the policy appears to invade consumer privacy by automatically sharing personal information consumers input into one google product with all google products , ' reads the letter sent to google ceo larry page and signed by 36 state attorneys general . last month , google announced the new policy , which spells out how the company will collect and compile information to create a profile of users based on their activity across all of its various sites and tools . that includes google search , gmail , the google+ social site and phones running its android operating system . privacy advocates objected to the policy -- which is set to go into effect march 1 . eight members of congress , both democrats and republicans , wrote their own letter to page , asking for clarification about the changes . in wednesday 's letter , the state attorneys called the policy troubling for a number of reasons , ' saying that users should be able to use one product without having its information shared with others . consumers have diverse interests and concerns , and may want the information in their web history to be kept separate from the information they exchange via gmail , ' they said . likewise , consumers may be comfortable with google knowing their search queries but not with it knowing their whereabouts , yet the new privacy policy appears to give them no choice in the matter , further invading their privacy . ' google said wednesday it 's willing to discuss the policy with government officials , but that its intention is to make using its products easier and more transparent . our updated privacy policy will make our privacy practices easier to understand , and it reflects our desire to create a seamless experience for our signed-in users , ' a google spokesman said in a written statement . we 've undertaken the most extensive notification effort in google 's history , and we 're continuing to offer choice and control over how people use our services services . of course we are happy to discuss this approach with regulators globally . ' in a blog post when the policy was announced , google 's betsy masiello noted that many of google 's products , including youtube and search , do n't require users to be signed in to use them . other tools allow for incognito ' modes and there are other privacy tools that can be used , she said . a later post from google public policy director pablo chavez said that the company 's privacy policies , but not its privacy controls , are changing . they are trying to make them simpler and more understandable , which is something that lawmakers and regulators have asked technology companies to do , ' he wrote . by folding more than 60 product-specific privacy policies into our main google one , we 're explaining our privacy commitments to users of those products in 85 % fewer words . ' that was n't enough for the attorneys general . they singled out users of android phones , which make up about 50 % of the u.s. smartphone market , saying they wo n't be able to opt out ' without buying a new phone . no doubt many of these consumers bought an android-powered phone in reliance on google 's existing privacy policy , which touted to these consumers that'we will not reduce your rights under this privacy policy without your explicit consent ,' the letter said . that promise appears not to be honored by the new privacy policy . ' the letter asks google to meet with representatives of the attorneys general before the policy goes into effect to work toward a solution that will best protect the privacy needs of those who use google 's products . ' | the new policy goes into effect march 1 for all google products |
kim kardashian <tsp> ( cnn ) -- in some corners of the internet , kim kardashian is already mrs. kanye west . the 33-year-old reality star is n't expected to marry west until may 24 , but a may 4 report from life & style weekly stirred speculation that the couple have already obtained a marriage license in california . whether or not that 's true is up for debate . both people magazine and e ! news cite sources who say that kardashian and west , 36 , have n't yet made their impending union official . a rep for the reality star is n't commenting on the reports and kardashian has n't spoken on them either , but she has let a few details slip about her upcoming nuptials . we will be getting married ... in paris , ' kardashian told jimmy kimmel earlier this year . we love it there . it 's like our second home , we spend so much time there . ' and according to the keeping up with the kardashians ' star , her husband-to-be has been hands-on with the planning process . i know they think or they say that the guy usually does n't care and just shows up , but kanye really cares and is really passionate about it , so it makes my job so much easier , ' she said . i love it because he knows what he wants , and i love that about him . ' west popped the question to kardashian with an over-the-top proposal in october 2013 , a few months after the couple welcomed their first child together , daughter north . cnn 's joan yeam contributed to this report . | there 's speculation that kim kardashian and kanye west are already married |
dubai <tsp> ( cnn ) -- fascinating , vibrant and multicultural . those are a just a few of the words dubai 's visitors use to capture its essence . you can never prepare for how the ever-shifting landscape will seek to change something within you as well . the larger-than-life grandeur of its towering city skyline , fleet of construction cranes signaling progress and crowded , fragrant souks -- or markets -- all combine to present the swirling scene of dubai . but in order to soak up dubai 's eclectic diversity , you have to prepare for another truth : dubai is worth a trip , but not all that glitters is gold , ' ireporter holger bauer said . knowing how to navigate the city is key to making the most of your trip . but do n't let a fear of the unknown keep you from setting off on a dubai adventure . it 's a crossroads of many cultures , ' ireporter derek matthew koebbe said . they have a 30-year plan to become one of the largest economic and tourist regions in the world . i would love to travel there again to see this progression . ' dubai 's captivating mystique , beauty city with a view for first-timers or repeat visitors , taking in the breathtaking view of dubai from the top of the world 's tallest building , the burj khalifa , is a must . you can get a very good view and'lay of the land'by going up to the top floors of buildings , such as hotels or the burj khalifa , ' anderson said . going to the viewing deck of the burj khalifa in the evening is especially magical . you can view the nightlife below as well as the dancing fountains show , which is absolutely spectacular at night . ' ireporter sara ruedy recommends taking the elevator ride up to the 160th floor for a 360-degree view of dubai 's overall splendor . and while visiting the burj khalifa , located in the heart of downtown dubai , do n't forget to explore the large variety of trendy restaurants , aesthetic pools and fountains , and upscale shopping , ' she said . what to do , where to go dubai is full of activities that cater to any traveler 's whimsy . from the adventurous recreationalist to the avid shopper , this city is a treasure trove just waiting to be explored . the malls are epicenters of activity and entertainment , from indoor ice skating and downhill skiing to aquariums , and of course , the high-end luxury shops , ' anderson said . dubai is known for its array of fountains , so take the time to stop and enjoy the show . the dubai mall , the largest mall in the world , features a choreographed fountain show , according to anderson . one of the best ways to view the shows , which run regularly throughout the day , is to grab a seat for lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants in the mall with outside terrace seating . the food is delicious as well ! ' ruedy agrees with anderson when it comes to the food at dubai 's main mall . i ate at a lebanese restaurant named karam beirut within the dubai mall . the restaurant was unique in that large plates of every fresh vegetable you can think of were provided during the meal , creating a hearty and healthy eating experience . ' dubai , home of the extravagant , also has the world 's only 7-star hotel , the burj al arab . but if you ca n't afford a stay in 7-star luxury , the city has other agreeable options . i would recommend staying at any of the jumeirah properties , as they are on the beach , ' koebbe said . they have burj al arab as well as the very affordable madinat jumeirah . the madinat has a water park called wadi wadi that kids really enjoy ! the property also has a replica of a traditional souk with over 40 shops and restaurants . ' if you have n't satisfied your shopping needs at the world 's largest mall , do n't forget to browse dubai 's souks . another must see is the gold and spice souks near dubai creek , ' koebbe said . be ready to bargain because they raise the prices for any foreigners . ' 30 days , 30 kitchens : making food in the uae how to explore before you begin , consider dubai 's climate . koebbe captures it best : think of florida 's humidity combined with arizona 's heat . average summer temps are 100-plus with 80 % humidity . the best time to travel there is between november and march when the highs are in the 80s and the humidity is lower . ' once you get there , take a ride on the dubai bus system for a fun way to sightsee . getting around the city for a dime each trip is easy on your wallet , and it helps you connect with the locals and tourists around you , bauer said . if you want to explore dubai 's more natural offerings , get outside the city . the countryside and deserts are a nice balance for the towering skyline . it 's wonderful to get into the countryside and see al ain or abu dhabi , not far away , ' ireporter eric kossoff said . we took a half day tour with arabian adventures called'the sun downer ,'' koebbe said . they pick you up a few hours before sunset from your hotel and take you into the al sahara desert where you visit a traditional bedouin camp . the camp provided everything from camel rides to hookahs and traditional foods along with belly dancers . ' take in the diversity if you take one thing with you from your dubai experience , let it be the culture . you wo n't find a replacement for it anywhere on earth . dubai is such a beautiful and uniquely diverse destination , ' koebbe said . wandering through the souks , you hear people speaking in arabic , british and american english , hindi , russian , french and even chinese . the city has both an old and new feel all around it . wonderful smells of the spice souk are wafting around you mixing with the fragrances of some of the finest perfumes europe has to offer . you 'll find older traditional souks on one corner , then on the next , the very american-like mall of the emirates with an indoor ski resort , ski dubai . i found the local people to be very warm and welcoming . ' | from shopping to a sunset desert adventure , get the most out of your trip to dubai |
