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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Actress Debi Mazar is passionate about food , and she recently used her cooking skills to raise money for The Midnight Mission , a Los Angeles-based organization that helps the homeless . Mazar is also an enthusiastic supporter of CNN Heroes , and she recently sat down with CNN Entertainment senior producer Denise Quan to talk about the campaign and her philanthropy . Below are excerpts from that interview . Denise Quan : Why did you decide to get involved with the feeding the homeless ? Debi Mazar : I grew up on food stamps . I come from a very humble background . And I 've had many friends that have been destitute -- you know , running into trouble -- and places like The Midnight Mission have given them hope and have fed them and gotten them back on the right path . It can happen to anybody , and with the economy crashing and what 's going on in the world today , I just thought it was time to try to find a place to go to help people . They 're the oldest food bank in Los Angeles ... and I like to cook , I like to serve people . So we cooked up a bunch of food , and they let us use their truck , helped us serve it , and we raised a lot of money . Quan : What 's so special about The Midnight Mission ? Mazar : Not only are they feeding people , but they are giving them housing , they are giving them beds , a shower , fresh sheets , fresh clothing . They are finding them jobs . There is a recovery program for addiction , a program to learn to get back on your feet and to adjust within the community again . It 's incredible what they do and how many people walk through their doors , rich and poor , no questions asked . They just open these doors and they give these people a fresh start . Quan : What is a hero to you ? Mazar : A hero is somebody who is selfless , who is generous in spirit , who just tries to give back as much as possible and help people . A hero to me is someone who saves people and who really deeply cares . Quan : You attended `` CNN Heroes : An All-Star Tribute '' last year . What was that like ? Mazar : Being at the CNN Heroes event last year was almost life-changing . I saw the prior year from my living room , and when I got invited I was so excited . Each person that went up and each little film that was played brought me and my husband to tears because of the generosity of their soul and spirit . These people came from nothing , had nothing , and yet did the unimaginable . They were n't Hollywood people . They were n't rich people . They were just people that wanted to help other people . It just really made me think , `` Wow . I want to help , too . '' Watching those people made me feel like I was n't doing enough . They were so inspirational . So now I 'm on the bandwagon , and I 'm just trying to help as well because it makes you feel really great and we need it . We need a sense of community again . Quan : Did any of those CNN Heroes particularly inspire you ? Mazar : There was one young Filipino man -LSB- CNN Hero of the Year Efren Penaflorida -RSB- who would go into the slums and help bring education to all these children that had nothing and teach them how to read and write . It was just beautiful what he did . There was Jorge Munoz from Queens , -LSB- New York -RSB- , who just had like a regular job , had no money , but he and his family would cook in their little kitchen that was , you know , New York-style -- I 'm talking closet-size -- and half of their house was stocked with restaurant supplies . And every night he would cook and bring out food and serve the homeless on the streets of New York City . This guy was just selfless . I just thought , `` How wonderful . '' Quan : Why do you think we need to honor everyday heroes ? Mazar : There 's so much importance in honoring your everyday hero . It does n't take money . It does n't take connections . What matters is that people get involved . Whether your passion is gun control or food or whatever it may be , everybody needs to stop being so self-absorbed .
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Actress Debi Mazar has raised money for The Midnight Mission , a Los Angeles food bank . Mazar said the organization does more than feed people ; it also gives them a fresh start . Mazar said she came from humble beginnings , too : `` I grew up on food stamps ''
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Evan Lysacek became a household name in February when he won the Olympic gold medal in men 's figure skating . Since his rise to fame , he has made it a point to get involved with charitable work . He currently works with Help USA , a nonprofit organization that provides housing and support services so the homeless and other people in need can become self-sufficient . Lysacek , a supporter of CNN Heroes , recently spoke to CNN producer Megan Clifford about the Heroes campaign and his humanitarian work . Below are excerpts from that interview . Megan Clifford : Why did you decide to get involved with Help USA ? Evan Lysacek : Well , I 've always looked up to -- in my lifetime and in my career -- athletes and people who are strong members of the community . As I 've gained a little bit of success , I thought the most important thing to do , first and foremost , was to give back and help out . Homelessness can happen to anyone within the blink of an eye . Job loss is so prevalent in the country today with the state of our economy ... a lot of people have become homeless or jobless very quickly , and they did not see it coming . Help USA is the largest homeless advocate in the country . Knowing their reputation , I wanted to get involved immediately and asked how . They said , `` Come on down , we 'll film a public service announcement . '' Clifford : What exactly does Help USA do ? Lysacek : Help USA helps -LSB- its -RSB- clients by teaching the skills that they 're going to need to go out and reclaim their lives ... life skills , education , job placement and training , child care , as well as counseling . They provide a variety of services at their residences to help their clients get their lives back on track . Clifford : How has your work with Help USA affected you ? Lysacek : It 's inspired me more than I could have imagined . I thought I would be signing on to teach and give as much as I could ... but in turn , they 've taught me so much about working and remaining positive with the circumstances that you 're dealt . As gratifying as it was for me to work my entire life for my Olympic dream and somehow , someway achieve it in Vancouver by winning gold , I get so much more appreciation and I feel so much more heart when I can help more than one person . As memories of competitions , of medals and podiums , fade away , there are pictures that are embedded in my head with families in need that will really stick with me for the rest of my life . Clifford : You 're a sports hero to many people . What is a hero to you ? Lysacek : A hero to me is a person that leads by example , and they do n't always take the easy road . Sometimes , they 're the only one on a certain path , but they always do what they think is right and they 're positive members of their community . Clifford : Why did you get involved with CNN Heroes ? Lysacek : CNN Heroes honors everyday people who 've given extraordinary things to their communities . It inspires everyone to get up , go out and do something -- take a stand for what you believe in , team up with an organization you really care about , help someone in need . That 's something everyone in this world could learn from -- seeing a positive force within their community . It 's sometimes difficult to comprehend how you can possibly make a difference , but when it 's right there in front of your eyes through a program like CNN Heroes , it 's easy to believe that you truly can . And that 's why I feel like this is so important .
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Olympic champion Evan Lysacek supports Help USA , the nation 's largest homeless advocate . Help USA provides housing and support services so people can get back on their feet . Lysacek : Help USA experience has `` taught me so much about working and remaining positive ''
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LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Police have launched an investigation after a young disabled sportsman traveled to Switzerland to commit suicide , UK media report . Daniel James , who played rugby for England under-16s , was paralyzed during match practice last year . Daniel James , 23 , from Sinton Green in western England was paralyzed from the chest down in March 2007 when a rugby scrum collapsed on top of him during match practice , dislocating his spine , the UK 's Press Association has reported . Worcestershire Coroner 's Service , which is conducing an inquest into the circumstances of his death , states on its Web site that James died on September 12 after he `` traveled to Switzerland with a view to ending his own life . He was admitted to a clinic where he died . '' The inquest was adjourned on September 19 for reports . West Mercia police say that a man and a woman are helping the force with their enquiries . Assisting someone to commit suicide is illegal in the UK , as it is in most other European countries . What do you think of assisted suicide ? James , who played rugby for England under-16s , was a university student at the time of his injury last year . He is believed to be the youngest person from the UK to have traveled to Switzerland to commit suicide . In a statement Friday , reported by PA , James ' parents said that he had attempted to kill himself several times already . Watch why James opted for suicide '' `` His death was an extremely sad loss for his family , friends and all those that care for him but no doubt a welcome relief from the ` prison ' he felt his body had become and the day-to-day fear and loathing of his living existence , as a result of which he took his own life . `` This is the last way that the family wanted Dan 's life to end but he was , as those who know him are aware , an intelligent , strong-willed and some say determined young man , '' PA reported James ' parents as saying . `` The family suffered considerably over the last few months and do wish to be left in peace to allow them to grieve appropriately . '' James ' parents added that their son , `` an intelligent young man of sound mind , '' had never come to terms with his condition and was `` not prepared to live what he felt was a second-class existence '' . Adrian Harling , the family solicitor , would not comment on the investigation , PA reported . More than 100 people from the UK who have committed suicide in Switzerland have traveled to the Dignitas Clinic in Forch . It is not known if James attended the clinic . Switzerland , along with Belgium , Luxembourg and the Netherlands , are the only European countries where authorities will not prosecute those who assist with suicide .
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Young rugby player , paralyzed after accident , commits suicide in Switzerland . Police interview man and woman about the death of Daniel James , 23 . It is illegal in UK and much of Europe to assist with suicide . Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland , Netherlands , Belgium , Luxembourg .
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CANTON , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Meet Kaden , bomb-sniffing dog in training . Jeff Schettler coaches handlers on how to work with detection dogs , including Kaden , far right , in the field . His name , a Gaelic word meaning `` little battle , '' is fitting for the energetic 12-pound puppy with a perky tail that curls like a cinnamon bun . At 4 months old , Kaden is a playful , black - and white-coated basenji being schooled at Georgia K9 National Training Center . Once fully trained , he will assist federal and local police officers as well as private corporations in nosing out deadly explosives at schools , airports and public events . His detective skills can potentially save thousands of lives in an era where law enforcement agencies are aggressively fighting against drugs and terrorist attacks . `` Think about a scenario like the 1996 Olympic bombings , '' says Kaden 's trainer Jeff Schettler , a cheery man who has coached hundreds of dogs to sniff out bombs , drugs , missing people and corpses since the mid-1990s . Demand for these detection canines -- including bomb dogs such as Kaden -- has surged as homeland security and drug crackdowns become a bigger priority for government and law enforcement . The North American Police Work Dog Association says 35,000 dogs are trained to do detective work in the U.S. . The association estimates up to 10,000 dogs have been added since the September 11 , 2001 , attacks . Watch three detection puppies in action '' Official records of training puppies to work as detection dogs date back to the early 1900s in the U.S. . In more recent years , police departments realized a dog 's nose was a valuable asset . Dogs possess impressive olfactory abilities -- some breeds more than others . For each drop of odor detected by a dog , the human nose would require 1,000 to 10,000 drops of odor , veterinarians say . Can your pooch be a detection dog ? '' Other animals may have smelling skills that rival a dog 's , such as pigs nosing for truffles in France or honey bees that can sniff out TNT particles , but veterinarians say dogs are the most controllable and sociable for their human handlers . Police dogs remain the most affordable and reliable solution to solving crimes that require scent detection , police officers say . Trained dogs can track down cocaine camouflaged inside car seats . They can find children who have mysteriously vanished overnight . Detection dogs can even weed out pest-infested apples and oranges accidentally left in suitcases at airports . `` They are a growing aspect of law enforcement , '' says Jim Watson , secretary at the North American Police Work Dog Association and a handler for decades . Earlier this month , investigators were baffled during the international manhunt for George Zinkhan , a former University of Georgia professor accused of fatally shooting his wife and two other people . Two weeks into the search , two cadaver dogs , a German shepherd named Circe and an Australian shepherd named Madison , arrived . Within 10 hours , the dogs picked up the scent of Zinkhan 's remains in a shallow pit hidden in a thick forest . Once the dogs neared the suspect 's body , they gave their handlers personalized signals . Circe barked excitedly . Madison lay down . Trainer Jeff Schettler explains Kaden is an unlikely candidate for police work . Basenjis , a breed that originated in central Africa , are usually used as hunting or show dogs . There are only two other trained police dog basenjis recorded by the North American Police Work Dog Association . Most trainers in the police dog world dislike experimenting with new dogs , preferring to stick to breeds with a proven track record . Most law enforcement agencies rely on Belgian Malinoises and German shepherds for detection work because of their protective yet friendly personalities , but labs , bloodhounds and beagles also can be used . `` We 're not trying to fix anything , '' Schettler says . `` We 're trying to enhance it . '' Schettler points out some of Kaden 's advantages : The dog 's weight will peak at about 25 pounds , enabling him seamlessly to sift between cramped luggage and lockers . Kaden is barkless because basenjis have an oddly shaped larynx , ideal for quiet searches . On a recent rainy Saturday morning at the Georgia K9 National Training Center , little Kaden undergoes testing . Passing the exam depends on his whiffing talents . Upon the instructor 's command , Kaden 's pencil-thin legs playfully trot along the damp grass to an oversize wall scattered with dozens of holes . His instructor has hidden black gunpowder wrapped in pantyhose in one of the holes . If Kaden 's nose sniffs out the gunpowder , he will immediately sit . Kaden begins on the left side , quickly taking a zigzag pattern from one hole to another . His pace is methodical , a sniff for each hole . Soon he slows , pauses , inhales again and then sinks his tiny hindquarters to the ground . `` What a good boy , '' coo several of Kaden 's trainers , stroking his sleek fur and rewarding him with one of his favorite treats , torn bits of venison jerky . As Kaden nibbles on his treat , Schettler admits there are drawbacks to training basenjis . Basenjis do n't have a furry coat to endure cold weather like a German shepherd . Basenjis are also a highly independent , stubborn breed with personalities similar to cats , making them difficult to train . Kaden 's personality , however , is contrary to most basenjis . He was culled from a litter in Atlanta at 7 days old because of his unusual sociability with humans . `` At eight weeks , he was in the airport going up to people and running around like he owned the place , '' Schettler says . Training detection dogs such as Kaden often begins during puppyhood so imprinting scent differentiation becomes innate , handlers say . Puppies are selected based on breed purity , confidence , sociability and temperament . In any training program , there are doggie dropouts . In those instances , the puppies become pets . On the job , dogs can suffer from on-site injuries , such as mild sprains and bruises . Some dogs have even been killed when a bomb explodes or buildings collapse . As police dogs age , health problems such as arthritis can send them into early retirement . A work dog 's career typically spans about seven years , instructors say . Different breeds specialize in certain detection jobs , says Joseph Morelli , a canine handler for the Connecticut State Police . Morelli says he relies on Labrador retrievers for arson cases . German shepherds at his school are saved for patrolling or drug cases . `` People are really starting to see how useful these dogs can be , '' says Morelli , who has started to train dogs from neighboring states in recent years . `` We 're really seeing our program take off . ''
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Police dogs can nose out explosives , drugs , bodies and missing people . Kaden , at 4 months old , is training to become of the the few basenjis bomb dogs . Training usually begins in puppyhood so handlers can imprint skills . About 35,000 police dogs work in the U.S. , group says .
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NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- I do n't do dogs and I do n't do yoga . CNN 's Lola Ogunnaike , right , conquers her fear of dogs and yoga with a doga class in Manhattan . Having inherited my mother 's abject fear of animals , I try to stay clear of anything with four legs and fur . Yoga is too slow for me . All that breathing and stretching and chanting and centeredness . Boring . I 'd rather jump and kick and pump and gasp for air . But my curiosity got the best of me when I discovered that Bideawee , an animal welfare organization in Manhattan , offers a yoga class for dogs -- doga . During the 45-minute session , pooches and their masters give new meaning to the phrase `` downward facing dog . '' The room was small but comfortable , and the dogs , I must admit , were adorable with saccharine-sweet names such as Picasso , Bailey and Sophie . Awww . Since I did n't have my own pup , I borrowed Sophie , a 10-pound Shih Tzu , who was so calm I wondered if she 'd been slipped a quaalude before class . In `` child 's pose , '' she stood on my back and slowly surveyed the room . I lifted her with my legs . Held her in `` warrior pose . '' Stretched her hind legs . Stroked her little head as we chanted Ommmmmm and Boooone . Watch this special yoga class '' Were we bonding ? I think so . It was as bizarre as it was sweet . And some women in the class admitted as much . `` There are a lot of people who think it 's a little silly , but the class is very lighthearted , '' said Sophie 's `` mother , '' Grace . She carries Sophie around in a Louis Vuitton bag that 's bigger than my apartment . `` No one takes it too seriously . It 's just a chance to bond with your dog and have fun , '' she said . Another class member brought her `` baby '' because she thinks he 's a bit too hyper and needs to chill out . Instructor Kari Harendorf has been teaching doga for several years . She said she believes the classes are perfect for these stressful times . `` It 's actually been proven scientifically that just the simple act of petting a dog will release happy hormones in humans and will lower their cortisol , which is the stress hormone , '' she said . `` Studies have also shown that it goes both ways , that when dogs receive the petting and attention that their stress levels decrease . '' By the end of our session , the dogs did appear to be more `` blissed out , '' to borrow a term from Harendorf . Not a bark or a growl was heard . The only person panting was me . As I lay on my mat contemplating how I 'd become so inflexible , everyone filed out quietly . I was one step closer to conquering my fear of animals and touching my toes .
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CNN reporter borrows dog for special yoga class . In doga classes , pooches do poses , assist owners . Sophie , a 10-pound Shih Tzu , comes in a Louis Vuitton bag . Dog owner says class helps humans bond with their animals .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Not everyone wishes others well in fulfilling their New Year 's resolutions . Giyen Kim has gone from 190 to 186 pounds in four weeks . A doctor says that 's `` very reasonable . '' On a video that Giyen Kim recently posted on iReport.com about her frustration with trying to lose weight , one user commented , `` Who cares how much you have lost you are still a fat a ** . Stop eating and go to the gym . '' In the past , Kim might have cried and turned to a pint of ice cream for comfort , she reflected . But this time , she hit the gym -- a reaction she views as a revelation . `` I think that when you are doing what you need to be doing , things like that do n't matter , '' she said . See Kim talk about losing weight . Kim , 34 , is one of many CNN readers who are using CNN 's iReport.com to share frequent updates of progress on their New Year 's resolutions . iReport.com : Share your journey to change . Kim started out at 190 pounds on January 1 with the intention of losing about a pound or two a week throughout the year . Lately she has been cooking more for herself and trying to stay away from foods that have refined carbohydrates . She also tries to eat one vegan meal every day , but still occasionally indulges in bacon , the namesake for her blog Bacon is My Enemy . She exercises six days a week , mostly cardio , but wants to work on strength training and resistance training . She would also like to take step classes . So far she 's shed four pounds in four weeks , but the pace feels slow compared with her diet regimens in the past , she said . She found that those extreme diet plans were not realistic options in the long run for maintaining a comfortable weight . Still , Kim maintains a positive outlook on her situation . `` No matter if you get derailed , if you just pick yourself up again and get back on track , it makes a big difference , '' she said . `` If you 're in a place of feeling good about yourself , regardless of how your self-image has been in the past , it propels you to go forward . '' Dr. Melina Jampolis , a physician nutrition specialist from San Francisco , California , said losing a pound per week is very reasonable . At most , Kim could probably lose an additional half-pound to pound a week , `` but any more than that and she would probably be losing water weight and muscle , '' Jampolis said . Jampolis recommends that Kim keep a daily journal of what she eats , and review it to see where she might be able to cut 50 to 100 calories , and where there might be hidden calories in her diet . Kim should also make sure she is varying the intensity , duration , and type of workout , Jampolis said . `` As she loses weight and becomes more fit , she is burning fewer calories doing the same thing , so it is critical to change things up , '' Jampolis said . But generally Kim 's current pace is great -- `` At that rate , she will be down another 20 pounds by summer ! '' Jampolis said . As far as Kim 's professional goals , she has secured an interim position at a non-profit organization , and continues to do video blogs for Momversation.com . The market for freelance writers is tough , particularly with many newspapers struggling , she said . Still , Kim is optimistic about following her dream to become a writer . `` I 'm not optimistic about our economic future as a country , but as far as me and my journey to find happiness , and accomplish some of these goals that I 've had -- weight loss and following my writing passion -- absolutely , I 'm still really positive about it , '' she said .
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iReporter Giyen Kim has been losing a pound per week since the start of 2009 . She exercises six days a week , eats one vegan meal per day . Dr. Melina Jampolis says a pound a week is a reasonable pace . Share your journey to change with iReport.com .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- This week , Giyen Kim , 34 , reached a personal milestone : She has lost 10 pounds since the beginning of the year . Giyen Kim , 34 , has lost 10 pounds since January 1 . She said she feels like it will be easier to lose more weight . This progress feels slow , she said , in comparison with her previous weight loss attempts , which consisted of crash dieting . But she found that those diets were n't sustainable . This time , she 's looking to find a lifestyle she can keep . CNN asked viewers to talk about their New Year 's resolutions on iReport.com and upload photos and videos during their journeys of change . Kim , who lives in Seattle , Washington , is one participant who frequently updates the iReport community with video updates on her progress . iReport.com : Watch Giyen talk about losing weight . Reaching this 10-pound milestone , from 190 to 180 pounds , makes her feel as if it will be easier to lose more weight , she said . `` You feel definitely more motivated when you actually quantify it in a number that feels good , '' she said . Visit CNNhealth , your connection for better living . She does n't feel physically different , but she does notice a change from previous pictures of herself , she said . Her original goal for the year was to get closer to her pre-pregnancy weight of 120 pounds . Kim has had a hard time exercising recently because her uncle , 90 , passed away , and the grieving process has been difficult . But she plans to resume working out soon and wants to take classes at her gym . She also eats one vegan meal every day . Kim felt frustrated earlier this month because her progress felt slow , losing a pound a week . Read about her weight loss journey . Often , the initial weight loss will seem the easiest , and then the loss slows somewhat over time , said Tara Gidus , dietician for the Orlando Magic NBA team and owner of Tara Gidus Nutrition Consulting in Orlando , Florida . Exercise is key in speeding things up when you 've reached a plateau , she said . It 's important to find a physical activity that you enjoy doing and to vary the exercise routine -- for example , raising the incline on a treadmill to step up the intensity , she said . Gidus usually recommends losing about 2 pounds a week , or about 5 to 8 pounds a month . At that rate , someone like Kim could lose 50 pounds in six months , she said . A pace faster than that -- such as 10 pounds per month -- would be hard to keep up , Gidus said . People with on weight-loss journeys should have encouragement from friends , family or people in support groups or online communities , she said . Kim certainly has people supporting her in the virtual world : A video she posted a few weeks ago after she 'd lost 4 pounds had more than a dozen motivational comments from others on iReport.com . Watch her video . Her next goal is to lose 15 more pounds -- for a total of 25 -- by her birthday , March 24 , and reward herself with a digital single-lens reflex camera , which professional photographers use . `` That 's basically 2 pounds a week , plus 3 more , '' she said . `` It 's ambitious , but I really want that camera . ''
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Giyen Kim , 34 , has lost 10 pounds since January 1 . Reaching this milestone makes losing more weight look easier , she said . Dietitian : Often , speed of weight loss slows down over time . Share your journey to change with iReport.com .
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LAUREL , Maryland -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Seth Owusu knew at a young age that he wanted to help his countrymen . Seth Owusu shows children in his native Ghana how to use a computer during his visit in June . `` I came from Ghana , '' Owusu recalls . `` It all started when I was in primary school and we had some missionaries come to the school . '' The visit touched Owusu , who was 8 years old at the time . He tried to figure out why these missionaries had journeyed so far . `` I could n't understand why somebody would travel thousands of miles just to come to a very rural , poor dirt road , '' he said . `` I thought it was great . I wanted to transfer that feeling to somebody else . '' That passion followed Owusu when he immigrated to the United States at age 24 . He began working at hardware store , where he was tasked to pick up and deliver items . Owusu used a small bar code scanner to enter information about the items he 'd pick up , his first encounter with a computer-like device . `` I had no idea what a computer was , '' he said . After work one day , he went home and decided to learn as much as he could about computers . Just after he graduated from a technical college , Owusu established Entire Village Computer Organization , a small nonprofit organization that donates refurbished used computers to schools . He runs EVCO with the help of four volunteer staff members in Ghana . Watch Owusu and children with the new computers '' EVCO goes much further than simply dropping off the computers in villages . `` We make a three-calendar-year commitment because we do n't want it to be a teaser , where it 's working two months and after that , it 's gone , '' Owusu said . He says technicians go to the schools if there is a broken computer , and they also show teachers how computers can be fixed if they fail again . Owusu and other members of EVCO spend hours in each village , not only installing and teaching about computers , but also giving motivational speeches and teaching about other topics . `` In the donation ceremony ... we have everybody there , '' Owusu said . `` We talk about how the Internet has revolutionized everything ; how we live in the global community . We talk about staying in school . We talk about HIV/AIDS . We talk about kids ' behavior , peer pressure . We talk about a whole range of things . So it 's a community affair . '' Before each trip to Africa , Owusu picks up and refurbishes donated computers , doing most of the work himself . The garage and his shop in the basement of his home in suburban Maryland are crowded with piles of CPUs and monitors . But most of the work goes into planning his trips , he says . Much of his free time is spent combing through applications from various villages and working out logistics . `` Before we visit a village , it takes about six months , '' he said . `` My wife , she thinks I 'm crazy ... I work eight hours and I come home , and the moment I sit down ... I work for the next eight or 10 hours . '' Owusu traveled to Ghana again late this spring and was able to incorporate a new program -- this time for younger children who have traditionally been left out . `` There 's nothing we can give them , other than little school supplies and soccer balls and things like that , '' he said . The new program , Photos and Fun , lets the children take photos and display them in classrooms . `` Most of these kids have n't ever seen a digital camera before , '' Owusu said . Last year , EVCO also began to donate computers to villages in Nigeria . Owusu hopes to add one more African country to the list each year . `` If we can go to a country and plant the seed there , this program can take care of itself , '' Owusu said . `` We can be a major player in education in rural communities and help the people who need help and can not get it . '' EVCO has donated 120 computers and visited 18 villages in Ghana and Nigeria . Owusu says the nonprofit group has seen an improvement in villages and a higher interest in education in schools that have received EVCO donations . `` The first school we donated to in 2005 ... the population was 700 when we donated the computers . Two years later , the school grew to 1,300 students . In order for Owusu 's dream to come true , he has had to sacrifice many things . `` I sold my house in 2006 to support one of the trips , '' he said . He works in the `` Geek Squad '' department at a Best Buy electronics store in Washington . He says his employer has been very accommodating , but because of the economy , his hours have been cut . He recently decided to step down from his supervisor position because it was too demanding and he was n't able to put in the hours needed to spend with EVCO . But for Owusu , it 's all worth it . `` It 's been amazing , '' he said . `` It 's been just amazing . ''
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Seth Owusu grew up in Ghana , where he was inspired by missionaries . After he moved to the United States , he trained in computers . Owusu runs a charity that takes refurbished computers to his native country . He and his staff see more interest in education in villages that receive donations .
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-LRB- AOL Autos -RRB- -- Chrysler and General Motors announced this week that they would shrink their dealer base in the U.S. Chrysler will close 789 dealers . General Motors announced the closing of 1,100 dealers . Chrysler will close 789 dealers , leaving them with approximately 2400 stores in the U.S. General Motors announced the closing of 1,100 dealers and hopes to be at a size of 3,600 dealers at the end of 2010 . While Chrysler dealers will be `` forced out '' by June 9 , GM is positioning for a smoother closing of its stores , with each shutting down when it runs out of inventory . Unlike Chrysler 's announcement , GM 's list of closing dealers will not be made public , leaving that decision to each dealer . What happens to my GM or Chrysler vehicle warranty ? Your warranty is valid through its term , regardless of where you bought your vehicle . In March , President Obama announced that the U.S. government would provide the backing for Chrysler and GM vehicle warranties under the `` Warrantee Commitment Program . '' Can I take my vehicle for service and warranty work to another -LRB- surviving -RRB- dealer ? Yes , but make sure it 's a certified dealer . If you 're going to take your Chrysler , Jeep or Dodge vehicle in for warranty work , you can do so at a closing dealership until June 9 . After that time , Chrysler will no longer pay those dealers for warranty work . GM vehicles will receive service and warranty work at closing dealers until they shut down . Will there be good deals on these vehicles ? The Chrysler dealerships to close will have about 44,000 units on hand , or roughly what Chrysler , Jeep and Dodge sell across the country every 2-3 weeks -LRB- using April 's sales numbers as a guide -RRB- . There will be deals , but be warned that if those 44,000 are n't sold before June 9 , Chrysler will work to redistribute them to other dealers . Whether the best deals will be had before or after June 9 is likely negligible ; if you 're interested in a Chrysler , Jeep or Dodge product , you will save a lot of money on a new purchase right now . One important factor to keep in mind is that approximately 10 % of those remaining units are 2008 vehicles . Be careful the car you 're looking at has n't been sitting on the lot inactive for too long ; cars actually do `` rot . '' GM 's dealer announcement is a different story , since the company is n't releasing the names of the closing dealers . Dealers who chose to disclose their shutdown may provide better deals . AOL Autos : Why do cars rot on the lot ? How many people and jobs are affected by closing dealers ? The impact on communities will be significant . Since dealers typically employ about 50 people and contract with a handful of suppliers -LRB- consider the business that sells paper or office furniture to each dealer -RRB- , there will be impact within the community . Some economists , however , believe that the impact will be less than expected , since dealers typically have a high turnover rate and technician jobs were in a short supply already . But , the related aspects of dealer closings are certain : think of the little league baseball teams and charities that receive funding from do-gooding dealers . Even real estate is affected ; car dealerships usually set the market for commercial real estate in smaller communities . When those go empty , the entire city feels the pain . AOL Autos : Pressure to buy American . Why were these dealers chosen ? Both Chrysler and GM have expressed interest to shrink their dealer base . Company officials cite various data points related to choosing these dealers , but the main one is performance . GM said that the average dealer of the 1,100 affected only sold 35 cars in all of 2008 . Chrysler cites similar numbers , with half their closing dealerships selling less than 100 . But , even after these reductions by Chrysler and GM , they still have more dealers than other manufacturers . Using April 2009 's sales data as a proxy , Toyota has approximately 95 dealers per 1 point of market share in the U.S. , while Chrysler has 256 and GM will have 172 -LRB- at the end of 2010 -RRB- . This means that , effectively , Toyota is able to sell more vehicles per dealership . AOL Autos : Fate of the GM brands . Can dealers do anything about this ? Typically , dealers would have protection under state franchise laws against such events . However , in Chrysler 's case , those franchise laws are not applicable since the company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy . Chrysler dealers can -LRB- and likely will -RRB- protest the process by which they were chosen -LRB- sales volume , number of brands in the store , the area in which the dealership operated -RRB- . But after June 9 , the selected Chrysler , Jeep and Dodge dealers will have to take down their signs . GM dealers will likely organize their own group , but details of that are unclear at this time . AOL Autos : Are extended warranties worth it ? Even after cuts , do the big three still have too many U.S. dealers ? Some companies need fewer dealers to sell the same amount of cars : . Chrysler LLC Number of dealers : 2411 Market share : 9.4 Dealers per 1 pt . market share : 256 . Ford Motor Co. . Number of dealers : 3723 Market share : 15.7 Dealers per 1 pt . market share : 237 . General Motors Number of dealers : 3600 Market share : 20.9 Dealers per 1 pt . market share : 172 AOL Autos : Six cars to save the big three . Honda Motor Co. . Number of dealers : 1304 Market share : 12.4 Dealers per 1 pt . market share : 105 . Toyota Motor Corp. . Number of dealers : 1470 Market share : 15.4 Dealers per 1 pt . market share : 95 . Market data shown reflective of April 2009 , courtesy of Autodata . Chrysler dealer total is effective June 9 ; GM dealer total is estimate for end of 2010 .
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Chrysler and General Motors announce they will shrink dealer base in U.S. Chrysler dealers will be `` forced out '' by June 9 . Your warranty is valid through its term , no matter where you bought your car . You will save a lot of money on a new vehicle purchase right now .
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-LRB- OPRAH.com -RRB- -- People across the country are counting their pennies more closely than ever and asking themselves some tough questions about what they can really afford . Suze Orman is here to approve or deny what your finances can handle -- and this time around , she 's settling a few family feuds . Money expert Suze Orman answers the question that keeps people up at night : Can I afford this ? Many women have husbands with expensive hobbies , and Michaela is one of them . Michaela has her own Mary Kay business and just started her own cake decorating business . Her husband Chris works in sales and is the ultimate Washington Redskins fan . `` When I met him , I knew he was a Redskins fan . I just really had no clue he was a Redskins fanatic , '' she says . Michaela estimates her husband has spent about $ 25,000 on his `` man cave '' -- including a $ 2,200 television , a $ 900 surround-sound system , custom-framed photos worth about $ 300 and a poker table worth $ 500 to $ 1,000 . Chris spares no expense to get Redskins gear for their three kids , Michaela says -- including jerseys and a Power Wheels Escalade in the Redskins ' burgundy color . `` I happen to know my husband 's e-mail password , and there are 320 e-mails of tracking purchases , '' she says . `` I would say that -LSB- delivery services are -RSB- at our house almost every day . '' Oprah.com : Battle your urge to splurge . Michaela says Chris did n't grow up with much and now wants to enjoy some of his success . But Chris and Michaela are n't debt-free . Together , they owe $ 130,000 in student loans . `` It often makes me wonder if we will ever get them paid off . If we 'll ever get to the point where we can start thinking about our kids ' college and the future so they do n't have the loans that we have , '' she says . Watch saving money in tough times '' So Michaela has a question for Orman : `` With all of our student loans and his fabulous hobby , can we afford his hobby or should we be putting the money somewhere else ? '' Chris estimates that he spends about $ 7,000 a year on his hobby . Can he keep it up ? Orman runs the numbers . Chris and Michaela 's monthly income is $ 9,000 , and their monthly expenses are $ 7,700 . Even with $ 1,300 leftover every month , they still face their large student debts and only have $ 5,000 in an emergency fund . `` In this economy , what I 'd like to see is that people have at least an eight-month emergency fund , which would be $ 40,000 because we have three children here , '' Orman says . Orman denies Chris -- but with love . `` We only have $ 5,000 of an emergency fund , '' she says . Chris and Michaela have life insurance , but Orman says it 's simply not enough . Chris is insured for $ 350,000 , and Michaela is insured for $ 200,000 . The couple still owes $ 290,000 on their mortgage , which is $ 2,200 each month . If Chris dies , his life insurance policy will only cover the mortgage -- and still leaves the Michaela with $ 4,000 a month in expenses . `` What is the rule of thumb ? You plan for the worst and you hope for the best , '' Orman says . `` But -LSB- Chris is -RSB- in sales . Anybody in sales , anything can happen at any time . So I love that you love football ... But you can not afford it , sir . '' Chris takes everything in stride . He says he 's already started to look into better life insurance policies and wants to start college savings funds for his kids . `` My friend , he gets it ! '' Orman says . Oprah.com : How to save for college . Ken and Deb are a couple facing a heart-wrenching life decision in the middle of a poor economy -- divorce . Married for 12 years , the couple has a 9-year-old son and twin 7-year-old girls , one with Down 's Syndrome . `` Having the three children , it 's been taxing on us . It just seems like we never get a chance to be alone and be together and just talk things out , '' Ken says . `` We 're just not on the same page . '' Deb says she does n't put Ken -- or herself -- first . `` My children are first and foremost in our life , and I do n't think that 's a good way to build a marriage or a life either , '' she says . `` You kind of cast the other person aside . '' Ken and Deb signed separation papers in April 2008 but still live together in the house they purchased 10 years ago . `` Ken and I have been living in separate rooms since last November . He lives down the hall in what used to be our home office , and it 's very difficult living under the same roof , '' Deb says . `` Unfortunately , we can not afford to financially divorce and move on with our lives . '' In April 2009 , Ken and Deb will be officially divorced . To complicate matters , Ken recently found out that he will be losing his job . `` I think if Ken and I separated , we 'd both be more relaxed and we 'd be happier people , '' Deb says . `` Obviously , we can not afford to maintain separate households . '' Deb has come to Orman for help with her question -- can she afford to get divorced ? Before Ken lost his job , the couple made a combined $ 4,500 a month . With only Deb 's income , the household total will decrease to $ 1,645 . Monthly expenses that will not decrease total about $ 4,300 each month . The couple also has $ 10,000 in credit card debt . Despite their precarious financial situation , Orman approves Deb for a divorce . `` In this particular situation , if they were to sell the house , there is enough equity in the house to pay off their mortgages for them to have $ 10,000 extra to pay off the credit card debt and for them each to have $ 5,000 to start over in renting an apartment , '' Orman says . Orman says Deb could rent an apartment for about $ 800 a month . `` And on everything else that I figured for her , she could live in that apartment with her children and make it for $ 1,645 a month , also assuming that one day Ken will have to pay child support when he does get a job , '' Orman says . Still , Orman says the real question here is n't about the money . `` Can she afford not to , emotionally speaking ? '' Orman says . Because Deb says she never puts herself first , Orman wants to know how much longer Deb would stay in a marriage she says is already over . `` How much longer are you going to stay in a situation that you know is absolutely over because you think you do n't have the money to leave ? '' Orman says . `` You lose your soul for money . You lose your children in terms of not understanding what 's happening for money . Is money worth that ? '' But Deb 's not alone . Orman says the No. 1 deficit in this country is women not taking care of themselves . `` Women give of themselves . They never give to themselves . And that we have to change , '' Orman says . Deb says she 's willing to try Orman 's recommendations . `` I think we need to be separate to find out what we both need , '' she says . Oprah.com : Can one woman afford her dream wedding ? From The Oprah Winfrey Show . Subscribe to O , The Oprah Magazine for up to 75 % off the newsstand price . That 's like getting 18 issues FREE . Subscribe now ! TM & © 2009 Harpo Productions , Inc. . All Rights Reserved .
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Suze Orman explains what two couples ' finances can handle in this economy . Ken and Deb want to get divorced because living under the same roof is hard . Until Chris and Michaela save emergency fund , insurance -- hobby is out . Orman : `` No. 1 deficit in this country is women not taking care of themselves ''
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Polar Bear Plunge is not an event for the coldhearted . Participants actually pay up to jump into freezing-cold water , with the proceeds benefiting Special Olympics . Last year , the various Polar Bear Plunges held by each state raised a collective $ 16 million . `` Each event is so much more than just a Plunge , with hot tubs and huge heated tents , bands , vendors , costume contests , DJs and more , '' said Bronwyn Schaefer Pope , vice president of marketing and communications for Special Olympics Minnesota . The events `` allow people of all ages and abilities to do something wild and crazy to shake off the winter blues . '' Be it a lake , an ocean or a river , plungers continue to jump . CNN looks at the five biggest Plunges in the United States : . Maryland -- January 29 , 2011 . Unlike many of the other Polar Bear Plunges in the United States , Maryland holds one massive event instead of multiple smaller ones . `` We determined that we would invest our time and energy into one event and maximize the craziness of that one event , '' said Tom Schniedwind , executive vice president for sports marketing for Special Olympics Maryland . He says that Maryland 's Plunge , which takes place in Chesapeake Bay , has five giant festival tents on the day of the event , including an extreme sports tent and a music tent . `` It 's kind of a bucket list thing for our plungers , whether they 're veteran plungers or first-timers , '' Schniedwind said . Wisconsin -- February 5 , 2011-March 5 , 2011 . Plungers can choose from a dozen different Polar Bear Plunge locations and a variety of dates . However , the Madison Plunge , which takes place on February 19 , and the Oshkosh Plunge , which also takes place on February 19 , are the largest . `` In Madison , you walk out onto the ice , turn around and face the crowd , and jump into a 20-by-20-foot hole that 's cut in the ice , '' said Kelly Kloepping , vice president of communications for Special Olympics Wisconsin . At other locations , you might jump off of a dock or run off the beach into the water . Minnesota -- January 29 , 2011-March 12 , 2011 . What started in 1998 with 65 plungers has grown into a massive fundraising effort , including 14 different plunge locations . Last year , the Minneapolis location alone had 1,800 plungers and raised more than $ 320,000 . `` Each site has unique aspects which build on the character of the local community , '' Schaefer Pope said . In Rochester , Super Plungers can jump 24 times in 24 hours . In Minneapolis , those too chicken to plunge can run a 5K . `` The Plunges in Minnesota are not for the faint of heart and can definitely be considered an extreme sport , '' Schaefer Pope said . `` But they are also accessible to people of all ages and abilities . '' New Jersey -- November 27 , 2010-February 26 , 2011 . In New Jersey , Polar Bear Plunge participants can take a dip in the frigid Atlantic Ocean at two different locations . The Seaside Heights Plunge is the largest , with more than 4,500 plungers . `` They know exactly why they are jumping into the 30-degree water : for the athletes , '' said Doreen Pustizzi , senior director of communications for Special Olympics New Jersey . Last year 's event at Seaside Heights had more plungers than ever , despite being postponed a week because of bad weather . Illinois -- February 25 , 2011-March 19 , 2011 . More than 10,000 people attended the various Plunges in Illinois in 2010 , and with 18 locations in 2011 , Special Olympics Illinois is expecting plenty of participants . `` We strive to have a consistent , quality experience at all of our plunge locations around the state , '' said Michele Henson , director of communications and publications for Special Olympics Illinois .
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Polar Bear Plunges are held all across the United States to raise money for Special Olympics . A Plunge consists of jumping into a body of water during the winter . Maryland raised the most money of all the states in 2010 .
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Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Iraqi authorities have shared information obtained from captured insurgents who claim al Qaeda is planning suicide attacks in the United States and Europe during the Christmas holiday season , a U.S. official said Thursday . The official said the threat report is being taken seriously , but there is no intelligence indicating there is a specific or credible threat against the U.S. homeland . But , the official added , al Qaeda in Iraq remains a dangerous force . The official indicated the United States remains vigilant , especially during the holidays , in light of what happened last Christmas -- a reference to the failed attempt to blow up an airliner over Detroit . Another U.S. official said `` we are looking closely '' at the information coming from Iraq . Interpol spokesman Pietro Calcaterra told CNN that `` we have received information from our office in Baghdad about possible al Qaeda attacks on U.S. and European targets . '' He did n't elaborate . Two Iraqi officials , Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh , are saying there is no specific information about a Christmas attack . The U.S. military in Baghdad told CNN the American mission in Iraq `` will work closely with the government of Iraq and our interagency partners to help determine the extent of any potential threat . ''
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No specific threat is indicated against the United States . An `` underwear '' bomber tried to bring down a U.S. plane last Christmas .
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LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Renault F1 team have shown a united front with Ferrari with a threat to boycott the 2010 Championship unless proposed rule changes are dropped by the sport 's governing body . Renault have now joined Ferrari in saying they will not race in 2010 unless proposed changes are dropped . The decision comes in the wake of plans by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile -LRB- FIA -RRB- to introduce optional cost-caps and technical restrictions for competing teams . Renault stated on their official Web site that the decision by the FIA to introduce two sets of technical regulations has led to the team `` reconsidering its entry in next year 's World Championship . '' Renault F1 Team Managing Director , Flavio Briatore said : `` We refuse to accept unilateral governance handed out by the FIA . If the decisions announced are not revised , we have no choice but to withdraw ... at the end of 2009 . '' Are Ferrari and Renault right to serve the FIA with an ultimatum ? President of the team , Bernard Rey , added : `` We remain committed to the sport , however , we can not be involved in a championship operating with different sets of rules . '' The controversy centers on plans for an optional cost-capping policy to operate next season which the FIA argued , in an April press release , would allow technical innovation to flourish without promoting a `` spending race . '' It would mean that teams operating within a budget cap of $ 60 million would be free of technical restrictions , while those over this amount would not . The FIA believed this would attract new teams to join the sport and stated in April `` interest has been extraordinarily high from both existing teams and potential new entrants '' to the idea . However , Ferrari and Renault fear this will create a two-tier competition with cars in the same race competing under different rules . Renault 's announcement comes after Ferrari - the only constructor to have taken part in every season since 1950 - confirmed they would not be entering a team for the 2010 world championships , for the same reasons on May 12 . `` Ferrari confirms its opposition to the new technical regulations adopted by the FIA and does not intend entering its cars in the 2010 F1 Championship , '' the team said in a statement on its official Web site . The spotlight now turns to a crunch meeting between the teams and the FIA in London on Friday which will aim to resolve the growing crisis in Formula 1 . The furore comes despite F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone telling the Times newspaper that he did not envisage the Italian team carrying through its threat earlier in the week . `` Ferrari are not stupid , '' he said . `` They do n't want to leave Formula 1 and we do n't want to lose them , so we 'll get to grips with it . ''
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Renault unite with Ferrari with a threat to boycott the 2010 Championship . Decision is the result of a dispute with the sport 's governing body the FIA . Ferrari 's uninterrupted participation in Championship goes back 60 years .
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CNN -- When Apple launched its App Store last summer , few imagined it would reach today 's numbers so quickly , if ever . Auto-apps could become the next way to customize your ride . The store now hosts over 85,000 titles and has passed 2 billion downloads . Even Apple is surprised . Now the concept of the app store has spread like a virus among competitors . It 's also reached seemingly unrelated industries , like automobiles and TV set-top boxes . The App Store taps the creative energy of entrepreneurial developers . Whether they 're big or small , they can make money through it , even though the challenges for them can be considerable . For consumers , the App Store offers third-party applications -LRB- free or charged -RRB- that can be downloaded or synched onto an iPhone or iPod Touch . Apple takes 30 percent of a paid app 's revenue and charges developers an annual fee to use the iPhone software development kit and upload apps to the store . But the rest goes to developers , some of whom have profited handsomely from their creations . Many companies now offer something similar to the App Store , if not in whole then in part . Even if none has yet come close to Apple 's numbers -- or , arguably , its design achievements -- the spread of the app store idea is undeniable . `` It seems like every company remotely related to technology is embracing the app store craze , '' notes IT expert Tony Bradley in a blog post for PC World . Handset makers now offering software stores include Palm , Nokia , Sony-Ericsson , and BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion . On the platform side , Google 's Android and Microsoft 's Windows Mobile -- competitors to the iPhone OS -- each have an app store now . Nintendo and Sony , the traditional powers in gaming gadgets , have also launched app stores , for their DSi and PSP handhelds , respectively . Apple is now their competitor thanks to all the iPhone games . The chipmaker Intel announced last month that it 's setting up multiple app stores through partners like Acer and Asus to encourage independent developers to create apps for netbooks and handhelds based on its processors . For Twitter , a startup called Oneforty is trying to position itself as the unofficial `` app store '' for tie-in services . Cellular operators , wary of becoming `` dumb pipes , '' are n't sitting idly by . Verizon , Vodafone , Orange , and others getting in on the action with their own app stores . Not every company is a natural fit for creating app stores , so another market is forming for firms that help set them up . A firm called GetJar has helped Sony Ericsson and the cellular carriers Optimus -LRB- in Portugal -RRB- and 3 -LRB- in the UK -RRB- with app stores . Amdocs and Comverse , which already provide various services to carriers , have added `` app store provider '' to their offerings . Other firms are helping developers deal with the sudden rash of app stores . A California startup called GoldSpot Media recently launched miApp , designed to let developers `` design once , deploy in any app store . '' Of course they were n't thinking about app stores outside the mobile space when they wrote that tagline . From hand-held to real-world . Few anticipated the app store meme spreading to cars , for instance , but Atlanta-based Hughes Telematics says it 's helping automakers prepare app stores for drivers . For safety , some of these apps would use an audio-only interface for drivers , or be usable only by passengers or when parked , notes Kevin Link , a vice president with the company : `` Automotive applications must consider driver distraction , network security , and reliability within the vehicle . '' But the possibilities are tantalizing and include taking pictures of a thief in action , playing catch-up audio clips of TV shows , deciphering that obscure Check Engine light , and remotely starting the engine or resetting the car alarm . Such apps could be accessed through home computers or smart phones , as well as from within the vehicle itself . Hughes Telematics ca n't reveal too many specifics about upcoming app stores because their rollouts depend on the schedules of the carmakers . And many details have yet to be worked out , notes Link , such as how revenues will be split with the developers . An app store of sorts will also be offered later this year by Roku , which sells a TV set-top box that connects to your broadband connection and brings online content to your living room . The box already lets customers order Netflix movies . With the upcoming app store , online content normally reserved for computers will be easily accessed over the TV . Possibilities include video and audio podcasts and photo-sharing destinations . As with the App Store , the idea is to let any developer -LRB- most likely a content owner in this case -RRB- offer their product through the platform . `` What an open platform does is create an opportunity for any content owner or content aggregator that has access to content , to make that content available for viewing on the TV , '' notes company spokesperson Brian Jaquet . Between six and 12 new apps , or channels , will be offered by the end of this year , he adds , and more will follow . Of course exactly what will follow is unclear because -- as with the other App Store-like offerings -- the only real limit is the imaginations of developers . Stay tuned .
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Apple 's ` Apps Store ' has become hugely successful and mimicked by others . Away from hand-held gadgets , apps being developed for cars and TV set-top boxes . Such apps could be accessed through home computers or smart phones .
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Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama told CNN 's Larry King on Thursday that he is furious about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill , but his job is to fix things instead of just yelling at people . In a White House interview for the 25th anniversary of `` Larry King Live '' on CNN , Obama called the oil spill an unprecedented crisis for the country but added it could have been worse . Despite the challenges posed by the oil spill , global threats involving North Korea and Iran and political battles with Congress , Obama called being president `` the best job on Earth . '' `` It 's an extraordinary privilege to wake up every day and know you have the opportunity to serve the American people and make life better , '' he said . King noted that the latest CNN Poll of Polls showed Obama at 48 percent support among the American people , which the president called pretty good , considering the circumstances . `` Given everything that 's going on , my poll numbers are all right , '' Obama said . Asked about his anger toward the oil spill situation , Obama said he was furious because `` somebody did n't think through the consequences of their actions . '' Obama also said he had not seen enough of a rapid response from BP to the environmental catastrophe . `` I would love to just spend a lot of my time venting and yelling at people , but that 's not the job I was hired to do , '' Obama said . `` My job is to solve this problem and ultimately this is n't about me and how angry I am . Ultimately this is about the people down in the Gulf who are being impacted and what am I doing to make sure that they 're able to salvage their way of life . '' Oil giant BP caused the spill and is responsible for paying the costs , Obama said , adding : `` My job is to make sure they 're being held accountable . '' In the wide-ranging interview to be broadcast Thursday night , Obama also acknowledged Israel 's security concerns while questioning the Israeli blockade of Gaza following this week 's military raid on a flotilla of ships carrying relief supplies to the Palestinian territory . The president called the incident that killed nine people , including a Turkish-American man , a `` tragic situation '' that could serve as `` an opportunity '' to advance the Middle East peace process . '' On the oil spill , Obama said BP has the best technology and know-how to try to stop the leak , but the president indicated that the spill could continue until relief wells being drilled now are completed in August . Despite the havoc that the oil spill is causing to Gulf fisheries and fragile wetlands , Obama said he still supports off-shore drilling `` if it can be done safely . '' Asked about reports that his administration had extended a moratorium on offshore drilling to shallow water rigs , Obama denied it . `` Actually the moratorium is not extended to the shallow waters , '' the president said . On another topic , Obama criticized Arizona 's controversial new immigration law because it could lead to `` 50 different laws in 50 different states '' regarding border security , which is a federal concern . The interview took place shortly after Obama met with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer , who said Obama pledged to work with her on solving the immigration problem . The new Arizona law , which takes effect in July , allows police officers to check the residency status of anyone who is being investigated for a crime or possible legal infraction if there is reasonable suspicion the person is an illegal resident . Critics , including Attorney General Eric Holder , have said the law will promote racial profiling . Obama told CNN that the issue required a broader response than just strengthening border security , and he urged Congress to work with him on comprehensive immigration reform that would tighten the border while requiring illegal immigrants to register , pay back taxes and penalties , learn English and seek citizenship through normal channels . The president also discussed the status of pending free agent basketball star Lebron James , saying that part of him hoped James would re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers because it would be a `` great story . '' Obama , who is from Chicago and a known fan of the hometown Bulls , acknowledged his response might make people there unhappy . The president also called Wednesday night 's White House concert honoring former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney a great event , particularly when McCartney serenaded the first lady with the love ballad that shares her first name , `` Michelle . '' `` When she was a little girl growing up on the South Side -LRB- of Chicago -RRB- , I do n't think she ever imagined that happening , '' Obama said .
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President Obama says he 's furious about the Gulf oil spill , but his job is to fix it , not vent . Obama calls the crisis unprecedented , but says it could have been worse . Despite challenges , Obama calls being president `` the best job on Earth '' Obama was interviewed by CNN 's Larry King for the 25th anniversary of `` Larry King Live ''
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BOGOTA , Colombia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Colombia will freeze prices for gasoline and other petrofuels through March , the government has announced . Hernan Martinez Torres , in a photo from September , says gas prices will be frozen in Colombia through March . The freeze takes effect Thursday and sets prices at December levels , the minister of mines and energy said Monday . The measure will be funded through a $ 170 million Fund for the Stabilization of Prices for Combustibles , which goes into effect January 1 , a release on the Colombian president 's Web site says . `` All this is being done to give consumers a clear signal of stability , '' Minister of Mines and Energy Hernan Martinez Torres is quoted as saying in El Pais newspaper . Gas prices also will not decrease , although there has been a significant drop in crude oil prices in the past few months , Martinez said . The price freeze pertains to gasoline , biogasoline -LRB- oxygenated gasoline -RRB- , a product called ACPM -LRB- combustible oil for motors -RRB- , and the mix of ACPM and biodiesel . For the time being , El Pais said , only propane will see a decrease in price , with the price going down 25 percent . It 's the second price drop for propane , which decreased 10 percent in November .
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Price freeze on gas , other fuels takes effect Thursday , runs through March . Freeze is to give consumers `` a signal of stability , '' energy minister tells newspaper . Gas prices ca n't rise or fall under the freeze , Hernan Martinez Torres says . Price freeze does n't affect propane ; its price is set to drop 25 percent , paper reports .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- World No. 1 Roger Federer faces a potential quarterfinal clash with Nikolay Davydenko after his recent nemesis was drawn in the same quarter of the field for the Australian Open , which starts on Monday . The Russian has beaten Swiss star Federer in his past two meetings as he has risen to sixth in the rankings , winning the 2009 season-ending ATP World Tour Finals . Last year 's losing finalist Federer faces Davydenko 's unseeded compatriot Igor Andreev in the first round , and could play former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in the third . To get to Federer , Davydenko -- who starts against a qualifier -- may have to face last year 's semifinalist Fernando Verdasco , or the Spanish ninth seed 's compatriots Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya , who are both former top-ranked players . Third seed Novak Djokovic is also in Federer 's half of the draw , along with No. 8 Robin Soderling . The Serbian could face Soderling , last year 's French Open finalist , in the quarterfinals before a potential semifinal with Federer . World No. 2 and defending champion Rafael Nadal heads the other half of the draw , where he could face Andy Murray in the quarterfinals . Murray has paid the price for deciding against defending his Qatar Open title earlier this month , with the Britain dropping outside the top four in the rankings . If he were to get past Nadal , Murray could possibly face a semifinal against U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro , who is fourth seed and expected to play despite pulling out of the Kooyong Classic with a wrist problem . Del Potro could play American seventh seed Andy Roddick in the last eight . Verdasco will play Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga , who is seeded 10th for the season 's first Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne , in Saturday 's final in the exhibition event . Meanwhile , 2006 Australian Open runner-up Marcus Baghdatis will play Richard Gasquet in the final of the Sydney International event on Saturday . Cypriot Baghdatis is aiming for his second title in three tournaments , having won the Stockholm Open at the end of last year . Frenchman Gasquet is seeking his first ATP Tour title since September 2007 , having served a ban for a positive cocaine test last year which was later reduced due to mitigating circumstances . Australian Open men 's singles draw -LRB- seeds in bold -RRB- : . 1-Roger Federer -LRB- Swi -RRB- v Igor Andreev -LRB- Rus -RRB- Juan Ignacio Chela -LRB- Arg -RRB- v Victor Hanescu -LRB- Rom -RRB- Stephane Robert -LRB- Fra -RRB- v Potito Starace -LRB- Ita -RRB- Oscar Hernandez -LRB- Spa -RRB- v 31-Albert Montanes -LRB- Spa -RRB- 22-Lleyton Hewitt -LRB- Aus -RRB- v Qualifier Christophe Rochus -LRB- Bel -RRB- v Qualifier Paolo Lorenzi -LRB- Ita -RRB- v Marcos Baghdatis -LRB- Cyp -RRB- Frederico Gil -LRB- Por -RRB- v 15-Gilles Simon -LRB- Fra -RRB- 9-Fernando Verdasco -LRB- Spa -RRB- v Carsten Ball -LRB- Aus -RRB- Qualifier v Dudi Sela -LRB- Isr -RRB- Rajeev Ram -LRB- USA -RRB- v Qualifier Qualifier v 23-Juan Carlos Ferrero -LRB- Spa -RRB- 30-Juan Monaco -LRB- Arg -RRB- v Ernests Gulbis -LRB- Lat -RRB- Martin Vassallo Arguello -LRB- Arg -RRB- v Michael Llodra -LRB- Fra -RRB- Carlos Moya -LRB- Spa -RRB- v Qualifier Qualifier v 6-Nikolay Davydenko -LRB- Rus -RRB- 3-Novak Djokovic -LRB- Ser -RRB- v Daniel Gimeno-Traver -LRB- Spa -RRB- Marinko Matosevic -LRB- Aus -RRB- v Marco Chiudinelli -LRB- Swi -RRB- Kristof Vliegen -LRB- Bel -RRB- v Michael Berrer -LRB- Ger -RRB- Denis Istomin -LRB- Uzb -RRB- v 32-Jeremy Chardy -LRB- Fra -RRB- 20-Mikhail Youzhny -LRB- Rus -RRB- v Richard Gasquet -LRB- Fra -RRB- Jan Hajek -LRB- Cze -RRB- v Robby Ginepri -LRB- USA -RRB- Lukasz Kubot -LRB- Pol -RRB- v Mischa Zverev -LRB- Ger -RRB- Santiago Giraldo -LRB- Col -RRB- v 16-Tommy Robredo -LRB- Spa -RRB- 10-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga -LRB- Fra -RRB- v Sergiy Stakhovsky -LRB- Ukr -RRB- Fabio Fognini -LRB- Ita -RRB- v Taylor Dent -LRB- USA -RRB- Ryan Harrison -LRB- USA -RRB- v Janko Tipsarevic -LRB- Ser -RRB- Simon Greul -LRB- Ger -RRB- v 18-Tommy Haas -LRB- Ger -RRB- 26-Nicolas Almagro -LRB- Spa -RRB- v Qualifier Benjamin Becker -LRB- Ger -RRB- v Qualifier Alejandro Falla -LRB- Col -RRB- v Marcos Daniel -LRB- Bra -RRB- Marcel Granollers-Pujol -LRB- Spa -RRB- v 8-Robin Soderling -LRB- Swe -RRB- 7-Andy Roddick -LRB- USA -RRB- v Thiemo De Bakker -LRB- Ned -RRB- Teimuraz Gabashvili -LRB- Rus -RRB- v Thomaz Bellucci -LRB- Bra -RRB- Feliciano Lopez -LRB- Spa -RRB- v Pablo Cuevas -LRB- Uru -RRB- Rainer Schuettler -LRB- Ger -RRB- v 25-Sam Querrey -LRB- USA -RRB- 21-Tomas Berdych -LRB- Cze -RRB- v Robin Haase -LRB- Ned -RRB- Daniel Brands -LRB- Ger -RRB- v Evgeny Korolev -LRB- Rus -RRB- Sebastien Grosjean -LRB- Fra -RRB- v Qualifier Olivier Rochus -LRB- Bel -RRB- v 11-Fernando Gonzalez -LRB- Chi -RRB- 14-Marin Cilic -LRB- Cro -RRB- v Fabrice Santoro -LRB- Fra -RRB- Qualifier v Bernard Tomic -LRB- Aus -RRB- Igor Kunitsyn -LRB- Rus -RRB- v Jose Acasuso -LRB- Arg -RRB- Guillermo Garcia-Lopez -LRB- Spa -RRB- v 19-Stanislas Wawrinka -LRB- Swi -RRB- 29-Viktor Troicki -LRB- Ser -RRB- v Nicolas Lapentti -LRB- Ecu -RRB- Philipp Petzschner -LRB- Ger -RRB- v Florian Mayer -LRB- Ger -RRB- James Blake -LRB- USA -RRB- v Arnaud Clement -LRB- Fra -RRB- Michael Russell -LRB- USA -RRB- v 4-Juan Martin Del Potro -LRB- Arg -RRB- 5-Andy Murray -LRB- GB -RRB- v Qualifier Marc Gicquel -LRB- Fra -RRB- v Simone Bolelli -LRB- Ita -RRB- Jarkko Nieminen -LRB- Fin -RRB- v Nick Lindhal -LRB- Aus -RRB- Florent Serra -LRB- Fra -RRB- v 28-Jurgen Melzer -LRB- Aut -RRB- 17-David Ferrer -LRB- Spa -RRB- v Andreas Seppi -LRB- Ita -RRB- Qualifier v Yen-Hsun Lu -LRB- Tpe -RRB- Daniel Koellerer -LRB- Aut -RRB- v Qualifier Qualifier v 12-Gael Monfils -LRB- Fra -RRB- 13-Radek Stepanek -LRB- Cze -RRB- v Ivo Karlovic -LRB- Cro -RRB- Julien Benneteau -LRB- Fra -RRB- v Qualifier Mardy Fish -LRB- USA -RRB- v Andrey Golubev -LRB- Kaz -RRB- Jason Kubler -LRB- Aus -RRB- v Ivan Ljubicic -LRB- Cro -RRB- -LRB- 24 -RRB- 27-Philipp Kohlschreiber -LRB- Ger -RRB- v Horacio Zeballos -LRB- Arg -RRB- John Isner -LRB- USA -RRB- v Wayne Odesnik -LRB- USA -RRB- Lukas Lacko -LRB- Svk -RRB- v Leonardo Mayer -LRB- Arg -RRB- Peter Luczak -LRB- Aus -RRB- v 2-Rafael Nadal -LRB- Spa -RRB- .
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Roger Federer faces potential quarterfinal clash with Nikolay Davydenko at Australian Open . The Russian sixth seed has beaten the world No. 1 in their last two meetings . Defending champion Rafael Nadal faces possible last-eight tie with Andy Murray . Nadal could then face U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro in semifinals .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A three-goal blitz in 17 minutes preserved Manchester United 's unbeaten record in the English Premier League and saved them from an embarrassing defeat at Blackpool . The league leaders eventually won 3-2 at Bloomfield Road after newly-promoted Blackpool had stunned Alex Ferguson 's side by leading 2-0 at the interval . But two goals from Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov and one from Mexican Javier Hernandez spared United 's blushes and extended their lead at the top of the table to five points over Arsenal . Blackpool , entertaining United in a top flight game for the first time in 40 years , flew out of the traps against their illustrious opponents and were ahead inside a quarter of an hour . Defender Craig Cathcart , who joined Blackpool from United in August last year , rose to head Charlie Adam 's corner into the net . When Blackpool doubled their advantage on 42 minutes a major shock looked to be on the cards . Again United failed to deal with a Blackpool corner and DJ Campbell nodded home at the far post . Ferguson sent his side out five minutes before the restart in an attempt to kick start their reply but they very nearly conceded a penalty when Rafael upended Luke Varney in the penalty area . Blackpool began to tire as United upped the tempo and they pulled a goal back when Berbatov turned home Darren Fletcher 's cross on 72 minutes . Just two minutes later Hernandez , on as a substitute for Wayne Rooney , collected Ryan Giggs ' pinpoint pass before firing low into the net . And with 88 minutes on the watch Berbatov grabbed his second and United 's winner when he ran onto a Paul Scholes pass and drilled a left foot shot into the net . After the match Ferguson told Sky Sports : `` In the first half we were battered . We were all over the place . Maybe we were too confident . `` We changed at half-time , Ryan Giggs made a tremendous difference . We started to penetrate and I think we were deserved winners in the end . '' Aston Villa made it two wins in four days as they beat Wigan Athletic 2-1 . Gabriel Agbonlahor put Gerard Houllier 's side in front when he pounced on a loose ball to head past Wigan 's Omani goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi . Ashley Young then extended Villa 's lead from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Hendry Thomas . Wigan pulled a goal back with ten minutes left after James McCarthy 's long range effort deflected off James Collins but Villa held on for a win that takes them up to 13th in the table . Arsenal booked their place in the League Cup final after beating second division side Ipswich 3-0 at Emirates Stadium . The Premier League side trailed 1-0 from the first leg but sealed their place at Wembley thanks to goals from Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner , French defender Laurent Koscielny and Spain international Cesc Fabregas .
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Manchester United come back from two goals down to beat Blackpool 3-2 . Two goals from Dimitar Berbatov help United extend their lead at the top to five points . Aston Villa win 2-1 at Wigan thanks to goals from Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young . Arsenal beat Ipswich Town to claim a place in the Carling Cup final .
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Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Seven midshipmen were expelled from the Naval Academy for using a drug called `` spice '' in violation of the Navy 's policies on illicit substance abuse , officials said . The midshipmen were `` separated from the Naval Academy '' as of Thursday , said Cmdr. Joe Carpenter , spokesman for the academy . `` While we will not go into the details of individual cases , the violations of the Navy 's substance abuse policies included use and possession , '' Carpenter said in a statement . `` These cases involved ` spice , ' which is considered a banned substance by the departments of Defense and Navy . '' `` Spice , '' also known as K2 , is a mixture of herbs and spices that typically is sprayed with a synthetic compound chemically similar to THC , the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana , according to a Drug Enforcement Administration fact sheet . `` K2 is commonly purchased in head shops , tobacco shops , various retail outlets and over the Internet , '' the DEA said . `` It is often marketed as incense or ` fake weed . ' '' Its effects on the body are similar to that of marijuana . The midshipmen included juniors and sophomores , Carpenter said . The academy , located in Annapolis , Maryland , did not identify them . On whether they will have to repay the cost of their education , Carpenter said the decision is up to the Department of the Navy . `` Consistent with Navy policy , the Naval Academy has a zero tolerance policy regarding illicit drug use or possession , '' Carpenter said . The investigation is ongoing , he said . Other midshipmen told academy leadership about the allegations after the fall semester began , he said . In 2009 , 11 midshipmen were found to be in violation of the Navy 's substance abuse policy . In 2010 , four other midshipmen were found to be in violation . Spice is usually smoked in joints or pipes , according to the DEA , but some users make it into a tea . Its key ingredients are not regulated in the United States , but they have been banned or declared illegal in some European countries . The U.S. military has banned their use , the DEA noted . CNN 's Adam Levine contributed to this report .
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` Spice ' is a form of synthetic marijuana . The 7 midshipmen included sophomores and juniors . They were found to be in violation of the Navy 's substance abuse policies .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Harry Kewell scored a dramatic extra-time winner as Australia beat holders Iraq 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup in Doha Saturday . The former Liverpool star struck with three minutes left of added time to deal a hammer blow to Iraq 's title defense . The Socceroos will now take on Uzbekistan for a place in Saturday 's final in Qatar . Kewell , who now plays for Galatasaray in Turkey , headed a cross from Matt McKay past Iraqi goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid to settle a tense encounter . Victory was sweet revenge for the Australians , who were beaten 3-1 by eventual winners Iraq in the group stages of the competition four years ago . Chances were few and far between in the first half of normal time , although McKay and Kewell came close just before the break . But in the second half , the Lions of Mesopotamia started to roar and Emad Mohammed hit the post with Mark Schwarzer beaten . Into extra-time , it was Australia who looked the more likely to make the breakthrough with Sasa Ognenovski nearly scoring with a spectacular overhead kick . Penalties were looming though when 32-year-old Kewell cropped up to score the vital goal to send Holgier Osieck 's men through . `` We showed great character in this game . It was delightful for the coach to watch . '' he told AFP . `` Basically , we should have done it in the regular 90 minutes . Iraq played better in extra time . '' Meanwhile , South Korea beat Iran 1-0 in in the later quarterfinal , again after extra-time , to set up a last-four meeting with Japan . South Korea dominated for most the match but created few clear-cut chances at the Qatar Sport Club stadium . However , a goal from South Korean midfielder Bit Ka Ram Yoon in the 105th minute was enough to knock out the three-time champions . Both semifinals are scheduled to take place on Tuesday .
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South Korea score in extra-time to beat Iran 1-0 in Asian Cup quarterfinals . Harry Kewell scores only goal of the game as Australia knock out 2007 champions Iraq . Kewell heads home winner with three minutes left of extra time in Doha . Australia to face Uzbekistan in semifinals ; South Korea to meet Japan .
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Cairo , Egypt -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday she took on the `` complicated and difficult '' task of trying to restart talks on Israeli-Palestinian peace during her talks with Egypt 's leaders . Egypt is `` an essential partner '' in that effort , she said . `` President Obama , special envoy -LSB- George -RSB- Mitchell -- who is here with me today -- and I are all deeply and personally committed to achieving a two-state solution and comprehensive peace between Israelis , Palestinians and all of their Arab neighbors , '' Clinton said at a joint news conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit . She spoke on the final stop on her weeklong trip that stretched from Pakistan to the Middle East . Clinton met with Aboul Gheit and other Egyptian leaders before consulting Wednesday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak . Clinton angered Palestinian leaders during her stop Saturday in Jerusalem when she praised Israel for what she called `` unprecedented '' steps to limit -- but not fully halt -- the construction of Jewish settlements . Egyptian leaders told Clinton her statement was perceived as `` a sort of backtracking '' and `` listened with great interest '' as she insisted the U.S. opposition to settlements has not changed , Aboul Gheit said . `` We talked about this very clearly and very candidly , '' he said , noting that Egypt feels that Israel `` is hindering the process '' by continuing its settlement activities . Clinton again clarified the U.S. position at Wednesday 's news conference in Cairo : `` Our policy on settlements has not changed . I want to say that again : Our policy on settlement activity has not changed , '' she said . `` We do not accept the legitimacy of settlement activity . And we have a very firm belief that ending all activity -- current and future -- would be preferable , and that is what we have put forth , and that is what we have continued to support . '' But Palestinian frustration over Clinton 's statement in Jerusalem and the stalled peace process was still on display Wednesday in the West Bank city of Ramallah . Saeb Erakat , chief negotiator for the Palestinian Authority , said that if Israeli settlement construction did not end , it may be `` the moment of truth '' for the Palestinian leadership . Erakat raised the possibility that `` the two-state solution is no longer an option and maybe the Palestinian people should refocus their attention to the one-state solution where Muslims , Christians and Jews can live as equal . '' Israel is opposed to any notion of a `` one-state solution , '' seeing it as a fundamental threat to the Jewish nature of the state . However , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been reluctant to embrace the idea of a two-state solution , something the United States and others see as the only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict . Clinton returns to Washington later Wednesday . She said she felt `` very satisfied by what we accomplished on this trip '' despite the complex issues at hand . `` Every issue that we touched on during this trip is complicated and difficult ; each requires patience , perseverance and determination to see them through , '' Clinton said . `` If these were easy questions with simple answers , I would not have made this trip . '' She said that a key part of getting the peace process back on track is improving the image of the United States in the region . `` It is important to recognize that after a period of time in which the United States ' position was rejected or was certainly questioned , what we are doing is very carefully and consistently rebuilding those bonds , creating those partnerships , finding common ground so we and our international partners will be able to make progress , '' she said . When asked for a timeline of the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks , Clinton would only say , `` We are working hard to see that happen . I 'm not going to make predictions . ''
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Hillary Clinton : Egypt `` essential partner '' in helping restart Mideast talks . Clinton meets with Egyptians after angering Palestinians with praise for Israel . Egyptians reportedly tell Clinton her comments perceived as `` a sort of backtracking '' Clinton says U.S. position has n't changed on Israeli settlement construction .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Eight people who died in a fire in an abandoned building in New Orleans , Louisiana , overnight are believed to have been in their late teens or early 20s , the city fire department said Tuesday . The victims , who were in a small warehouse in the Upper Ninth Ward , are believed to have been homeless and were burning a fire to stay warm , officials said . Two squatters tried to wake the others but had to eventually flee through a window in the tin building , authorities said . A fire department dispatcher said the call came in shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday . `` The area is known to be frequented by transients , '' said fire department spokesman Capt. Edwin Holmes Jr. . Those inside apparently were burning trash in a barrel , Holmes said . An investigator indicated the bottom of the barrel may have burned through , Holmes said . Authorities also found the remains of two dogs . Chief Charles Parent told CNN affiliate WDSU that the victims may have sough warmth inside the building as temperatures dipped below freezing in the area . A freeze warning was in effect for the region early Tuesday , WDSU reported . Holmes said that numerous phone calls Tuesday indicated that some of the victims may have been from out of town . The building is less than a mile from the French Quarter and was likely abandoned before Hurricane Katrina . Many of the victims may have known each other by nicknames , Holmes said . The area is known for panhandling , he said . Authorities were in the process of identifying the badly burned victims , who may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning or smoke inhalation , Holmes said .