dubai <tsp> ( cnn ) -- fascinating , vibrant and multicultural . those are a just a few of the words dubai 's visitors use to capture its essence . you can never prepare for how the ever-shifting landscape will seek to change something within you as well . the larger-than-life grandeur of its towering city skyline , fleet of construction cranes signaling progress and crowded , fragrant souks -- or markets -- all combine to present the swirling scene of dubai . but in order to soak up dubai 's eclectic diversity , you have to prepare for another truth : dubai is worth a trip , but not all that glitters is gold , ' ireporter holger bauer said . knowing how to navigate the city is key to making the most of your trip . but do n't let a fear of the unknown keep you from setting off on a dubai adventure . it 's a crossroads of many cultures , ' ireporter derek matthew koebbe said . they have a 30-year plan to become one of the largest economic and tourist regions in the world . i would love to travel there again to see this progression . ' dubai 's captivating mystique , beauty city with a view for first-timers or repeat visitors , taking in the breathtaking view of dubai from the top of the world 's tallest building , the burj khalifa , is a must . you can get a very good view and'lay of the land'by going up to the top floors of buildings , such as hotels or the burj khalifa , ' anderson said . going to the viewing deck of the burj khalifa in the evening is especially magical . you can view the nightlife below as well as the dancing fountains show , which is absolutely spectacular at night . ' ireporter sara ruedy recommends taking the elevator ride up to the 160th floor for a 360-degree view of dubai 's overall splendor . and while visiting the burj khalifa , located in the heart of downtown dubai , do n't forget to explore the large variety of trendy restaurants , aesthetic pools and fountains , and upscale shopping , ' she said . what to do , where to go dubai is full of activities that cater to any traveler 's whimsy . from the adventurous recreationalist to the avid shopper , this city is a treasure trove just waiting to be explored . the malls are epicenters of activity and entertainment , from indoor ice skating and downhill skiing to aquariums , and of course , the high-end luxury shops , ' anderson said . dubai is known for its array of fountains , so take the time to stop and enjoy the show . the dubai mall , the largest mall in the world , features a choreographed fountain show , according to anderson . one of the best ways to view the shows , which run regularly throughout the day , is to grab a seat for lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants in the mall with outside terrace seating . the food is delicious as well ! ' ruedy agrees with anderson when it comes to the food at dubai 's main mall . i ate at a lebanese restaurant named karam beirut within the dubai mall . the restaurant was unique in that large plates of every fresh vegetable you can think of were provided during the meal , creating a hearty and healthy eating experience . ' dubai , home of the extravagant , also has the world 's only 7-star hotel , the burj al arab . but if you ca n't afford a stay in 7-star luxury , the city has other agreeable options . i would recommend staying at any of the jumeirah properties , as they are on the beach , ' koebbe said . they have burj al arab as well as the very affordable madinat jumeirah . the madinat has a water park called wadi wadi that kids really enjoy ! the property also has a replica of a traditional souk with over 40 shops and restaurants . ' if you have n't satisfied your shopping needs at the world 's largest mall , do n't forget to browse dubai 's souks . another must see is the gold and spice souks near dubai creek , ' koebbe said . be ready to bargain because they raise the prices for any foreigners . ' 30 days , 30 kitchens : making food in the uae how to explore before you begin , consider dubai 's climate . koebbe captures it best : think of florida 's humidity combined with arizona 's heat . average summer temps are 100-plus with 80 % humidity . the best time to travel there is between november and march when the highs are in the 80s and the humidity is lower . ' once you get there , take a ride on the dubai bus system for a fun way to sightsee . getting around the city for a dime each trip is easy on your wallet , and it helps you connect with the locals and tourists around you , bauer said . if you want to explore dubai 's more natural offerings , get outside the city . the countryside and deserts are a nice balance for the towering skyline . it 's wonderful to get into the countryside and see al ain or abu dhabi , not far away , ' ireporter eric kossoff said . we took a half day tour with arabian adventures called'the sun downer ,'' koebbe said . they pick you up a few hours before sunset from your hotel and take you into the al sahara desert where you visit a traditional bedouin camp . the camp provided everything from camel rides to hookahs and traditional foods along with belly dancers . ' take in the diversity if you take one thing with you from your dubai experience , let it be the culture . you wo n't find a replacement for it anywhere on earth . dubai is such a beautiful and uniquely diverse destination , ' koebbe said . wandering through the souks , you hear people speaking in arabic , british and american english , hindi , russian , french and even chinese . the city has both an old and new feel all around it . wonderful smells of the spice souk are wafting around you mixing with the fragrances of some of the finest perfumes europe has to offer . you 'll find older traditional souks on one corner , then on the next , the very american-like mall of the emirates with an indoor ski resort , ski dubai . i found the local people to be very warm and welcoming . ' | a thriving downtown of towering buildings and crowded markets awaits travelers in dubai |
south sudan <tsp> ( cnn ) -- sudan has arrested foreigners in the disputed region of heglig , its defense ministry said saturday , the latest in the spiraling conflict between the sudans . those arrested were identified by the defense ministry as british , norwegian , south african and south sudanese . they were engaged in suspicious activities , collecting war debris , ' it said . meanwhile , a south sudanese military spokesman reported ongoing clashes and bombings -- though a sudanese military spokesman denied any such attacks . col. philip aguer , a spokesman for the sudan people 's liberation army of south sudan , said eight bombs were dropped in unity state saturday . friday , khartoum-supported mercenaries ' attacked an spla position in a town called wau , causing 21 deaths , he said . three fighters were captured alive , he added . the spla seized three trucks , which are said to belong to the sudanese armed forces , said aguer , vowing to retaliate against all these acts of aggression . ' but al-sawarmi khalid , a spokesman for the sudanese armed forces , said , we have not bombed wau , or any other place in south sudan . ' south sudan split from sudan last year as part of a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of war in africa 's largest nation . the war left 2 million people dead and ended with the peace agreement that included an independence referendum for the south . despite the split in july , unresolved issues remain between the two , including status of their citizens , division of national debt , disputed border areas and sharing of oil wealth . simmering tensions peaked this month when south sudan seized the oil-producing region of heglig from sudan , raising the stakes by targeting a resource that fuels the economies of both nations . heglig oil facilities account for about half of sudan 's production of 115,000 barrels a day . sudan claims ownership for the region , and lodged complaints with the united nations and the african union to pressure south sudan to withdraw troops from its territory . a day after south sudan withdrew from the disputed region , it accused sudan of launching ground and aerial attacks on its territory . cnn 's kim chakanetsa and journalist isma'il kushkush contributed to this report . | a sudanese spokesman says its military did n't carry out any attacks in south sudan |
northern california <tsp> ( mental floss ) -- we all know about the confederate states leaving the union . but that was far from the only secessionist movement in american history . here are some rebellious regions you wo n't find in too many history books . this map shows some rebellious regions that have tried to seceed from the united states . 1 . the kingdom of beaver island beaver island , a small island in lake michigan , became the home of mormon leader james strang and his followers -- called strangites -- in 1848 . two years later , strang declared himself king of the church -- complete with crown , scepter , robe , and a harem of 15 wives . however , most of the island 's inhabitants were his followers , so he essentially became king of beaver island . the power got to his head , and he began forcing his rule onto the non-believers , causing some violence between the two factions . in 1856 , the uss michigan pulled into the harbor and invited strang aboard . as he was walking towards the ship , he was shot in the back by disgruntled followers , who then ran up the gangplank and escaped . adding to the mysterious circumstances , the assassins were set ashore on nearby mackinac island and never charged for their crime . shortly after the assassination , angry mobs from surrounding islands eventually forced the strangites from their homes , thus ending the short-lived kingdom of beaver island . 2 . the state of superior concern over a perceived lack of interest from the michigan state government , the people of the upper peninsula ( u.p . ) , affectionately known as yoopers , ' have been trying to secede and form the state of superior since as far back as 1897 . the movement gained momentum after 1957 when a bridge connecting the u.p . region to lower michigan made it easier for southern trolls ' ( people who live below the bridge ' ) and yoopers to mingle . this animosity continued into the mid-1980s , when 20,000 signatures were collected and submitted to the state for a secession request . however , the number was shy of the 36,000 required , and the request subsequently denied . the secessionist drive lives on today , as numerous grassroots organizations are trying to muster support for another official attempt at an independent u.p . until that day comes , though , the yoopers and trolls will just have to try to get along . 3 . the great republic of rough and ready rough and ready , california , was a mining town founded in 1849 by the rough and ready company of wisconsin . as the town 's population rapidly exploded to 3,000 , lawlessness was on the rise -- and the u.s. government was not much help squelching the rampant crime . mental floss : three controversial maps additionally , a new federal tax on mining operations added fuel to the region 's civil unrest . seeing little support from washington , on april 7 , 1850 , the townspeople voted to secede from the union . but just three months later , as the fourth of july approached , the great republic of rough and ready wanted to have a celebration ( which seems odd considering they were no longer technically americans ) . when nearby nevada city would n't sell liquor to foreign miners , ' it was decided that maybe america was n't so bad after all . the townspeople voted themselves back into the union on the very same day and the party went off as planned . 4 . the conch republic in the early-1980s , the u.s. border patrol set up a checkpoint at the entrance to the florida keys in an effort to stop illegal drugs and immigrants . the time to check everyone 's identification at the checkpoint resulted in a 20-mile traffic jam that turned tourists away , thus damaging the economy in the keys . after numerous legal attempts to have the checkpoint removed , on april 23 , 1982 , key west mayor dennis wardlow declared the florida keys were seceding from the union . moments later , now-prime minister wardlow symbolically declared war on the u.s. by breaking a stale piece of cuban bread over the head of a man dressed in a u.s. navy uniform . one minute later , wardlow turned to the admiral in charge of the u.s . naval base at key west and surrendered , thus ending the conch republic 's civil rebellion . he then immediately asked for $ 1 billion in federal aid to help rebuild his war-torn nation 's economy . while officially the republic only existed for one minute , the tongue-in-cheek spirit of the rebellion lives on . today you can buy conch republic citizen and diplomatic passports ( both of which have been used for international travel , though they are not intended to be official documents ) and even an official flag of the republic ( complete with the awesome motto , we seceded where others failed ' ) . the community has even minted a series of limited edition one-conch dollar coins that can be used as legal tender while in the keys . 5 . the state of absaroka feeling that the democratic southern half of wyoming was not working in conjunction with the rest of the state , a secessionist movement was launched by northern republicans in 1939 to create a new state that would better serve its more conservative population . this state , absaroka -- so named after the nearby mountain range -- was to be made up of northern wyoming , southeast montana , and the western region of south dakota . while the secessionist movement was never very large or pursued through legal channels , that did n't stop a. r. swickard , the street commissioner of sheridan , wyoming , from appointing himself governor of the state . ' the movement went so far as to press absaroka license plates and crown a miss absaroka beauty queen . absaroka could even brag about a visit from a foreign dignitary , king haakon vii of norway ( though he was officially visiting wyoming and just happened to be in absaroka ) . despite all of the hoopla , the state never came to be , and now , so many years later , the intent of the secessionist movement is in question . some believe there was a genuine attempt to create a new state , while others say it was just a fun way for cowboys to distract themselves during tough economic times . 6 . the state of jefferson northern california and southern oregon have been trying to merge since 1852 . the attempts have been met with mixed results , though the state of jefferson ' movement of 1941 came closest to making it happen . the region felt it was being ignored by their respective state legislatures , so in response the people created the state of jefferson citizen 's committee ' to explore the possibilities of secession . the group began stopping cars on highway 99 to hand out the state 's proclamation of independence , ' a pamphlet outlining the grievances they held and the solutions they proposed . to help rally their cause , they developed a state flag made up of a gold miner 's pan with two black x 's inside , representing the double-cross they felt the oregon and california state governments had pulled . mental floss : thomas jefferson on december 4 , 1941 , judge john childs was elected governor of jefferson in the state 's temporary capital of yreka , california . the event was filmed by numerous newsreel companies who were set to air the footage during the week of december 8 . history had other plans , as the japanese bombed pearl harbor the day before the big premiere . driven by a sense of national obligation , the jefferson secession was put aside and never really regained momentum . while the official movement might have died out , the residents of this region still hold the concept in their hearts , with many identifying themselves even today as the population of the great state of jefferson . 7 . the mcdonald territory noel , missouri , located in mcdonald county in the far southwest corner of the show me state , has been a popular tourist destination for many years . therefore , when the missouri state highway commission left noel off their annual family vacationland ' map in 1961 , the region was not happy pleased . to display their dissatisfaction , mcdonald county drew up papers of secession and presented them to the state legislature , declaring itself the independent mcdonald territory . the county went so far as to elect officials , form a territorial militia , and even printed up visas that were issued to visitors so they could travel throughout the territory . perhaps the most lasting impression were the thousands of mcdonald territory stamps that were printed and sold throughout the area . while most agree that the secession was done purely for publicity , the state of missouri was n't necessarily happy about the type of publicity it was garnering . so in order to end this mock rebellion , the state declared that state employee retirement pension payments would be suspended for mcdonald county , all current state employees would be fired , and all state funding would be withheld . needless to say , mcdonald territory surrendered and returned to being simply mcdonald county , missouri , once again . and here 's one more secessionist movement that 's been in the news this year . from 1995 to 2002 ( except for a few months in 2000 ) , alaska 's first dude todd palin was a member of the alaska independence party . fellow mental floss writer jeff fleischer has the story on the aip : 8 . alaska for decades , a well-organized separatist movement has campaigned to turn america 's largest state into its own nation . the bitterness dates back to 1958 , when alaska 's citizens were given a simple yes-or-no vote on statehood . many alaskans felt they were denied more options on the issue , prompting a land developer named joe vogler to organize a re-vote that would offer alaskans four possibilities -- remain a territory , become a state , take commonwealth status , or become a separate nation . using the vote as his platform , vogler ran for governor in 1974 -- and soon made a habit of it . with colorful slogans such as , i 'm an alaskan , not an american . i 've got no use for america or her damned institutions , ' vogler spearheaded the alaskan independence party ( aip ) , and his campaign has twice topped 5 percent of the vote . mental floss : nine modern-day independence movements more surprisingly , former u.s. interior secretary wally hickel got elected governor on the aip ticket in 1990 . unfortunately for the party , hickel only ran on the ticket because he lost the republican primary . never a supporter of the plebiscite idea , hickel left the aip and rejoined the republicans in 1994 . today , the aip continues to draw about 4 percent of voters statewide . and in 2006 , alaska took part in the first-ever north american secessionist convention , joining other groups from vermont , hawaii , and the south . as for vogler , he was murdered in 1993 -- reportedly the result of an argument over a business deal . on a brighter note , honoring his wish to never be buried in u.s. soil , vogler was laid to rest in canada 's yukon territory . for more mental_floss articles , visit mentalfloss.com entire contents of this article copyright , mental floss llc . all rights reserved . | northern california and southern oregon have been trying to merge since 1852 |
cambodia <tsp> ( cnn ) -- today 's hotel bathrooms are more than the sum of their sinks and shower heads . they serve as ultimate sanctuaries , providing the comforts of home or transporting guests to another realm . we 're seeing more attention to details , ' says kathleen dauber , a partner at hirsch bedner associates , the world 's largest hotel-design company . in addition to technological innovations , such as tv screens that turn into mirrors when you approach them , dauber sees a trend of pulling back on furnishings to make way for open areas . space is luxury , ' she says . fresh air and natural light are prized commodities , as are stunning views of skylines or natural landscapes . fragmentation of areas within the room according to function is popular , such as separating the salle de bain from the toilet . and curating regional aesthetics and incorporating interesting materials is also top of mind ; local supplies and recycled construction resources are layered with classically opulent stone , glass , wood and other substances . here are ten hotel bathrooms that cohesively balance utility and beauty . song saa , cambodia song saa , on a private island in southern cambodia , has generous terrazzo composite-stone bathtubs placed strategically to afford views of each room 's individual infinity pool and the gulf of thailand . playing to its natural setting , the property created its rustic-chic vanities from driftwood and recycled timbers and incorporated sustainable materials like bamboo into items such as the towel rails . the wooden statues from the hill tribes of the ratanakiri province in northern cambodia provide a local touch that counterbalances the australian aesop body products . rooms start at $ 1,117 ( all-inclusive ) . park hyatt vienna opened in june , park hyatt vienna has a presidential suite that comes with a grand marble bathroom containing a striking lapis lazuli wall and a walk-in rain shower . but the real showstopper is the gilded bath , reminiscent of the sensual paintings of hometown artist gustav klimt . illuminated by a tiered chandelier , the golden vessel turns the everyday act of bathing into an artistic ritual . rooms start at $ 510 . departures : hotels with gorgeous views 21c cincinnati as the name suggests , 21c museum hotels mixes boutique accommodations with stupendous collections of contemporary art under one roof . its 156-room cincinnati property married designs by starchitect deborah berke with local craftsmanship : it commissioned rookwood pottery , the city 's heritage ceramic producer whose roots date back to 1880 , to manufacture berke 's whimsical bathroom tiles that mimic ears , lips , breasts and other body parts . the result is an elegantly simple bathroom with bright white interiors that , upon closer inspection , surprises with cheeky twists . rooms start at $ 300 . andaz peninsula papagayo resort , costa rica designed by local talent ronald