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NEW : Victims were in their late teens or early 20s . WDSU : The victims may have sought warmth from freezing temperatures . The victims are believed to have been homeless . The call came in shortly before 2 a.m.
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- At a time when partisan politics are bitter , midterm election races are tight and almost every legislative effort is stalled , who would you expect to take the boldest step in years to address the deadliest war in the world , in the heart of Central Africa ? Congress , of course . Quietly , over the past four presidential administrations , a powerful and deep bipartisan consensus has developed in Congress in support of a stronger U.S. policy toward Africa . The latest manifestation of this cooperation is a small but potent provision addressing Congo 's `` conflict minerals , '' folded into the recently passed Wall Street reform bill . The trade in four conflict minerals -- tin , tantalum , tungsten -LRB- the 3Ts -RRB- , as well as gold -- fuels the war in eastern Congo today . It 's been the deadliest war in the world since World War II . We regularly travel to eastern Congo , and on our last trip , we traced the minerals from the mines . At the mines , we saw militiamen armed with AK-47 machine guns standing over miners and forcing them to work and pay bribes , including child miners as young as 11 . We then crossed through army and rebel checkpoints , where smugglers paid off the commanders in U.S. dollars , and then witnessed how these same minerals were packed into barrels with Congolese flags on them and loaded onto planes and flown out of the country . We 've seen how armed groups on all sides of the conflict are reaping hundreds of millions of dollars per year by controlling mines and trading routes , selling minerals to international traders and smelters , which in turn sell them to electronics and jewelry companies . By requiring that publicly listed manufacturers who use these minerals conduct independent audits of their supply chains , this legislation will help curb the conflict minerals trade . Courageous members of Congress from both parties fought hard together with a coalition of faith-based organizations , women 's rights advocates and student groups for the past two years to enact this law , standing up for what is right and bravely battling against special-interest lobbyists . But some companies would have you believe otherwise and are using negative tactics to stall reform . Some critics in the corporate world have accused those campaigning for an end to the conflict minerals trade of advocating for a boycott of electronics companies . Some minerals trading companies have also argued that Congress and the conflict minerals movement will force them to pull out of Congo , creating an embargo and hurting miners . These statements significantly distort what human rights advocates in Congo and the U.S. are pressing for . Let 's first be clear : The statements originate with many of the same companies that have been knowingly purchasing conflict minerals for the past decade , according to the United Nations , and did nothing for years to avoid them . The bill and our campaign aim to develop a peaceful , legal minerals trade in Congo that will be the real benefit to war-torn communities on the ground . We oppose a boycott and , on the contrary , are asking consumers to urge their own cell phone , laptop and jewelry companies to ensure their products are conflict-free . Companies now have an opportunity to achieve this goal and help Congolese communities through three key steps : . -- Tracing : Determining the precise sources of their minerals . -- Auditing : Independently verifying these sources and trading routes . -- Certifying : Working with the Congolese , Rwandan , U.S. and other governments to develop a certification process that improves upon systems already created for other exports such as blood diamonds . These steps are complex , but they are achievable . The reality is that the bill will accelerate this supply chain reform , and Intel and Motorola are already starting a forward-looking audit process to purchase tantalum from legitimate mines , including those in Congo . Companies have at least 18 months from now to report to Congress on their audits , and during that time they will have ample opportunity to trace , audit and certify their supply chains . Some companies may choose to temporarily stop buying minerals from Congo while they reform their supply chains . In order to cushion the blow for those mining communities affected by such a decision , a miners ' livelihood fund should be created to offer them real opportunities and help the Congolese economy through small business , microfinance and agriculture . Electronics , jewelry and minerals companies should partner with donors to set up this program as soon as possible . Congress has taken the first step , but we still have a long way to go in ending the conflict minerals trade and the war in Congo . Now the Obama administration must come through and partner with the Congolese government to help create a process for conflict minerals that builds on the lessons of the process that excluded blood diamonds from the marketplace , as well as addressing wider issues of army and governance reform . And electronics and jewelry companies should support these processes with a fraction of the profits they 've earned from these conflict minerals over the past dozen years . Consumers , companies and governments can all play a part in ending this deadly trade and cutting off the fuel for the deadliest war in the world . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Sasha Lezhnev and John Prendergast .
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Congo 's `` conflict minerals '' used in cell phones , other products , co-authors say . Financial regulation law requires makers of electronics to audit supply sources . Co-authors : Consumers should urge companies to make products conflict-free . They say Obama administration should work with the Congo to develop legitimate mining .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An electrical fire on board a Boeing Dreamliner caused the plane to lose primary electrical power during a test flight Tuesday , the company said . The crew relied upon backup systems to land the aircraft . `` The pilots executed a safe landing and at all times had positive control of the airplane and all of the information necessary to perform that safe landing , '' Boeing spokeswoman Lori Gunter said Wednesday . Boeing is analyzing flight data from the plane , a process it says will take several days , to determine the exact cause of the fire . The company 's initial inspection of the aircraft indicated damage to a power control panel in the rear of the aircraft . Boeing employees were conducting a test of a system designed to prevent fires when smoke began filling the back of the cabin of the next-generation 787 Dreamliner , according to the company . The crew was testing a `` nitrogen generation system , '' which separates nitrogen from ambient air and pumps it into fuel tanks as jet fuel is burned during a flight , Boeing said . The system is designed to prevent oxygen from filling the empty space and potentially igniting the fuel . There is no indication , however , that Tuesday 's fire was caused by the nitrogen generation system , according to Boeing spokesman Jim Proulx . Boeing is grounding its entire fleet of test Dreamliners pending results of its analysis of hundreds of different data measurements to determine the cause of the fire . The Dreamliner departed from Yuma , Arizona . After about six hours of flight , smoke entered the cabin as the plane was on approach to Laredo , Texas . `` It 's something that needs to be taken very seriously , '' said Proulx . `` We need to know what happened before we can determine the likelihood of its repeatability . '' The 42 people aboard evacuated using the plane 's emergency slides , Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Lynn Lunsford said . One person was injured during the evacuation . `` We are continuing to gather data regarding this event , '' Gunter said in a statement . `` It 's too early to tell what may have gone wrong . '' The plane is the second of six test Dreamliners , having undergone 179 flights and 558 hours of flight , according to Boeing data posted on its website . The company does not intend to sell the test plane to any airline customers . Boeing says it still intends to deliver the first 787-08 Dreamliner to ANA Airlines in the middle of the first quarter of next year . ANA has 55 Dreamliners on order , which Boeing plans to deliver over the course of several years . The Dreamliner is Boeing 's new passenger jet , touted as a highly fuel-efficient aircraft made largely with composite materials . It made its maiden flight in December 2009 after two years of delays , but the head of Boeing 's commercial aircraft division told CNN in July that the Dreamliner could still make its debut in early 2011 . The company has nearly 900 orders for the jet around the world . Aviation experts say Boeing 's testing problems are not indicative of the Dreamliner 's ultimate safety . `` If I were a prospective passenger in a 787 I would n't be concerned , '' said Snorri Gudmundsson , assistant professor of aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University . `` All these bugs will be weeded out . '' `` Boeing is quite thorough , not just because of requirements from the FAA but because of Boeing 's position in the industry , '' added Todd Curtis , a former Boeing electrical engineer . CNN 's Frances Causey and Jason Kessler contributed to this report .
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NEW : An electrical fire cause the plane to lose power , Boeing says . NEW : The crew relied on backup systems to land the aircraft . The crew was testing fire prevention system . Boeing says no new flights will be scheduled for now .
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Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- With its well-killing effort reported to be going `` extremely well , '' BP plans to start pouring concrete into the crippled well in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday . The U.S. official overseeing the response to the spill , retired Adm. Thad Allen , has given BP a green light to pour cement on top of the 2,300 barrels of heavy drilling mud already sent down the well . The mud drove oil back into the reservoir in an operation known as a `` static kill . '' But Allen said BP should follow that with a second well-killing procedure that has been in the works as sort of an insurance policy -- pouring additional mud and cement through a relief well that 's expected to be ready in mid-August . `` Based on the successful completion of the static kill procedure and a positive evaluation of the test results , I have authorized BP to cement its damaged well , '' Allen said Wednesday in a statement . `` I made it clear that implementation of this procedure shall in no way delay the completion of the relief well . '' Earlier Wednesday , Senior Vice President Kent Wells reported that the initial step in the static kill had gone `` extremely well . '' The company began pumping the mud Tuesday afternoon , and the operation continued for some eight hours . BP pumped mud into the well from a ship on the surface mostly at the rate of five barrels a minute . That eventually increased to 10 and then 15 barrels a minute near the end of the operation , according to Wells . `` Everything proceeded exactly as we expected it to , '' he said . The move essentially sealed the well , which had poured oil into the Gulf for nearly three months until a tight-fitting cap was placed on it in mid-July . Wednesday marked the 107th day since the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history began with the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon that sank the rig and killed 11 workers . The government estimates that nearly 5 million barrels of crude oil spilled into the Gulf . But Wells noted that it has been 20 days since the well was fitted with a tightly-fitting cap , which stopped the oil from flowing and made it possible to permanently seal the well through the operations now under way . `` It 's getting very difficult to find any oil on the surface , but I want to emphasize that BP remains committed to getting this well permanently shut and cleaning up any pollution and restoring the Gulf Coast , '' Wells said . `` That was our commitment from the beginning , and we 're just as committed to that today . '' While it may be difficult to find much oil on the surface for skimming ships to collect , local officials are quick to point out that coastal areas are still being affected . The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries issued a report Wednesday indicating that oil sheen and patches of oil are still being spotted in marshes and various coastal areas in St. Bernard , Paquemines and Jefferson parishes . And in another development Wednesday , Louisiana wildlife officials and the state 's Special Investigations Unit said two men had been arrested and accused of falsifying documents to file claims with BP . Authorities said An Ly , 36 , the owner of Ly Ly Seafood , and Samith Huynh , 31 , falsified documents from January through April , reporting the sale of 6,347 pounds of crabs for $ 9,548.91 during that period -- in the months before the Deepwater Horizon explosion . According to the arrest warrant , Huynh acknowledged receiving $ 5,000 checks from BP America in May and June . But the warrant said that when confronted by authorities , both men admitted they did not sell or purchase any crabs in the months leading up to the explosion , after it was pointed out that Huynh did n't have a commercial fishing license during that time -- and only obtained one in May . The men , from the town of New Iberia , Louisiana , southwest of Baton Rouge , were booked Tuesday in the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail . If convicted , they could face fines up to $ 5,000 and up to five years in jail . BP has promised to compensate people impacted by the spill , and In a meeting with President Barack Obama in June , BP executives agreed to set up a $ 20 billion dollar fund for that purpose . Meanwhile , Carol Browner , director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy , talked about the well-killing efforts on CNN 's Situation Room . She told Wolf Blitzer , `` It 's not mission accomplished , but obviously , it 's an important day . '' `` We know the static kill worked , and we know we 're not going to have more oil leaking into the Gulf , '' she said . But she noted the relief well operation lies ahead , and said , `` We also have the long-term restoration . So we 're just beginning one phase as we end one phase . '' Looking ahead to that next phase , coastal parish leaders and state officials in Louisiana submitted a transition plan to the Coast Guard on long-range cleanup efforts . The plan was developed after a meeting last week with Gov. Bobby Jindal , coastal parish presidents , Coast Guard officials and BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles . The plan notes that federal , state and local authorities all must agree that shorelines are clean , before the effort will stop . On that cleanup front , a government report released Wednesday indicated that 74 percent of the oil that leaked from the well over nearly three months has been collected , has dispersed or has evaporated . Several agencies were involved in the study including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , the U.S. Geological Survey and the Department of the Interior . Of the total amount of oil that spilled in the Gulf of Mexico -- the most recent estimate is 205.8 million gallons -- just 26 percent remains in the water , either on or just below the surface as a light sheen and weathered tar balls . Of the remaining 26 percent , `` much of that is in the process of being degraded and cleaned up on the shore , '' said Jane Lubchenco , NOAA administrator . The tar balls are either washing ashore , being collected from the coastlines , or buried in sand and sediment and are in the process of being degraded , the report said . CNN 's Vivian Kuo contributed to this report .
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NEW : BP given green light to pour cement down well as part of `` static kill '' NEW : U.S. says BP must still proceed with relief well . NEW : Louisiana officials submit long-term cleanup plan . BP exec says well-killing efforts so far have gone `` extremely well ''
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Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- As President Obama is set to take stock of the nation during his State of the Union address Tuesday , a civil engineers group gives the U.S. transportation system low grades . For example , the nation 's bridges . Most of us do n't think much about bridges until one we need is closed or is damaged or collapses , as the I-35W one did in Minneapolis in 2007 , killing 13 people . Yet engineers all over the country who really know about such things say we ought to be thinking about bridges a lot more . And here is something we should consider : One in four of our bridges is either in need of repair or obsolete in terms of handling modern traffic and loads . That startling fact comes from the American Society of Civil Engineers , which every few years consults with dozens of the nation 's experts on all sorts of infrastructure matters . The society gives U.S. bridges a grade of C. And bridges are n't the only problem in what we could call the State of the Union 's Infrastructure . Roads , airports , water supplies , railways , dams , schools and on and on it goes ; all are , according to the engineers ' latest report in 2009 , in pretty dire shape . The amount of air travel in the U.S. increased by 7 % last year , but an overhaul of the air travel infrastructure is long overdue , according to the American Society of Civil Engineers . The group gave the nation 's aviation system a grade of D. Compared with trucks , railways are much more efficient for moving goods : using about 20 % less energy per mile if used properly . But comparatively little has been invested in expanding U.S. railroad capacity . Rail gets a C minus . What is the state of your community ? Tell us . Consider this : Although a steady drinking water supply is crucial to even the most basic success , water systems nationwide are so old and decrepit that the American Society of Civil Engineers estimates 7 billion gallons of drinking water are being lost through leaky pipes every day . How can America save crumbling water delivery systems ? Inland shipping along canals and rivers keeps millions of American homes warm with coal and families fed with grains such as wheat and corn . But locks on canals and rivers , which were made to last only 50 years , are now on average 60 years old . Navigable waterways get a D minus from the civil engineers . See details of the ASCE report card . Public transit use grew 25 percent in the past 10 years , and yet fully half of all Americans have no access to commuter buses or trains ; many more have sketchy access at best . You get the picture . However , it may be a little harder to see the multiplying effect . Experts at the American Society of Civil Engineers point out that for each year that these infrastructure problems are not addressed , they grow exponentially worse . It 's kind of like a leak in the roof . It may be painful to pay for new shingles when the leak is small , but if you wait until it expands and soaks the walls and floors below , the damage and cost will be much , much harder to bear . In recent years , many politicians have started talking much more seriously about infrastructure problems , but when faced with a stumbling economy , they are finding it harder than ever before to lean into big-ticket repairs . After all , until the day comes that a bridge falls down , it often looks just fine . The problem is , no one really knows which day that will be .
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Society of civil engineers gives U.S. low grades for transportation infrastructure . Air travel infrastructure overhaul is long overdue , while traffic increased by 7 % last year . Half of all Americans have no access to commuter buses or trains . The longer these problems go unaddressed , the worse they grow .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Japan secured their place in the final of the Asian Cup after a dramatic penalty shoot out victory over South Korea . Coach Alberto Zaccheroni 's side triumphed 3-0 on penalties after the game was level at 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after extra time . Japan will now face Australia in Saturday 's final , after the Socceroos demolished Uzbekistan 6-0 in the other semifinal . South Korea started the match brightly and took the lead on 23 minutes after Japan defender Yasuyuki Konno brought down Manchester United star Park Ji-sung in the penalty area . Ki Sung-yong converted from the spot . CNN blog : Can an Asian team ever win the World Cup ? Japan have been no strangers to going behind in this tournament , and they duly struck back nine minutes before the break . Yuto Nagamoto latched onto Keisuke Honda 's through ball and squared for Ryoichi Maeda to level the tie up at 1-1 . South Korea enjoyed the best of the second half and went close when Koo Ja-cheol hit the side-netting with a low shot before Lee Yong-rae 's free kick flashed narrowly wide of the target . As the game moved into extra time Japan upped the tempo and were rewarded when Shinji Okazaki was felled in the area by Hwang Jae-won . The striker 's penalty was saved by Jung Sung-Ryong but substitute Hajime Hosogai made no mistake from the rebound . Though South Korea laid siege to Japan 's goal in the closing stages they could n't fashion an opportunity to level . But right on the full time whistle Hwang Jae-won slammed home a loose ball after a scramble in the area . South Korea 's joy was short lived though , as they missed all three of their penalties -- Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima making two fine saves -- which left Yasuyuki Konno to convert the winning penalty and spark wild scenes of celebration . The other semifinal was a hugely one-sided affair as Australia thrashed Uzbekistan 6-0 . It took just five minutes for Australia to break the deadlock as Harry Kewell fired a low shot into the bottom corner . Sasa Ognenovski made sure Australia went in with a 2-0 cushion at half time as he fired home a loose ball after Tim Cahill had nodded down a David Carney center . Carney added the third on 65 minutes when he tucked the ball under Uzbek goalkeeper Temur Juraev after Matt McKay 's precise pass . Moments later Ulughbek Bakaev was dismissed after picking up his second yellow card . It was 4-0 less than ten minutes later as Australia sprang the offside trap and substitute Robbie Kruse squared for Brett Emerton to tap into an empty net . Carl Valeri made it five eight minutes from time as he turned home McKay 's cross and Uzbekistan 's misery was complete when Kruse 's shot squirmed past Juraev .
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Japan beat South Korea on penalties to book their place in the Asian Cup final . The game ends 1-1 after 90 minutes but Japan win 3-0 on penalties . Japan will face Australia after the Socceroos beat Uzebkistan 6-0 in the other semi . The final will be played on Saturday .
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Manila , Philippines -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A powerful bomb exploded on a passenger bus Tuesday afternoon in Manila 's financial district , killing four people and injuring 15 others , police said . `` It 's a huge explosion ; it 's so huge that it created a hole at the side of bus where it is presumed that the bomb was placed , '' said Makati Police Chief Froilan Bonifacio . Bonifacio said the explosion occurred around 2 p.m. . The bus , owned by Newman Bus Lines , was approaching a Metro Rail Transit station on Buendia Avenue in Makati City , Manila 's financial district , when it blew up . The area has been placed on high alert , according to Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr. , who arrived on the scene a short time after the blast . He said most of the victims were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment . `` We are still trying to determine what kind of bomb was used , '' Bonifacio said . An initial investigation showed the explosive device could have been placed under a seat on the bus , he said . Journalists Arlene Espirtu and Winona Cueva contributed to this report .
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A police chief says the bomb might have been planted under a seat . Investigators are trying to determine the type of bomb . The explosion blows a hole through the side of the bus . Makati City is Manila 's financial district .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- China 's Li Na made history on Thursday by becoming the first Asian tennis player to reach the singles final of a grand slam tournament in the Open era , ending the Australian hopes of world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki . The 28-year-old , a beaten semifinalist in Melbourne last year , battled back to win 3-6 7-5 6-3 in two hours and 35 minutes as she saved a match-point in the second set . Wozniacki , seeking her first grand slam title , led 5-4 but Li responded with a superb forehand down the line to escape and went on to set up a clash with former No. 1 Kim Clijsters . The Belgian progressed to the Australian Open final for the second time with a 6-3 6-3 win over Vera Zvonareva that will lift her above the Russian to second in the world rankings . Tennis will miss the elegance of Henin . Last year Li and compatriot Zheng Jie both made the semifinals in an unprecedented achievement by Chinese players , and now she is looking to savor Saturday 's experience against three-time U.S. Open champion Clijsters . No male or female player from the Asia region has reached the final of a grand slam event since the fully professional era began in 1968 . `` This is good for me , for my team and good for Chinese tennis , '' the ninth seed told the WTA Tour website after beating a top-ranked player for the second time in her career , following 2008 's victory over Serena Williams in Stuttgart . `` It 's a good experience for my whole life , because many players play a long time but never come to the final of a grand slam . '' Elbow injury forces Henin to quit tennis . The 20-year-old Wozniacki , who won the 2010 season-ending championship , is hoping to bounce back from her disappointment . `` I had a match-point and I did n't take it . Sometimes in tennis it 's one ball that can change everything , '' said the Dane , runner-up at the 2009 U.S. Open . `` It 's quite difficult to get through this one . I just need to get back on the practice court and keep working hard . Hopefully I 'll get many more chances . '' Clijsters is seeking her second successive grand slam title , but her first in Melbourne after losing the 2004 final . The 27-year-old had lost three of her previous four meetings with Zvonareva , but this time powered to victory in an hour and 13 minutes . `` I 'm happy I was able to raise my level , '' Clijsters said . `` It 's nice to be in the situation of last two standing and trying to finish on top . This is the last match -- give everything you have . '' The 26-year-old Zvonareva was disappointed to fall short , having made the finals of the previous two grand slams at the U.S. Open -- where she also lost to Clijsters -- and Wimbledon . `` I just have to think about what I can do next time if I meet a player like Kim , who 's playing her game perfectly . What can I do to hurt them ? What can I improve in my game to come up with something better next time ? ''
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Li Na goes one better than last year by reaching the final of the Australian Open . Chinese ninth seed saves match-point to upset world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki . The 28-year-old will play U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters in Saturday 's title match . Clijsters will move up to second in world rankings after beating Vera Zvonareva .
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Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Diplomatic cables expected to be released soon by WikiLeaks could contain highly sensitive information that reveals U.S. negotiating positions , secret intelligence and other confidential matters , a former U.S. ambassador to Russia told CNN . The expected online disclosure has to be taken seriously , said James F. Collins , who served as ambassador to Moscow from 1997 to 2001 and is currently director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace . `` Leaking information of this kind will be detrimental to building the trust among officials necessary to conduct effective and productive diplomacy . It will impede doing things in a normal , civilized way , '' Collins said . `` I would think the information they will leak is likely to contain analysis , records of discussions or reporting on confidential conversations between officials or official policy recommendations or suggestions about policy or diplomatic actions , '' he added . The threat by WikiLeaks , the online whistle-blower website , to publish the information has prompted the State Department to undertake a massive review of diplomatic documents . A source tells CNN that every diplomatic mission document from 2006 to 2009 is under review . The United States has started to alert nations around the world about the possible leaks . In preparation for the WikiLeaks dump , the British government warning United Kingdom news organizations about the publication of any material which could endanger national security . The Ministry of Defence on Friday issued a so called `` D-Notice . '' In the rarely used notice , the MOD told the media that before they publish potentially sensitive stories of a national security nature , they should seek the advice of a senior military official to avoid breaking the order . A senior Israeli government official said the American government contacted the Israeli government a few days ago to inform them about the possibility of internal U.S. communications about Israel being publicly released . The official would only speak on condition he not be identified . He did not know the full scope of what topics the documents may cover , the official said , but noted that Israel was told by the Americans that the leak was part of a much larger document dump by WikiLeaks , most of which had nothing to do with Israel . The Israeli government official added that the American government said it did not want Israeli officials hearing about the leak for the first time in the media . Israel was satisfied with the way the United States was handling the problem and there was little expectation in Israel that this would create a major rift in relations , the official said . A spokesman for the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Tobias Nilsson , told CNN his government also had been alerted by U.S. authorities . `` We have been in contact with the U.S. Embassy here in Stockholm and they have informed us about a possible release of documents by WikiLeaks , '' Nilsson said . `` I am , however , not going to speculate on why they contacted us or the reason for them alerting us about this . All I can say is that they have told us this might happen . '' Norway also has been contacted , said Bjorn S. Jahnsen , spokesman at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs . `` They have only told us that WikiLeaks might release new documents , '' Jahnsen said . `` They have n't said anything specific about the contents , they only alerted us that the release might happen . '' The United States did not discuss whether the leaks might affect relations between the two nations , Jahnsen said . The information blitz from WikiLeaks would offer a glimpse into the worldwide communications of the State Department and its 297 embassies , consulates and missions through what commonly are referred to as `` cables . '' Collins says cables are the telegrams used for official instructions , reports and communications from the Department of State in Washington to its international posts as well as from those posts back to the United States . Much informal communication today is by email and other kinds of modern communications , he says , `` but official instructions to the ambassador tend to come through telegrams , which an ambassador can assume have been properly coordinated in Washington . '' Telegrams , when they go out of the Department of State , are shown as signed by the secretary of state and when they come in from any embassy or consulate in the field are shown as signed by the ambassador or a principal officer . `` Obviously , '' however , Collins notes , `` these individuals can not and do not write and sign all of the telegrams . '' Embassies send Washington `` reporting '' telegrams , which can include analysis by embassy officers of developments of importance to U.S. policy in their country or they may report meetings that the ambassador or other embassy officials had with officials in their host country . They also can contain substantive policy recommendations and observations . In addition , there are housekeeping and operational messages that are dedicated to the daily operations and needs of diplomatic offices and personnel . Telegrams are an essential means for keeping U.S. diplomats informed about policy and views in Washington and to alert them to important developments . The State Department sends `` world-wide '' telegrams to its missions around the world , `` regional '' telegrams to a select number of posts and telegrams to individual posts . `` They can be informational , '' Collins says , `` telling the ambassador and his or her staff about a policy initiative , for example : they can send texts of speeches , convey in-house information the Department of State wants embassies to be aware of or provide the reasoning behind policy , what Washington wants clearly understood . '' Another kind of telegram contains official instructions . `` It says to an ambassador , ` Go take this action , ' '' Collins said , `` instructing the ambassador or his staff , for example , to ` see so and so and seek his support for an American position on Afghanistan . ' As an ambassador you would take that instruction , for example and , using it , seek out the appropriate person in the foreign ministry and make the case Washington has asked to be conveyed . '' `` The most sensitive kinds of telegrams are instructions such as those to negotiators . These instructions were routinely sent to our negotiators on the START treaty or to those carrying on negotiations with allies about next steps in Afghanistan . '' Collins says his major concern about leaking telegraphs and other official communication is that `` you can not conduct business between governments effectively on CNN or in the news media . People with whom you talk on a confidential basis , where you 're talking as government-to-government , or representative-of-government-to-representative-of-government and discussing something , implicitly assume that the confidentiality of the discussion will be preserved . Sure , everyone understands that you 're going to report back to your own government what you said and what you heard , but they do n't expect to see the exchange in the newspapers . `` Similarly , analysis that mentions names or says , ` No matter what everyone else is saying , we think the place is going to fall apart next week ' is very sensitive , '' Collins says . `` It 's not that you 're trying to cover up somebody 's mistakes . It 's that you can not expect people to provide their superiors candid advice and analysis if they expect to see their views politicized and made public . `` If WikiLeaks is putting out a whole raft of embassy reporting from Moscow or State Department instructions on Russia policy this is not good news , '' Collins told CNN , `` because these cables almost certainly will say things that will complicate relations between and among people involved , create resentments about publication of private information , and decrease the fragile confidence that has been building between the two governments . It could also reveal strategies or intentions to the detriment of our diplomatic strategy and tactics on a number of issues . And it can simply make life very difficult for embassy officers and other officials working to conduct our relations with Russia , depending on how all of this is released . '' In Baghdad , the U.S. ambassador to Iraq told a group of journalists Friday that diplomats `` are worried about additional documents coming out . '' Ambassador James Jeffrey said , `` WikiLeaks are an absolutely awful impediment to my business , which is to be able to have discussions in confidence with people . I do not understand the motivation for releasing these documents , they will not help , they will simply hurt our ability to do our work here . ''
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NEW : British government warns media against endangering national security . Former ambassador says leaks likely to damage efforts to build trust . Leaks expected to include `` cables '' used by State Department . WikiLeaks is threatening to publish thousands of classified documents .
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TOKYO , Japan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The clicking of dozens of news cameras drowned out the sobs of the 13-year-old girl , but her face explained what was happening in the departure hall of Japan 's Narita International Airport . Arlan and Sarah Calderon hug their daughter Noriko farewell . Noriko Calderon , wearing her school uniform , was being forced to make one of the most wrenching choices of her young life : To stay in the country of her birth rather than join her parents being deported to the Philippines . The scene was the emotional climax to a story a decade and a half in the making -- one that has tugged at heartstrings in Japan , but ultimately failed to sway to an unyielding bureaucracy that activists say violates human rights . Sound off : Do you think Japanese authorities are doing the right thing ? Filipinos Arlan and Sarah Calderon illegally entered Japan in the early 1990s on fake passports . They married and had a daughter , Noriko . Arlan found a stable job working for a construction company . Noriko grew up Japanese , attending school and never learning her parents ' native language . Noriko , like many Tokyo girls her age , loves hip-hop and hopes to be a dancer or a teacher at a dance school someday . But her future in the only country she 's ever known went into limbo when Japanese immigration authorities arrested her mother in 2006 . Her parents decided to fight Japan 's notoriously rigid immigration laws and for three years under a harsh media spotlight , they argued their case all the way to the country 's High Court , saying Arlan is gainfully employed and their daughter only speaks Japanese . The family lost their case in the High Court , and Japan ordered Arlan and Sarah Calderon be deported back to the Philippines . Watch CNN interview with family '' Activists claim Japan 's notoriously rigid immigration laws violate human rights . An estimated 500 families are in the same situation according to lawyers , who accuse Japan of not respecting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child . Japan 's Immigration Bureau in a statement to CNN said the couple 's illegal presence in the country as an `` extremely malicious '' violation that `` shakes the foundation of Japan 's immigration control . '' But when it came to 13 year old Noriko , the government gave the girl a choice : Her country or her parents . `` Japan is my homeland , '' says Noriko , when asked why she is choosing to stay behind . She will move in with an aunt , allowed to stay in Japan under a visa that the government will reassess yearly . Her life , say her parents , will be better in Japan . She 'll have schooling and the dreams a big city like Tokyo can offer her , versus the impoverished farm community her parents will move back to in the Philippines . But as the Calderons packed up their small apartment in the days leading up to the deportation , the reality of what would soon happen to the family became more and more harsh . `` Until I 'm an adult , I need my parents , '' Noriko said , her pink cheeks stained with tears . `` We wo n't be there when she needs us the most , '' said Arlan Calderon . `` She has to protect herself on her own . I 'm so sorry about that . '' Shogo Watanabe , the Calderons ' attorney , collected more than 20,000 signatures in Japan to try and keep the family together in the country . `` Children should be protected when their parents are punished . It 's the child 's right . But there 's no consideration for that at all . I do not think the government is being flexible , '' said Watanabe . Under Japanese immigration laws , the Calderons wo n't be allowed back into Japan for five years . They 've asked for a special waiver to visit their daughter after a year , but it has n't been granted yet . So their last , public hug could be the last time they see their daughter until she 's 18 .
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Noriko Calderon born and raised in Japan by Filipino parents . Parents deported after years of living in country . Schoolgirl says she will stay , meaning she may not see parents until she 's 18 .
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Tucson , Arizona -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It 's the week before finals at the University of Arizona in Tucson , and all over campus , students are hunched over books and laptops under the shelter of immense palm trees and sprawled out on the cement benches lining the campus ' long , grassy mall , the anticipation palpable . Elsewhere , in the Cesar Chavez Building , graduate student Francisco Baires sits in a windowless office that could have been a closet in a previous life , immersed in a different kind of work : He is sending a statement condemning Arizona 's new anti-illegal immigration law to the media and other opponents of Senate Bill 1070 . `` As students , we have a responsibility to fight this law through action and to raise our voices so those in power hear us , '' he said . `` The time has come for us to stop talking about it and be about it . '' Baires is one of many student activists in Arizona and across the country leading the charge to kill SB 1070 before it takes effect this summer . The law requires immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times and requires police to question people if there is reason to suspect they 're in the United States illegally . It also targets those who hire illegal immigrant day laborers or knowingly transport them . Tea Partiers to illegal immigrants : ` Sign guestbook ' The letter , which Baires and his cohorts are circulating as a petition , sums up the sentiments of many students . The 12 students of various ethnicities who spoke with CNN said they did not support the bill , citing concerns that the law would promote racial profiling and foster an environment of fear and paranoia among Hispanics , whether they are in the country legally or not . `` We believe that it is a law based in fear and racism . The law targets not only immigrants , but all Latinos -LRB- even those who are U.S. citizens -RRB- as well as any U.S. citizen who may associate with members of either group , '' the letter states . `` We want to halt the prejudicial momentum of Arizona 's legislators and keep the campus of the University of Arizona a free , safe place for persons of all races , backgrounds and ethnicities . '' The students ' views are also a microcosm of the broader opposition nationwide to the bill , which Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law Friday , citing concerns over crime and the failure of the federal government to regulate immigration . Dozens of protests have been staged nationwide , including in Tucson , where hundreds gathered outside the state capitol as the bill was being signed . What will Arizona immigration law do ? `` It was incredible to see that the vast majority of those assembled were young people , some as young as high school , '' professor Roberto Rodriguez said . `` To many of them , who may have parents who are illegal or have relatives that live in Mexico , this is more than just a law ; this is personal . This is a threat to their families . This could tear them apart . '' Students have been at the forefront of the major social movements of the past century , but the advent of social networking tools such as Facebook and Twitter allows them to organize at a faster and more efficient rate . `` The Internet really helps us reach a wide audience with the most up-to-date information , '' said student coordinator Jessica Mejia , one of many who helped organize the protest at the capitol . `` Now that the bill has passed , this is just the beginning . '' iReport : Share your thoughts on immigration policy . Some critics of the bill are threatening legal action ; others are pledging to boycott travel and business in Arizona unless they overturn the legislation . At the University of Arizona this week , resistance took the form of Immigration Awareness Week , a series of programs and information sessions organized by Mejia and others that included meetings on how the law works and an open forum for students to share their struggles with immigration . `` In my community , everyone has a sense of persecution . We 're living in a constant state of fear , '' said Hector Gonzalez , 21 , a Mexican-born U.S. citizen whose family lives in Phoenix . `` The law is instilling fear and limiting people from going out and doing chores , which will eventually have a direct economic impact on the community , too . '' Even students who support immigration reform called the law ill-conceived . `` I can see how something needs to be done about illegal immigration , but this is taking it too far , '' said Nick Lunn , a 21-year-old film major . `` They say there wo n't be racial profiling , but I do n't see how you can look past it . '' Supporters of the bill point to language stating that officers can not stop someone solely based on race , ethnicity and country of origin . Read the full text of Senate Bill 1070 -LRB- PDF -RRB- . But student body representative Tyler Quillin said the word `` solely '' leaves the door open for race to be among the reasons that influences an officer 's decision to detain someone . `` I see a definite separation , a disjoint between Latinos and law enforcement , '' Quillin said . `` Like they said on ` Saturday Night Live , ' there 's nothing more Nazi than ` Can I see your papers ? ' '' People also worry that the law will further marginalize undocumented immigrants by discouraging them from reporting crimes , accidents or injuries . `` It really worries me that this will increase public health issues and make them worse for women and children who might too scared of being deported to go to the hospital or to police if something happens to them , '' said Grecia Ramirez , a public health major . `` It really scares me to think about the long-term implications of this bill . '' Ramirez and other students said they planned to continue attending protests such as the one Baires and his collaborators are setting up Wednesday , when they plan to present their petition to the school 's president to sign . `` We want him to publicly state his support for our position in a show of solidarity , '' he said . `` We need to come together to fight this . There 's strength in numbers . ''
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University of Arizona students crafting petition against Senate Bill 1070 . Dozens of protests have been held nationwide since bill was signed . Even students in favor of immigration reform call measure ill-conceived .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Irish low-cost airline Ryanair posted a $ 169 million -LRB- $ 240 million -RRB- loss in the last year after being hit with higher fuel costs and a writedown in its investment in rival carrier Aer Lingus . Ryanair has forecast a rise in passenger numbers this year . Ryanair 's boss Michael O'Leary said though that he hoped to see a recovery this year , forecasting profits to `` at least double '' thanks to anticipated lower fuel costs . The loss compares with a profit of $ 390 million the previous year . The company said that with the writedown on the Aer Lingus stake stripped out , its figures showed a more `` robust '' net profit of $ 105 million . The number of passengers travelling on Ryanair planes increased by 15 percent in 2008/09 to 58 million and the airline said it hoped to increase that number to 67 million this year by cutting average fares by upt to 20 percent . Richard Hunter , head of UK equities at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers , said the Aer Lingus stake was `` an albatross around the company 's neck . '' He told the Press Association : `` There are , however , also a number of positives , not least of which is the determination of Ryanair to continue to make life uncomfortable for its competitors . `` Growth in passenger numbers and a focus on costs were proof that the company has a close eye on strategic wins , while further reductions in fares could well tempt travellers who are currently deserting other legacy carriers . ''
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Irish low-cost airline Ryanair posts $ 169 million -LRB- $ 240 million -RRB- loss in last year . Ryanair 's boss Michael O'Leary said he hoped to see recovery this year . Company said that after stripping out writedowns it made $ 105 million profit .
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LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- British Airways posted the airline 's worst annual loss since its privatization in 1987 as its chief executive declared there were `` absolutely no signs of recovery '' in the industry . BA CEO Willie Walsh says he 's never seen conditions in the airline industry so bleak . The airline slumped from profit to loss in the last financial year . During the year ended March 31 , its operating loss swelled to # 220 million -LRB- $ 348 million -RRB- from a restated profit of # 878 million -LRB- $ 1.4 billion -RRB- in 2008 . `` I 'm 30 years in this business and I 've never seen anything like this . This is by far the biggest crisis the industry has ever faced , '' BA chief executive Willie Walsh told CNN 's Richard Quest . Follow Quest on Twitter . Demand for the airline 's passenger seats and cargo holds fell during the last financial year , while its fuel bill rocketed to almost # 3 billion -LRB- $ 4.7 billion -RRB- . Walsh said British Airways ' woes were inextricably linked to the downturn in the global economy and that there had been no sign of any `` green shoots '' of recovery . Watch Richard Quest 's interview with Willie Walsh '' `` None whatsoever , and that 's across the board , '' he said . `` In all of the markets we 're operating in we see no evidence of recovery at this stage . I think there 's some evidence of it bottoming out in some markets but absolutely no signs of recovery at this point . '' Like its premium-class competitors , British Airways is losing customers to cheaper rivals . BA 's premium passenger numbers fell 13 percent in the second half of last year , in line with the industry average . Total traffic fell 3.4 percent and while BA carried 33.1 million passengers in last year , a drop of 4.3 percent on the previous year . The dip in demand for British Airways flights has forced a switch in strategy at the premium airline from yields to volume . From the end of last year , it 's been tempting passengers with lower fares , sacrificing profit per seat for `` bums on seats . '' `` We 're now saying it 's getting that balance between yield and volume so it 's more a focus on volume than it has been , '' Walsh said . He said the airline would target market share , `` where we believe that it is sustainable in the long term and will be profitable . '' It plans to reduce capacity by four percent next winter by parking up to 16 aircraft . Walsh said the tough trading conditions had n't killed off its plans for a merger with Spanish airline Iberia . He said the main barrier to the deal was corporate governance . `` It 's getting the corporate governance for the combined single entity right -- that 's a critical issue as far as I 'm concerned . '' `` Iberia do have some concerns about our pension deficit . We are very happy to listen to those concerns and I 'm also very confident that we can address that , '' Walsh said . Watch Quest Means Business for the definitive word on how we earn and spend our money , week nights at 1900 London , 2000 CET , 0300 HK .
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BA 's annual profit disappears into a loss as the global downturn takes its toll . Passenger numbers , demand for cargo falling , fuel costs increasing . BA has shifted focus from protecting yields to chasing higher volumes . Willie Walsh : `` This is by far the biggest crisis the industry has ever faced ''
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Classes resumed last Thursday at the University of Kansas at Lawrence , and by Monday 47 students had swine flu , a college official said . The CDC recommends someone sick with the virus remain out of class for 24 hours after fever has abated on its own . Although that 's less than two-tenths of 1 percent of the 27,000-member student body , and no one has died or been hospitalized , the school has moved into action . `` The sanitizer 's out , '' said Todd Cohen , director of university relations . The university sent e-mails to faculty members asking them to create contingency plans so that sick students are not required to go to class , and to commuter students and their parents warning them that the students may have to be isolated if they fall ill . That same message has gone to students in dormitories . Arrangements are being made to isolate anyone who 's sick in their rooms by moving out their roommates and dropping off meals , Cohen said . None of the school 's cases of swine flu -- also called H1N1 -- has proven fatal or resulted in a hospitalization , he said , and none of the reported cases has been confirmed . Public health officials are simply assuming that anyone with flu symptoms has swine flu , because it 's the only form of the virus in circulation , he said . The school 's health center can do little for those who show up for help . `` They 're basically told to go home and rest and get better , '' Cohen said . Vaccines are unlikely to help much this year . Supplies are not expected until late October , and require some five weeks from the first inoculation -- two are required -- before they become effective . `` By then , it 's December and the semester is almost over , '' he said . So public health officials are focusing on more basic medical efforts . Students already overloaded with information at the start of the semester are being urged to sneeze into their sleeves , wash their hands frequently and stay home if they get sick , Cohen said . `` It really comes down to them taking personal action , '' he said . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends someone sick with the virus remain out of class for 24 hours after fever has abated on its own . Firm figures on just how many people have the illness are tough to come by . Doctors are not required to report it to state or federal health officials , said Maggie Thompson , a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment . `` We 've stopped accepting tests from county health departments , '' she said . Instead , the department is focusing on a surveillance system that will test only those sites deemed representative . Otherwise , Thompson said , the state 's laboratories would become overwhelmed . `` There are just too many numbers . '' The state stopped counting laboratory-confirmed cases at 324 : `` But that is just a fraction of what we think is going on , '' she said . `` There could be as many as 10,000 cases in Kansas already . '' KU students are not the only ones catching swine flu , Thompson said : `` If you called any university of this size around the country it 's probably going to be about the same . '' At Auburn University in Alabama , 10 cases have been reported among the 24,000 students who started classes last Monday , a spokeswoman said . `` So far , everybody seems to be recovering , '' said Deedie Dowdle . The school 's emergency management team was meeting this week to decide how to handle larger-scale absences , she said . `` I 'm getting lots of reports of outbreaks in the Southeast Conference , '' said Dr. James Turner , president of the American College Health Association . `` I 'm anticipating several thousand cases among college students this fall . '' Among the preparations are plans for mass vaccinations , he said . But with school just beginning , much remains unknown , he said . `` We are just kind of hunkering down right now waiting to see where this goes . '' Turner is also executive director for student health at the University of Virginia , where classes are slated to begin Tuesday . `` We 're kind of bracing for what the week brings , '' he said . Turner said 63 students came down with swine flu during the summer session , and `` they all did fine . '' Last week , the CDC released tips for school administrators to follow . `` We 're hoping we 're on track to be ahead of this virus , to get the college-age population vaccinated once it becomes available in mid-October , and to keep students as safe and secure as possible , '' Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters in a conference call . Some U.S. colleges began reporting cases last April , after students returned from spring break . The University of Notre Dame in South Bend , Indiana , which reported one case of H1N1 last spring , is taking extra precautions ahead of the fall semester . `` We are attacking the disease , from each person taking the responsibility for good hygiene and healthy habits , '' said Ann Kleva , the university 's director of health services . The University of California has been stocking up on supplies for each of its 10 campuses over the past several months , university system officials said . Since mid-April , when swine flu was discovered , the CDC has tallied 522 deaths in the nation . `` We do know that H1N1 flu is circulating in the country right now , '' said Lisa Barrios , of the agency 's division of adolescent and school health . `` For the most part , it 's sporadic and regional . '' But she said the agency is not advising any schools to close . `` What we 're doing is keeping a very close eye on what 's happening with the flu during the fall and the winter , '' she said . The swine flu virus has captured the attention of public health experts because they worry it could mutate into a far more lethal form . `` If that does happen , then we may recommend that schools close , but right now we are not doing that , '' Barrios said . `` It 's important to balance the risks with the benefits of keeping kids in schools . '' CNN 's Emily Sherman , Leslie Wade , Miriam Falco and Elizabeth Cohen contributed to this article .
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Five days into new year , U. of Kansas at Lawrence has 47 cases of swine flu . No one has died or been hospitalized because of the illness . Last week , the CDC released tips for school administrators to follow . Universities and colleges across the country are bracing for swine flu spike .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The people who died Thursday at a spiritual resort in Arizona had spent time in a `` sweatbox '' similar to what Native Americans and other cultures have used for prayer and purification rituals throughout history . Two people died and were 19 injured after spending up to two hours inside this `` sweatbox '' at an Arizona resort . And those who use them say they can be dangerous if care is not taken . From Scandinavia to South America to Africa , people have come together in the sauna-like structures -- typically heated by pouring water on hot lava rocks -- for a variety of reasons , said Joseph Bruchac , writer and author of The Native American Sweat Lodge . He 's part Abenaki , a tribe concentrated in the northeast United Staes , and part European . `` Each tribal nation has its own traditions , so one group might do it differently from another so you can not generalize too much , '' said Bruchac , who runs an outdoor education center in Greenfield Center , New York . In North America , most Native American tribes use the term `` sweat lodge '' to refer to a dome-shaped structure where the intimate ritual of the sweat takes place , said Bruchac , who has his own sweat lodge on his property in the foothills of the Adirondacks . `` Sweat lodges are typically used for a ritual preparation , like before a hunt , or nowadays , people might do it before a wedding or dance or some kind of community event as a way of putting yourself in balance , '' he said . Bruchac noted that incidents like the one in Arizona tend to raise discussion in Native American communities over whether non-Natives should be allowed to adapt traditional ceremonies . `` It 's a very meaningful ceremony . I can understand why people find it attractive , '' Bruchac said . `` But I consider it sacrilegious and foolish to do someone else 's rituals without proper guidance or practice , especially in sweat lodges where you 're raising people 's body temperatures . With that many people , oxygen is going to be depleted , and if you have heart problems or breathing problems , you could faint or die . '' No information about the sweatbox at the Angel Valley Resort near Sedona could be found on the Web site Saturday . The two people who died and the 19 others who fell ill there were attending a program by self-help expert James Arthur Ray , authorities said Saturday . Authorities said between 50 and 60 people were in the structure for nearly two hours -- far exceeding the number who ordinarily would participate in a traditional sweat , according to Bruchac . In a typical ritual , the leader of the sweat gathers four to 12 friends , family members or guests inside the structure , usually made of willow and covered with blankets or canvas , he said . `` The person running the sweat has to be very aware of the people in the lodge because he takes control of them mentally , physically and spiritually , '' said Bruchac . `` The leader is responsible for them , so he has to be aware of their physical conditions and their motivations , their reasons for being there . '' After everyone is inside , a firekeeper heats stones , usually lava rocks , and brings them into the lodge , placing them in a hole in the ground and carefully pouring water over the stones to release steam . The technique of releasing the heat is done with great care so that no one is injured by the steam , which can burn skin or lungs if someone inhales it , said Father Raymond Bucko , Director of Native Studies at Creighton University . `` Nobody will make it so hot that no one can stand it , '' said Bucko . `` Religious leaders are very careful about people 's health in the sweat . If they 're not healthy , people can sit outside the sweat and pray and others can go in for them . '' A ritual of speaking or prayer may follow , depending on the group 's intention for gathering . `` People talk and often there 's lot of humor , but at any time if it 's too hot , some one can say so and they will immediately open the door and people are encouraged to go out , '' he said . The Jesuit priest and cultural anthropologist participated in sweats with the Crow and Lakota people for nearly 30 years , until he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis two years ago . `` It 's not about toughing it out or proving anything . It really is a beautiful experience of people coming together , of intense prayerfulness . ''
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Sweat lodges are used in prayer and purification rituals across globe . Deaths raise concerns over non-Natives trying to adapt traditional ceremonies . Typical Native American sweat lodge used in ritual of prayer and purification . Firekeeper heats stones , places them in hole in lodge , pours water over them .
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LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The office of the wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair refused to comment Thursday on UK media reports that she has swine flu . Cherie Blair , wife of former British premier Tony Blair , is reportedly suffering from swine flu . A spokeswoman for Cherie Blair told CNN : `` This is a private matter and we will not be making a comment . '' Blair was reported to have contracted the H1N1 virus , commonly known as swine flu , on Tuesday , according to the British Press Association and various media reports . PA reported that she has been given a course of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu , and told to rest . Tony Blair and the couple 's four children have not shown any signs of being infected , PA added . Cherie Blair , who is a human rights lawyer , had been due to pick up an honorary degree at the Liverpool Hope University in north-west England Thursday . With 29 deaths and a dramatic increase in the number of cases , Britain has the worst swine flu figures in Europe . Official figures released Thursday by the UK 's Department of Health have revealed that swine flu will cause one in eight workers to stay off work in September , potentially crippling many businesses still struggling in the wake of the recession . General health practitioners in Britain have also reported a 50 percent increase in the number of people complaining from flu like symptoms . Doctors say they have also seen a significant rise in the number of children reported to be affected .
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Reports : Wife of ex British PM Tony Blair has suspected swine flu . Cherie Blair was prescribed Tamiflu and told to rest , British media says . She had been due to pick up an honorary degree Thursday . Britain 's swine flu cases rising dramatically .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- If there 's a blessing in the current swine flu epidemic , it 's how benign the illness seems to be outside the central disease cluster in Mexico . But history offers a dark warning to anyone ready to write off the 2009 H1N1 virus . The Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 sickened an estimated third of the world 's population . In each of the four major pandemics since 1889 , a spring wave of relatively mild illness was followed by a second wave , a few months later , of a much more virulent disease . This was true in 1889 , 1957 , 1968 and in the catastrophic flu outbreak of 1918 , which sickened an estimated third of the world 's population and killed , conservatively , 50 million people . Lone Simonsen , an epidemiologist at George Washington University , who has studied the course of prior pandemics in both the United States and her native Denmark , says , `` The good news from past pandemics , in several experiences , is that the majority of deaths have happened not in the first wave , but later . '' Based on this , Simonsen suggests there may be time to develop an effective vaccine before a second , more virulent strain , begins to circulate . As swine flu -- also known as the 2009 version of the H1N1 flu strain -- spreads , Simonsen and other health experts are diving into the history books for clues about how the outbreak might unfold -- and , more importantly , how it might be contained . In fact , the official Pandemic Influenza Operation Plan , or O-Plan , of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , is based in large part on a history lesson -- research organized by pediatrician and medical historian Dr. Howard Markel of the University of Michigan . Markel was tapped by the CDC to study what worked and what did n't during the 1918 flu disaster . Markel and colleagues examined 43 cities and found that so-called nonpharmaceutical interventions -- steps such as isolating patients and school closings -- were remarkably successful in tamping down the outbreak . `` They do n't make the population immune , but they buy you time , either by preventing influenza from getting into the community or slowing down the spread , '' Markel said . Explainer : Flu facts '' Markel describes a dramatic example in the mining town of Gunnison , Colorado . In 1918 , town leaders built a veritable barricade , closing down the railroad station and blocking all roads into town . Four thousand townspeople lived on stockpiled supplies and food from hunting or fishing . For 3 1/2 months , while influenza raged in nearly every city in America , Gunnison saw not a single case of flu -- not until the spring , when roads were reopened and a handful of residents fell sick . Visit LIFE.com for photographs of the lethal flu pandemic of 1918 . Nonpharmaceutical interventions , or NPIs , also proved effective in big cities such as New York , according to Markel . In fact , the sooner cities moved to limit public gatherings or isolate patients , the less severe their experience tended to be -- as much as an eight - or ninefold difference in case and death rates , he says . Based on this guidance , the CDC preparedness plan devotes dozens of pages to potential NPIs , from voluntary isolation to reorganizing company work schedules to reduce the density of people sitting next to each other in the office or while riding trains and buses . If it seems odd to base medical strategy on 90-year-old newspapers , the approach is increasingly popular . `` There 's a big case for looking at history , '' says Simonsen . `` We call it archaeo-epidemiology . You go to libraries and places like that , dig around , collaborate with people like John Barry and try to quantify what really worked . '' Map : where the flu is today '' Barry is the author of `` The Great Influenza , '' perhaps the signature history of the devastating 1918 pandemic . He says the historical record shows that isolating patients worked to slow the spread of flu in 1918 , but that attempted quarantines -- preventing movement in and out of cities -- was `` worthless . '' While Barry supports the CDC 's general containment strategy , in the past he has publicly criticized Markel 's work . After Markel 's findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association , Barry wrote a letter in response , saying it was n't swift action but rather an earlier wave of mild flu , acting like a vaccination , that was probably responsible for New York 's relatively low caseload . In the letter , he noted , `` New York City Health Commissioner Royal Copeland did tell reporters ... that he would isolate and quarantine cases , '' but based on his own articles in the New York Medical Journal , he `` apparently never imposed those measures . '' In response , Markel and CDC officials pointed to a decision by the New York Board of Health making influenza a reportable disease , and a 1918 JAMA article describing strict quarantine efforts in New York . Barry says both those sources rely on Copeland 's assertions , which he considers unreliable . It looks superficially like an academic feud , but in this field , different conclusions can suggest radically different approaches to quashing a pandemic . Nowhere is this more true than in research that builds computer models to predict the spread of outbreaks , based on previous ones . Markel , along with most analysts , says that in prior pandemics , the so-called R-naught number -- the number of new infections caused by each infected person -- has been approximately 2.0 . The current U.S. pandemic control strategy is based on computer simulations that assume a flu virus with an R-naught between 1.6 and 2.4 . Last year , however , Simonsen and Viggo Andreasen concluded that the true R-naught of the 1918 flu virus was probably somewhere between 3 and 4 . Since an epidemic grows exponentially -- each person sickens three others , each of whom infects three more , and so on -- this is a tremendous difference . `` It says it 's going to be harder than we thought '' to control a pandemic , Simonsen says . Barry agrees . `` I do think that some of these things , like isolating -LSB- sick people -RSB- , will take off some of the edge . We hope they 'll do more than that . But to think they 'll stop a pandemic , that is just not going to happen . '' Simonsen says control measures such as the steps taken by Mexico in recent days -- closing schools and restaurants , for example -- are still worth the effort . `` It does n't mean we should give up , because we do n't know the R-naught -LSB- for swine flu -RSB- . We do n't know how easily this spreads . '' But she adds , NPIs are at best a way to buy time . `` We just badly need a vaccine . That 's the most important thing . '' To date , the CDC has emphasized personal protective steps such as washing hands and using hand gels , as opposed to tightening border controls or issuing formal directives to close schools or limit public gatherings . Such steps have been left to state and local officials , who have responded in a variety of ways . One reason for the delay in stronger guidelines is that swine flu caught planners off guard ; they had anticipated being able to recognize a pandemic overseas , weeks or at least days before it hit the United States . At the same time , CDC acting director Dr. Richard Besser said Thursday that it 's important to let officials tailor their response to local conditions . `` They can take the recommendations we 're providing and apply them locally . -LSB- By doing that -RSB- we hope to learn and see what are the most effective control strategies . '' Markel agrees that the best response depends on the particular situation . `` History is not predictive science . And the powers of public health officials -LSB- in 1918 -RSB- were much greater . Another difference is that people 's trust of doctors and government in 1918 was probably remarkably different ... . But what I have found , studying epidemics , is that good planning and good relationships between local state and federal authorities , goes a long way . ''
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CDC 's national pandemic strategy rooted in lessons of past epidemics . In four past pandemics , mild spring outbreak was followed by virulent fall sickness . Expert : If its true this time , could allow time to develop effective vaccine .
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LONDON , England -- Two kisses on the cheek or three ? The age-old dilemma may become moot as worries of infectious disease hang in the air . A couple kisses at a swine flu virus prevention and detection medical mobile unit in Mexico City . Common forms of greeting , such as handshakes and kisses on the cheek , are coming under scrutiny as the H1N1 virus , commonly known as swine flu , steadily spreads around the world . In Mexico , which has had the largest outbreak of the virus , the Ministry of Health is advising people to avoid shaking hands and kissing people as a greeting . Some couples are donning surgical masks when they kiss to avoid contagion . Dr. Sanjay Gupta , CNN 's chief medical correspondent who has been covering the epidemic from Mexico , is advocating the `` el-bump , '' or bumping of elbows , as a greeting . `` It 's not as cool as the fist bump , but safer , '' he wrote on micro-blog site Twitter . Follow Dr. Gupta 's ` tweets ' Dr. Richard Dawood , medical director of the Fleet Street Travel Clinic in London , refers to the shift in etiquette as `` social distancing . '' `` People do n't want to get too close . There is going to be a move towards less handshaking , less greeting people with a kiss . There may well end up being fewer meetings , '' he told CNN . The World Health Organization is advising people to practice preventive measures like avoiding close contact with people who appear unwell and those who are coughing and have a fever . The global health agency is also directing people who live in areas where flu cases have surfaced to follow additional precautions set out by their national and local health authorities . Even countries where the virus has n't been confirmed are taking precautionary measures . At a news conference earlier this week , Lebanon 's health minister recommended that people stop using the conventional greeting of three kisses to the cheek . See where cases have been confirmed '' `` We 're heading toward a world where everyone is going to be suddenly much more conscious of those who are coughing and sneezing , '' Dawood said . People will have to be much more conscious of hygiene and stay out of close proximity with others when they are n't feeling well , he said . Are you changing your etiquette because of the swine flu epidemic ? Tell us in the SoundOff below . The H1N1 virus is a hybrid of swine , avian and human flu strains . It is a respiratory disease that is contagious , and believed to be spread through coughing , sneezing and close contact . Learn more about the virus '' Since the outbreak surfaced in Mexico , it has spread to at least 11 countries . The number of confirmed cases has reached 331 , with the hardest hit areas in the western hemisphere , the WHO said Friday . People tend to be scared of what they do n't understand , especially when it comes to disease , Dawood said . Watch Dr. Gupta report on a new scientific discovery about the virus '' He worries about how people will react as tensions rise . People historically have resorted to socially ostracizing those who have suffered from diseases like typhoid and leprosy , he noted . The flu outbreak will pose another test . `` Hopefully we do n't see that again . We will have to control our urges in our relations to other people , '' Dawood said .
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Move towards ` social distancing ' as people worry about swine flu epidemic . Mexico 's Health Ministry directing people to avoid handshakes and kissing . WHO advises avoiding close contact with people who appear unwell . Follow CNN 's Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Twitter .
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New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai has started talks with representatives of the Taliban , a move that analyst Fareed Zakaria says could bring an end to the nine-year-long war . Karzai convened a meeting Thursday with the Afghan Peace Council , which was formed to help negotiate with the Taliban . Referring to the militants , Karzai said , `` I call on them once again to use this opportunity and say ` yes ' to this endeavor . I want them to come and bring peace to this land . '' The author and host of CNN 's `` Fareed Zakaria GPS '' spoke to CNN on Thursday . Here is an edited transcript : . CNN : Hamid Karzai has launched a council to help negotiate with the Taliban ? What 's the significance of that step ? Fareed Zakaria : I think it 's about time . If you look at any good study of civil wars , what you find is that most of them end in a negotiated settlement . Maybe because Americans have the memory of our civil war in which the North crushes the South , we somehow think that that 's how civil wars end . But that 's actually is very unusual . Watch an excerpt from Larry King 's interview with Hamid Karzai . What normally happens is some kind of settlement that is negotiated in which the losers are reintegrated into the political order . Civil wars are unlike normal wars , because the winners and losers are going to have to live with one another . CNN : How does that apply to Afghanistan ? Zakaria : The Taliban , which is mounting this insurgency , is not a foreign element within the body politic . The Taliban is basically the political representative of the conservative elements of the Pashtun community . The Pashtuns are 50 percent of Afghanistan . ... It is a political force in Afghanistan . Coming to terms with it politically and seeing if there 's some way it can be reintegrated into the political order makes sense . You 're not going to kill every member of the Taliban . They 're not going to be exiled to a foreign land . They 're going to be there at the end of the day so it 's better to to have them in the tent . CNN : The U.S. military view seems to be that the talks have n't yielded progress so far , and a senior defense official told CNN , `` We do n't think the Taliban believe that they 're losing to the degree that they 'd come to terms in large numbers . '' Are the talks premature because the effects of the U.S. military buildup have n't been felt yet ? Zakaria : First the very fact that the Taliban are coming to the table in a way they had not been willing to before suggests that they are feeling some pressure . But I also think you ca n't get too hung up with this idea that you have to negotiate from a position of strength . Ideally we would have them totally prostrate on the floor and that would be the time to negotiate . But the reality is that this is a very mixed military campaign . I do n't know if it 's going to be dramatically better one year from now or three years from now . See more opinion articles . This is a little like somebody who owns a stock , who says , it 's at six now , I need to sell it , but I 'm going to wait till it goes to eight . Well maybe it will go to eight , maybe it will go to four . You might as well start talking at this point . First of all you learn a lot in the process of negotiations . And secondly , the military campaign could move in many different directions . If the surge starts succeeding even more , that will be reflected in our negotiating posture . CNN : Is there an idea yet of what a negotiated settlement might involve ? Zakaria : It seems as though the Taliban demands are that they want all foreign troops out . They do n't want to accept the Afghan constitution and they do n't want to lay down their arms . Now those are obviously their opening demands . Foreign troops are n't going to be out , but one could point out that President Obama has said there is going to be a reduction of foreign forces next year . On the Afghan constitution , there is a compromise there where there could be a few amendments to the constitution . But on laying down their arms , that it seems to me you ca n't really compromise , they would have to lay down their arms . Could some elements be integrated into the militia , or the Afghan national army ? Perhaps -- that 's what happened in Iraq . CNN : Is n't there also a clashing conception of society , with the Taliban being a closed society that does n't recognize an elevated role for women as opposed to a potentially democratic kind of society that 's envisioned by the Afghan constitution ? Zakaria : Yes , it is the kind of society envisioned by the Afghan constitution . But Afghanistan is a fairly conservative society . While the extreme elements of the Taliban have draconian visions which are obviously not supported by the Afghans -- the polls bear this out -- it 's also true that on issues of women 's rights and some of the more progressive elements of the Afghan constitution , the Karzai government is in a minority and those rights are not popularly supported . There are clashing visions , but there is probably a reality of Afghanistan which is a lot more progressive and open than the Taliban believe but is still a society that is somewhat conservative , and often tribal , and with very traditional views on something like women 's rights . The key is creating a situation where these rights are guaranteed but not fetishizing it . For example , one of the things the Afghan constitution has is a requirement for 25 percent representation of women in parliament . We do n't have such a requirement either in the U.S. Constitution or in the amendments . Many European countries do n't . Is it conceivable that something like that could be compromised ? Perhaps , and that 's the kind of thing where we 'd have to be creative in coming up with a solution that moderates and some elements of the Taliban could live with . CNN : Is this an honorable exit for the United States ? Zakaria : I think so , and it 's not really an exit , it 's a reduction in our forces and in our role . And I think it would be appropriate . We 've been there for nine years . It 's not the only battleground , the only place where al Qaeda operates . There are many more members of al Qaeda in Pakistan than in Afghanistan . You 're trying to create a political settlement , and a self-sustaining political framework in Afghanistan that can survive the departure of American troops . And finally you 're leaving enough troops in there where you could still prosecute a fairly vigorous counterterrorism operation against those elements of the Taliban or al Qaeda that continue to plot and plan to do violence to civilians , foreigners , westerners . And I do think , if we could get this kind of a settlement , it would be an honorable way for the United States to begin reducing its exposure in Afghanistan .
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Afghan president Karzai is talking to Taliban representatives . Fareed Zakaria says a negotiated settlement is the only way to end the war . He says compromise possible between Karzai government and Taliban . After nine years , the U.S. needs to reduce its forces in Afghanistan , he says .
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London , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Britain 's new coalition government has embarked on a budget-deficit cutting strategy that is bold , brave and potentially very risky , says analyst Fareed Zakaria . It could turn out to be a model for the United States to follow -- or a prime example of what not to do in the wake of a severe recession . After forming a government in the wake of the May election , the ruling coalition of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats announced plans last month to cut spending and raise taxes in an effort to reduce the budget deficit . Zakaria , the author and host of CNN 's `` Fareed Zakaria GPS '' spoke to CNN on Wednesday from London . Here is an edited transcript : . CNN : The new coalition government in Britain has announced major steps to cut the budget deficit . What has the impact been ? Fareed Zakaria : In general , I 'd say the government is benefiting from having announced these cuts . There 's a sense that they 're being bold , they 're being brave , they 're taking on a big challenge . It particularly helps them that you have this coalition government , so the fact that the Liberal Democrats , who are really quite a left-wing party , are supporting the budget has given Conservatives more cover . ... It 's important to remember that it 's not just budget cuts , it 's also tax raises . You have to give them credit for being serious about this . It is not pure ideology as with the right in the United States . They understand that if you 're going to do something serious about the budget deficit , you 've got to do both spending cuts and tax increases . There 's simply no way for the math to work without doing that . Now , on the political side though , these changes have not come into effect yet . So there are two big questions , what happens economically when these budget cuts start going into effect and what happens politically -- how popular does the government remain at that point ? But the biggest question is what happens economically . CNN : Is it too soon to take these steps as the world is coming out of a big recession , and government spending is seen as a way to speed the recovery from a recession ? Zakaria : The crucial question here is about timing , and very few people would disagree that Britain had to get its public finances in order . There 's a universal sense that the last Labour government spent too much money and borrowed too much money . But in the midst of a very weak economic recovery , does it make sense to slash spending , raise taxes , all of which will have the effect of putting some people out of work and reducing people 's spending power . Here 's the debate -- one side says that will reassure markets , that will bring interest rates on things like mortgages even lower , and that will give businesses confidence to invest , and the other side says once you inflict that much pain on the economy , people are going to spend less as people lose jobs or are taxed more heavily , which will cause an even more severe downturn . CNN : What does this mean for the rest of the world ? Zakaria : Britain is the guinea pig here . We 're all going to watch the outcome very closely because President Obama has taken a position in this debate . He told the G-20 countries , which includes Britain of course , that it is too soon to start withdrawing the stimulus measures . Britain is going further than withdrawing the stimulus measures , it 's actually cutting spending . The big debate is over what will restore business confidence and what will make businesses start spending again . Because everyone agrees that government spending is only a bridge to business spending . At some point business has to start spending again . I 'm pretty persuaded that the timing on this is bad . I think it would have made more sense to wait at least six months , if not nine to 12 months before beginning these measures . CNN : If you 're going to have to do it eventually , why wait ? Zakaria : It 's really quite brave of the Conservatives to take on the fiscal problem but there is definitely a danger that they are doing it too soon and will put the economy into a lower growth mode . This is something that you have to remember for the United States as well . If you have lower growth , you also have a worse deficit because the biggest contributor to deficits is a decline in tax revenue . So the slower the economy grows , the fewer people who are employed , the lower the taxes going to the government treasury , the bigger and bigger the deficit becomes . So , in a strange sense , even to help the deficit in the short term , you need a little bit of government spending to get the economy going , to get people spending , to get them paying taxes . CNN : Does David Cameron 's victory in the U.K. election tell us something about the future of conservatives in America ? Zakaria : Outside Britain , people are struck by David Cameron , the fact that he 's become prime minister , that he 's fairly popular and he seems to be taking big , bold measures . But here people are still struck by how limited was the Tory victory , if you could call it a victory . After 13 years of Labour rule , when it would be only natural for the Conservatives to be given power for just cyclical reasons , after a very unpopular Labour prime minister and the worst economic crisis since the great depression , the conservatives still were not able to muster a majority and had to go into a coalition with the Liberal Democrats . CNN : Why could n't the Conservatives put together a majority in the election ? Zakaria : What thoughtful observers say was that the Conservatives still made no inroads in Scotland , did not make many inroads with working women -- which is a growing part of the population -- and they did not make many inroads with nonwhite minorities , people from India , and Pakistan and the Caribbean . As somebody put it to me , the Conservative brand is still a tarnished brand . To me , that was a very interesting lesson for the right in America . You can have the small government argument David Cameron was making . It did have a lot of appeal -- but to England , not Scotland and not to the nonwhites in England either . It made me wonder about the Republican Party in the United States , which of course has broader appeal , but still faces some of these same challenges . The midterm election looks like it 's going to go very well for the Republicans because there is a lot of anti-incumbency sentiment and some anger at the Democratic Party . But to seal the deal , Republicans need to close the gap with nonwhites and working women , and there , the Republican Party , like the Conservatives , still faces some challenges . CNN : What other lessons are there for conservatives in the United States ? Zakaria : The Republicans should really watch the British Conservatives . What David Cameron is trying to do is to modernize the Conservative Party . The Conservative Party was seen in Britain as too right wing , too extreme and too intolerant in many ways and what he 's been trying to do is to broaden its appeal . David Cameron is more green , more environmentally active , than Gordon Brown . He 's come out very strongly in favor of gay rights , he 's come out in favor of the National Health Service . All of this is a signal that he 's not a Conservative who 's going to completely destroy England 's welfare state . In a sense , working with the Liberal Democrats has been a godsend for David Cameron . The fact that he 's in coalition with them means that when the far right of his party asks him to do something , he can say , I 'm sorry guys , I just ca n't do it because we 're in coalition with the Liberal Democrats , and to keep the coalition together I have to moderate my stance . Now there 's an interesting debate in Britain about whether he 's modernizing the Conservative Party because he is himself a great moderate or because he just wants to win and he knows the center is where the electability is . In a sense it does n't matter for Republicans watching it . You still need to be attractive to the center , to the younger generation , to working women and to ethnic minorities . Of course it will all depend on how this economic experiment goes . If these cuts put Britain in a double-dip , you 'll see great strains on the coalition itself , and the Liberal Democrats will find it difficult to stay in this coalition . Then this whole thing spins out of control .
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Britain 's aggressive plan to cut its deficit is a bold but risky move , says Fareed Zakaria . The coalition government has announced plans but they have n't gone into effect , he says . Zakaria : Question is will it restore business confidence or cause recession . He says GOP should take note of how Cameron is modernizing the Conservative Party .
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LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- If climate change were a small house fire , current policy in the European Union and the United Kingdom would ensure that it would destroy not just the house but the entire suburb . Author of `` Carbon Scenarios '' compares global warming to a house fire that the world is currently failing to contain . That 's the grim analogy offered by Paul Domjan , author of a new report , `` Carbon Scenarios : Blue sky thinking for a green future '' , by the Stockholm Network , a London-based pan-European think tank . The report explores three scenarios on climate change , none of which leads to what 's defined by the EU and UK as a ` successful outcome ' ; a greater than 90 percent chance of temperatures rising by no more than two degrees above pre-industrial levels . `` We have failed , '' Domjan says , adding , `` We will not prevent two degrees of warming . '' Continuing the house fire analogy he says , `` The less than two degree scenario is a fire you can put out . With less than three degrees it spreads to other rooms but you can still put it out . '' He says global policy of the past ten years looks more like the third -- and worst -- scenario explored by the Carbon Scenarios report -- the one dubbed `` Agree and Ignore . '' In that case , `` your house is unrecognizably destroyed . The positive feedback cycle is n't contained . Your house catches fire , your neighbor 's catches fire ... '' And so on . Domjan blames the failure of the current climate change policy on the constant stream of compromises by world leaders designed to keep the Kyoto agreement intact . `` This dynamic of making lots of small compromises in order to keep the agreement in place has led to a situation where the agreement has lost a lot of its teeth . '' He points to Canada as an example , a signatory to the Kyoto agreement which has `` done nothing '' to implement it . `` During the time it 's been a signatory it 's been developing massive coal sands projects which are the most polluting way of producing gas and oil in the world , '' he says . `` There 's a great international censure against the U.S. for not ratifying Kyoto but nothing has been said about Canada . '' `` The coal sands are using so much natural gas and electricity they could have an entire nuclear facility just for themselves . '' The three alternative futures explored in the Carbon Scenarios report include `` Kyoto Plus , '' `` Agree and Ignore '' and `` Step Change . '' `` Kyoto Plus '' envisages a gradual transition to a global cap on carbon emissions by 2012 . Domjan calls it a `` largely successful scenario '' where there 's a greater than 90 percent chance of global average temperatures rising more than 3.31 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2100 . `` That 's not a disaster . It 's still a world that 's recognizable , '' he says . The second scenario -- `` Agree and Ignore '' -- predicts efforts to reduce carbon emissions will `` stall and backslide '' leading to `` competitive regionalism . '' There would be a greater than 90 percent chance of global average temperatures rising no more than 4.8 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2100 . From that point , temperatures would continue to rise into the next century . The third scenario -- `` Step Change '' -- imagines a radical shift in global policy direction . World leaders would introduce a system of global carbon caps , giving them greater than 90 percent chance of limiting the rise in global average temperatures to 2.85 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2100 . Of the three scenarios , `` Step Change '' is the one Domjan personally prefers but the one he concedes is unlikely to happen . `` Our proposal -LSB- for a global upstream cap -RSB- is similar to but not identical to the proposal from the Kyoto 2 project , '' he says . `` It 's a line of thinking that 's been around for a while that will provide a healthy alternative to emissions trading . '' Under the scheme , the United Nations would impose an annual cap on the amount of carbon that could be produced from fossil fuels . Natural resource companies would have to apply and pay for permits to produce carbon . Compliance would be determined at key points , for example , coal washing stations . `` The problem is how do you get the political impetus to have a big international change like that and for people to accept that this is genuinely going to be dealt with at an international level , '' Domjan asks . The `` Step Change '' scenario supposes that the impetus comes through a threat to U.S. and Chinese economic security . Under the scenario , climate change threatens Sino-U.S. . trade relations so the two combine to lead and enforce global change . `` Our current approach to climate change is moving at the pace of the slowest country , '' Domjan says , adding , `` Here they say we 're going to move as quickly as possible and then force others to catch up . '' Under that scenario , the need to purchase carbon production permits would push record oil prices even higher as energy companies pass on the cost to consumers . Domjan is confident the global economy could cope -- it 's adapted to higher energy prices so far and is likely to prove equally resilient in the future . And the extra cost of fuel , rather going to producers , would be held in a fund controlled by the United Nations . It would be used to help developing nations to use fewer fossil fuels , to support new research and development , to compensate oil producers for the carbon they 're not producing , and to establish an emergency fund to deal with the consequences of climate change . Domjan acknowledges that world leaders are unlikely to use the report as the basis for a new global policy , but he hopes they at least take away two key points : `` Whenever possible regulate at the point where there are fewest participants -LSB- and -RSB- we need to make sure there 's a clear price signal so the market can distribute energy efficiently . ''
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Carbon Scenarios report says EU , UK global warming targets `` unrealistic '' Report 's author : `` We have failed . We will not prevent two degrees of warming '' Document explores three scenarios for global warming under different policies . Proposes radical shift in policy to introduce global carbon caps and permits .