zurcher , this costa rican retreat engages with its natural surroundings and local traditions . the bathroom 's spacious walk-in rain shower opens to the balcony , effortlessly bringing in the pristine costa rican outdoors . the floors feature rocks and pebbles from the area and textiles and artifacts from local artisans , paying homage to the folk traditions of the guanacaste province . rooms start at $ 450 . departures : signature hotel desserts four seasons resort langkawi situated inside a unesco geopark of rainforests and dramatic cliffs , the 91 pavilions and villas of four seasons resort langkawi blend malay , arabic and south asian architectural styles†” and nowhere is the beautiful mã©lange more evident than in its guest bathrooms . featuring soaring arches , bright skylights and outdoor soaking tubs in private gardens , the little personal spas incorporate arabic flourishes , malay artifacts , ornate wooden screens and handcrafted hanging mirrors finished with antique patinas . rooms start at $ 540 . the viceroy , new york in suite 57 , the penthouse crown jewel of new york 's viceroy hotel , paonazzo marble is used so generously that even the oversized soaking tub is made of the classic material that was favored among designers in the early 20th century . drawing from the luxurious design elements of the hotel lobby and the suite itself , the master bathroom features an original collection of lighting fixtures and hand-perforated brass hardware . a highlight ? the sweeping views of central park from the sprawling dual shower . $ 5,500 a night . departures : lush hotel patios and gardens the ritz-carlton , bahrain hotel & spa at the ritz-carlton , bahrain hotel & spa , you may be drawn to the walk-in power showers by jacob delafon of paris or the overflow infinity-style jacuzzi from kohler or the glass walls overlooking a sun-soaked garden . but it 's the subtle touches that really delight , such as the discreet palm-leaf motif that is embossed in a gypsum frieze around the room and is visible when illuminated at night . rooms start at $ 280 . point yamu by como , phuket , thailand paola navone designed point yamu by como , which is slated to open in september . the bathrooms in the bay suites combine deep-blue tiles , clean lines , hanging light fixtures and varied textures to create a vibrant atmosphere . made with 95 percent local resources , including natural wood , the ceramic-intense rooms make a bold , clean statement with touches of nature . bay suites start at $ 280 . departures : the hotel suites to book in new york the oberoi , dubai the executive chairman of the oberoi group was directly involved in designing every detail of its dubai outpost . employing uncluttered lines and classic marble , the guest bathrooms demonstrate sophisticated restraint . the most notable features is the floor-to-ceiling windows that display breathtaking uninterrupted views of the dubai skyline , including the old city and the iconic burj khalifa . rooms start at $ 790 . hoshino resorts kai aso , japan bathing in hot-spring water is an essential part of staying at a ryokan , a japanese inn , and hoshino resorts kai aso , at the foothills of an active volcano , updates the cleansing ritual to new heights . every villa on the six-and-a-half-acre property is equipped with a private outdoor tub on a terrace that juts into the surrounding verdant forest , allowing guests to poach mineral-rich volcanic water from the mountains . unspoiled air , natural light , infinite space and breathtaking views : some traditions deserve to be trendy . rooms start at $ 770 ( including breakfast and kaiseki dinner ) . departures : airport spas © 2010 american express publishing corporation . all rights reserved . | song saa island in cambodia offers stone bathtubs with a view of the gulf of thailand |
obama <tsp> washington ( cnn ) -- in rural southern virginia , 14-term democratic rep. rick boucher says he 's never had an election enemy quite like the ones he 's facing this year . its not his opponent , but instead it 's what he calls a shadowy ' group that is funding television ads against him . rick boucher is trying to deceive you ... boucher has failed to protect our jobs . now it 's time rick boucher loses his , ' the ad 's narrator says . the 30-second commercial was paid for by americans for job security , a conservative-leaning group which , according to the nonpartisan watchdog group opensecrets.org , has spent nearly $ 8 million against democratic candidates nationwide . on its website , americans for jobs security states that its members are businesses , business leaders and entrepreneurs from around the country , ' but blatantly states it will not disclose the names of its individual members or donors . boucher , who says he 's spent $ 300,000 of his campaign funds to counter the ad , rails against the secretive nature of the organization . we have no idea who these individuals are , ' boucher said . it could be someone who has a corporate identity in the united states . it could be a very wealthy individual who has some grudge against me and is putting this advertisement on the air as a consequence . ' americans for job security identifies itself on its website as a 501 ( c ) ( 6 ) business league . that 's a tax status for a nonprofit operation that can be involved in politics but not as its primary purpose . this particular tax status also means it does not have to disclose its donors . read irs regulations on 501 ( c ) ( 6 ) business leagues groups such as americans for job security are outside the democratic and republican parties and are likely benefiting from a supreme court decision earlier this year . that ruling , made on free speech grounds , allows corporations and unions to spend unlimited money to help defeat or promote candidates . that means even watchdog groups that track money flowing through elections ca n't find out who funds the groups . when you 're just trying to figure out who is truly behind that television message that you 're seeing on tv , you do n't know who 's behind it , and that makes it more difficult as a voter to actually have the requisite information to go into the voting booth and make an informed choice , ' said dave levinthal of opensecrets.org . republican sources have told cnn that americans for job security has only one full-time employee , steve demaura . his office is in alexandria , virginia , across the potomac river from washington . cnn left multiple phone messages for demaura , but he did not return the calls . conservative-leaning outside groups have already spent $ 121.6 million this election season compared with $ 79.1 million spent by liberal-leaning outside groups , according to opensecrets.org . another conservative group , americans for prosperity , expects to raise and spend about $ 35 million this election . we simply educate the public , ' said tim phillips , the group 's president . part of that money is funding a television ad running in colorado targeting first-term democratic rep. betsy markey , which says , to small businesses , betsy markey is the same as nancy pelosi . ' who are americans for prosperity 's donors ? the texas billionaire koch brothers are the group 's founders and give significant dollars . but besides them , it 's unclear . phillips also makes no apologies for not revealing donors . most of it is private individuals , but we 're glad to have their support and we do tell them ,'look we 're going to protect your privacy as the law allows us to do .' president obama has made it a regular practice lately to call out americans for prosperity by name in his effort to attack outside groups for spending tens of millions against democrats without disclosing donors . they are now allowed to spend as much as they want , unlimited amounts of money , and they do n't have to reveal who is paying for these ads , ' obama said at a recent democratic fundraiser . millions of dollars being spent by groups with harmless-sounding names , americans for prosperity , the committee for truth in politics , or moms for motherhood . ' phillips said the president 's attacks have actually helped americans for prosperity raise more money . if the president wants to use us as a punching bag , let him , ' he said . it does help funding , and it helps generate new grassroots support . ' despite tough talk from obama targeting republican-backed outside groups , it 's a mutual election-year undertaking . democrats have their own groups supporting them , such as defenders of wildlife action fund and citizens for strength and security action fund , which are not disclosing their donors . in new mexico , where former rep. steve pearce is running for his old seat , defenders of wildlife action fund is running an ad against him . as eerie music plays in the background the narrator says , congressman steve pearce , named one of the most corrupt members of congress . ' in washington state , citizens for strength and security action fund is running an ad promoting democratic sen. patty murray . and democrats have smaller outside groups aimed at getting democratic voters to the polls . our community votes was originally started by veteran union strategist steve rosenthal . this year , according to an official familiar with the organization , it is running programs in missouri , maryland and pennsylvania to encourage democratic voters to go the polls . they 're targeting african-american voters and drop-off voters , ' those who went to the polls for obama in 2008 but may not be likely to return for this year 's midterm election . our community votes is yet another democratic group that does not disclose its donors . democrats are also using a new weapon in the big money game of politics : the super pac . super pacs work independently of candidates . unlike regular political action committees , they can raise and spend unlimited money to try to defeat or promote candidates . but super pacs must disclose their donors . patriot majority is one of the biggest of these new groups , and it is concentrating its efforts in nevada , spending at least $ 5 million so far on ads against senate majority leader harry reid 's opponent , republican sharron angle . the television ad 's narrator begins , for a victim of rape or incest , sharron angle would force her to have the baby . ' the ad then plays audio of angle . two wrongs do n't make a right . ' craig varoga , a longtime democratic strategist who runs patriot majority , told cnn his group will significantly step up spending in the final three weeks before the election . varoga expects to raise and spend as much as $ 10 million on the reid race and other key democratic races around the country . varoga says his group is funded mostly by labor unions , in-state individual supporters and nonunion progressive groups , but he did not provide the names of these groups . watchdog organizations say transparency is still a problem with these groups . they do n't have to do it [ reveal donors ] in real time , ' said levinthal of opensecrets.org . if they put a television ad up , there 's no disclaimer at the end of the advertisement saying that this ad was paid for by these different corporations