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Beijing , China -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Chinese President Hu Jintao greeted U.S. President Barack Obama in China 's capital on Tuesday , with trade and the thorny issue of North Korea expected to be on their agenda . The U.S. delegation was met by an honor guard at the Great Hall of the People , and Obama shook hands with Hu and other top Chinese officials before the two leaders went behind closed doors . It is their fifth meeting in the past year , and they made no public statements beforehand but are to issue a joint statement after their talks . The United States imports billions of dollars in Chinese products each year , while China is a major purchaser of the U.S. Treasury bonds that finance America 's budget deficit . Facing a global economic recession , Washington and Beijing are in `` a mutual hostage situation , '' former Bush administration China analyst Victor Cha said . `` China needs to purchase these Treasuries in order to maintain a strong dollar . Otherwise , the value of their foreign currency holdings goes down dramatically , '' Cha told CNN . `` We need China in order to finance a lot of the deficit spending we 're doing now . It 's very much intertwined in a way that two countries in the history of international relations have not been intertwined . '' China is also an important player in the diplomatic showdowns over nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea and holds one of five permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council . China is North Korea 's closest ally and has played a key role in the six-party talks aimed at convincing Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear weapons program . A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Monday found 71 percent of Americans consider China an economic threat to the United States , with two-thirds considering it a source of unfair competition for U.S. companies . The survey also found 51 percent of the U.S. public consider China a military threat , with 47 percent disagreeing . That 4-point margin is within the poll 's 4.5 percent sampling error . But Obama told students at a town hall-style meeting in Shanghai that the two nations do n't have to be at odds with each other . `` Our relationship has not been without disagreement and difficulty , but the notion that we must be adversaries is not predestined , '' Obama said . But he said there are certain core principles that all people must share -- including equal rights for everyone , a government that reflects the will of the people , open commerce , free access to information , and the rule of law . `` We do not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation , but we also do n't believe that the principles that we stand for are unique to our nation , '' he told the gathering . The issue of human rights has often been a sticking point between Beijing and Washington . China regularly cracks down on its religious and ethnic minorities , keeps tight reins on the media and censors the Internet . Obama told the students that he is against censorship and is a believer in the free flow of information , calling it a `` source of strength '' in a democracy , despite the sting that sometimes comes with it . He told the students he welcomes a strong China , saying there are very few global challenges -- specifically referring to climate change -- that ca n't be solved if the United States and China work together . The town hall meeting was shown locally on Shanghai 's Phoenix TV , but it was not broadcast nationally on any of China 's state-run networks . The Xinhua news agency posted a translated running transcript of the event on its Web site . The United States also streamed the forum live on WhiteHouse.gov . Chinese censors did not block the event to those with Internet access . The final stop of Obama 's trek is Seoul , where he will meet with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak , and deliver a speech to U.S. troops at Osan Air Base . Obama is on an eight-day journey that is taking him to Japan , Singapore , China and South Korea . He 'll return to the United States on Friday . The president left for China from Singapore , where he attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and Association of Southeast Asian Nations economic forum . He met on the sidelines with world leaders , including Russian President Dmitry Medvedev .
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NEW : Obama to hold formal talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing . NEW : New U.S. poll shows split on whether Chinese pose military threat . Obama tells students free flow of info a source of strength , despite sting . United States imports billions of dollars in Chinese products each year .
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Editor 's note : This is an excerpt from CNN Contributor Bob Greene 's new book , `` Late Edition : A Love Story , '' a memoir of his time working at an Ohio newspaper in the 1960s . The localness of what we did down at the paper defined everything . Even as a kid brand-new to the staff and brand-new to the newspaper business , hired to work during summer vacations , I could tell that . Bob Greene recalls a 1967 lesson in manners from Ohio State University football coach Woody Hayes . It was a localness not confined to the geographic scope of our news coverage -- it went without saying that the Columbus , Ohio , Citizen-Journal was n't about to send its reporters to Africa or France -LRB- or even to Kentucky or Indiana -RRB- . The men and women in the city room arrived at work each day knowing that they were n't going to be assigned to anyplace from where they could n't drive back to the office by deadline . The localness extended beyond that , though , and infused the very feel of the place . One night in the summer of 1967 the phone on the sports desk rang and I picked it up with the customary : `` Sports ! '' The person on the other end said : . `` Now , that 's no way to answer a telephone , is it ? '' `` Who 's calling ? '' I said . `` To whom am I speaking ? '' the caller said . `` This is Bob Greene , '' I said . `` Now , I 've seen your name in the paper , '' the caller said . `` It 's Bob Greene Jr. , is n't it ? '' I had been permitted to write a few sports stories that summer ; I used the `` Jr. '' at the end of the byline . `` Yes , '' I said . I thought I recognized the voice from somewhere . `` Now , I believe I know your mother and father , '' the caller said . `` Are your parents Robert and Phyllis Greene , from Bexley ? '' `` Yes , '' I said . `` I know they did n't raise you to answer a phone that way , '' the caller said . `` When you answer a business telephone , the proper way to do it is to tell the caller your name first . '' `` All right , sir , '' I said . `` I know your parents are fine people , and I 'm sure they taught you good manners , '' the caller said . `` You do n't want to disappoint them by giving a bad impression of yourself on the telephone , do you ? '' `` No , sir , '' I said . `` Good , '' the caller said . `` Now , this is Woody Hayes . I was calling to speak with Tom Pastorius . Is Tom there , please ? '' And , my hands shaking , I connected him with Pastorius , one of the paper 's sportswriters . I knew it really was the head coach of the Ohio State University football team because of that phrase early in his lecture to me -- `` To whom am I speaking ? '' His grammar was always scrupulous -- no `` Who am I speaking to ? '' from Woody Hayes . The localness was all around us . Woody had met my mother and father on a few occasions , he remembered them , and he was setting their son straight . He may have been the most nationally famous person in the community , but he was first and foremost a member of that community -- during all his years as head football coach at Ohio State , Woody kept his home telephone number listed in the Columbus phone book : W.W. Hayes , on Cardiff Road . That made for a lot of late-night crank calls from a lot of insulting or drunken people , but he thought that if he was going to represent the community , then he should be as available as any other man or woman in town . Once , years later , I heard a story -- I 'm almost certain that it was Citizen-Journal sportswriter Kaye Kessler who told it . It seemed that very early in Jack Nicklaus 's golf career , Nicklaus 's father , Charlie , a Columbus pharmacist , was following his son on tour , and Woody Hayes offered to travel with Charlie Nicklaus to keep him company and provide moral support . Apparently at one tournament someone in the gallery kept referring to Nicklaus as `` fat Jack '' -- Nicklaus was a little hefty in those younger days . And , the way I remember the story , either Woody Hayes had to physically restrain Charlie Nicklaus from going after the fan , or Charlie Nicklaus had to restrain Woody . -LRB- I have a feeling I know which one was which . -RRB- . It was all part of the localness . Woody Hayes and Charlie Nicklaus were two Columbus residents on the road to cheer for a local golfer ; the fact that the local golfer would become the greatest ever to play the game was incidental . And we -- in the eyes of our readers , and in our own eyes , too -- were , proudly , the local paper . That was all , and everything , we aspired to be . Just like the proud local papers in a thousand other American towns . `` I know they did n't raise you to answer a phone that way , '' Woody said . He thought , by saying it , he was doing me a favor . He was . Excerpted by permission from `` Late Edition : A Love Story , '' published this week by St. Martin 's Press .
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Bob Greene 's new memoir is titled `` Late Edition : A Love Story '' The book chronicles his tenure at an Ohio newspaper in the 1960s . Author recalls lesson in etiquette from Ohio State University 's football coach .
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Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two state supreme court justices from neighboring states find themselves in disagreement these days -- not over a legal issue , but over how they should have gotten their jobs . The two justices , Ohio Chief Justice Thomas Moyer and Pennsylvania Justice Seamus McCaffery , were both elected in statewide votes . Moyer said having to raise funds can erode public confidence in the courts . `` Going out asking for money creates a real strain in my judicial work , and I ca n't promise or predict to voters how I would decide a particular issue , '' Moyer said . `` It conflicts with the idea that judges are and should be impartial and not be influenced by anything , especially money . '' But as Pennsylvania 's newest elected high court member , McCaffery said it was a treat visiting all of his state 's 67 counties on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle . `` That 's the beauty of having electoral process where we need to be responsive to the community , '' said the Philadelphia former cop-turned-judge . `` And I think it 's important that judges should be out there . It 's just as important as other elected officials . '' The experiences of both men are now at the forefront of a growing national debate over selecting judges . Twenty-one states have some sort of contested system for top judges . The other 29 states , along with the District of Columbia and the federal government , appoint their judges , often under a merit-based selection system in which the governor gets the final say . Some , including retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor , are pushing for reform , saying election-based systems could raise doubts about a judge 's impartiality . `` Studies show that roughly 70 percent of the public believe judges are influenced by campaign contributions , and more than one quarter of judges agree , '' O'Connor said in an exclusive interview with CNN . `` This is alarming because the legitimacy of the judiciary rests entirely on its promise to be fair and impartial . A judge 's sole constituency should be the law . If the public loses faith in that impartiality , then there is no reason to prefer the judge 's interpretation of the law to the opinions of the real politicians representing the electorate . '' O'Connor is lending her reputation , her energy and her name to a new project , the O'Connor Judicial Selection Initiative . The initiative assists state-level efforts to name judges by merit-based selection systems , not elections . `` This initiative is a matter of great importance to our country , '' O'Connor said . `` The amount of money poured into judicial campaigns has skyrocketed , intensifying the need to re-examine how we choose judges in America . I believe it is our moral duty and obligation to restore the public 's confidence in our judicial system . '' The O'Connor Judicial Selection Initiative was created by the Denver , Colorado-based Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System . The group 's founder and director , Rebecca Kourlis , said O'Connor has long been a passionate defender of judicial independence . `` Justice O'Connor adds practical experience with a system -LSB- in her home state of Arizona -RSB- that works , and she adds a perception of balance and moderation -LSB- in -RSB- that she has never been associated in the minds of the public with extremes on either side of the political ledger , '' said Kourlis , a retired justice from Colorado 's Supreme Court . Kourlis said she senses increased momentum for change on the national level , partly because of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that arose from a judicial scandal in West Virginia . In the so-called Caperton Caper , the U.S. Supreme Court found that West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Justice Brent Benjamin acted improperly when he refused to remove himself from a 2006 civil appeal . The court ruled that there was a perceived conflict of interest in the 2006 case because Benjamin had previously received financial support from the CEO of the key defendant . `` What the -LSB- U.S. Supreme Court -RSB- made clear in ` Caperton ' was that judges are different , that campaign donations need to be thought of in a different way when those donations are going to fund a judicial campaign , '' Kourlis said . `` It put on the front burner those questions of propriety with respect to campaign donations to judges and how that impacts people 's perception of impartiality on the bench . '' Nevada has scheduled a ballot initiative that could make it the first state in 15 years to switch from a voter-based selection of judges to a merit-based selection . Ohio , too , has begun rethinking its voter-based system . Moyer , who has been through four elections on the state high court , said he notices voters growing more skeptical of judges . That perception , he said , is fueled in part by negative ads from political and business interests with a stake in elections . `` The only way to eliminate the public distrust is to eliminate money from the process , '' Moyer said . Moyer is heading an effort that would give the governor and an independent review panel the power to select state judges . Voters could then decide a few years later whether to retain those justices . Many states that choose judges by merit also have accountability systems that include independent performance evaluations and retention votes . Supporters call that a transparent , unbiased tool for the public to essentially `` judge the judge '' on their record . McCaffery knows his personality and personal story helped get him elected . An Irish immigrant , he used his law enforcement background to get a spot as a Philadelphia trial judge , famously dealing with unruly football fans at the small `` Eagles Court '' underneath Veterans Stadium . The bald , burly judge with an easy grin was elected in 2007 and says he enjoys his work . `` I 'm electable , not appointable , '' he said during the run for his seat . `` If I 'm elevated , I am responsible to the citizens -- not the governor , not the folks who talk about merit selection . '' McCaffery calls the merit-based system `` elitist . '' The 19 states that held state supreme court elections in 2007 spent a combined $ 34.4 million , shattering previous campaign spending records . In 2008 , nearly $ 20 million was spent on TV advertising for the 15 states that held contested elections for 26 supreme court seats . The political and financial stakes have become enormous , from ideological groups sparring over abortion rights and gay marriage to business groups dueling with trial lawyers over multibillion-dollar punitive damage awards . Reform advocates say judicial independence comes only with public confidence in the system . `` People do n't like the notion of cash in the courtroom -- any whiff of any expectation that judges can be bought is just not acceptable in our country , '' Kourlis said . `` People understand how important it is to have an impartial judge . From your own personal perspective , walking into a courthouse , you do n't want to be asking whether that adverse party donated to that judge 's campaign . ''
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Former Supreme Court justice wants to reform the way judges are chosen . Twenty-one states have some sort of contested system for selecting judges . Reform advocates say campaign contributions can bring judges ' impartiality into question . Elected judge in Pennsylvania says it 's `` elitist '' to appoint judges .
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NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Actor and political activist Ron Silver , who played a recurring role in TV 's presidential drama `` The West Wing , '' and who also let his political views play out in real life , died Sunday after a two-year battle with esophageal cancer , according to a colleague . Ron Silver is seen in this 2006 photograph . He had a recurring role in TV 's `` The West Wing . '' Robin L. Bronk , executive director of The Creative Coalition , said Silver , a New York native , died in his sleep with his family around him . `` Nothing could hold Ron back , not even a debilitating illness . His contributions as an artist and activist will never be forgotten , '' said Bronk , who runs an organization founded in 1989 by Silver , actor Christopher Reeve and other prominent figures in the arts as a political advocacy organization for the entertainment industry . Silver 's politics moved from working for the Democratic Party and its candidates for most of his life to becoming a supporter of many Republican candidates and causes , with the shift occurring after the 9/11 terrorist attacks . He was quoted as saying the terrorist attacks and the Democratic Party 's policies regarding terrorism had persuaded him to become a political independent . He backed then-President George W. Bush for a second term in 2004 , and he spoke at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York . One of Silver 's final television appearances was on CNN 's `` Larry King Live '' last October , when he was part of panel discussing Sen. John McCain 's campaign against then-candidate Barack Obama . Asked by King about rifts within the Republican Party as the election neared and the country 's financial crisis worsened , Silver said , `` The Republican Party , if they are out of power for a while , needs to regroup and rethink who they are as a party . This deregulation , this whole Reagan Revolution , did not seem to work in this crisis . '' Silver 's many roles included playing political consultant Bruno Gianelli in `` The West Wing , '' and attorney Alan Dershowitz in the movie `` Reversal of Fortune . ''
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Silver 's many roles included playing consultant Bruno Gianelli in `` The West Wing '' Silver was 62 and had been battling esophageal cancer for two years . Silver was also known for his political activism , first for Democrats , then for GOP . Colleague says Silver died in his sleep with his family around him .
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Editor 's note : A nationally syndicated columnist , Roland S. Martin is the author of `` Listening to the Spirit Within : 50 Perspectives on Faith '' and `` Speak , Brother ! A Black Man 's View of America . '' Visit his Web site for more information . Roland Martin says fathers across America are failing their children by shirking their responsibilities . -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- `` I 'll kill all y' all . '' Imagine looking at the man whose DNA you carry standing in your home , telling you those chilling words , as he wields a shotgun . The frightening image is a scary thought . But according to former Major League Baseball star Darryl Strawberry , it was an actual scene , one that begins his book , `` Straw : Finding My Way . '' I vividly remember the towering home runs hit by the former star , who played for four big league teams , including the New York Mets and Yankees -- and of course , the many times he was in the news for failing drug tests , beating wives , getting cancer twice , going to prison . He was a man fighting enormous demons . Yet as I read the book , there is one consistent theme that runs throughout and that sheds a spotlight on a figure that continues to plague neighborhoods all across the country : the missing-in-action father . Strawberry makes a point repeatedly in `` Straw '' that he does not blame his dad for the trials and tribulations in his life ; he says all decisions he made willingly . But he does speak to the issue of having a father who , by Strawberry 's account , while technically in the house , was a raging drunk who spent his paycheck doing what he wanted , showing no love and affection towards his children , viciously beating Strawberry and his brother , all while telling them that they would be nothing in life . Watch Darryl Strawberry talk to Roland Martin about his father '' `` I grew up in an inner city , South Central Los Angeles . When you grow up in the inner cities , most young men do n't have a father figure around . Most mothers are raising the kids , '' he told me in an interview . He later said , `` I loved playing baseball ; I loved playing basketball ; excelling and achieving my goals was my own personal goals , but inside , I just never loved myself . I can remember the times when I excelled in baseball and I -LSB- would -RSB- do extremely well and the cheers and the glitter and everything that came along with it , but you know what , Roland ? When I went home at night , here was I again , me myself , -LSB- asking -RSB- ` Who am I ? ' '' The cynical in our world undoubtedly will say , `` Who cares about a drugged-out , washed-up ballplayer ? '' But the mental damage that Strawberry says wreaked havoc on him as a child can not be discounted , and it 's something that millions of young children , especially boys , are growing up with every day . This is n't a tale of the stereotypical black athlete who grows up with the black father not in the home , leading to the cycle of violence and lack of family unity we see all around the country . Strawberry 's dad was there . But , according to the former ballplayer , he was a horrible father . And right now , there are also young white boys in suburban and rural America who have dads in the home , physically , yet they have mentally and emotionally checked out . And the same for Hispanics and Asians . It has gotten to the point that a mother is considered essential in a family , but a father is optional , expendable , and increasingly irrelevant . I remember watching an OnStar commercial . And as the company touted the features , it showed a father driving his child around , and when the kid starts to cry , the dad freaks out and has to quickly call the mom to calm the baby down . I 'm watching that and saying , `` Man , it 's your child , too ! So calm it ! '' Then there is the commercial -- I do n't even remember what they were pitching -- of two or three kids in the kitchen making a mess after spilling the cereal . The hapless and hopeless dad looks at them and says , `` Where is your mom ? '' Every time that commercial comes on I scream at the TV , `` Where is your mom ? Where are your parenting skills , you ingrate ! '' See , I take seriously the importance of fathers -- men -- in the lives of children . My wife and I do n't have children of our own , but we are raising four of my nieces because they were struggling at home . They need to see a husband and a wife caring for them , but also instilling the right values in their lives . I am convinced that our city streets have turned into killing fields because dads have abdicated their responsibility in the raising of their children . Yes , mom is vital . But there is something different about dad speaking , lecturing , cajoling , disciplining , embracing , loving and caring . Our schools are filled with children losing their minds , and teachers unable to control them . When that happens , it 's typically mom , grandma or an aunt coming to the school to deal with the problem . Ask a teacher or principal today and they will say they rarely see dads . My mom has gotten ticked at times because I often talk more about my father than her on TV or radio . It 's not that I do n't love or appreciate her . But I do it because it is rare to hear men , especially black men , speaking affirmatively about their fathers . I know what it means to have a dad raising and caring for you , and not seeing his child in a drive-by style , or just sending a check . Dads must be present and accounted for , playing a vital role in their children 's life . That 's why I appreciated it when President Obama spoke about the issue of fatherhood on the campaign trail . We all know the story of his father leaving when he was 2 years old . And yes , he was able to be successful . But for every Obama , there are numerous boys who are n't able to hold it together . I 've called on pastors nationwide to stop the stream of momma , grandmother , aunts and female cousins coming to the altar for baby dedications with no man in sight . That pastor should say , `` Until I personally meet with the father , I will not dedicate this child . '' Somebody has to hold that man accountable for his actions . It 's time that men hold their `` boys '' accountable . Actor Hill Harper had a friend who once said that he had n't seen his child in some time , but he found time to play basketball with Harper . Hill said , `` Unless you call your child now , we ca n't play ball . '' See , Hill had to force him to accept his responsibilities . The failure of manhood in America -- fatherhood -- has reached epidemic proportions . And unless our religious and cultural institutions say enough is enough , we are going to see another generation of children growing up with dad absent and unaccounted for . It 's time for men to man up , so children can grow up with an equal amount of love and affection from both parents . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Roland Martin .
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Roland Martin : Darryl Strawberry 's book says his father failed his family . Martin says fathers across America are n't living up to their responsibilities . He says mothers are bearing the burden of raising kids , dealing with schools .
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Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- 2010 has opened on an unsettling note for Democrats in the U.S. Senate . Connecticut 's Chris Dodd and North Dakota 's Byron Dorgan -- two longtime power players in the chamber -- have announced their intention to step down at the end of the year . If history is any guide , the party now faces an uphill struggle to maintain its 60-seat supermajority . Failure to do so could have serious ramifications for President Obama as he tries to look past the health care debate and tackle global warming , ballooning budget deficits and a range of other politically contentious issues . The fight over health care reform has clearly demonstrated that 60 votes is now the minimum threshold for passing major legislation through the Senate . Anything less leaves the majority party at the mercy of a minority increasingly willing to employ the filibuster to grind the legislative gears of the Senate to a halt . Democrats currently have exactly 60 members in their caucus ; Republicans have 40 . The GOP knows that presidents typically lose House and Senate seats during midterm elections , and is banking on that fact to block much of Obama 's agenda . `` Midterm elections are usually low-turnout affairs , '' noted CNN polling director Keating Holland . `` Conservative Republicans , however , have been energized by their strong opposition to Obama 's agenda . They 're likely to vote this November . Many liberals , on the other hand , do n't feel Obama has pushed strong enough on their issues . It 's unclear at the moment if they 'll be as likely to show at the polls . '' This year , Democrats must defend 19 seats , including an opening that occurred when veteran Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy died . A special election for Kennedy 's seat -- widely expected to be won by the Democrats -- will take place January 19 . Republicans are defending 18 seats . The GOP , according to many analysts , is now placing a high priority on picking up Democratic seats in Colorado , Delaware , Illinois , Nevada , North Dakota and Pennsylvania . The Illinois and Delaware seats were once held by Obama and Vice President Joe Biden , respectively . Obama 's replacement , Sen. Roland Burris , was immediately tainted after being tapped to fill Obama 's vacancy by Rod Blagojevich , the state 's scandal-plagued former governor . Burris is not seeking election in his own right . Biden 's replacement , Sen. Ted Kaufman , is likely to step aside in favor of the vice president 's son , Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden , analysts believe . Delaware 's longtime GOP congressman , Mike Castle , is being touted as the likely Republican nominee . Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nevada , is struggling to manage Obama 's more progressive agenda while also seeking a fifth term from his traditionally conservative state . Republicans , however , are having a tough time unifying behind an opponent . At the same time , five-term Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter remains a high-profile target for conservatives enraged by his decision to switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party last year . Before he can get to the general election , Specter will face a tough primary challenge from Rep. Joe Sestak , a former admiral . Also in the GOP 's crosshairs is two-term Arkansas Democrat Blanche Lincoln , who recently cast a tough political vote in favor of Reid 's health care bill . Dodd 's decision to retire , however , is widely believed to be beneficial to Democratic chances in largely liberal Connecticut . The state 's popular Democratic attorney general , Richard Blumenthal , declared his candidacy a few hours after Dodd announced he was stepping down . Democratic leaders , for their part , are placing a high priority on picking up GOP seats in Kentucky , Missouri , New Hampshire , and Ohio . Republicans have been stung by incumbents ' decisions to retire in all four states . Louisiana , a more conservative state , has attracted the interest of Democratic strategists . First-term GOP Sen. David Vitter has been tarred by his 2007 admission that he had a relationship with a prostitute . This year 's race in Florida has also become an increasingly high-profile contest , largely due to Republican infighting . GOP Sen. George LeMieux , who was appointed to the Senate after former Sen. Mel Martinez unexpectedly stepped down last year , is not seeking a full term . The state 's GOP governor , Charlie Crist , was widely expected to take the seat , but is now facing an unexpectedly strong conservative primary challenge from former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio . Republicans are still , however , favored to hold the seat . CNN 's Mark Preston and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report .
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Democrats need 60-seat supermajority in Senate to get major bills passed . Sens. Chris Dodd and Byron Dorgan announced this week they wo n't seek re-election . GOP targeting vulnerable seats , including those vacated by Obama and Biden . Flipping could go both ways , with Dems picking up some GOP seats .
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Editor 's note : Sarah Hughes won the gold medal in figure skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City , Utah , and is a graduate of Yale University . Medalist Sarah Hughes says the Games are about excellence and unity . -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- What are the first thoughts that pop into your mind when you hear the word Olympics ? Probably something synonymous with excellence , greatness , excitement , achievement . Maybe it 's the striking image of Nadia Comaneci scoring a perfect 10 etched in your mind , or the experience of following Michael Phelps ' quest to win a record-breaking eight gold medals last summer in Beijing , China . Or is it the thrill of watching the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team winning the gold medal in Lake Placid , stacked up against unimaginable odds , that occupies that space ? I could go on and on , but whatever image the Olympics has for you is probably accompanied by a feeling of pride , happiness , joyfulness , maybe even a childlike glee . Sometimes it 's the simple way you can sum up your response to the question -- and perhaps that 's the point of asking the question -- but it would be foolish to ignore other aspects of the Games that contribute to making the event happen . Although the presence of public officials at host-city bids shows the International Olympic Committee that they are behind the bid and will be supportive , such appearances are not required . On Friday , President Obama , a Chicago , Illinois , resident for many years , will arrive in Copenhagen , Denmark -LRB- his wife is already there -RRB- , to support and try to persuade the IOC voters in favor of the 2016 Chicago bid . Obama 's visit to Copenhagen will make him the first U.S. president to attend an Olympic host-city vote . His visit will not be the first by a president -LRB- or prime minister -RRB- whose country went on to win a bid for the Games . British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife were in Singapore lobbying IOC members for the 2012 Summer Games host-city vote when London was awarded the event . Two years later , Russian President Vladimir Putin went to the host-city vote in Guatemala when Sochi , a relatively unknown city , won the right to host the 2014 Winter Games . The other 2016 contenders vying for votes from the 100-plus eligible members of the IOC are Madrid , Spain ; Rio de Janeiro , Brazil ; and Tokyo , Japan . Michelle Obama , a lifelong Chicagoan enthusiastically championing the U.S. bid , is displaying her `` Olympic spirit . '' On Monday , the eve of her visit to Copenhagen , she spoke of being ready to woo each voter individually if need be : `` Gloves are off . I 'm talking to everybody . That 's what my schedule looks like . '' Sounding like an Olympic competitor already herself , she added that she did n't `` think there 's one person left off . '' It is easy to come to the conclusion that I might be biased , having won a gold medal in figure skating at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games , but I was an American and a fan long before those Games , and I will be one long after . The memories , unity and patriotism from the Salt Lake Games was n't about any one particular thing but about all those little `` things '' coming together : the result of what the participants -- the fans , volunteers , competitors , coaches , moms , dads , sisters , brothers , cities and nations -- created by sharing the best we have to offer with one another . That 's what the Olympics are about . They are about greatness , they are about excellence , but above all , the Games are about unity . In a September 10 letter to IOC members , Obama wrote about how he `` sees the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games as an extraordinary opportunity for America to renew our bonds of friendship and welcome the world to our shores with open arms . '' And on Friday , when Obama arrives in Copenhagen , he will be joined by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva , newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and King Juan Carlos of Spain . Let the Games begin . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Sarah Hughes .
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Sarah Hughes : Obama is among other world leaders who have sought Olympics . She says Games are about excellence and unity in support of U.S. teams . She says Michelle Obama is showing she shares the Olympic spirit .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum was forced to retire from the fourth game of the NBA finals with an ongoing knee problem , as his team went down 96-89 to the Boston Celtics . Bynum had fluid drained from his knee just days before the first game of the best-of-seven series last week , but until now the injury has not hampered his performance . However , the 22-year-old spent almost half of Thursday night 's game in Boston on the bench , only managing 12 minutes of action in the second half as L.A. 's East Coast rivals leveled the finals at 2-2 . `` Obviously we miss Andrew when he 's not out there , '' the Lakers ' Spanish center Pau Gasol told his team 's official Web site . `` He 's been so effective blocking shots and rebounding . Those two things alone are a big plus for us . '' Trailing two points going into the last quarter , the Celtics came from behind to win the game to prevent the defending champions from pulling ahead in the series . Paul Pierce was Boston 's top scorer , finishing with 19 points . But veteran Celtics players Glen Davis and Nate Robinson were instrumental in their team sealing the win . Coming off the bench Davis scored nine of his 18 points in the final quarter and Robinson all of his 12 . `` I just felt like a beast . I just felt like I could n't be denied , '' Davis told the official NBA Web site . `` It was all will and determination . This is where you grab the moment . All you can do is play in the moment . '' Lakers coach Phil Jackson believes that his team were outplayed by the New Englanders , especially in the closing stages of the game . `` They really stepped on it in the fourth quarter , '' said Phil Jackson . `` We seemed to not be able to stop the momentum of their game . And Jackson has hinted at a change of tactics in the next game in order to make the most of guard Kobe Bryant , who scored 33 points but was not effective in the fourth quarter . `` He was tired , '' Jackson said . `` Physically he had to work too hard in the course of the game , and he could n't finish it out like he wanted to . We 'll have to do something different the next game to get him off the floor and keep him ready for that fourth quarter . '' The Lakers are now hoping they can bounce back in game five , hopefully with the help of a fully fit Bynum , and not allow the Celtics to take a series lead . `` I think we have enough in our arsenal to produce , '' said Gasol . `` We know what to do , we know how to get it done . Game five will take place in Boston on Sunday , before the series moves back to L.A. for the sixth , and if required , seventh game . The Celtics are seeking a record breaking 18th NBA title , and the Lakers their 16th .
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Boston Celtics beat the L.A. Lakers 96-89 in the fourth game of NBA finals to level series . Lakers ' Andrew Bynum was forced to withdraw from the game with a knee problem . Veteran Celtics players Glen Davis and Nate Robinson helped Celtics come from behind in final quarter . L.A. 's Kobe Bryant scored 33 points but tired in the closing stages of the game .
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LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- While automakers lay off staff and shut down plants in response to the economic downturn , one automaker announced Thursday that it will open a manufacturing plant in the United States , potentially creating hundreds of jobs in the area eventually chosen . Tesla unveils its Model S sedan , with a base price of $ 57,400 . The manufacturing plant will be in California . Tesla Motors , maker of a high-end electric sports car , says it will build an all-electric sedan in Southern California . Thursday 's announcement was made in Hawthorne , California , where Tesla unveiled the Model S sedan at a base price of $ 49,900 , after a federal tax credit of $ 7,500 . That 's less than half the price of its first model , the Roadster . Started in 2003 and bankrolled by PayPal millionaire Elon Musk , Tesla has attracted investments from the Silicon Valley elite , among them Google founder Larry Page . It is widely believed that the Model S sedan will be built near the Space Exploration Technologies Corporation facility in Hawthorne . That aerospace company , more commonly known as SpaceX , was founded by Musk in 2002 . SpaceX recently won a NASA contract to deliver cargo to the international space station when the space shuttle program is retired next year . That contract , worth $ 1.6 billion , was won over such industry mainstays as Boeing and Lockheed . The promise of a high-performance , all-electric vehicle became a reality with the startup 's first model , the Tesla Roadster , a car with the look , speed and price tag -- a steep $ 109,000 and up -- that rivals other high-end , high-performance vehicles . Recently though , the economic downturn has forced Tesla to delay production of their would-be flagship Model S until 2011 . They 've also had to lay off more than 80 workers , which is about 25 percent of the company 's staff . Nonetheless , Tesla predicts it will manufacture 20,000 Model S vehicles a year . That would make it more of a mass-market vehicle than the Roadster ; only 1,200 of which are produced yearly . The company faces many challenges , the foremost of which is convincing consumers to pay almost $ 50,000 for an all-electric sedan when they could pay thousands less for another brand of upmarket sedan or a gas-electric hybrid .
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Tesla says manufacturing plant will be in California ; hundreds of jobs possible . The all-electric Model S sedan will go for a base price of about $ 50,000 . Tesla 's challenge : Will consumers pay that much for a car in recessionary times ? The company hopes to make 20,000 Model S sedans a year .
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Madrid , Spain -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An investigation was under way aboard a cruise ship in Barcelona 's port on Friday after 26-foot waves crashed into a cruise ship and killed two people off northeast Spain , officials said . `` We are extending all cooperation to all relevant authorities . The captain has been cooperating and is aboard the ship , '' said Michael Maratheftis , spokesman for the Greece-based Louis Cruise Lines . Its vessel the Louis Majesty suffered the casualties and damage on Wednesday . Two male passengers -- a German and an Italian -- were killed and 14 other people were injured . Maltese government officials arrived in Spain on Thursday to lead the investigation , because the Greece-based vessel flies a Maltese flag , a Spanish government spokeswoman said . `` It 's a weather investigation , '' Maratheftis said , adding that the crew 's actions after the three `` abnormal '' waves struck the ship were crucial in preventing further casualties or damage . The waves smashed five windows on deck five in public areas -- on the forward part , or bow , of the 14-deck ship . Two male passengers -- a German and an Italian -- were killed , Maratheftis said . Were you on the ship ? Share your story with iReport . `` It was a shock . It was unexpected , '' Vito Sgobba , the cruise ship 's hotel manager , told CNN in a phone interview from Barcelona . The first wave , Sgobba said , pushed down the ship 's bow , and the second wave soon after struck the front of deck five . Sgobba was on an upper deck and quickly rushed to the scene with other crew members , who evacuated the injured to the ship 's hospital . Several doctors and nurses traveling aboard as passengers also helped , he said . The two deceased apparently died at the scene , and did not make it to the ship 's hospital , Sgobba said . The victims were a German man , 69 , from North Rhine Westphalia , and an Italian man , 52 , who was traveling with his family , their respective governments told CNN . Fourteen others were treated aboard the ship for light injuries , but were hospitalized as a precaution when the ship returned to Barcelona on Wednesday night , Maratheftis said . By Friday , only two of the injured remained hospitalized , and they were to be released over the weekend , Maratheftis said . The ship 's owners on Thursday repatriated most of the 1,350 passengers from 27 nations -- including Americans , Dutch , Germans and Italians -- aboard flights from Barcelona . Only 200 passengers remained in Barcelona early Friday , for their convenience , Maratheftis said . Dutch passenger Tom Berg told CNN that he had been in the hardest-hit area of the ship just five minutes before the waves struck . `` All people crying from that side , because there was a lot of water . We felt the wind going through the boat . After a few minutes , the cry ... calling for a doctor and we realize it was more serious than we expected , '' Berg said at the Barcelona airport , while awaiting a flight . Another Dutch passenger , Elly Maat , said she was on deck six , one level above the worst damage . The second wave broke the ship 's windows , and some passengers donned life vests , she said . `` A lot of people were very angry and children were crying , '' Maat said at the airport . The 580 crew members remain with the ship , which is under repair . The next scheduled cruise has been canceled , but plans are for the ship to sail from Barcelona to Genoa on March 10 , and to resume its normal cruise operations from there on March 12 , Maratheftis said . CNN 's Al Goodman , Stephanie Halasz , Ben Brumfield and Chad Myers contributed to this report .