or these different unions . in fact , since patriot majority raised most of its money in the past few months , recent federal election commission filings do n't reveal the majority of its donors . patriot majority 's third quarter fec filing is due this week -- three weeks before the election -- and will list the more recent donors . ' varoga laments that democrats are lagging behind republican efforts to use these new political identities to raise large sums of money . they are goliath , and we are david , ' he said . we are fighting back , and we 're going to use the slingshot that we have in order to fight this fight . ' another super pac is american families first action fund . it 's an outside group organized primarily by a democratic insider , who once headed up democratic party efforts to elect members to congress . he helped start the group five weeks ago to compete with republicans . and although american families first action fund is required to disclose who funds it , cnn is told that the group itself was one of the secret donors to the defenders of wildlife action fund in its ad against pearce . it is a hard trail to follow , which underscores the point that democrats , too , are trying to play carefully in what the president calls a shadowy world . in fact , while american families first action fund may be a super pac that must disclose its donors , it has a sister organization , americans families fund inc. , which does not . multiple democratic sources tell cnn there is great frustration in some democratic circles with the president 's attacks on republican groups . these sources say the president has made it harder to persuade democratic donors to contribute to their outside groups , which for better or worse , are emerging as significant players in this year 's election . | president obama has attacked groups for spending millions without disclosing donors |
foreign policy magazine <tsp> ( cnn ) -- at least 510 people were killed in caracas , venezuela , in december , giving support to a recent report that called the city the murder capital of the world . a chalk message reads no more murders as a student protests killings in caracas in this file photo . it 's against that backdrop that the country 's minister for interior relations and justice announced efforts this week to combat crime in 2009 . minister tareck el aissami said monday he will form 50 community police units in caracas and take other measures so that we can have in a short time a culture of peace , tranquility and calm for all the venezuelan public . ' by all accounts , it will be a tall order . foreign policy magazine said in september that caracas tops the list of five murder capitals of the world , with an official tally of 130 homicides per 100,000 residents . the city , which is venezuela 's capital , has about 4 million inhabitants . foreign policy is owned by the washington post co. and published by the carnegie endowment for international peace . the united states made the magazine 's top five , too , with new orleans , louisiana coming in at no . 3 . its murder rate is estimated as 67 per 100,000 by its police department and 95 per 100,000 by the fbi . still , the rate in caracas comes in far ahead of the following four murderous capitals . caracas has become far more dangerous in recent years than any south american city , even beating out the once notorious bogota , [ colombia ] , ' foreign policy said . what 's worse , the city 's official homicide statistics likely fall short of the mark because they omit prison-related murders as well as deaths that the state never gets around to properly'categorizing .' the numbers also do n't count those who died while'resisting arrest ,'suggesting that caracas'cops -- already known for their brutality against student protesters -- might be cooking the books , ' the magazine said . cnn affiliate globovision tv reported this week that officials reported 510 killings in caracas this month , capping a particularly brutal year . it 's shocking , ' said jennifer mccoy , director of the americas program at the carter center in atlanta . it 's the biggest concern of the population -- crime and security . ' federico welsch , a political science professor at la universidad de simon bolivar in caracas for 25 years , has seen that crime up close . violence is the major problem for venezuelans , according to any source you use , ' welsch told cnn on tuesday . it 's doubly sad because , primarily , the deaths occur almost exclusively in the poor sectors , and , secondarily , it 's among youth under 30 years old . ' mccoy points out that the killings are basically poor on poor . ' from the 1970s to the 1990s , the poverty rate nearly tripled , from 25 percent to 65 percent , mccoy said . even though the poverty rate declined during the oil boom that started in the 1990s , she said , the rate remains high . it 's a combination of economic-driven crime ... with other types of gangs , to police abuse , ' mccoy said . the police are not properly trained and not properly equipped . ' anti-crime efforts in caracas also suffered , she said , when the national government took over the city 's police force in 2002 . there has been trouble getting the police force back to par , ' she said . welsch said he doubts the anti-crime measures el aissami announced monday will work . you ca n't resolve this problem with police , ' welsch said . the government is co-responsible for there being so many firearms . there is no good gun control , there are no permits and there is no good control over the militias . ' the problem , welsch and mccoy said , transcends the drug trade and gang battles . you do n't have the guerrilla problems , ' mccoy said . you do n't have drug cartels . you do n't have a large mafia . ' welsch lays much of the blame on the 10-year-old government of socialist president hugo chavez . the government discourse , ' he said , is that if you are lacking something it is because of injustice . then look for it , take it away from those who have it . you can obtain justice with your own hands . ' the magazine lists , in descending order , caracas ; cape town , south africa ; new orleans ; moscow , russia ; and port moresby , papua new guinea , as the top five murder capitals in the world . | foreign policy magazine names caracas , venezuela , the murder capital of the world |
russia <tsp> a top european union official said saturday that new sanctions will be proposed within a week against russia over its actions in ukraine , but ukrainian president petro poroshenko sounded like he ca n't wait that long . i think we are very close to the point of no return , ' poroshenko said saturday following an eu summit in brussels . the point of no return is full-scale war , which already happened in the territory controlled by separatists and where -- instead of separatists -- there are regular russian troops . ' poroshenko said the situation had worsened in the last few days and that thousands of foreign troops and hundreds of foreign tanks are now on ukrainian territory . russia has repeatedly denied either supporting the rebels or sending its own troops over the border . but those assertions have been roundly rejected by the west . european council president herman van rompuy , speaking at the summit , said new sanctions will be proposed . the european council says that it stands ready to take further significant steps in the light of the evolution of the situation on the ground and it requests the commission to urgently undertake preparatory work ... and present proposals for consideration within a week , ' rompuy said . russian president vladimir putin appeared defiant in the face of a chorus of western condemnation over what nato says is clear evidence of russian military aggression in ukraine . moscow does n't want or intend to wade into any large-scale conflicts , ' putin said friday at a youth forum , state-run itar-tass reported . a few breaths later , he made the point that russia is strengthening our nuclear deterrence forces and our armed forces , ' making them more efficient and modernized . i want to remind you that russia is one of the most powerful nuclear nations , ' the president said . this is a reality , not just words . ' german chancellor angela merkel and u.s. president barack obama agreed in a phone call thursday that they would have to consider tougher action against russia . the european union and the united states have already slapped economic sanctions on targeted russian individuals and businesses . the union also has sanctioned certain sectors of the russian economy , prompting russia to retaliate with its own measures . port city fortifies the ukrainian military worked to fortify the port city of mariupol after russian intelligence groups were observed there , col. andriy lysenko , spokesman for the ukrainian national defense and security council , said saturday . a cnn team saw ukrainian forces strengthening defensive positions on the eastern outskirts of the city , reinforcing checkpoints and digging trenches along roads leading toward the russian border . beyond these checkpoints , the team found a small advance detachment of ukrainian troops on the main road about halfway between mariupol and novoazovsk . the soldiers said it had been quiet saturday . the cnn team encountered the first pro-russian rebel roadblock a short distance outside novoazovsk , about 12 miles ( 20 kilometers ) from the russian border , with concrete blocks across the road and a heavy machine gun among the weaponry . a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun was among the weapons at the roadblock . the fighters would not allow the cnn team to pass through but said they should come back tomorrow . ' there is a large stretch of territory east of mariupol , some 15-30 kilometers wide depending on location , that is occupied by neither ukrainian forces nor pro-russian fighters . in the villages between the two front lines ' there are no signs of damage . some stores are open and there is some civilian traffic on the roads . long queues have formed at one checkpoint out of mariupol as people from rural areas try to get in and out of the city . denials'without credibility' russia annexed ukraine 's crimean peninsula in march , following the ouster of pro-moscow president viktor yanukovych the previous month . violence broke out in the eastern donetsk and luhansk regions in april , as separatist leaders declared independence from the government in kiev . since mid-april , the conflict between the pro-russia rebels and the ukrainian military has cost more than 2,500 lives , according to the united nations . white house spokesman josh earnest said friday that -- whatever the kremlin says -- the reality is russian troops are inside ukraine and have fired on ukrainian military positions . see the nato satellite images in response , foreign minister sergey lavrov said nato had previously used images from computer games ' to -- in his view -- falsely make the case that russian troops are in ukraine , and said the latest accusations are pretty similar . ' | european union leader : more sanctions against russia to be considered |
jordan <tsp> ( cnn ) -- the protests that have spread through parts of the arab world led to dramatic change in another country tuesday , as jordan 's king dismissed his government . king abdullah ii made the decision following protests in recent weeks in which several thousand people demanded economic and political reforms . experts on the region said tuesday abdullah 's decision was aimed at warding off larger-scale demonstrations in the wake of the huge protests in tunisia and egypt . the tunisia protests , which began the movement , toppled that country 's government . in egypt , president hosni mubarak has fired his cabinet , but protesters in massive demonstrations continue to call for his ouster . the protests -- which have also caught on to various extents in algeria , yemen , and sudan -- have proved to be a real watershed event for the arab world , ' said blake hounshell , managing editor of foreign policy magazine . it 's really unprecedented . ' there was a series of protests in arab nations in the 1950s , but those were prompted by an ideology of pan-arabism in a post-colonial world , said emile hokayem , with the international institute for strategic studies . a 2005 uprising in lebanon was about independence and ousting syria . while it was successful , the revolution 's message was not one that other nations associated with , he said . it 's different this time . people are standing up for their economic rights , their dignity . it 's very different , ' said hokayem . ibrahim sharqieh of the brookings institution said there 's a whole new mind-set . the tunisian uprising has caused change in the attitude and behavior of ordinary arab citizens -- and today we are witnessing the emergence of a can-do nation attitude , ' he explained . economic concerns have fueled the protests across the region . at a speech tuesday in singapore , dominique strauss-kahn , managing director of the international monetary fund , said the need for action against unemployment was a strong undercurrent of the political turmoil in tunisia , and of rising social strains in other countries , ' according to his prepared remarks . arab leaders have been getting the message , hokayem said , noting an article in the wall street journal in which syrian president bashar al-assad said leaders must see the need of reform ' before protests like those in egypt and tunisia break out , because by then it 's too late to do any reform . ' abdullah 's decision and assad 's remarks are preventive moves , ' said hokayem . hounshell noted that the jordanian king has sacked his government before in recent years . but in the context of what 's happening now , it 's going to be seen as a way to get ahead of these protests . ' when the tunisia protests proved successful at first , many analysts still doubted a domino theory ' would play out through the middle east , said hokayem , because each nation has a different structure , population , and set of challenges . but right now , it seems like it 's a possibility . so i think governments are trying to prevent what could be copycat movements in the region . ' the level of solidarity in the arab world has come as a surprise to some experts , said hokayem . but it 's a matter of psychology at this point . people feel that there is an overture , and they want to push , want to do it . ' still , there are key differences . i still think that monarchies have an edge in terms of legitimacy , ' hokayem said . tunisia , egypt , and yemen are officially republics , and leaders were gearing up for successions by bringing their children to power , sparking fury and frustration in an underserved population . in gulf state monarchies , such as jordan and saudi arabia , uprisings that threaten the government are less likely , ' said hounshell . but i would n't rule it out . ' the united states views egypt , jordan , and saudi arabia as key allies in the region . the saudi kingdom has been stable for decades . if saudi arabia starts to see popular protests , ' said hounshell , then you 're really going to see people in washington freak out . ' it remains unclear how far the change in any of these countries might go . in jordan , whether the king will regain support from protesters by dismissing his government is a million dollar question , ' said hounshell . | whether jordan 's king will gain support is a million dollar question ' |
andreas lubitz <tsp> ( cnn ) most airline pilots have an above average ability to compartmentalize personal problems . the cockpit is our safe ' place . the flight deck is a structured world of black and white . checklists . procedures . standardization . stress from the job is an accepted part of our career . however , sometimes during the course of an airline pilot 's career , or anyone 's career for that matter , stress issues may manifest as depression . depression is treatable . and for airline pilots , it is no longer debilitating to our livelihood . the federal aviation administration now approves certain prescribed medication , allowing us to continue flying until depression is no longer a factor . as the world learns more about andreas lubitz , the co-pilot on germanwings flight 9525 , it is readily apparent that this young man had psychiatric issues far beyond clinical depression . he reportedly was administered a series of injections to mitigate his problems , an absolute reflection on the serious nature of his illness . but lubitz 's illness did n't just appear out of thin air . its effects had to be apparent to others . lubitz 's girlfriend made her concerns public knowledge -- unfortunately after events took their course . considering the hoops lubitz had to jump through to have established himself as a germanwings co-pilot , it 's curious to me how the red flags of his illness were missed . to what hoops am i referring ? first , let 's start with his passion for gliders . glider flying is one of the purest forms of aviation . although it is mostly an individualistic endeavor , the sport involves teamwork . interaction among fellow enthusiasts is paramount to both enjoyment and safety . i 'm a glider pilot . participation among the members of my club uncovers the personalities and idiosyncrasies of each pilot . behaviors not quite conducive to the activity are readily apparent . second , lubitz had to compete successfully in a selection process just to have the opportunity to train through lufthansa 's flight program , a requirement of germanwings employment . the selection process is most likely highly competitive , requiring above-average aptitude . is the selection process flawed to the extent that a serious mental disorder would go unnoticed ? regardless , the process had to be a stressful experience . opinion : germanwings and the stigma of mental illness once accepted into the flight program , a rigorous training period began . for primary training , lufthansa utilizes an ab initio ( from the beginning ) program based at a facility the airline owns in goodyear , arizona , near phoenix . the training is geared toward a multi-crew pilot license , or mpl , recognized by the international civil aviation organization . the purpose of an mpl is to funnel airline pilot candidates having little or no flight time into the right seat as first officers . countries that do n't have the luxury of selecting from a large pool of experienced pilots use this license . airline pilots in the united states are not licensed in this manner , requiring as much as 1,500 hours to qualify as a co-pilot . this is a fairly recent change in faa regulations , initiated as a result of the 2009 colgan airlines crash in buffalo , new york . lubitz had barely over 600 hours of flight time when he committed his act of horror . as a 21-year-old flight instructor , i had that much flight time ; it hardly qualified as a lot of experience . as with all of the mpl programs , the training involves an intense period of airline-specific instruction . and to add insult to injury , candidates are not paid during the training until such time as they pass a final check ride . regardless , the cost is borne by the student to the tune of about $ 76,000 . using both actual flight experience in a single-engine airplane and simulator time , the student receives about 250 hours of training . it is a period of almost constant supervision . aside from observing and checking performance criteria , would n't at least one instructor have noticed behavioral issues in such an intense environment ? and would n't a fellow trainee have noticed also ? according to reports , lubitz took a leave from his training -- a very untypical behavior . was that not in and of itself a red flag ? would n't a manager in lufthansa 's flight department consider it prudent to reconsider a candidate with an indication of potential issues ? after all , the selection process was most likely highly competitive , with other qualified candidates readily available . once the primary training in arizona was complete , lubitz would have returned to germany and completed more specific schooling on the airbus a320 he was about to fly . again , no one observed issues . but even more curious , according to reports , lubitz disclosed a diagnosis of previous depression to lufthansa . over the course of a career , an airline pilot spends thousands of hours sharing the confined space of the cockpit with colleagues . even if we have never flown with a particular individual , experience allows us the intuition to know when something is n't quite right . that determination can be made through performance observation of typical routines , or perhaps through a simple conversation . in that regard , i find it difficult to believe that none of lubitz 's colleagues made a less than positive assessment at some point in time . as supplemental background , germanwings had been established as the low-cost , alter ego carrier of lufthansa . depending upon a pilot 's monthly flight time , salary for pilots can be as much as 20 % lower than the mainline carrier . in addition , more days on duty were part of a germanwings crew member 's schedule . apparently as late as march 20 , lufthansa pilots had been on strike , one of the main disputes being an early retirement option and less desirable working conditions for new hires . perhaps enough of a disparity existed for germanwings pilots such that medical leave benefits would not have covered lubitz 's absence . regardless , all of these factors combined to add a perfect storm of stress to one sick 27-year-old man . the world knows the end result . it just seems to me that this was an accident waiting to happen . could it have been prevented ? well , this is the primary purpose of accident investigation : never allow the same tragedy to occur again . | he says andreas lubitz had to go through many challenges to qualify to be a co-pilot |