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Cruise ship was hit by three `` abnormal '' waves , each about 26 feet -LRB- 8 meters -RRB- high . Maltese government officials begin investigation . German , Italian passengers killed when waves smashed windows . Fourteen other people injured in the incident which occurred off Cabo de San Sebastian .
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WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Bush 's budget chief blamed the faltering economy and the bipartisan stimulus package for the record $ 482 billion deficit the White House predicted for the 2009 budget year . The White House blames a faltering economy and the stimulus package for the increased budget deficit . Jim Nussle , the director of the Office of Management and Budget , said the deficit would be about 3.3 percent of the nation 's gross domestic product , the measure of the nation 's total economy . The fiscal year begins October 1 , 2008 . The federal deficit is the difference between what the government spends and what it takes in from taxes and other revenue sources . The government must borrow money to make up the difference . While the deficit would be a record in absolute dollar terms , Nussle said it would be below the 2004 deficit , 3.6 percent of GDP , and the record deficit of 1983 , 6 percent of GDP , when compared with the size of the overall U.S. economy . White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the stimulus package was necessary , even if it increased the deficit . `` We do think the plan was the right one , and it will have an effect , '' she said . `` And the best way to help reduce the deficit is to make sure you are keeping a lock on spending , but also that you can also try to help to build the economy . So we hope this will help us pull out of the economic downturn over the next few months because of the stimulus package . `` I remember that back when we were discussing the stimulus package , both parties recognized that the deficit would increase , and that would be the price that we pay in order to help improve the economy , '' she said . Nussle said the $ 170 billion , bipartisan stimulus , which congressional Democrats and Bush agreed to earlier this year , was a major reason the deficit was expected to reach record levels next year . The deficit projection for 2009 would have been only 2.2 percent of the economy , or $ 272 billion , if the stimulus package is excluded , Nussle said . Watch Nussle warn Congress not to increase spending '' `` The determination was made that getting the economy back on track was a higher priority than immediate deficit reduction , '' Nussle said . He said the OMB projects that the deficit would fall after the 2009 budget year , and he predicted that the government would have a surplus in budget year 2012 , if the president 's budget blueprint is followed . `` Near-term deficits are temporary and manageable if -- and only if -- we keep spending in check , the tax burden low and the economy growing , '' Nussle said , warning that congressional Democrats were planning to add billions of dollars in spending to the federal budget . President Bush inherited a budget surplus of $ 128 billion when he took office in 2001 but has since posted a budget deficit every year . View a history of the government deficits and surpluses '' The Bush administration has spent heavily on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan , and faces a large budget shortfall in tax revenue in part because of Bush 's tax cuts and a souring economy . A Democratic point man on the budget , Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota , blasted the administration for its `` reckless fiscal policies , '' blaming the president 's tax cuts for driving the government into deficit and saying Bush `` will be remembered as the most fiscally irresponsible president in our nation 's history . '' Watch Conrad call the federal debt Bush 's legacy '' Conrad , who chairs the Senate 's budget committee , accused the president of `` squandering '' the surplus he inherited from President Bill Clinton and said the increased debt the government has taken on to cover the deficit has undermined the value of the dollar and hurt the overall economy . `` If they gave out Olympic medals for fiscal irresponsibility , President Bush would take the gold , silver and bronze , '' Conrad said . `` With his eight years in office , he will have had the five highest deficits ever recorded . And the highest of those deficits is now projected to come in 2009 , as he leaves office . '' But a senior administration official says the budgetary problems stem from what he called inadequate defense , intelligence and homeland security resources that were handed down from Clinton . The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office in March projected the deficit for the 2008 fiscal year , which ends September 30 , would be $ 357 billion . It predicted the 2009 deficit to be $ 342 billion , if the president 's proposals were adopted . Both assumptions , however , were made before the economic stimulus package was passed by Congress and signed by the president this spring . The CBO said it would release revised deficit estimates in September . The two major presidential candidates -- Democrat Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain -- used news that the United States ' budget deficit will hit a record high as an opportunity to criticize each other 's fiscal plans . CNN 's Brianna Keiler and Scott Anderson contributed to this report .
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NEW : Deficit in budget year 2009 expected to grow to $ 482 billion , budget chief says . NEW : 2009 deficit is smaller than 2004 deficit in terms of GDP , Nussle says . White House points to faltering economy , budget stimulus package for increase . Top Democrat says Bush has won `` gold medal '' for fiscal irresponsibility .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An internationally renowned paleontologist will plead guilty to stealing dinosaur bones from federal land , his attorneys said in a court filing . Paleontologist Nate Murphy is expected to plead guilty to stealing fossils from federal land . Nate Murphy , whose famous finds include Leonardo , one of the best-preserved dinosaurs in the world , will make that plea in federal court in Billings , Montana . Earlier this month , Murphy pleaded guilty to state charges of stealing a fossil from private land in order to sell it . An expert cited in that case said Murphy 's find was worth between $ 150,000 and $ 400,000 . The self-taught dinosaur expert , who is director of vertebrate paleontology at the Judith River Dinosaur Institute , could face jail time . Murphy and his attorney did not immediately respond to phone messages Friday from CNN . Jessica Fehr , lead prosecutor in the case , said the U.S. Attorney 's Office would not comment until after the plea is entered . In court papers , federal prosecutors say Murphy knowingly took fossils from federal property between about August 2006 and August 2007 . The `` paleontological resources '' were said to be worth at least $ 1,000 . In the state case , Murphy pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft . As part of the plea , the state recommended Murphy 's sentence be deferred for five years . Douglas Erwin , president of The Paleontological Society and curator of the Smithsonian 's National Museum of Natural History , said `` theft of fossils from pubic lands has long been a problem . '' In a written statement sent to CNN on Friday , he said such thefts `` can often result in the loss of important scientific information and the disappearance of specimens that belong to the public . `` At the same time , however , fossil collecting , particularly of common invertebrate fossils , has been a pastime enjoyed by many for decades , and is an important way of connecting people with their natural heritage . '' An omnibus public lands bill , which the U.S. Senate passed Thursday , includes penalties for fossil theft from public land .
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Attorney says well-known paleontologist will plead guilty to stealing dinosaur bones . Nate Murphy , of the Judith River Dinosaur Institute , has made major fossil finds . Murphy is accused of taking fossils from federal lands in Montana . Smithsonian : `` Theft of fossils from pubic lands has long been a problem ''
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-LRB- Budget Travel -RRB- -- I 've never been a fan of the cold . As a kid , my favorite part of skiing was the hot chocolate , and I relished blizzards for the snow days , not the snowball fights . So when I booked a trip to the Icehotel in northern Sweden , my family and friends were amused -- and a bit concerned , especially when I got sick days before my flight . `` You ca n't go to the Arctic with a cold ! '' my mother admonished . The hotel in northern Sweden opens every year in early December and closes at the end of April . But I had good reason for wanting to sleep in a glorified freezer : As an environmental reporter , I was curious to see a place where people have turned snow and ice into a moneymaker , one that 's spawned copycats in frigid spots from Canada to Romania . Conceived by Yngve Bergqvist , a river-rafting guide who wanted to lure visitors to the Arctic north during the winter , the Icehotel started out in 1990 as nothing more than a crude igloo . Now , it 's a fanciful ice castle that 's rebuilt every November with an unparalleled level of artistry -- which explains why each winter 16,000 guests pay hundreds of dollars a night to sleep on a slab of ice and thousands more make the trek just to tour the rooms for the day . The 30 most elaborate suites are the handiwork of a team of artists -- sculptors , painters , architects , even comic book illustrators -- many of whom have never worked with ice before . Wielding chain saws and chisels , they spend weeks crafting frozen furniture while electricians install lights to provide an ethereal glow . Surreal ? Exceedingly . This winter , German furniture maker Jens Paulus and American industrial designer Joshua Space created a space-station room straight out of `` Star Trek , '' with giant carvings of the sun and moon on opposing walls and twinkling lights in the ceiling . British decorator Ben Rousseau and graffiti artist Insa devised the Getting Cold Feet suite , with oversize high-heeled ice shoes beside the bed . Twenty-nine unadorned snow caves offer a somewhat less pricey and more purist experience . Since no hotel would be complete without a bar , the artists also sculpt a chic space where guests can warm their innards with an Icebar Jukkasjärvi , a mix of vodka , blueberry liqueur , blue curaçao syrup and elderflower juice , sipped from a cube-shaped ice glass . Then there 's the chapel , where designs etched into the ice walls resemble stained glass . About 150 couples tie the knot here each year , some brides bundled in snowsuits , others dressed in white wedding gowns , their teeth chattering as they recite their vows . When I arrive in Sweden , I 'm surprised to find that the guests actually spend a lot of time in a pair of heated chalets that look like life-size gingerbread houses . The shower and bathroom are located in the one nearest the hotel -- because , really , who wants to sit on a frozen throne ? And the other contains the restaurant , where chef Richard Näslin dreams up such intriguing dishes as arctic char ice cream , which has a slightly salty , smoky flavor and is much more delicious than it sounds . Budget Travel Dream Trip : Scale a volcano in Ecuador . After my dinner , wrapped in several layers of fleece and down , I waddle out to a tepee for a folk concert by native Laplander Yana Mangi . At the end of each song , the crowd responds with a uniquely Arctic ovation : muffled mitten clapping . My suite has a nautical theme , with walls curved into a frozen wave and an oval bed of bluish ice set beneath a clam-shaped headboard . Topped with a mattress and a reindeer skin , the setup looks snug . Almost . The temperature is a brisk 23 degrees Fahrenheit , and I 'm still petrified I 'll lose a finger to hypothermia , even in my head-to-toe winter wardrobe . I climb under the furry blanket , making sure not an inch of skin is exposed . Then I gaze through the slits in my microfleece face mask and marvel at the stillness . My breath comes in shallow white puffs . Soon , I 'm fast asleep . The next thing I know , a hotel attendant is standing beside me with a cup of steaming lingonberry juice -- my wake-up call . Amazingly , I slept through the night , giving new meaning to the expression `` out cold . '' I wiggle my fingers and toes -- they 're tingly , but all there . Then I do what any sane person would : sprint to the chalet to thaw out in the shower and sauna . Most guests stay only one night , but I opt for a second . It 's not to prove my mettle ; I feel as if I 've done that . Rather , I find my frosty alcove incredibly restful and therapeutic . Maybe the hotel should add an ice yoga studio next ? IF YOU GO ... GETTING THERE A round-trip flight between New York and Stockholm on SAS costs about $ 700 in midwinter -LRB- flysas.com -RRB- . From Stockholm , take a 16-hour train ride to Kiruna -LRB- from $ 44 round trip -RRB- . The Icehotel is a $ 13 bus ride away . WHEN TO GO The hotel opens every year in early December and closes at the end of April . You have a chance of spotting the northern lights in December and January , but those are the coldest months -- temperatures can dip to 45 below . WHAT TO PACK Think wool and fleece layers ; avoid cotton , which can trap moisture and make you colder . The hotel supplies boots and hats . For details , see icehotel.com/winter/adventure/dress . WHERE TO SPLURGE Do n't miss the guided hotel tour -LRB- $ 37 per person -RRB- . And how about an ice-sculpting lesson -LRB- $ 75 per person -RRB- ? Or a six-hour snowmobile safari to see moose at their winter feeding grounds -LRB- $ 400 per person -RRB- ? WHERE TO SAVE Tour the Icehotel by day , and then spend the night at Hotel Kebne in Kiruna -LRB- 011-46/980 -68 -180 , hotellkebne.com , from $ 100 -RRB- . Get the best travel deals and tips emailed to you FREE - CLICK HERE ! Copyright © 2009 Newsweek Budget Travel , Inc. , all rights reserved . Note : This story was accurate when it was published . Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip .
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The Icehotel started out in 1990 as nothing more than a crude igloo . Now guests can stay in elaborate suites handcrafted in ice by artists . Bathrooms are located in a heated chalet .
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NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Frank DiPascali , formerly the finance chief at Bernard Madoff 's investment advisory business , pleaded guilty in federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday to 10 charges including securities fraud and international money laundering . Frank DiPascali , center in this courtroom sketch , said he knew for about 20 years he was engaged in wrongdoing . The charges carry a maximum sentence of 125 years . With his guilty plea , DiPascali waived his right to a trial . As Tuesday 's hearing commenced , U.S. District Judge Richard J. Sullivan explained that for him to accept DiPascali 's guilty plea , DiPascali would have to sufficiently convince him that he was , in fact , guilty . That set the stage for a dramatic statement from DiPascali about his history at Madoff 's firm , his personal relationship with Madoff , and the mechanics of a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme for which Madoff was convicted in June . While DiPascali 's guilty plea and the judge 's acceptance of it were expected , both the defense and the prosecution were surprised by the judge 's decision to reject DiPascali 's bail agreement -- and to have him escorted from the courtroom in handcuffs . The defense and even the prosecution pleaded with the judge not to order DiPascali into custody . Prosecutors told the judge they believed remanding DiPascali would impede the `` efficiency '' of their Madoff investigation . Marc Mukasey , the lead defense attorney , stood multiple times to dispute the decision , variously suggesting to the judge that DiPascali instead be put under house detention , that he wear an electronic monitoring device , and that the decision on his bail agreement be postponed for 48 to 72 hours . He added that DiPascali 's family was `` completely unprepared '' for this outcome . While Sullivan patiently heard out Mukasey 's many counterproposals , he refused to back down from his decision , asserting that DiPascali was too serious a flight risk given the `` astronomical '' maximum sentence he may receive . The judge also said that he could not `` overlook the conduct -LSB- DiPascali -RSB- admitted to '' despite DiPascali 's avowed determination to do the right thing henceforth . Though DiPascali remained outwardly calm for much of Tuesday 's proceedings , the judge 's decision not to grant him bail appeared to stun him . He seemed in a daze as it became clear he would leave the courtroom in handcuffs , cupping his head in his hands and rubbing his temples . Earlier in his testimony , DiPascali recounted how he joined Madoff 's company as a newly minted high-school grad in 1975 . He held numerous jobs during his 33-year tenure -- options trader and research analyst among them -- but above all he was a `` guy who did whatever he was told to do around the office . '' Working side by side with Madoff for decades , DiPascali developed a tight bond with his employer . `` Bernie was a mentor to me and more , '' he said , adding that he was `` loyal to a terrible , terrible fault . '' His sense of loyalty led him to falsify documents for his boss for years on end , he said . Using a financial program , he looked up historical prices of stocks and then drafted customer statements showing bogus stock transactions . He calculated theoretical commissions that the business should have received from the trades that it did not actually make , and then wired money from account to account to make those commissions appear , he said . And as a principal point of contact for investors in Madoff 's investment advisory business , DiPascali said , he also regularly fielded calls from investors curious about how their money was being managed , knowing that the trades he told them about were entirely fictitious . He said he had been aware that what he was doing was wrong since the `` late '80s , early '90s . '' `` I do n't know how I went from an 18-year-old kid who happened to have a job -LSB- to -RSB- standing in front of you today , '' he said . DiPascali repeatedly stated that he perpetrated the massive fraud in collusion `` with others , '' though he specified neither who those other were nor how many they numbered . DiPascali said he rationalized to himself that Madoff 's victims would have a soft landing if the Ponzi scheme ever came crumbling down . He said he thought Madoff had assets he could liquefy in a worst-case scenario . `` I know my apology means nothing , '' DiPascali said . His voice quavered as he expressed remorse for his part in swindling charities that had invested with Madoff . Miriam Siegman , a Madoff victim who said she lost 40 years ' worth of personal savings in the scheme and was now on the brink of homelessness , asked the judge to reject DiPascali 's guilty plea . She insisted that the `` full truth '' would come out only if DiPascali stood trial . Both legal teams said they expected sentencing to happen in May . Each side will have the opportunity to submit documents and testimonies in support of or against DiPascali before Sullivan hands down the sentence . DiPascali is the second person involved in the Madoff scheme to land behind bars as a result of the fraud . In June , Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 counts and was sentenced to 150 years in prison for masterminding the scheme . Prosecutors have said it was the largest investor fraud committed by a single person , totaling billions in losses to investors .
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NEW : Judge denies bail for Frank DiPascali , despite deal he had with prosecutors . DiPascali , Bernie Madoff 's fiance chief , pleads guilty to securities fraud . Madoff was sentenced to prison this year for orchestrating Ponzi scheme . DiPascali admits to creating false statements with historical stock prices .
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[[2297, 2363]]
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Fidel Castro will continue to have a hand in shaping Cuba 's future , but his brother and successor will remain in firm control of the government , Castro 's daughter said Monday . Alina Fernandez , daughter of Fidel Castro , has long opposed her father 's regime . `` He is still behind the scenes , but Raúl is making the decisions , '' Alina Fernandez told CNN . `` No doubt about it . '' Fidel Castro 's nearly five decades of rule ended Sunday when Cuba 's National Assembly chose his younger brother to be the Communist nation 's new president . Raúl Castro , 76 , assumed temporary control of Cuba more than a year ago after his brother suffered health problems . The lawmakers ' selection , which had been widely expected , came five days after Fidel Castro , 81 , announced his resignation in a letter published in Cuba 's state-run newspaper , Granma . In his address to the National Assembly , Raúl Castro proposed that `` we consult Fidel '' on important decisions , which the 614 members of the legislative body unanimously passed . Watch CNN 's Morgan Neill on what the transfer of power means '' Fernandez , who lives in Florida and has long opposed her father 's regime , said her uncle may bring some changes for Cuban business people and foreign relations for the the island . `` I think he will encourage some foreign investment , '' Fernandez said . `` Small businesses also will be allowed . He wants more commerce with America , and that is what he will get . '' Raúl Castro was leader of the Cuban army for almost 50 years . As Cuba 's acting president , he has kept a low profile . About six months ago , he began what he called a national debate on the problems of the country , acknowledging high unemployment and other economic concerns . However , he has said that only the Communist Party can guarantee continuity . In his address Sunday to the National Assembly , he called the party `` the guarantee of the Cuban nation . '' E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Shasta Darlington contributed to this report .
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Raúl Castro will seek more commerce with U.S. , Fidel Castro 's daughter says . Fidel Castro still involved in Cuba 's future , his daughter says . Younger Castro brother chosen Sunday to be Cuba 's new president .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Thousands of people converge on the small town of Marlinton , West Virginia , each fall for a feast whose main ingredients were unlucky enough to crawl , slither or lurk too close to a speeding car . Unusual food festivals include BugFest in Raleigh , North Carolina , where a young visitor tries a stir-fried scorpion . It 's RoadKill Cook-Off time , where past years ' crowds have sampled dishes like Pothole Possum Stew , Fricasseed Wabbit Gumbo and Smeared Hog with Groundhog Gravy . Welcome to the world of unusual -- dare we say weird ? -- food festivals . Sure , you can find plenty of culinary celebrations dedicated to everything from rhubarb to seafood , but there are also options to satisfy your cravings for rattlesnake , fried pig intestines or garlic ice cream . The RoadKill Cook-Off is so popular that it fills all the motels and hotels in the county when it takes place on the last Saturday in September , said David Cain , who runs the event and samples all the dishes . `` There are some that are better than others , but I 've never really had anything that I really did n't like , '' Cain said . `` But there was one year they cooked a rattlesnake in some kind of stew , and ... there was no way I could taste that one . '' See photos from these unusual food festivals '' The RoadKill Cook-Off began in 1991 , when organizers thought it might boost attendance at the main event : the Pocahontas County Autumn Harvest Festival . Did it ever . About 10,000 people from all over the country came to last year 's gathering , Cain said . All dishes featured in the festival must have animals commonly found dead on the side of the road -- such as deer , squirrels and snakes -- as their main ingredient . But the meat does n't have to be actual roadkill . `` Judges will deduct points for every chipped tooth resulting from gravel not removed from the RoadKill , '' the official rules warn . `` All judges have been tested for cast-iron stomachs and have sworn under oath to have no vegetarian tendencies . '' All about Spam . Thousands of miles away , in Honolulu , Hawaii , aficionados of canned luncheon meat gather in April for the annual Waikiki Spam Jam , described by organizers as `` a street festival that celebrates the people of Hawaii 's love for Spam . '' Some may call it mystery meat , but it 's not advisable to do so in Hawaii , which has the highest per-capita consumption rate of Spam products in the United States . Almost 7 million cans worth of the pinkish product are eaten every year in the Aloha State , according to festival officials . The crowds at this year 's Spam Jam sampled dishes such as Spam Fried Rice , Spam Burgers and Guava Mango BBQ Spam Sliders . `` I think people are amused by the whole idea because it is pretty different . Like , why would you celebrate Spam ? '' said Barbara Campbell , one of the founders of the festival . `` It 's just about having fun , and they love the different Spam items . '' A restaurant that offered Spam Chili Nachos at the festival was so amazed by their popularity that it 's thinking of adding the dish to its permanent menu , Campbell added . Fans who admire the yellow and blue design of Spam cans also have a chance to splurge on Spam-themed merchandise , including T-shirts , baby items and slippers . Celebrating the ` stinking rose ' Some unusual food festivals can tickle the nose as well as the palate . Vampires may hate garlic , but the pungent cloves draw huge crowds of hungry mortals each July to the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy , California , `` the garlic capital of the world . '' If you 're a fan , pack some breath mints and enjoy everything from traditional garlic-infused fare like scampi and stuffed mushrooms , to more exotic choices . Garlic ice cream , anyone ? Those who have tried the frozen dessert describe it as an `` acquired taste . '' `` I would say when you first taste it , it 's like regular vanilla ice cream , and then give it about 10 seconds , and you feel the kick of garlic , '' said Peter Ciccarelli , director of media relations for the festival . `` It 's not something that people would eat by a bowlful , nor would they put chocolate syrup on it . '' Last year 's festival drew more than 100,000 people who consumed more than 15,000 servings of garlic bread and 10,000 servings of garlic fries . Almost 3 tons of the `` stinking rose , '' as garlic is sometimes fondly called , were used to flavor the dishes . A meal with legs . The truly adventurous foodies may opt for BugFest and the leggy dishes served up by Café Insecta at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh each September . Popular choices include the Ant-Chilada , a cheese enchilada in which toasted freeze-dried ants are used as both the filling and topping , and Hush-Grubbies , in which wax worm grubs are coated with hush-puppy batter and deep fried . For dessert , visitors can try Chocolate-Chirp Cookies , which have crickets baked in . `` We basically use recipes that we would use for any other dish and substitute the protein , '' explained Matthew Busch , head chef at the museum 's Acro Café , who creates the dishes at Café Insecta during BugFest . So , instead of doing a shrimp stir-fry , the museum might do a scorpion stir-fry . Busch , who said he tries anything he cooks , recommended the Hush-Grubbies , calling the bugs inside `` tasty '' and `` a little buttery . '' Stir-fried scorpions , on the other hand , can be a little bitter , he cautioned . Watching the reactions of visitors who dig in to the bug-laden food is Busch 's favorite part , and he described seeing an entire range of responses , from people who are gung-ho and want to try everything to those who are squeamish and have to be peer-pressured to take a bite . Some people 's strategy is just to eat around the bugs , Busch said .
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There are many options for people who seek food festivals with an unusual twist . RoadKill Cook-Off features dishes incorporating meat from deer , squirrels , snakes . Waikiki Spam Jam in Hawaii celebrates the canned luncheon meat . Garlic ice cream at the Gilroy Garlic Festival tastes like vanilla ice cream with a kick .
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CAIRO , Egypt -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- I 'm traveling with a chunk of gold -- the World Cup Trophy -- from Zurich , Switzerland to Cairo , Egypt . CNN 's Ben Wedeman checks the World Cup is not getting a better seat than him . When CNN Johannesburg Bureau Chief Kim Norgaard suggested I fly from Zurich to Cairo to cover the arrival of the World Cup trophy in Africa in the lead-up to the games in South Africa next summer , I thought he was joking . Kim , an unabashed football -LRB- soccer -RRB- fanatic , knows I 'm , well , skeptical about a group of grown men paid hefty salaries to kick a little ball around a big field . But variety is the spice of journalism , you might say , and Kim is a friend with whom I needed to settle an old debt from Turkey , so I agreed to give it a try . Football is n't a subject I know much about , so I realized I would have to cram . As it turned out I did n't have much time to prepare because someone broke into our house in Cairo the day before I was scheduled to depart . Rather than study World Cup football , I had to deal with the police , change locks , etc. . Whoever it was did n't steal much , but here 's an odd aside : the thief left behind his -LRB- or hers ? -RRB- battered black running shoes , making off with my 15-year old son Christopher 's brand-new trainers . Preparing , perhaps , for a career in football ? Watch CNN 's journey with the World Cup . '' Flying from Cairo to Zurich , where FIFA or the International Federation of Football Associations is headquartered , I finally found time to learn a few things about the object that would be my travel companion from Switzerland back to Egypt . The trophy is made of more than five kilograms of 18 carat gold , with two bands of malachite running around the bottom . Probably for good reason mere mortals such as myself and Beirut cameraman Christian Streib , who is with me on this trip , are n't allowed to touch the trophy . According to FIFA regulations , only heads of state and members of teams that won the World Cup have that privilege . The trophy 's guard can handle it , but must wear special white gloves . The trophy is worth a fortune -- for its symbolic value as well as its gold -- and is protected around the clock . But the trophy on tour in Africa is not the first -- it 's a replacement created after Brazil were allowed to keep the original when they won the tournament for a third time . And it 's that one currently in circulation , and presumably in the back of the plane we 're flying to Cairo in , packed away in a simple aluminum case . While on tour the trophy is under constant guard , though as we passed through security at Zurich Airport to board the charter flight to Cairo I saw it go through the x-ray machine -- a big black mass of metal on the screen . The airport security personnel asked the guard to open the box , and that was the closest Christian or I came to it . We resisted the urge to get our grubby hands all over it , however . The chances are slim that either of us will ever be on a winning World Cup team , and slimmer still that either of us will become head of state . I 'd share more information about how the trophy is transported , but the tour organizers are worried that too much detail might endanger the cup and those guarding it , especially in some African countries where crime is rife . According to the plan , after Cairo the trophy will be flown to almost every African capital before ending up in South Africa . The Coca Cola Company is covering the cost of the trip . There is one African capital it probably wo n't be going to , however , and that 's Mogadishu , in Somalia . The city has been a battlefield on and off for the last 20 years , the airport often bombarded by mortars and artillery . FIFA and Coca Cola have yet to officially turn down the request by the interim Somali government to bring the trophy to Mogadishu . If peace suddenly breaks out , they might actually do it . Here is a personal World Cup footnote . Thanks to Italy 's defeat in the 1990 semifinals of the World Cup in Italy , the birth of my daughter Amira was uneventful . My wife Yasmine and I were in Rome that summer when Italy and Argentina had a semifinal match . Yasmine , a native of Rome , was nine-months pregnant and then some , and went into labor shortly after the game ended , thankfully , with Italy 's defeat . If Italy had won there would have been celebratory chaos in the streets until sunrise , and my wife would have ended up delivering in the back seat of the car . As it was , the streets were empty . Italy was in mourning . And I was relieved .
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World Cup trophy starts publicity trip ahead of 2010 tournament . Only members of tournament winning teams and heads of state can touch trophy . The gold trophy has a 24-hour security detail . CNN reporter , cameraman allowed nowhere near it .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two-time English FA Cup holders Chelsea needed a late goal from substitute Salomon Kalou to stay in the competition Saturday as the Ivorian 's 75th-minute goal rescued a 1-1 draw at Everton in their fourth round clash . France striker Louis Saha gave Everton the lead in the second half of the contest -- which was a repeat of the 2009 final -- with a close-range header from Leighton Baines ' corner . Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti reacted by replacing winger Florent Malouda with Kalou after 70 minutes and his decision paid dividends . The 25-year-old Kalou finished off a swift counter-attack when he drilled a low shot past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard from just inside the penalty area to earn a replay for the visitors . `` We had a good attitude and spirit and were able to score and take a draw , '' former AC Milan boss Ancelotti told the club 's official website . `` It was not an easy game because Everton put strong pressure all the time on the pitch , used a lot of long balls , they were very dangerous on set-pieces and scored on one . It was a difficult game . '' Premier League leaders Manchester United survived a scare at third division Southampton before they scored a 2-1 win . Alex Ferguson 's team fell behind to Richard Chaplow 's firmly hit strike moments before half time as the Saints took a well-deserved lead . But United responded after the break when Michael Owen headed Gabriel Obertan 's drilled cross into the net to restore parity . The comeback was complete with 76 minutes gone after Javier Hernandez latched on to substitute Ryan Giggs ' through ball and calmly converted the chance with a side-footed finish . It was the Mexican 's ninth goal of the season and it ensured the Red Devils reached the last 16 of this competition for the eighth time in nine years . Veteran French midfielder Robert Pires scored his first goal for Aston Villa as Gerard Houllier 's side earned a 3-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers to reach the fifth round . Pires , 37 , found the net with a neat half-volley to restore Villa 's lead after Croatia striker Nikola Kalinic had canceled out Ciaran Clark 's opener . England under-21 striker Nathan Delfouneso wrapped up the game for the home team with a header just before half time . Non-league outfit Crawley Town caused one of the day 's biggest shocks as they earned a 1-0 success away to fourth division Torquay United . Matthew Tubbs ' goal after 39 minutes was enough to secure a place in the last 16 for the final non-league club left in the competition . In an all-Premier League tie , Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic will have to play again after the two north-west rivals could only manage a 0-0 draw .
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NEW : Manchester United come from behind to beat Southampton 2-1 . Salomon Kalou 's 75th minute goal rescues a 1-1 draw for Chelsea against Everton . Aston Villa are through to the fifth round after a 3-1 victory against Blackburn . Crawley Town upset Torquay United with a 1-0 win , Bolton and Wigan draw 0-0 .
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London , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Oxford Circus is one of the busiest junctions in the heart of London . Until recently , it was also the most congested . Every hour , almost 40,000 people were herded around the crossroads in slow , cramped , and sometimes dangerous conditions . It is also the busiest pedestrian crossing in Europe , according to Westminster City Council . Getting from one side of the road to the other , a distance of a few meters , could take an unreasonably long time and many Londoners thought there was little that could ever be done about it . That is until Westminster City Council , inspired by Tokyo 's famous Shibuya crossing , decided that a similar crossing could solve their Oxford Circus congestion , and make the lives of tens of thousands of pedestrians just a little more pleasant . The redesigned crossing has increased the amount of pavement space by 312 square meters , up 69 percent from its previous capacity . Martin Low , director of transportation for Westminster City Council told CNN : `` It has really been a phenomenal change from pedestrian hell to pedestrian heaven and what it has done is actually make retailers worldwide want to think about coming to the West End . `` We created more space , increased the amount of pedestrian space by about 70 percent , we have removed all of the pedestrian guard railing , we have created a much better environment for pedestrians . '' Jacqui Ames , a secretary on a day trip to London from Bexhill , East Sussex , agrees : `` It is much better , there is n't so much congestion and I got across the road without getting pushed and shoved . '' Steven , a security guard in one of the retail stores on Oxford Circus said : `` It works really well , I use it every day and it is it quicker and safer than it was before . There 's a junction down the road that I think is really dangerous and should be changed as well . '' Westminster City Council believes the $ 7.6 million investment is worth it , saying the diagonal crossing not only reduces pedestrian travel time but also safety and that it has transformed what was once a haven for pickpockets into a much safer environment because pedestrians now have more personal space . The crossing was jointly funded by The Crown Estate , which owns Regent Street , and Transport for London . Could it work in other congested cities ? `` I can see it working in an awful lot of other places , yes . I think across the world people are now starting to think more about the pedestrians . And let us face it , all of us , for some part of our journey , are a pedestrian , '' says Low .
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Almost 40,000 people use Oxford Circus crossing every hour says Westminster City Council . The $ 7.6 million diagonal crossing was inspired by Tokyo 's famous Shibuya crossing .
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Houston -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- In the days and weeks to come , Rep. Gabrielle Giffords ' recovery from a gunshot wound to the head will be a marathon , not a sprint , doctors say . Nearly three weeks after her brain injury , there are several acute medical issues to be concerned about , according to doctors not involved with her care . It could take months -- or longer -- for her to get back to where she was before the bullet ripped through her brain . One immediate worry is an infection in her brain , according to Dr. Greg Zorman , chief of neurosurgery at Memorial Healthcare System in southern Florida . `` With gunshot wounds to the head , an infection can still happen , even this late , '' Zorman said . The other concern is the buildup of fluid in the brain . Giffords had hydrocephalus after she was shot , a condition where an excess of cerebral-spinal fluid puts pressure on the brain . Surgeons in Arizona implanted a drain to get rid of the fluid , and on Monday , Dr. Dong Kim , Giffords ' neurosurgeon in Houston , removed the drain , saying she no longer needed it . Zorman said doctors will be monitoring Giffords closely to make sure the excess fluid does n't return . Giffords on Wednesday moved from the intensive care unit to the Institute for Rehabilitation and Research -LRB- TIRR -RRB- at Memorial Hermann in Houston , where she 'll undergo physical , occupational and speech therapy to try to get her brain back to where it once was . Her doctors there are optimistic . `` It 's only been a few weeks since this happened and she has been tolerating our aggressive therapy program , '' Dr. Gerard Francisco , chief medical officer at TIRR Memorial Herman , told CNN 's `` American Morning . '' That program began as soon as Giffords arrived in Houston after being transferred from Tucson , Arizona 's University Medical Center , he said , and has been upgraded . Neurosurgeons on Giffords ' team describe the brain fluid situation as `` stable , '' Francisco said , `` but we 're going to monitor that . '' `` Neural recovery is a hurry up and wait situation , '' Zorman said . `` Recovering from that injury just takes time . '' One of the first things doctors will do is try to get Giffords back to a regular schedule , said Dr. Alan Novick , medical director of rehabilitation for Memorial Healthcare System . `` In the intensive care unit , patients get their days and nights mixed up . '' Rehab doctors will give Giffords a series of tests to assess her physical and cognitive abilities , he said . For example , they might ask her to draw a clock . `` It sounds simple , but sometimes they 'll put in the wrong numbers , or put all the numbers on the right hand side , '' he explained . `` That shows us which part of the brain is having issues . '' Another area doctors will look at is called `` executive function , '' or the ability to incorporate many different thoughts all at the same time . `` In our everyday lives , there are snippets of info coming in all at once , and we integrate multiple things that are going on at the same time , '' said Dr. Ross Zafonte , chairman of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School . `` Obviously , she was really good at that , and hopefully she will be again , '' he said . With a brain injury , functioning may be impaired depending on what area of the brain was damaged , Francisco said . Doctors will watch Giffords ' functioning closely and modify her therapy program `` to address individual impairments and deficits , '' he said . Still , Francisco said he continues to be surprised at the speed of Giffords ' recovery . `` When I see her every day , there is something new , '' he said . That has been a challenge to her medical team , but provides them opportunities to challenge her as well , he said . Trying to become the person you once were can be very trying , doctors said . `` Emotionally , this kind of recovery can be very difficult , '' Zafonte said . `` Depression rates in this situation are well over 50 % . '' Some brain injuries affect not just a patient 's emotional state , but their basic personality . `` They may have different behaviors , '' Novick said . `` Spouses and other family members have to relate to a person who was not necessarily the same person they knew before the injury . '' All of this requires patience from the patients and their families . `` People like -LRB- Giffords -RRB- often have a rocky road , '' Zafonte said . `` But they often get to places that surprise us , and surprise them . ''
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NEW : Giffords ' doctors say she is undergoing `` aggressive therapy '' Doctors : It could take months -- or longer -- for her to get back to where she was . One immediate worry is an infection in her brain . The other concern is the buildup of fluid in the brain .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- He 's thrown himself off more buildings than he can remember and broken more bones than an actor has any right to and still be alive and working today , but at 54 years old , Jackie Chan 's days of taking spectacular tumbles may be coming to an end . Jackie Chan : From chop socky superstar to Olympics ambassador . `` You got ta change , '' he told Anjali Rao for Talk Asia . `` I want to be an actor , not an action star ; I want to be an actor who can fight . '' The body , battered as it has been by thousands of stunts , may still be willing , but a will to be taken more seriously as an actor means that at the very least , his next project is a self-directed drama rather than an action flick . Despite his best efforts , it 's probably too late for Jackie Chan to be seen by most film-goers as anything other than a comedic action star . The fact that he can now direct his own productions , however , indicates just how far he 's come in a career in film that has spanned four decades . The movie hero has been at the heart of Hong Kong 's chop socky film industry for over 30 years , fostering a knock-about on-screen image that has seen him appear in almost 100 films and pioneer the comic kung-fu genre . As a boy he studied theatre and acrobatics at the China Drama Academy in Hong Kong . He describes the hardship of life under his master at the academy - where learning was based on strict physical discipline - as more like the army than a school . After nearly a decade spent learning the physical hardships that a career in the Hong Kong film industry had in-store , his first foray into film was as a stuntman on Bruce Lee films . It was only when he developed his humorous on-screen persona in `` Drunken Master '' in 1978 that he found greater success as a leading actor , and one more than capable or doing his own stunts . After several attempts to translate his success in Hong Kong cinema to wider audiences in the U.S. and Europe , it was only after he made ` Rumble in the Bronx '' that Hollywood took notice . His big-budget Hollywood films include the `` Rush Hour '' series and `` Shanghai Noon , '' where he starred alongside Owen Wilson . His next cinematic venture to hit the screens is alongside Jet Li in `` The Forbidden Kingdom , '' before he takes a lead role as an ambassador for the Beijing Olympics leading up to this year 's Games and as one of the torch bearers when the Olympic Torch arrives in Hong Kong in May . As well as being as firm supporter of the Olympic Games in China , he has combined his dubious penchant for singing ballads -LRB- he has released over 20 albums -RRB- with this role , releasing an official song to mark the impending event last summer . There is also a more serious side to Chan away from the screen . As well as funding a number of charitable projects he has also become a UNICEF Good Will Ambassador , leading Forbes magazine to him as one of the ` Top 10 Generous Celebs . ' E-mail to a friend .
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Action hero who does his own stunts is international movie star . Actor trained at China Drama Academy before starting career as stunt man . Chan is an official ambassador for the Olympic Games this summer .
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One of the world 's greatest fashion designers , Yohji Yamamoto has helped blaze a trail for Asia over the last three decades . Yohji Yamamoto brought masculine styles to the catwalk , rejecting traditional ideas of sexiness . He brought geometric minimalism to the catwalk in the late 1970 's while other designers focused on flamboyance , and if his name and clothing has become a brand over the last 30 years , for the man himself , it is always `` creation first '' . `` I had no intention of working in the mainstream and I 've stated my objection against the main currents of fashion for the last 27 years , '' he told Anjali Rao . His firm standpoint on style , and his designs , has brought popularity with an international chain of clothing outlets and the courting of celebrities and companies -- he designed Elton John 's wardrobe for his latest world tour and has collaborated with Adidas to produce the Y-3 street wear range . Talk Asia toured one of his ateliers and showrooms in Tokyo , before moving to Paris for Fashion Week , where Yamamoto opened the doors to a model-casting session for the first time . While successful , his design house is far removed from the mega-brands of some labels such as Dior or Gucci , and he has stuck to his ethos throughout . `` I have no intention to deal with a market first and put my creation into it . I create my clothes at will and that will change the market -- that 's what I hope to see . `` Independent fashion houses are in an extreme minority . Most fashion makers have to sell accessories , there are only one or two or three that are successful just selling clothes . This is the era that clothes can not sell . '' Known for his distinctive black , minimalist style , he discussed how he perceives his own impact on fashion and his unique philosophy : `` Civilized humans must wear monochrome . There is a minimum etiquette of fashion that you must not upset other people 's vision . It is wrong to think that standing out is a good thing . '' `` I prefer to be behind the scenes -- that to me is a fashion designer . '' And behind the scenes , Yamamoto practices karate to relax -- at black belt level , or course -- and recreating action through his designs . `` I 'm very much interested in cutting , making forms , silhouettes , making motion ; that 's why I forget the color . ''
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Yohji Yamamoto is known for his distinctive black , minimalist style . He has been a leading fashion designer over the last three decades . He opens the doors to a model-casting session for the first time .
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Kennedy Space Center , Florida -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- After 31 years and two months at NASA 's Kennedy Space Center , John Bundy is joining the ranks of the unemployed . He showed up for his last day at 7 a.m. Friday , turned in his employee badge and then left to go hunting . `` I 'm very proud I was a part of this , '' he said . `` There were some challenging times , but I am glad I was part of this team . '' He is one of more than 1,200 United Space Alliance employees whose were laid off October 1 : coincidentally , the same day NASA began operating in 1958 . Bundy , 50 , started his career as a technician on the shuttle thermal protection system and then worked his way up to manager for Kennedy Space Center 's orbital processing facility . Now , he 's updating his résumé and taking welding classes at Brevard Community College in hopes of finding another job . `` I do n't know how to put 31 years into a sentence , '' Bundy said . McGinnis and the others who walked out the door of the Kennedy Space Center on Friday are some of the nearly 9,000 NASA employees whose jobs will be cut as the shuttle program nears its end . Some of those jobs may be extended if President Obama signs the $ 19 billion budget for the space agency , passed by Congress this week , that authorizes an additional shuttle launch . Congress passes NASA budget . But the extension comes too late for Bundy and the other United Space Alliance employees . The ending came as no surprise : Six years ago , President George W. Bush announced that 2010 would be the last year for the shuttle program . Because many NASA workers like Bundy have specialized jobs , it will be hard to transition from the space agency to other employment . With the help of federal funding , Florida has set up a transitional program to help aerospace workers prepare for new employment . Read more coverage from CNN affiliate WKMG . Many of the NASA employees seeking employment help are `` like deer in the headlights , '' said Lisa Rice , president of Brevard Workforce , which runs the federally funded aerospace transitional program . `` First reaction : ` Where do I go ? What do I do ? ' '' she said , describing NASA employees ' responses after being laid off . Job loss , Rice explains , is kind of like a grieving process . With the help of the transitional program , aerospace employees are lead through the process of résumé writing , sharpening interviewing techniques and developing skills needed for new jobs . Many Kennedy Space Center workers , like Bundy , have not written a résumé for more than 30 years . Transitional instructors teach workers how to include decades of experience into a one - or two-page résumé . `` You need to have a plan B , '' said transitional program director Judy Blanchard . `` The shuttle is retiring , and the end is inevitable . '' Boeing aerospace engineer Juan Vazquez took the warning to heart , having worked on shuttles for 23 years . This year , he opened two laundromats that he runs in his spare time . To ensure that he would succeed as a small-business owner , Vazquez completed the transitional program 's entrepreneur training class . `` I grew up on shuttle . I 've been working on shuttle since I was 18 years old , '' Vazquez said . `` I pretty much live and breathe this stuff . I really enjoy what I do . '' Other shuttle workers have had a hard time coming to terms with the idea that there is no definite replacement for shuttle , according to Rice . When Bush announced that the shuttle program would end in 2010 , he said it would be replaced by the Constellation program to return man to the moon and beyond . Many shuttle workers held out hope that they could find new jobs in the Constellation program , which would have included two new rocket systems and a new crew module to transport astronauts into space . From the beginning , Constellation was plagued by underfunding . This year , Obama killed the program 's future funding because of budget overruns and because it was behind schedule . That could affect more than 20,000 workers along Florida 's space coast , according to Rice . `` We are looking at 9,000 aerospace workers who will be affected with another 14,000 indirectly affected in community , '' she said . For Bundy , walking away from Kennedy Space Center was not as hard as he thought , he said Friday morning . He praised United Space Alliance for going `` above and beyond to help their people adjust , from job placement to constant job fairs . '' But it 's more about just losing a job , he explained . `` I have a lot of friends , a lot of teammates , '' Bundy said . `` I wish them all the best , and I 'm going to miss them all . ''
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More than 1,200 NASA workers were laid off Friday because of the shuttle program 's end . The layoffs went ahead despite Congress ' approval of NASA 's $ 19 billion budget . Many NASA workers , like John Bundy , have n't updated their résumé in decades . Bundy , whose last day was Friday , is taking welding classes at a community college .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A large oil drilling platform is on its way to the Chilean mine where 33 trapped miners are awaiting rescue and is expected to arrive later Thursday or Friday , an engineer overseeing the drilling said . According to Andre Sougarret , the 42-truck convoy carrying the drill was in the area of Antofagasta , Chile , approximately 500 kilometers -LRB- 311 miles -RRB- north of the San Jose mine . Other pieces of equipment will arrive from Puntarenas , Chile , and Bolivia , he said . The oil platform will be part of Plan C , the third operation to drill to reach the miners . Chilean mining officials have said they believe that drill will dig faster than the other drills currently at work . But they cautioned that the miners , trapped since August 5 , still may not be rescued until December . Progress on the other two rescue operations was mixed , Sougarret said . The drill being used in Plan A -- a type usually used in mining operations -- reached a depth of 171 meters -LRB- 187 yards -RRB- Thursday , 40 more meters -LRB- about 44 yards -RRB- since an update given by officials Wednesday . The Plan B drill , usually used to drill water bore holes , hit a snag at 268 meters -LRB- 293 yards -RRB- , Sougarret said , when it struck a reinforcement beam used in the mine 's operations . The men have been trapped for 35 days now , 2,300 feet under the earth . When rescuers first found them , the miners told officials they had survived for more than 17 days by sharing a jar of peaches and small amounts of tuna and mackerel that were in their shelter . Officials were weighing how to best proceed after the problem with the Plan B drill but said the drill bit would have to be retrieved and replaced . `` It was totally destroyed , '' Sougarret explained . The Plan B device , which had been drilling for less time than Plan A 's drill and had already surpassed its distance , also had a problem Wednesday with a cable malfunction . The drill is widening a hole already drilled into the mine . Sougarret said that once it begins drilling again , it could reach its target -- a workshop used by the miners -- within several days . Then a larger drill could be used until the hole is wide enough so that the miners can be hoisted out , one at a time , in a small cage . At Camp Hope , the tent camp set up by miners ' families holding vigil , residents eagerly scanned the rocky horizon for any sign of the caravan bearing the Plan C drill . `` I wish it were here already , '' said Milton Alvalos , whose nephew is one of those trapped . As residents waited for the arrival of the newest weapon in the arsenal being used to rescue the miners , workers walked the route the convoy will take to make sure the heavy trucks will clear the winding road into camp . `` Just the logistics part is the tough part , getting the people and equipment to where you need it . We 've got to figure out the route -LSB- and the -RSB- power lines , '' said Shaun Robstad , who was coordinating the equipment 's arrival for Precision Drilling , a Canadian oil drilling company . `` We do this all the over the world , '' Robstad said , but always for oil , never before for trapped humans . `` This is a first . ''
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It 's expected to arrive Thursday or Friday , an engineer overseeing the drilling said . Platform , called Plan C , will be part of operation to drill to reach the miners . Plan A drill is making progress ; Plan B drill has hit a snag . 33 miners have been trapped for 35 days , 2,300 feet under the earth .
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Copiapo , Chile -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Chile 's mining minister expressed optimism Thursday that the 33 miners trapped since early last month 2,300 feet -LRB- 701 meters -RRB- below ground here will be rescued in early November and maybe sooner . `` Everything is going a little bit better than anticipated , '' Laurence Golborne told CNN about the three holes -- dubbed Plan A , Plan B , and Plan C -- being dug in an effort to open a passageway to safety for the men . `` On Plan A we did n't have to change the drill bit at 200 meters -LSB- 656 feet -RSB- but instead we were able to drill and change it at 320 meters -LSB- 1,050 feet -RSB- , '' he said . `` Plan B today reached 500 meters -LSB- 1,640 feet -RSB- and we 're reaching 700 meters -LSB- 2,296 feet -RSB- probably by this weekend . `` We have finished assembly of the Plan C drill and that will be ready to start operating over the next couple of days possibly this weekend . '' He added , `` So , we 're optimistic we will comply with our target date at the beginning of November and , if everything stays on path and we have no big problems , then it could be earlier . '' Plan A and Plan B each require two holes to be drilled -- a small hole first and then a wider one about 26 to 28 inches -LRB- 65-70 centimeters -RRB- in diameter . Golborne said the second pass would be slower progress than the first pass . `` It 's like eating a donut , '' he said . `` What we are doing first is eating a little bit a around the hole in the middle of the donut and then we have to eat the rest of the donut and that is slower . '' Drilling under Plan A will stop this weekend once the drill bit reaches 1,247 feet -LRB- 380 meters -RRB- , then the drill will receive scheduled maintenance before resuming early next week , engineer Rene Aguilar said . According to Golborne , the first stage of drilling on Plan B has reached a depth of 1,640 feet -LRB- 500 meters -RRB- and will pierce the ceiling of the mine shaft where the men are trapped this weekend . The assembly of the drill to be used in Plan C has been completed , he said , adding that he hoped it would begin drilling this weekend . Plan A involves using a drill placed directly above the shelter where the miners are holed up . Engineers estimated last week that this plan would take between three and four months to complete the hole at 701 meters -LRB- 2,300 feet -RRB- . Under Plan B , a hole is being drilled at a roughly 80-degree angle into an area of the mine shaft that is used as a mechanical workshop . That distance , engineers estimate , is around 2,034 feet -LRB- 620 meters -RRB- . The drill used in Plan C would need to cut through some 1,969 feet -LRB- 600 meters -RRB- of rock and earth , they said . Golborne said rescue workers were betting which plan would rescue the miners . `` Between our teams members we are betting one another a barbecue , but I wo n't tell you which one I 'm betting on . But no matter which plan wins , I will be very happy if we can have them back as soon as possible . '' Two bore holes -- each about 8 centimeters in diameter -- are currently being used to supply the miners . The first carries compressed air , water , communications and a constant supply of electricity to power lights that are intended to simulate daytime and nighttime . Supplies -- such as food , clothing and letters -- are sent down to the miners via metal cylinders known as `` carrier pigeons '' through the second bore hole . Golborne said the miners ' pay was being distributed to their families from the mutual security system . `` And in the future , due to their heroism , they will probably be welcome to work anywhere , '' he said . The company has continued `` for now '' to pay the salaries of some 300 other mine employees who have not been working since the August 5 cave-in , he said . `` We have to see in the future but we , as the government , are prepared to give them the right support , and to help them in the process to defend their rights and to help them find jobs on the future , '' he said . Two prototypes of cages to be used to hoist the men to the surface will be reviewed Tuesday as will the design of the winch , Golborne said . He predicted the cage that is used will have a diameter of 55 centimeters -LRB- 21.7 inches -RRB- to 60 centimeters -LRB- 23.6 inches -RRB- and will be pulled upward at a rate of one meter per second , meaning each man could make the trip in 10 to 12 minutes . Previous estimates had suggested it could take 2-1/2 hours to hoist and then lower the cage , . Asked whether new laws were needed to enforce mining codes , Golborne said the laws were not to blame for the men 's predicament : `` The problem was that the owners did not do what they were told to , '' he said . `` Not because it was too expensive or they were greedy , but just because they did n't care . ... we have got good regulations but maybe we need to improve auditing of those regulations . '' Representatives of the owner , the San Esteban Mining Co. , have said previously they will collaborate fully with Chilean authorities and the Chilean Congress in their inquiries about what went wrong at the mine . CNN 's Patrick Oppmann and Esprit Smith contributed to this story .
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NEW : Prototypes of cages to be used to hoist the men to the surface to be reviewed . NEW : Crews are betting on which of three drilling efforts will lead to rescue . Chile 's mining minister : Rescue by early November or earlier is possible . Lead hole for Plan B expected to break through to cavern this weekend .
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Copiapo , Chile -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Chilean officials said Thursday the first test of a rescue capsule designed to rescue 33 trapped miners was carried out successfully . `` We did a test with a capsule in a tube 12 meters long , '' said engineer Rene Aguilar . `` We were trying to see how the capsule functions in the tube -- the wheels , the springs -- and that works perfect . '' Once one of the three drills working to reach the trapped miners breaks through , a rescue capsule will be lowered at least 600 meters -LRB- 1,968 feet -RRB- to begin ferrying the men to the surface . Before the capsule goes down , though , officials said , metal casing or tubes would have to be lowered into the hole to provide a buffer between the capsule and rock . `` We will need to build a platform and bring heavy winches that can lift 400 tons , '' Aguilar said , `` You can imagine how big they are , we will need to position them . The casing could take take 48 hours to implement . '' Interior Ministry adviser Cristian Barra said that by October 8 , all the personnel and equipment rescuers need -- including two additional rescue capsules and a field hospital to immediately treat the miners -- will be on site . Officials said the tentative date they are setting for the rescue is the beginning of November but that they will be ready for a potential rescue as early as the end of next week . The Plan B drill continued to lead the efforts to free the men , reaching a depth of 333 meters -LRB- 1,092 feet -RRB- on Thursday , the government 's rescue coordinator Andre Sougarret said . The drill was taken offline for about six hours after it lost pressure while hammering at the tough Chilean rock , officials said . On Tuesday the Plan B drill passed the halfway point to the miners , spurring a celebration in Camp Hope , the makeshift tent village where many of the miners ' family members anxiously wait . The Plan A drill -- a mining drill -- reached 148 meters -LRB- 486 feet -RRB- , but the hole it was drilling would still need to be widened to 70 centimeters -LRB- 27.5 inches -RRB- to accommodate the rescue capsule . The Plan C drill -- an enormous oil drilling platform that dominates the rescue site -- had reached 156 meters -LRB- 512 feet -RRB- , Sougarret said . Sougarret said that officials were working with physicians and psychologists to determine the order in which miners would be pulled from the mine , but said no decision had been made . Meanwhile , the miners continued to aid with their own rescue by clearing rock that had fallen into the mine as a result of the drilling . The miners used front-loader machines that were not damaged in the collapse to clear the rubble . Officials said the miners were clearing about eight tons of rock every 12 hours to keep the mine shaft clear . Officials had no comment on a lawsuit filed Thursday by some of the miners ' family members against the San Esteban Mining Co. , which owns the mine , and the government for negligence . An attorney for 27 of the miners families filed the lawsuit , which seeks $ 12 million -LRB- U.S. -RRB- from the mine and government for harm inflicted on the men . Chilean government officials has criticized the mine for not having the right safety measures in place . Chilean President Sebastián Piñera dismissed several officials in charge of mine safety after the cave-in . `` Everyone who is here recognizes and appreciates the work being done by the rescue workers , '' said lawyer Edgardo Reinoso . `` This has nothing to do with one government or another but we have to ask why are these miners at the bottom of a mine ? '' The mining company did not return calls seeking comment . San Esteban is undergoing bankruptcy proceedings and its assets are being sought by creditors . Government officials have also said the company will bear the cost of the army of rescue workers and drilling teams being flown in from around the world . At Camp Hope , several relatives said they had not participated in the action and the lawsuit was of of little interest to them . Said family member Maria Segovia : `` I just want to get my brother out . '' CNN Chile 's Viviana Encina and John Castillo contributed to this report .
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`` We did a test with a capsule in a tube 12 meters long , '' engineer says . Rene Aguilar : `` We were trying to see how the capsule functions in the tube '' Metal casing would have to be lowered into the hole before rescue attempt . Officials : Tentative date for bringing up miners is early November .
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Copiapo , Chile -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- For one trapped miner in a collapsed mine in Chile , `` Hope '' weighs only 7 pounds . Esperanza , which means hope in Spanish , is the name of Ariel Ticona 's baby girl . She is also believed to be the first child born to any of the 33 miners during their nightmarish weeks buried underground . Esperanza was born Tuesday in a hospital about an hour 's drive down a winding mountain road from the mine where her father is trapped . Ticona and his wife , Elizabeth Segovia , learned they were having a girl the day before the mine cave-in . They had planned to call her Carolina . The girl 's birth was not just a celebration for Ticona , his father said . `` Immediately it gave all the miners there a lot of excitement , '' Hector Ticona said . `` They were all very happy about her birth and that she will be called Esperanza . '' The day after the birth , Hector Ticona carried Chilean newspapers he was saving for his son with front-page photos of Elizabeth holding the new baby . The story of the baby 's birth has been reported as far away as New Zealand , Germany and Singapore , and Esperanza has become a symbol that life continues for the miners despite their underground imprisonment . Photos released from their hospital room showed a tiny baby , her eyes shut tight and with no idea that she is already famous at birth . The decision to change her name arrived to Ticona in the mine 's depths . That all the miners had survived the cave-in and then the 17 days it took rescuers to drill the holes that found them was already miraculous . But their continued physical and mental well-being was far from assured . Faced with the fact that he and his fellow workers were about to experience an isolating darkness that no one had ever endured before , Ticona put pen to paper . The letter he wrote reached his family through what the Chileans call `` palomas , '' metal tubes that carry food , supplies and messages to the trapped men . `` He said , ` What if we call her Hope ? ' '' Hector Ticona recalled . `` Hope for the camp backing us , hope for getting us out of here , hope to keep fighting for my daughter , hope to unite my family . ' '' Ticona 's wife agreed to the new name . For her , though , the experience would be a tug of war between worrying for her unborn child and for her trapped husband . `` I have been talking to her and telling her Daddy 's OK , '' Segovia told CNN a few weeks before she gave birth . `` I ca n't cry because she would feel everything . '' Before the mine collapse , Ticona promised Segovia he would be in the room when she gave birth . He had not been present for the births of their two sons , one time because he wanted to watch a beloved soccer team play and the other time because of `` squeamishness , '' Segovia said . Segovia decided to have the birth of their daughter videotaped . But videotaping a natural birth was against hospital policy . So , to get around the policy , she had a Caesarean section on camera . Family members say mother and daughter have been released from the hospital and are doing fine . Over a video conference system that is one of their links to the outside world , Ticona was shown the birth of his daughter , deep in the mine . `` We sent the video and Ariel was very happy , '' engineer Rene Aguilar said . `` It was a very beautiful moment for them . '' Around Camp Hope , the encampment that runs up the entrance to the mine where many families have moved to wait out the miners ' rescue , word of Esperanza 's birth brought joy . As she sat in a light blue tent at Camp Hope , Nelly Burgueño said it is a joy she hopes to experience herself soon . Her son , trapped miner Victor Zamora , and his wife also are expecting a daughter . When the girl is born in six months ' time , Burgueño said , the couple has decided to call her Paz Victoria , or Peace Victory . `` I am going to be a father , '' Burgueño said her son wrote her . `` I am happiest man in the world even though I am in the depths of the earth . I want to share this happiness with everyone in the world , with you , Mom , and my brothers . '' Burgueño said her son has been `` reborn . '' `` He wrote me , '' she said , `` that even in the deepest part of the earth there shines light . '' CNN 's Karl Penhaul and Esprit Smith contributed reporting to this article .
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Wife of trapped miner in Chile gives birth to third child . Couple names daughter Esperanza , which means hope . Woman evades hospital 's no-recording rule by having Caesarean . Second couple also expecting .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- 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 .
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NEW : Chancellor says `` process was handled appropriately '' Ivor van Heerden led inquiry into failure of New Orleans levee system . It put much of blame on Army Corps of Engineers . He was told last year that his contract will not be renewed .
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ROME , Italy -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he governs Italy out of a sense of duty and sacrifice , not because he enjoys the job . Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at a press conference in Rome on Oct. 7 , 2009 . The conservative , flamboyant Italian leader , 73 , says he actually does n't like governing at all . But he stays in the job because he is considered the `` only leader able to hold the center-right together . '' Berlusconi says there 's nothing simple about the prime minister 's job . He said : `` I 'm doing what I do with a sense of sacrifice . I do n't really like it . Not at all . '' He added : `` Very often there is a lot of dirty dealing , there is really the gutter press , worse than that , the shameless and sickly . It 's a difficult life to be responsible for leading the government in a country like Italy . '' In a wide-ranging interview with CNN 's Paula Newton , Berlusconi also discussed some of the controversial statements he has made , including calling U.S. President Barack Obama `` tanned . '' He denied the comment was a gaffe . `` I have never made any gaffes , not even one . Every gaffe is invented by the newspapers . '' He said he always thinks before he speaks . `` I tell stories and tell jokes , '' he said . `` I only tell jokes that can be heard by anyone . I 'm always conscious of what we are talking about . '' Berlusconi said his supposed gaffes , like the time he left German Chancellor Angela Merkel waiting by the side of the Rhine while he finished a call on his mobile , were `` invented by the papers . '' Watch more about his extraordinary year '' Berlusconi explained the incident to CNN , saying had been on the phone to Turkey 's PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan . Afterwards Merkel -- who he described as `` happy '' -- asked him if the call had been successful . Another time , he startled Britain 's Queen Elizabeth II during a group photo at Buckingham Palace when he shouted over to the American president : `` Mr. Obama ! It 's Berlusconi . '' This prompted the queen to raise a gloved hand and complain : `` Why does he have to shout ? '' Look at photos of Italy 's flamboyant leader '' Berlusconi told CNN `` the Queen defended me . '' The billionaire media mogul-turned politician also blames the Italian media as the reason his second wife and mother of three of his five children , Veronica Lario , asked him for a divorce , saying Lario erred by believing what was in the Italian papers . Lario cited Berlusconi 's presence at the birthday party of an 18-year-old Naples model , reported in the Italian press , as the reason for seeking a divorce earlier this year . `` There is absolutely nothing at all which is negative , '' Berlusconi told CNN about his appearance at the birthday party of Noemi Letizia in Naples . Berlusconi , Italy 's longest-serving prime minister , said his friendship with the young woman and her family were `` relationships which have a right to privacy . '' He said the newspapers had accused him of lying in statements he made to them about it . `` I will react and I will explain the situation , '' Berlusconi told CNN . `` I will have all the Italians with me and the accusations will be a boomerang against those who made it against me . '' Lario also accused him of choosing starlets and showgirls as European parliament candidates and of consorting with young women . At the time Lario was interviewed by Dario Cresto-Dina , a reporter from the Italian newspaper La Repubblica , who told CNN , `` In Veronica 's words , ` This time he went beyond the limit with his latest public humiliation . I want to close this chapter on this marriage . '' Allegations that Berlusconi went to parties with escorts were also widely reported . Giampaolo Tarantini , the businessman accused of hiring the escorts denied any wrongdoing and said he brought women to the parties to make a `` beautiful impression . '' `` I have never paid money to those who accompanied me except for refunding their trip expenses , '' he said in a statement issued in June this year . `` I exclude that the premier could have been aware of these reimbursements and I want to ask forgiveness for having involuntarily damaged him . '' The scandals have done little damage to Berlusconi 's political standing in Italy . Polls have shown his popularity has dipped only slightly , mostly among women , since the scandals broke in the spring . Watch more about Berlusconi 's love for his people '' `` When I go around , it 's embarrassing to see the affection showered upon me , '' Berlusconi told CNN . `` I know that people can change their opinions ... but I must say that I just note the fact that I am close to the heart of many Italians and they show this to me very often . '' Berlusconi , who 's also a songwriter , a real estate and insurance tycoon , and owner of Italian soccer team AC Milan , said he 's always been `` liked by those who have worked with me . I 'm liked and loved by all the people in politics . '' Even his critics acknowledge his popularity among Italians . Giulio Anselmi , veteran Italian journalist and chairman of the Italian news agency ANSA , says Berlusconi 's popularity is because he 's a populist . He describes him as `` a man who pulls the most elementary strings of the public opinion ; a public opinion , which in Italy in these times , prefers simple paths . '' Berlusconi , who controls almost half of Italy 's television stations , was elected in 2008 to his third term . The next Italian election , barring an early vote , is scheduled for 2013 . His conservative coalition has control of both the Italian Chamber of Deputies and the Senate . Berlusconi , a former cruise ship singer before turning his hand to media ownership , said he entered politics in 1994 to combat the growing power of the Left and `` communist ideology '' in the country . `` I could n't imagine that the country where I had lived , where I had great success as the first Italian entrepreneur , that it would fall prey to these people , '' he said . Asked for the secret of his success , the wise-cracking entrepreneur replied : `` Everybody knows that I have a sense of friendship , I 'm loyal , I always say what I think -- I do n't have any hidden thoughts , I do n't hide anything , I speak openly . '' He also attributed his success to sheer hard work , his practice `` not to leave anything undone . To aim for 10 if you want to achieve eight . '' Paula Newton contributed to this story .
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Berlusconi says he does n't like his job as Italian leader . Says he entered politics because of growing power of communists in Italy . He insists he has n't committed a single gaffe ; all `` invented by the papers '' Blames press for his wife 's divorce announcement earlier this year .
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CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr and photojournalist Peter Morris traveled to southern Afghanistan with Gen. James Conway , commandant of the Marine Corps . CNN 's Barbara Starr is on assignment in Afghanistan , where she says Marines are living in very tough terrain . HELMAND PROVINCE , Afghanistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Our travels in Afghanistan continue . I feel like the title of this posting should be `` why I had to get power-washed in Afghanistan '' or `` the body armor is only heavy until they start shooting at you . '' OK , now I will explain . CNN photojournalist Peter Morris and I just wrapped up spending several days in southern Afghanistan with Gen. James Conway , commandant of the Marine Corps , touring the combat zone . The Marines are living in some of the toughest terrain there is . It is remote and often raining . That means dust turns to mud , and you find yourself covered in it from head to toe . Stinky , cold , wet , oozy mucky mud . The good news is , everybody stinks , so you lose any sense of self-consciousness about it . But you do dream of getting power-washed . So , yes , after a few days a shower was , shall we say , more than essential . For the Marines , however , it is a seven-month tour of duty in mud in the winter and dust in the summer . It seems very grim , especially when compounded by the fact that the Marines are wearing heavy body armor all the time . Ask them if it 's heavy to wear , the typical answer goes something like , `` It 's only heavy to wear until the bad guys start shooting at you . Then it 's OK . '' The young Marines know exactly how tough the fight they are facing in the coming weeks and months will likely be . Several of them told me security had gotten considerably worse in recent days . Their bases were being repeatedly shelled by insurgents , several roadside bombs had gone off , and local Afghan police had died at the hands of suicide attacks . Senior commanders usually have a more cheery outlook , but here in southern Afghanistan , everyone is cautious . Almost everyone is a veteran of Iraq and learned the tough lesson there about not declaring victory too soon . Even Conway , who commanded U.S. forces in Fallujah , picks his words very carefully . He tells me he believes that everyone must be ready for a spike in U.S. casualties as the Marines begin to move into the region in greater numbers this spring . All of this was rattling around in my head when I saw the Marines riding around in what they call `` a 7-ton truck . '' As the name suggests , it 's huge and has some armor plating on the sides . But what it does n't make clear is that the truck is open in the back and sides . The Marines insist it is a safe way to transport troops . For years now , the Army has used fully armored vehicles only in the combat zone . The Marines have a somewhat different view . They believe heavy armor is n't everything ; sometimes being able to get around on the battlefield faster is better . But then again , when someone starts shooting at you , I think you want all the armor you can get . Next stop , Iraq . Yeah , there is still a war there , too .
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With all the mud in southern Afghanistan , everyone stinks , Barbara Starr says . Marines also wear heavy body armor all the time , adding to the discomfort . Armor is only heavy `` until the bad guys start shooting at you , '' Marines say . Marines often travel in `` 7-ton truck '' that 's open in the back and sides .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A day after the disheartening loss of its star-studded team in the men 's hockey preliminaries , Canada got a warm boost when the pair of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won ice dancing gold Monday night . Leading after two rounds , the duo scored a 110.42 in the free dance for a 221.57 total and the title . The gold was the fifth for Canada in these Winter Olympics . The pair , which has been skating together since 1997 , edged the U.S. team of Meryl Davis and Charlie White -LRB- 215.74 -RRB- . Russians Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin -LRB- 207.64 -RRB- were third . `` We 're just so proud to be Canadian and to have won on home ice , '' Virtue said . Moir said he and his partner have a special connection to Davis and White , whom they train with . `` We knew they would be our biggest competition all year long . '' The Americans said the fact they had won silver had n't sunk in yet and they were ecstatic about the way they skated . `` We had three great programs so we are very happy , '' White said . Team ski jumping . A giant leap from Gregor Schlierenzauer gave Austria a sensational gold medal in the men 's team ski jumping competition in Whistler on Monday . The 20-year-old -- already a winner of two bronze medals in the individual jumping events -- nearly sat down on his landing and just managed to avoid touching the ground with his hand to ensure his jump of 146.5 meters remained valid . The giant leap made up for the fact that style points were lost due to the awkward landing -- and helped Austria claim a comfortable victory over Germany , who took the silver . The Austrian quartet of Schlierenzauer , Wolfgang Loitzl , Andreas Kofler and Thomas Morgenstern , collected an Olympic record points total of 1107.9 . Germany 's total of 1035.8 gave them the silver with Norway taking the bronze medal with a total of 1030.3 points . Cross-country skiing . Norway 's Petter Northug produced a devastating late burst to make up for individual disappointment by claiming victory in the men 's team sprint . Northug had been roundly criticized by Norwegian media for failing to find his form in the Games so far , but his class shone through as he overhauled Germany 's Axel Teichman in the final race to the line . Along with compatriot Oeystein Pettersen , the Norwegians claimed gold in a time of 19 minutes and one second . Teichman and Tim Tscharnke won the silver for Germany with Russian pair Nikolay Morilov and Alexey Petukhov taking the bronze . There was a similar outcome to the women 's team sprint , but this time it was the Germans who powered through late on , courtesy of Claudia Nystad . Nystad , who was partnered by Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle , overtook Sweden 's Anna Haag at the death to steal the gold medal by just 0.6 seconds with Russia claiming the bronze . Ice hockey . Tournament favorites the United States are through to the women 's final after crushing Sweden 9-1 in the first semifinal -- avenging their 2006 semifinal defeat at the hands of the same opponents . Monique Lamoureux scored a hat-trick as the United States reached their first Olympic final since 2002 . The Canadian women overtook Finland 5-0 , and will match up against the U.S. team in the gold medal contest on Friday .
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Austria defeat Germany and Norway to secure gold in the men 's team ski jumping . A giant leap of 146.5 meters from Gregor Schlierenzauer ensured Austria 's victory . The Austrian quartet collected an Olympic record points total of 1107.9 .
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WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- About 30 U.S. military personnel are training members of Pakistan 's Frontier Corps on how to fight Taliban and al Qaeda militants in Pakistan 's tribal regions , according to several U.S. military sources . A missile , perhaps from a U.S. drone , hit a Taliban school Thursday in Pakistan 's North Waziristan province . The Pakistanis trained by the U.S. contingent -- which includes Army Special Forces troops -- will in turn become trainers for Frontier Corps troops on the front lines fighting the militants , the sources said . Pakistani Lt. Col. Attique Rehman confirmed the same details to CNN on Saturday . Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said on Wednesday that U.S. military trainers have been in Pakistan and the mission `` has been stepped up , but it still remains very , very small . '' `` But the hope is that the more trainers we train , the more effective they will be in training their forces and the more capable forces will then be able to take the fight to the militants in the tribal areas where they operate , '' Morrell said . The mission comes as the U.S. military and the Pakistanis confer about how to train , arm and equip some tribal militias in the fight against militants in the tribal areas . Members of the Frontier Corps are ethnic Pashtuns recruited from Pakistan 's tribal region . They are on the front lines in the fight against militants along the Afghan border but they 've long had a reputation of being poorly trained and underfunded . CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr contributed to this report .