anaheim ducks <tsp> ( cnn ) -- a jewish hockey player sued the national hockey league 's anaheim ducks on tuesday , claiming that coaches of one of its affiliate teams subjected him to harassment and anti-semitic remarks . jason bailey , 23 , is seeking unspecified damages in the action filed in orange county ( california ) superior court against the ducks , the bakersfield condors and coaches martin raymond and mark pederson . sorry , we ca n't comment , ' said alex gilchrist , director of media and communications for the ducks . according to the complaint , bailey endured a barrage of anti-semitic , offensive and degrading verbal attacks regarding his jewish faith ' from raymond , head coach of the condors . raymond , according to the lawsuit , would say , they ( referring to jews )'only care about money and who 's who .' it also claims that raymond said he never wanted his son to be raised jewish or to wear a yarmulke . ' assistant head coach pederson made anti-semitic remarks about bailey , the suit alleges , including , well , i do n't know if we can trust him with the money ; he 's jewish . ' bailey , who was drafted in 2005 by the ducks but has not played in the nhl , was rarely given ice time and was not provided with resources that were fully available to the hockey players who were not jewish , ' he argues . according to the lawsuit , bailey in 2009 complained to the bakersfield coaches about the anti-semitic hostile work environment ' and spoke to anaheim ducks assistant general manager david mcnab , who told him the organization found his complaints unbelievable . ' bailey was sent to the iowa chops , where he got no playing time , the athlete contends . the ducks tried to send him to the central hockey league , but when he claimed the move would be a breach of his contract , the team backed down and suspended raymond and pederson briefly and told them to write apology letters , the lawsuit states . bailey claims the letters were insincere . in one , pederson allegedly wrote , i guess i never stopped to think about the impact my statement would have on you or how it would make you feel . it was not intended to insult or hurt in you in any way , but it did , and for that i am truly sorry . ' a letter from raymond states , as a french-canadian , i too have come face-to-face with bigotry and understand how such remarks can negatively affect lives . ' he wrote that he no longer would continue the behavior , according to the lawsuit . the lawsuit contends that bailey was the victim of religious discrimination , harassment based on religion , intentional infliction of emotional distress and retaliation . it claims he lost income , benefits and suffered humiliation . bailey , who was traded , now plays right wing for the binghamton senators , a farm team for the ottawa senators . the ottawa senators hockey club does not comment on legal matters regarding members of its organization and those under contract , ' said phil legault , vice president for communications . cnn 's alfonso savage contributed to this report | hockey player files lawsuit against anaheim ducks , farm team |
italian <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- italian football manager carlo ancelotti has gone from milan to london in less than a day . carlo ancelotti will take over as manager of chelsea from july 1 this year . just 24 hours after resigning from his highly-successful eight-year stint at italy 's ac milan , he has been announced as the new manager of english premier league club chelsea -- replacing temporary manager guus hiddink . chelsea , who won the fa cup at the weekend , were looking for a permanent manager for the start of next season -- and ancelotti has been signed on a three-year deal to the west-london club . a statement on chelsea 's web site read : carlo was the outstanding candidate for the job . he has proved over a long period his ability to build teams that challenged for , and have been successful in , major domestic and european competitions . ' ancelotti , who turns 50 next week , has been in management since 1995 , when he took charge of italian serie b club reggiana . although he only spent one season at reggiana , he managed to earn them promotion to the top-flight serie a league . since then he has managed parma and juventus , before taking on the san siro-based giants ac milan . is ancelotti 's appointment the right move for chelsea ? tell us in the sound off box below . as a manager he has enjoyed plenty of success , particularly in his time at the rossoneri . he steered milan to the coppa italia in 2003 , the serie a title in 2003 -- 04 , the uefa champions league in both 2002 -- 03 and 2006 -- 07 , the uefa super cup in 2003 and 2007 and the fifa club world cup crown in 2007 . before entering management , ancelotti had a significant playing career as a midfielder with as roma and ac milan . during his time at both clubs he amassed three serie a titles , two european cups , and he also won the coppa italia four times with roma . he is one of only six people to ever win the champions league as both a player and manager -- a list which includes current barcelona manager and this year 's winner , josep guardiola . ancelotti also represented italy on 26 occasions , scoring once . he played in the 1986 and 1990 world cups alongside players such as roberto mancini and the recently-retired paolo maldini . despite his management success at ac milan , it has been widely reported that his relationship with the club 's owner , silvio berlusconi , has not been strong in 2009 . he takes over at chelsea as the permanent replacement for luiz felipe scolari , although guus hiddink has been in charge since scolari was sacked from stamford bridge in february . | the italian previously represented his country as a player , scoring one goal |
italian <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- italian football manager carlo ancelotti has gone from milan to london in less than a day . carlo ancelotti will take over as manager of chelsea from july 1 this year . just 24 hours after resigning from his highly-successful eight-year stint at italy 's ac milan , he has been announced as the new manager of english premier league club chelsea -- replacing temporary manager guus hiddink . chelsea , who won the fa cup at the weekend , were looking for a permanent manager for the start of next season -- and ancelotti has been signed on a three-year deal to the west-london club . a statement on chelsea 's web site read : carlo was the outstanding candidate for the job . he has proved over a long period his ability to build teams that challenged for , and have been successful in , major domestic and european competitions . ' ancelotti , who turns 50 next week , has been in management since 1995 , when he took charge of italian serie b club reggiana . although he only spent one season at reggiana , he managed to earn them promotion to the top-flight serie a league . since then he has managed parma and juventus , before taking on the san siro-based giants ac milan . is ancelotti 's appointment the right move for chelsea ? tell us in the sound off box below . as a manager he has enjoyed plenty of success , particularly in his time at the rossoneri . he steered milan to the coppa italia in 2003 , the serie a title in 2003 -- 04 , the uefa champions league in both 2002 -- 03 and 2006 -- 07 , the uefa super cup in 2003 and 2007 and the fifa club world cup crown in 2007 . before entering management , ancelotti had a significant playing career as a midfielder with as roma and ac milan . during his time at both clubs he amassed three serie a titles , two european cups , and he also won the coppa italia four times with roma . he is one of only six people to ever win the champions league as both a player and manager -- a list which includes current barcelona manager and this year 's winner , josep guardiola . ancelotti also represented italy on 26 occasions , scoring once . he played in the 1986 and 1990 world cups alongside players such as roberto mancini and the recently-retired paolo maldini . despite his management success at ac milan , it has been widely reported that his relationship with the club 's owner , silvio berlusconi , has not been strong in 2009 . he takes over at chelsea as the permanent replacement for luiz felipe scolari , although guus hiddink has been in charge since scolari was sacked from stamford bridge in february . | ancelotti has been in charge of italian giants ac milan for the past eight years |
italian <tsp> london , england ( cnn ) -- italian football manager carlo ancelotti has gone from milan to london in less than a day . carlo ancelotti will take over as manager of chelsea from july 1 this year . just 24 hours after resigning from his highly-successful eight-year stint at italy 's ac milan , he has been announced as the new manager of english premier league club chelsea -- replacing temporary manager guus hiddink . chelsea , who won the fa cup at the weekend , were looking for a permanent manager for the start of next season -- and ancelotti has been signed on a three-year deal to the west-london club . a statement on chelsea 's web site read : carlo was the outstanding candidate for the job . he has proved over a long period his ability to build teams that challenged for , and have been successful in , major domestic and european competitions . ' ancelotti , who turns 50 next week , has been in management since 1995 , when he took charge of italian serie b club reggiana . although he only spent one season at reggiana , he managed to earn them promotion to the top-flight serie a league . since then he has managed parma and juventus , before taking on the san siro-based giants ac milan . is ancelotti 's appointment the right move for chelsea ? tell us in the sound off box below . as a manager he has enjoyed plenty of success , particularly in his time at the rossoneri . he steered milan to the coppa italia in 2003 , the serie a title in 2003 -- 04 , the uefa champions league in both 2002 -- 03 and 2006 -- 07 , the uefa super cup in 2003 and 2007 and the fifa club world cup crown in 2007 . before entering management , ancelotti had a significant playing career as a midfielder with as roma and ac milan . during his time at both clubs he amassed three serie a titles , two european cups , and he also won the coppa italia four times with roma . he is one of only six people to ever win the champions league as both a player and manager -- a list which includes current barcelona manager and this year 's winner , josep guardiola . ancelotti also represented italy on 26 occasions , scoring once . he played in the 1986 and 1990 world cups alongside players such as roberto mancini and the recently-retired paolo maldini . despite his management success at ac milan , it has been widely reported that his relationship with the club 's owner , silvio berlusconi , has not been strong in 2009 . he takes over at chelsea as the permanent replacement for luiz felipe scolari , although guus hiddink has been in charge since scolari was sacked from stamford bridge in february . | as a manager , ancelotti has enjoyed multiple italian and european successes |
colorado <tsp> los angeles ( cnn ) -- brooke mueller has reconsidered her decision to undergo at-home drug rehab . instead , charlie sheen 's ex-wife has checked into an in-patient treatment center , her spokesman said tuesday . mueller was arrested in aspen , colorado , on december 3 and charged with assault and cocaine possession , police said . mueller 's publicist told cnn monday that she would take a different approach to deal with her addiction ' with a daytime rehab program and around-the-clock supervision at home . after further reflection and consideration , brooke has decided to remove herself from the media spotlight and has entered a long-term in-patient treatment center where she can focus on her recovery without distraction , ' spokesman steve honig said tuesday . mueller , 34 , checked into the rehab facility before the announcement was made , he said . brooke 's goal is to maintain her sobriety and she believes this is the best option to reach that goal , ' honig said . the 2-year-old twin sons she shares with sheen will remain in their home and familiar surroundings and be under the care of their longtime nanny , ' he said . charlie and brooke 's parents fully support her decision and everyone recognizes the importance of maintaining the children 's normal routine , ' he said . the incidents in aspen began when a woman at the belly up -- a bar and performance venue there -- complained that mueller had been the aggressor ' in an assault , aspen police said . mueller was found and arrested after midnight at another bar , escobar , police said . she was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute , which is a felony , and third-degree assault , which is a misdemeanor . she was released after posting an $ 11,000 bond , aspen police said . a court date is scheduled for monday . mueller has appeared as an actress in several movies , including 2004 's a love song for bobby long , ' according to imdb . but she is more widely known as the ex-wife of sheen . the twin sons and mueller were part of sheen 's volatile public fall-out with cbs earlier this year as he left his starring role on the network 's two and half men . ' she claimed in march that he 'd threatened to kill her , saying , i will cut your head off , put it in a box and send it to your mom , ' according to a declaration made in a restraining order against sheen . the revelations led to a court order removing the 2-year-old boys from sheen 's home . the actor called the allegation colorful ' and described the quote attributed to him as fabricated in an interview with nbc 's today show . ' mueller has sought help for substance abuse and stress-related issues in the past . last december , her attorney , yale galanter , said that she entered a sober living facility . earlier , in april 2010 , mueller had checked into a treatment facility for help with stress management to prevent a return to old problems , ' her representative said . she was in substance abuse rehab earlier in 2010 to get her health in order , ' galanter said at the time . the couple was involved in an alleged domestic dispute in aspen on christmas day 2009 that resulted in felony charges against sheen . cnn 's jack hannah contributed to this report . | mueller faces drug charges in aspen , colorado , after a december 3 arrest |
syria <tsp> damascus , syria ( cnn ) -- saying there is no doubt who is responsible for this heinous use of chemical weapons attack in syria : the syrian regime , ' vice president joe biden signaled tuesday that the united states -- with its allies -- was ready to act . those who use chemical weapons against defenseless men , women and children should and must be held accountable , ' biden said in a speech to the american legion . the vice president 's remarks echo those made by other u.s. officials in recent days , as well as many of the nation 's foremost allies . french president francois hollande said his administration was ready to punish those who made the decision to gas these innocent people , ' adding that everything leads us to believe ' that syrian president bashar al-assad 's forces are responsible . british prime minister david cameron -- who talked tuesday with u.s. president barack obama -- called lawmakers back from their summer vacations to consider a response to syria , as the uk military prepares contingency plans . and u.s. defense secretary chuck hagel told the bbc on tuesday that u.s. forces are ready to go ' if ordered to strike syria by president barack obama . the options are there . the united states department of defense is ready to carry out those options , ' hagel said . western leaders were reacting to a growing consensus that the syrian regime was responsible for an august 21 attack that killed more than 1,300 people , most of them dying from exposure to toxic gases , according to rebel officials . the opposition -- which has said it 's been targeted by chemical weapons attacks in the past as well -- backed up its latest allegations with gruesome video of rows of dead bodies , including women and children , with no visible wounds . opinion : for u.s. , syria is truly a problem from hell syrian officials , though , have steadfastly denied using chemical weapons in this or other cases . foreign minister walid moallem said tuesday that his government would never use such munitions against its own people , daring those who disagree to present evidence publicly . he said rebel forces were to blame for security concerns near the suspected chemical sites , arguing that western leaders are using the claims as an excuse to go after al-assad 's regime . we all hear the drums of war , ' moallem said . they want to attack syria . i believe to use chemical weapons as a pretext is not a right . ' and if foreign powers do strike the middle eastern nation , its foreign minister said the government and its forces will fight back . syria is not easy to swallow , ' said moallem . we have the materials to defend ourselves . we will surprise others . ' u.n. inspectors in syria , but what will they find ? the united nations has sent inspectors to syria to try to get to the bottom of the wildly conflicting accounts of chemical warfare . the opposition says chemical payloads were among the ordnance fired into the rebel stronghold of ghouta . the government , via state tv reports , claims that its forces came into contact with toxic gas saturday in jobar , on the edge of damascus -- blaming this on terrorists , ' the term it commonly uses for rebel fighters . cnn could not independently confirm either account , including videos purported to show the aftermath of each . missile strikes on syria likely response to chemical attack on monday , u.n. inspectors visited the town of moadamiyet al-sham , despite a close call with snipers that left one of their vehicles damaged and an explosion nearby . the inspectors had been expected tuesday to head to ghouta , but that trip was pushed back a day in order to improve preparedness and safety for the team . ' moallem blamed rebel forces for failing to guarantee the u.n. group 's safety and denying that its forces have delayed inspections by continually shelling ghouta . video posted tuesday to youtube purported to show the area being shelled , though cnn could not verify this video 's authenticity . yet biden reiterated the claim that syrian forces were shelling the suspected chemical attack site . and u.s. state department spokeswoman marie harf said it may be too late for a valid inspection of what happened -- saying too much time has passed ' and accusing al-assad 's government of using the u.n. investigation as a stalling tactic or a charade to hide behind . ' the united states , meanwhile , is conducting its own investigation : an intelligence report detailing evidence of the alleged attack could be released as early as tuesday , a u.s. official told cnn . the report will include forensic evidence and intercepted communications among syrian military commanders , according to the official . the vice president said that beyond whatever inspectors do or do not find , common sense and the recent past point to one culprit . the syrian regime are the only ones who have the weapons , have used chemical weapons multiple times in the past , have the means of delivering those weapons , have been determined to wipe out exactly the places that were attacked by chemical weapons , ' he said tuesday . russia leads international charge against strikes the calls for a military response were not without opposition . russia is leading the charge internationally , with foreign minister sergey lavrov having said there is no proof yet syria 's government is behind last week 's chemical attack . his office compares the western allegations against syria to claims iraq was hoarding weapons of mass destruction before the u.s. invasion in 2003 -- allegations that fell apart once american troops began searching for them . intervening in middle east turmoil : mission impossible ? and tuesday , russia 's foreign ministry accused washington of trying to create artificial groundless excuses for military intervention . ' moscow bemoaned the u.s. postponement of a meeting that was scheduled for wednesday in the hague , where top diplomats from both countries had planned to discuss the war in syria . and russia criticized the united states for , in its view , trying to bypass the u.n. security council to take action on the reported chemical attack . should anything be moved through the u.n. council , russia -- which has a permanent seat on it -- could block it . still , that 's what former british foreign secretary david owen urged world leaders to do before unleashing missiles or warplanes on syrian targets . omran al-zoubi , syria 's information minister , on tuesday challenged the united states to present this proof to the rest of the world ' -- claiming that they are asking for trouble if they do not . if they do n't have proof or evidence , then how are they going to stand up to the american public opinion and to the world public opinion and explain why they are attacking syria ? ' al-zoubi told cnn from damascus . some worldwide have expressed concern that intervening in syria may provoke broader conflict in the middle east or ensnare western powers in another bloody conflict after years of warfare in iraq and afghanistan . cameron said that he understands those concerns , vowing that any action would have to be proportionate , ... legal ( and ) would have to be specifically about deterring the use of chemical weapons . ' still , he said it 's critically important that action be taken to show the international taboo against chemical weapons will not be tolerated . this is not about wars in the middle east ; this is not even about the syrian conflict , ' he said . it 's about use of chemical weapons and making sure , as a world , we deter their use and we deter the appalling scenes we 've all seen on our television screens . syria diplomacy : why jordan wants military meeting to be hush-hush cnn 's fred pleitgen reported from syria . cnn 's hamdi alkhshali reported from atlanta and jomana karadsheh from jordan . michael pearson wrote and reported from atlanta . cnn 's greg botelho , ben brumfield , boriana milanova , chris lawrence , jim acosta , josh levs , joe sterling , elise labott , jill dougherty and saskya vandoorne also contributed to this report . | new : syria 's info minister challenges u.s. to present proof , or risk losing public opinion |
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