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About 30 U.S. military personnel in Pakistan , sources say . Frontier Corps being taught how to fight Taliban , al Qaeda militants . Training focuses on Pakistan 's tribal region , which borders Afghanistan . Frontier Corps are ethnic Pashtuns recruited from tribal region .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Thirty armed militants were killed on Thursday during a fight with troops in southern Afghanistan , the U.S. military said . Afghan National Army -LRB- ANA -RRB- soldiers listen to a speach in Nadi Ali district , Helmand province , on February 5 , 2009 . The incident occurred in the Gereshk district of Helmand province , and the militants were killed by Afghan soldiers advised by coalition troops , the U.S. military said in a statement . Afghan soldiers had been conducting `` combat reconnaissance in an area of known militant presence , '' the statement said , when militants fired at the troops with small-arms and rocket-propelled grenades and a firefight eventually broke out . The troops made sure non-combatants were not in the area when they fired at the militants , the military statement said . One Afghan soldier received minor injuries in the incident . `` This engagement was yet another blow to the militants , who are quickly losing their ability to operate in Helmand province , '' a coalition official said in the statement . `` The Afghan National Army is working to rid Afghanistan of extremists who are only trying to destabilize the country and sabotage Afghan freedom . '' Meanwhile , an Australian soldier has been killed by an improvised explosive device Thursday during operations in southern Afghanistan , Australia 's Defense Ministry said . He is the second Australian to be killed in Afghanistan this week . Ten Australian troops have died in the Afghan conflict . Defense Force Chief Angus Houston said the `` soldier was trying to clear the route of an Australian patrol when the explosion happened . '' He was trying to defuse the explosive when `` there was an explosion and he was killed , '' Houston said . Houston said the soldier was an expert in countering roadside bombs . `` He lost his life trying to make the environment safe for his mates . At this point in time we do not know what caused the explosion , '' said Houston , who did not say where in the south the incident occurred . On Monday , Australian Cpl. Mathew Hopkins was killed in a firefight in Afghanistan . He had been part of a joint patrol near Kakarak , north of Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province .
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Militants killed during a fight with troops in Gereshk district of Helmand province . Afghan soldiers had been conducting combat reconnaissance . Militants fired at the troops with small-arms and rocket-propelled grenades . Australian soldier killed by an improvised explosive device in southern Afghanistan .
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-LRB- InStyle.com -RRB- -- Objective : Find a fabulous but not outrageously priced gift for the label-loving fashionista on your holiday list . This seemingly daunting task is no problem , with InStyle.com 's seven stylish picks . Marc Jacobs Geo Ring Set . Slipping into something by one of her favorite designers has never been so easy -LRB- or affordable ! -RRB- than with these geometric stackable plastic rings from Marc Jacobs -LRB- $ 11 for a set of 3 , marcjacobs.com for stores -RRB- . Chanel Nail Polish Trio . Chanel nail polishes are practically collector 's items , with their newest shades often selling out before they hit stores thanks to pre-order wait lists . Fortunately this set -LRB- $ 66 , chanel.com -RRB- includes three full-size bottles of iconic Chanel shades Rouge Noir , Gold Lamé and Coromandel , plus a reusable makeup bag . InStyle.com : 14 perfect stocking stuffers . Diane von Furstenberg Kindle Holder . Make sure her techie accessories look as good as she does with a canvas Diane von Furstenberg Kindle holder -LRB- $ 85 , dvf.com -RRB- . Not only does it feature a cute poppy print on the outside , the inside is lined with hot pink and features convenient credit card holders . Valentino Rosette Handbag . Valentino 's iconic rose handbags are hard to resist , and this adorable mini version -LRB- $ 325 , saksfifthavenue.com -RRB- is at the top of our own list . Remove the chain link strap to turn it into a party-ready clutch . InStyle.com : Gifts guys will love . Louis Vuitton Key Chain . While losing keys will never be fun , finding them can be more chic ! Deliver a lot of Louis Vuitton style in a little package with this resin LV monogram keychain -LRB- $ 310 , select Louis Vuitton stores -RRB- . Tom Ford Black Orchid Trio . Legendary designer Tom Ford 's inaugural namesake women 's line does n't hit stores until early next year , so tide her over with this Black Orchid Trio -LRB- $ 140 , Bloomingdale 's -RRB- from the former Gucci creative director 's makeup collection . The boxed set includes his first ever nail polish , along with a matching lipstick and a compact filled with Black Orchid pressed perfume . InStyle.com : Gifts that give back . ` American Dior ' Add to her fashion library with this gorgeous coffee table book -LRB- $ 70 , horchow.com -RRB- that chronicles Christian Dior 's dressing of America 's most glamorous women , like Marilyn Monroe , Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor . Find even more perfect gift ideas at InStyle.com . Get a FREE TRIAL issue of InStyle - CLICK HERE ! Copyright © 2010 Time Inc. . All rights reserved .
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It is possible to find a moderately-priced gift for your fashionista friend . A three-piece ring set from Marc Jacobs will only cost you $ 11 . For the bookworm on your list , `` American Dior '' is a fashionable find .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Some Americans are giving homegrown food and specialty items as presents this holiday season and spending a fraction of what they 'd pay in a store . Who does n't like a tasty bargain ? According to the National Gardening Association , about 41 million households participate in food gardening ; 58 percent do it to grow better tasting food and 54 percent do it to save money on food bills . But Kenneth Wingard , a home furnishings designer , is among the 23 percent of growers who share their tasty treats with others . This year , he 's giving away organic peach jam and preserves from his California ranch for the holidays . `` It 's definitely a cost savings , '' Wingard said . `` It probably ends up costing us about $ 2 a jar and we are handing out 60 this year . '' But he does n't just do it for the cost , he enjoys the warm , fuzzy feeling it brings him . `` They are the kind of fuzzy peaches I remember growing up with in Georgia -- where you buy them off the side of the road and they make the whole car smell like summery goodness , '' Wingard said . `` The jam is the same way -- the color of the peaches stays vibrant and when it hits warm bread it smells like I 'm back on the side of the road with peach juice dripping down my chin . '' The 46-year-old peach grower and his partner , Mike Gotham , planted about 30 trees on their ranch in Boonville , California , three years ago and are just starting to get some fruit from them . So far , they make their jams and preserves from an older tree . `` Luckily , we have a mature peach tree that was planted by a forward-thinking former owner , which makes me more than a little nervous about what we 're going to do with fruit from 30 trees one day , '' Wingard said , chuckling . Wingard said he makes his peach jam and preserves his grandmother 's way . `` For canning , we parboil , peel and pit the peaches , then cook them down with some sugar and pectin and put them in jars in an enamel canner to sterilize , '' he said . The jam has a velvety smooth sweetness without a hint of tartness . `` We leave some big chunks of peaches in it , so you 'll get those real bursts of peach flavor and not too much sugar , '' Wingard said . His father is his No. 1 recipient . `` He starts dropping hints around harvest time , '' Wingard said . The couple stopped giving store-bought holiday gifts a few years ago and enjoy giving `` noncommercial '' gifts . `` At this point in our lives , no one needs more ` stuff , ' so we like giving consumables and creating something from scratch , with special meaning , '' said Wingard . Liz Porter of Hickory Flat , Georgia , had a similar inspiration to grow holiday gifts from her garden . `` I wanted to find ways to do something for our grown children without buying them gifts they may not really need , '' Porter said . She also grows food for friends and business associates . She 's been making holiday gift baskets filled with homemade jams , jellies , pickles , relishes and breads for about 10 years . She also adds items like bay leaves , garlic and rosemary . Porter makes breakfast baskets , too . She grows her own field corn to grind for cornmeal and grits and will add fresh eggs from her chickens . She likes to add a bit of pizzazz to her gifts , so she 'll use cheese boxes , copper pots or iron skillets as containers for her food . `` I think people always appreciate something that comes from the heart , '' Porter said . `` I can recall some experimental recipes that may not have tasted that good , like my whole-wheat fruit breads , but my gifts always bring a smile to my recipients . '' Porter said she has always made homemade gifts to save money . `` In these times , saving dollars means a great deal , '' she said . `` And the one benefit that can not be priced is the time one can spend with family , friends and community while gardening and harvesting . ''
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Some people will receive homegrown food gifts this holiday season . Kenneth Wingard gives away peach jam and preserves from his California ranch . Liz Porter makes gift baskets filled with homemade jams , jellies , pickles , relishes .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Apple 's Steve Jobs gave quite a monologue Monday , dressing down competing makers of smartphones , tablets and software . The brunt of that was aimed at Google , which makes the Android software that powers smartphones from a range of manufacturers including Motorola , Samsung Electronics and HTC . First , Jobs expressed skepticism about how Google reports its number of Android users . This is an issue Jobs has raised in prior speeches , yet he freely addressed the point of comparison , saying Apple has activated 75,000 more iOS devices over the last 30 days compared to Google 's last reported Android activation number . Jobs , who made his comments in an unusual appearance on Apple 's quarterly earnings call with investors , then took issue with the geeky argument of open versus closed , which refers to how transparent a system 's source code is to developers . `` Google loves to characterize Android as open , and iOS and iPhone as closed , '' Jobs said . `` We find this a bit disingenuous and clouding the differences between our two approaches . '' He called Android `` fragmented . '' He highlighted how Android handset makers install layers on top of Google 's software , which can introduce unexpected problems . And Amazon , Verizon Wireless and Vodafone say they intend to create their own digital stores to sell applications to Android users , despite Google 's own Marketplace . `` This is going to be a mess for both users and developers , '' Jobs said . `` We believe integrated will trump fragmented every time . '' Later , Jobs criticized Google for not having a version of Android that plays nicely with tablets . The animated executive then turned his attention to tablet-device makers , which are ramping up production in advance of the holiday season . `` Almost all of them use 7-inch screens , as opposed to the iPad 's 10-inch screen , '' Jobs said . `` This size is n't sufficient to create great tablet apps . '' Jobs joked that people would need to sandpaper their fingers in order to use these gadgets comfortably . While a smaller tablet is obviously more portable , he says consumers wo n't want something that replaces a smartphone . `` Every tablet user is also a smartphone user , '' he proclaimed . His comments will perhaps put an end to speculation that Apple will make a 7-inch iPad . `` We think the 10-inch screen size is the minimum screen size required to make great tablet apps , '' he added . Additionally , Jobs said tablet makers will have a hard time matching Apple 's prices . The most inexpensive iPad sells for $ 499 . Competitors ' tablets will be `` dead on arrival , '' Jobs said . He added : `` Sounds like lots of fun ahead . '' Jobs began his comments Monday by relishing in Apple 's successes with the iPhone 4 , pointing to the 14.1 million smartphones the company sold during the recent three-month fiscal period . That tops Research in Motion 's 12.1 million units sold , as Jobs was quick to note . `` We have now passed RIM , and I do n't see them catching up to us in the foreseeable future , '' Jobs said . `` I think it 's going to be a challenge for them to create a competitive platform and to convince developers to create apps for yet a third software platform , after iOS and Android . '' RIM , the Canadian smartphone manufacturer , is popular with corporate IT departments for its tight security mechanisms and reliable keyboards for tapping out long emails . Despite the slow quarter for RIM , the BlackBerry maker still has the highest market share of smartphone users , according to independent data . The company is preparing to enter the tablet market with its PlayBook , an area dominated by Apple 's iPad . `` RIM has a high mountain to climb , '' Jobs concluded . On Adobe Systems , which makes the Flash platform that powers most of the Web 's video , Jobs dodged questions . He finally addressed the lack of Flash support on the iPad , iPhone and iPod Touch , saying : `` Flash has n't presented any problem at all . '' On Nokia , which sells the most cell phones worldwide , Jobs said : `` Nokia is the biggest , and we admire them for being able to ship the number of handsets that they do . But we do n't aspire to be like them . '' `` Nokia makes $ 50 handsets , and we do n't know how to make a great smartphone for $ 50 , '' Jobs said . `` We 're not smart enough to figure that one out yet . '' For the famed business leader to take part in the company 's earnings call is strange enough , as he acknowledged after being introduced in the meeting Monday . -LRB- Apple broke a number of its sales records this quarter . -RRB- But his comments were even more unexpected . Oftentimes , his discussions would come back to Google , as they did again after a question about Nokia . `` Android is our biggest competitor , '' Jobs said . `` They outshipped us in the June quarter when we were transitioning to the iPhone 4 . '' `` Eventually it will turn into a zero-sum game or a lot closer to that , '' Jobs said of the smartphone market . `` Right now , iPhone and Android are winning that battle . ''
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Apple 's Steve Jobs participated in the company 's earnings call , which is unusual . Jobs had choice words for competitors including Google , RIM , Nokia and Adobe . Android is Apple 's biggest competitors in the smartphone industry , Jobs said .
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-LRB- WIRED -RRB- -- Windows Phone 7 , Microsoft 's complete do-over of its mobile operating system , is off to a promising start with the Samsung Focus . Despite a few imperfections with usability and web browsing , the big M has polished a gem with this OS , and it truly shines through this iPhone lookalike 's beautiful display . The Focus feels slick and smooth the first time you pick it up . It 's a teensy bit longer , wider and thicker than the iPhone 4 -LRB- 4.84 x 2.56 x 0.39 inches compared with the iPhone 4 's 4.5 x 2.31 x 0.37 inches -RRB- . And the Focus is lighter at 4.07 ounces , versus the iPhone 4 's 4.8 ounces . Holding it in your hand , you can tell the Samsung phone 's plastic parts are a bit cheaper than Apple 's luxury glass-and-metal components . That 's not to say the Focus is n't a sweet device , though : The vivid Super AMOLED display makes Windows Phone 7 's colorful tile-based interface a visual treat . Selecting a tile brings you into a `` hub '' containing integrated experiences for different features . For example , the Marketplace hub displays the four different software stores where you can purchase media : third-party apps , games , music and Samsung Zone , a separate app store serving software made by Samsung . WIRED : General download of Windows Phone 7 interface . You can move tiles around on the home screen to suit your preferences just by holding your finger over them and dragging . The tile interface is plenty intuitive , so you probably wo n't need an instruction manual when you 're setting up the phone . The People tile is pretty fun : It blends your contacts list with your Facebook account . When you dial a friend 's number , his or her Facebook mug appears next to the call . Selecting a contact brings up the person 's phone number , e-mail address and Facebook profile all in one screen . Pretty neat . The Mail hub is especially impressive . You select your service -LRB- Hotmail , Google Mail , Yahoo! and others -RRB- , enter your login info and boom -- the inbox is a tile on your home screen . The e-mail app in general looks great : Facebook integration comes into play here , too , so when you load an e-mail it 's accompanied with the sender 's Facebook portrait as well . To me , this visual experience makes e-mail far less boring . For transferring music , photos and video you can sync media from your computer to the Focus with a USB cable . I tested syncing on a Mac . The official syncing program for Mac users is n't available yet , but I had a chance to try the beta version , and it was surprisingly smooth at syncing music from my iTunes library and photos and video from iPhoto . -LRB- Do n't get your hopes up , though : This is a feature that Apple is most likely going to break with future iTunes updates , just like it did with the Palm Pre 's iTunes sync feature . -RRB- . As for snapping photos , there 's a dedicated shutter button on the right side of the phone to load the camera app and to take a picture . In the Photo hub , you can also enable pictures to automatically sync to a free SkyDrive folder stored online in your Hotmail account , sparing you the need to manually upload them . Overall , this entire camera experience is a lot snappier than photo features on the iPhone and Android devices . However , the pictures shot with the Focus 's 5-megapixel camera are only passable , and are a little blurry even in good lighting conditions . With all that said , there were a few minor gripes that drove me a bit crazy . To wake up the phone , you have to press the physical power button on the right side . It feels unnatural to have to grip the phone and push a button on the side whenever you want to quickly check an e-mail or send a text message . I wish you could power on the device just by pressing the main menu button , which is centered under the screen -- similar to how you can press the iPhone 's Home button to turn it on . And then there 's the mobile version of Internet Explorer . It 's not as bad as Microsoft 's desktop browser , but it 's not much better . The mobile browser does n't seem to load text properly on some websites , such as Reddit and Digg . Small text does n't render smoothly , which is evident even when loading Wired.com . Also , photos on some websites appear over-sharpened , making rough pixels become visible . Long story short , two thumbs down for Internet Explorer . Oh , yeah -- and just like the iPhone , there 's no support for Adobe Flash on Windows Phone 7 -LRB- yet -RRB- , so Hulu junkies wo n't be thrilled . The phone seemed more reliable at holding a call than the iPhone 4 , but it was n't any better at pulling in a signal in areas where AT&T 's coverage is weak -LRB- like San Francisco 's Mission District -RRB- . My testing was hardly scientific , though . Texting is surprisingly fast on the Focus . Hitting Send shoots out a text almost instantly . There 's no progress bar or anything . Why ca n't the iPhone do that ? Overall , the Samsung Focus is a solid all-around device , and the pros heavily outweigh the cons . Most of the listed problems will probably be fixed in software updates . And with Windows Phone 7 , Microsoft has largely redeemed itself after putting that bloated carcass known as Windows Mobile to rest . Rest in peace -- and good riddance -- WinMo . WIRED Gorgeous tile-based UI laced with large , smooth text does n't rip off the iPhone 's app interface . Provides a rich dose of social savvy thanks to tight Facebook integration . Physical camera shutter button is a nice shortcut for shooting quick photos . TIRED Internet Explorer lives up to its super-lame reputation . Camera shots too blurry to be taken seriously . Subscribe to WIRED magazine for less than $ 1 an issue and get a FREE GIFT ! Click here ! Copyright 2010 Wired.com .
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Microsoft off to a promising start with the Samsung Focus . Despite a few imperfections with usability and web browsing , the OS is a polished gem . Windows Phone 7 's colorful tile-based interface is a visual treat . Mobile Internet Explorer is n't as bad as desktop browser , but not much better .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Leading figures from Poland to the United States have been paying tribute to Marek Edelman , the anti-Nazi resistance fighter and Solidarity movement supporter who died Friday . Marek Edelman was one of the leaders of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in World War II . Edelman was one of the leaders of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising , `` the largest , symbolically most important Jewish uprising '' against the Nazis during World War II , according to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum . Polish President Lech Kaczynski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk both issued statements mourning Edelman . Tusk called him an `` exceptional man , '' saying `` his bravery was a testament to the courage of the fighters of the Jewish Fighting Organization , '' as the largest Jewish resistance movement in the ghetto was known . The prime minister also praised him for standing up against the Polish Communist government 's anti-Semitic campaign of 1968 , and hailed him as an example for free , democratic Poland . The U.S. State Department saluted `` his life dedicated to the defense of human dignity and freedom . The United States stands with Poland as it mourns the loss of a great man . '' Edelman is thought to have been the last surviving commander of the uprising , in which Jews fought Nazi efforts to send them to concentration camps . Armed with pistols , some rifles and automatic weapons , and hand-made grenades , the resistance fighters attacked the Germans and their allies when they tried to liquidate the Warsaw Ghetto in April 1943 . The Nazis had planned to round up all the ghetto 's Jews in three days , but in the end it took them more than a month -- longer than some countries held out against Hitler 's armies . The Nazis reduced the ghetto to rubble in the process of flushing resistance fighters out of their bunkers . Edelman was in one of the last groups to hold out in the headquarters of the Jewish Fighting Organization at 18 Mila Street . In the final days of the uprising he was able to sneak out of the ghetto by way of the city 's sewers , he wrote after the war . He went on to fight in the Warsaw Polish Uprising , a two-month battle against the Nazis in 1944 , undertaken primarily by non-Jewish Poles . After the war , Edelman became a cardiologist . In the late 1940s , he published a short history of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in Polish , Yiddish , and English , called `` The Ghetto Fights . '' In it , he described the creation of the ghetto by the Nazis . `` In November 1940 , the Germans finally established the Warsaw Ghetto . The Jewish population still living outside the ` Seuchensperrgebiet ' -LRB- ` Quarantined Zone ' -RRB- was brought inside the special area . Poles living within the designated ghetto boundaries were ordered to move out , '' he wrote . `` Beginning with November 15 , no Jew was allowed to leave the Jewish precincts . All houses vacated by Jews were immediately locked by the Germans and then , with all their contents , gratuitously given to Polish merchants and hucksters ... . The walls and barbed wire surrounding the ghetto grew higher every day until , on November 15 , they completely cut off the Jews from the outside world . '' Hunger and disease were rife in the ghetto , he wrote . `` People began to die of hunger in the streets . Every morning , about 4-5 a.m. , funeral carts collected a dozen or more corpses on the streets that had been covered with a sheet of paper and weighted down with a few rocks . Some simply fell in the streets and remained there , '' Edelman remembered . Jews organized a local government and Socialist unions , but conditions became progressively worse in the ghetto , with the Nazis summarily executing people . Nazis then began deporting Jews to concentration camps -- sometimes with the help of Jewish collaborators in the ghetto -- Edelman wrote . By that time , many in the ghetto knew the Nazis were systematically murdering Jews in the camps , he recalled . He describes in detail the spring 1943 uprising , a street-by-street battle that ended with the ghetto in ruins . Edelman 's history finishes simply , listing the handful of survivors of the hundreds who fought back . `` Those who had gone over to the ` Aryan side ' continued the partisan fight in the woods . The majority perished eventually . The small group that was still alive at the time took an active part in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising as the ` ZOB Group . ' At present the following of our comrades are still among the living : Chajka Betchatowska , B. Szpigel , Chana Krysztal , Masza Glejtman , and Marek Edelman . '' During the early 1980s Edelman was active with Solidarity , the Polish trade union movement that opposed the Communist government . French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner awarded him the Legion of Honor in 2008 , on a visit to Poland marking the 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising . Edelman was born in 1921 , according to Yad Vashem , Israel 's Holocaust museum . He was buried in Warsaw 's Jewish cemetery on Friday , the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported .
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Marek Edelman was one of the leaders of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising . Both Polish President Lech Kaczynski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk pay tribute . Edelman is thought to have been the last surviving commander of the uprising . During early 1980s Edelman was active with Polish trade union movement , Solidarity .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When she was a public health administrator for the state of California , Kathryn Hall-Trujillo found that her greatest challenge was paying for babies who were born sick . `` The figure we were working with at that time was about $ 300,000 ... to stabilize a baby for the first 90 days , '' said Hall-Trujillo , who worked for the state from 1976-1991 . At the same time , she said , it cost just $ 2,000 to ensure pregnant mothers received all the care they needed for a healthy pregnancy and proper delivery . The staggering disparity , along with troubling rates of infant mortality in America , compelled Hall-Trujillo , 62 , to find a solution . `` It occurred to me that one of the things that we could do that would cost hardly anything was to make sure that moms who were at risk ... -LSB- were -RSB- really connected to care , '' she said . What Hall-Trujillo came up with was Birthing Project USA . Since 1988 , the nonprofit organization has been battling high infant-mortality rates by pairing soon-to-be moms with volunteer `` sister friends '' who provide guidance and support through the pregnancy and first year of the baby 's life . Of every 1,000 babies born in the United States , at least six -LRB- 6.14 -RRB- do not survive their first year of life , according to the CIA World Factbook . That gives the United States only the 45th best infant mortality rate in the world , trailing top-ranked Monaco -LRB- 1.78 deaths per thousand births -RRB- and countries such as Japan -LRB- 2.79 -RRB- and the United Kingdom -LRB- 4.78 -RRB- . And African-American babies , regardless of the mother 's age , income or educational level , are more than twice as likely to die before the age of 1 than Caucasian babies , according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . It is this at-risk group that the Birthing Project primarily targets . `` By the act of going back and saving what we consider to be our little sisters at risk , we have found out that we 're also saving our own lives , because we need this kind of information and ... support , regardless of where we are on the socioeconomic ladder , '' Hall-Trujillo said . Hall-Trujillo started the project as an experiment while working for the state in 1988 . She paired 10 young , pregnant African-American women who had little access to financial , educational and emotional support with more experienced black women who had further education and more stable income . The idea was to have the pairs work together to ensure positive birth outcomes . This became the founding `` sisterhood '' that has since been replicated thousands of times . Hall-Trujillo participated in the experiment as a `` sister friend '' herself . But just days after delivery , the baby of her `` little sister '' died from complications . `` I used the words infant mortality ... every day of my working career . But until I held DeAndre in my arms , I never realized that that meant counting dead babies , '' she said . '' -LSB- That -RSB- was ... enough to really change my life . '' The experience moved Hall-Trujillo to quit her job and work on the Birthing Project full time . Do you know a hero ? Nominations are open for 2010 CNN Heroes . Since its inception , the Birthing Project has welcomed more than 12,000 babies in 94 community chapters in the United States , Canada , Cuba , Honduras and Malawi . `` We 've been doing this long enough now that you can hear a child -- 20 years old -- say , ' I was born into the Birthing Project , ' '' Hall-Trujillo said . `` That means more to me than anything that I may have given up , because in return I have received a whole community . '' Hall-Trujillo and veteran chapter leaders train women who step up and create chapters in their own communities . Together , they identify local partner organizations that provide the support services needed for maternal and child health , such as parenting classes and transportation to doctor appointments . The volunteers then help connect their pregnant sisters to those resources . `` All of us want to see our babies born as healthy as possible to families who are prepared to care for them , '' Hall-Trujillo said . Laniqua Roussell , 36 , and her `` little sister , '' Evan Batiste , 20 , are part of the group 's newest chapter in New Orleans , Louisiana . The two were paired together in April , at the end of Batiste 's first trimester . Roussell has played a key role in Batiste 's pregnancy . She not only helps make sure Batiste is eating right and attending her prenatal appointments , but she also helps Batiste budget her money and find access to affordable , stable housing . `` I wanted a big sister that -LSB- has -RSB- kids , -LSB- has -RSB- accomplished a lot in life already to teach me things I do n't know , '' Batiste said . `` I could tell she cares about me . I could sense it . ... I needed that . '' For Hall-Trujillo , seeing the difference the Birthing Project is making is `` magical . '' `` We can do something to help save the world , '' she said . `` All these women prove me right . '' Want to get involved ? Check out the Birthing Project website at www.birthingprojectusa.org and see how to help . You can nominate a 2010 CNN Hero at cnnheroes.com .
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Birthing Project USA helps soon-to-be mothers find guidance and support . The goal of the mentoring program is to prevent babies from being born sick . Kathryn Hall-Trujillo came up with the idea while she was a public health administrator . Do you know a hero ? Nominations are open for 2010 CNN Heroes .
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Fort Hood , Texas -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The call came over the radio . `` Shots fired . '' And then , even worse : `` Officer down . '' Billy Rhoads , chief of the Fort Hood Fire Department , grabbed a radio and donned his flak jacket . He jumped into his SUV and tore down the road . A dozen or so blocks away , at the Soldier Readiness Center , a gunman had opened fire on soldiers . Rhoads stepped from his truck . His department 's motto is `` Protecting those who protect us . '' He hoped he was not too late for that . The scene was chaotic . Wounded and dead soldiers were everywhere . `` I was listening to people hollering for help , and I was trying to get in there to see what we had , '' Rhoads recalled three days after the November 5 attack . `` I assumed that we would have maybe several victims . I had no idea , I just could not fathom what we were going to encounter . '' Amid all the army uniforms , one dark blue uniform stuck out . It was Fort Hood police Sgt. Kimberly Munley , who , officials say , shot the alleged gunman , Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan , to end the rampage . She suffered three gunshot wounds . `` I broke and ran over to her , '' Rhoads said . `` I got over to her and began trying to talk to her . '' Rhoads and Munley had worked closely in the past . He considers her a friend . Army medics had fashioned a makeshift tourniquet on her leg . He bent down to comfort her . She was extremely weak and unable to speak loudly . `` I just kept reminding her of her daughter and that she needed to stay with us for the baby 's sake , '' he said . `` She 's a very tough cookie . '' Munley , 34 , had served in the Army herself before becoming a police officer at Fort Hood . Her husband is a staff sergeant in the Army , and their daughter is 3 years old . Munley 's neighbors have said she is so tough , she stopped burglars from entering her house last year . Said Rhoads of Munley : `` The old saying that dynamite comes in small packages is very true . '' Emergency personnel were flooding the scene , and helicopters were en route to evacuate the injured . Rhoads , who began as a volunteer firefighter 26 years ago when he was just a teen , took over the scene as incident commander . But first , he paused for a quick prayer . `` I just asked the Lord to be with me , to give me the strength and the courage I need to do my job wisely and keep my people safe . '' Even as the first responders worked on the dozens of wounded soldiers , they were n't certain whether there were other shooters on the post . `` The thought 's always there on your mind that there could be another suspect in the area , '' Rhoads said . As for Hasan , the fire chief says that discussing the shooting suspect is too emotional . `` I saw the suspect from a distance , but I never got a look at him . '' Rhoads ' prayers remain with the soldiers he tries to keep safe . `` It 's very emotional for everybody when we lose our soldiers . But when we lose them here at home like this , it takes it to a different level . '' He says the department has arranged for counselors to be available for the firefighters as they process all they have endured . They 've received phone and text messages from fire and police departments all across the country , offering support and prayer . But the main thing his firefighters have relied on , he says , is each other . `` Afterward , everyone started to console each other and talk to each other . It 's a brotherhood . ''
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Fire chief came across officer , told her she `` needed to stay '' for her daughter . Chief says people were hollering all over the scene : `` I had no idea '' Billy Rhoads began firefighting when he was a teen .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Rivers are the arteries of our infrastructure . Flowing from highlands to the sea , they breathe life into ecosystems and communities . A levee breach in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River System could have dire effects , a new report says . But many rivers in the United States are in trouble . Rivers in Alaska , California and the South are among the 10 most endangered , according to a report released Tuesday by American Rivers , a leading river conservation group . The annual report uses data from thousands of rivers groups , local governments , environmental organizations and citizen watchdogs to identify waterways under imminent threat by dams , industry or development . `` Our nation is at a transformational moment when it comes to rivers and clean water , '' said Rebecca Wodder , president of American Rivers . `` Water is life , yet our nation 's water infrastructure is so outdated that our clean drinking water , flood protection and river health face unprecedented threats . '' American Rivers has released its annual endangered rivers report since 1986 . The report is not a list of the nation 's most polluted waterways , but highlights 10 rivers facing decisions in the coming year that could determine their future . Here is American Rivers ' Most Endangered Rivers list for 2009 : . 1 -RRB- Sacramento-San Joaquin River System . Location : California . Outdated water and flood management puts California 's largest watershed at the top of America 's most endangered rivers list for 2009 . A recent breach in the delta 's 1,100-mile levee system could have dire effects on surrounding ecosystems , farming and agriculture , commercial fishing and California 's civil infrastructure . State and federal authorities are looking at alternative water-management strategies for the river system , which serves 25 million Californians and more than 5 million acres of farmland . 2 -RRB- Flint River . Location : Georgia . The Flint is one of 40 rivers nationwide that still flow undammed for more than 200 miles . Conservationists say that dams proposed by Georgia lawmakers would bury more than 50 river miles , destroy fishing and boating opportunities and cost taxpayers millions of dollars . The American Rivers group believes that fixing the state 's leaky pipes , using water meters and minimizing water waste would be a cheaper and more cost-effective alternative . 3 -RRB- Lower Snake River . Location : Idaho , Washington , Oregon . The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has built four dams to irrigate and generate energy for the Northwest , but these dams also prevent salmon and steelhead trout from reaching their spawning areas . Every year , those dams kill as many as 90 percent of juvenile salmon and steelhead trout that migrate downstream to the ocean . Conservationists say that removing the dams would eliminate a growing flood threat in Lewiston , Idaho , and create an opportunity to modernize the region 's transportation and energy systems . 4 -RRB- Mattawoman Creek . Location : Maryland . A highway development project here jeopardizes one of the Chesapeake Bay 's few remaining healthy streams . The project threatens clean water sources , thousands of acres of forests and wetlands , and an internationally-renowned , multimillion-dollar largemouth bass fishery . 5 -RRB- North Fork of the Flathead River . Location : Montana . A proposed coal-mining project across the Canadian border puts Montana 's North Fork of the Flathead River in jeopardy . An estimated 50,000 acres of the Flathead headwaters could be transformed into an industrial gas field . The projects threaten the river 's clean water , local agriculture , fish and wildlife and recreational industries such as rafting , camping , fishing and boating . American Rivers and its partners have called on local Canadian governments and the U.S. State Department to work together to halt these projects . 6 -RRB- Saluda River . Location : South Carolina . Excess levels of sewage waste threaten the drinking water of more than 500,000 South Carolina residents , conservationists say . Sewage in the river increases phosphorous and algae levels , depletes oxygen , and kills fish and other aquatic life . American Rivers is asking the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to improve sewage-treatment standards and ensure the river reduces its phosphorous levels by 25 to 50 percent . 7 -RRB- Laurel Hill Creek . Location : Pennsylvania . Known for its fishing , swimming and kayaking , this popular vacation spot faces threats from a bottling plant and tourism-related development . Without adequate planning and safeguards , withdrawals will continue to exceed the creek 's reasonable capacity , putting recreation , the local water supply , and fish and wildlife in jeopardy . 8 -RRB- Beaver Creek . Location : Alaska . One of the nation 's last wild rivers faces extinction if an oil - and gas-development project constructs 600 miles of roads and pipelines , airstrips , drilling pads , and gravel mines along the creek . Alaska native communities depend on the area for subsistence hunting and fishing . It 's also a popular destination for anglers , boaters , skiers and hunters . 9 -RRB- Pascagoula River . Location : Mississippi . The U.S. Department of Energy wants to hollow out natural salt domes 30 miles northwest of the Pascagoula to create a storage area for up to 160 million barrels of oil . A pipeline 330 miles in length would be constructed to withdraw water from the Pascagoula to dissolve the salt domes and distribute oil to and from the site . The DOE predicts 18 oil spills and 75 spills of salty , polluted water during the construction and initial fill of the hollowed domes , damaging rivers , streams , and wetlands in the basin , conservationists say . 10 -RRB- Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway . Location : Minnesota , Wisconsin . Rezoning of a 26-mile stretch of the river 's state-protected section would allow for the construction of a major development on the riverfront . American Rivers believes the development could lead to land erosion along the river and more storm run-off while harming the region 's biodiversity . `` Being named as one of America 's most endangered rivers is not an end for the river , but rather a beginning , '' said Wodder . Through the collaborative efforts of citizens and local , state and national governments , a number of waterways from past American Rivers ' endangered lists have been preserved . `` With the listing comes a national spotlight and action from thousands of citizens across the country , '' Wodder said . `` These 10 rivers have a chance to be reborn and to serve as models for other rivers all across America . ''
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Report : Rivers in Alaska , California and Georgia are among the 10 most endangered . Report released Tuesday by American Rivers , a leading river-conservation group . Waterways from past American Rivers ' endangered lists have been preserved .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Top seed Caroline Wozniacki kept her hopes of a maiden grand slam title alive on Tuesday when she came from behind to defeat Francesca Schiavone in the Australian Open quarterfinals . Denmark 's Wozniacki lost the first set in her last-eight tie with sixth seed Schiavone before she fought back to clinch a 3-6 6-3 6-3 success . Schiavone , from Italy , overcame Svetlana Kuznetsova in an energy-sapping four-hour match on Sunday , however , she still had enough in the tank to take the opening set and steal a break of serve at the start of the second . Wozniacki had never reached the semifinals at Melbourne Park , but she battled back to set up a last-four meeting with ninth seed Li Na . `` It was very difficult , '' Wozniacki told the WTA Tour 's website . `` Francesca was playing well . I just thought , ` Take one ball at a time and do n't give up . ' `` That 's what happens sometimes in tennis . You just need to stay focused . Today everything went in my favor afterwards and I 'm happy to sit here as the winner . '' World number one Wozniacki , who was beaten in the 2009 U.S. Open final by Kim Clijsters , ensured she will remain at the top of the rankings with her last-eight victory . `` I do n't think about the rankings , '' she said . `` I just want to win every match I 'm playing , then we 'll see what happens . If I 'm number one , it 's fantastic , but I 'm focusing on my matches . '' Li booked her second-successive semifinal appearance in Melbourne with a 6-2 6-4 over Germany 's Andrea Petkovic . China 's Li has enjoyed a perfect start to the 2011 season with a run of 10 victories in a row . `` It was tough , '' the 28-year-old said . `` I only practiced with Andrea one time last year . So , at the beginning of the match , I was a little bit nervous . But I played well today . '' Li , who lost to eventual winner Serena Williams in the 2010 tournament , is bidding to become China 's first grand slam singles champion . Germany 's Petkovic said after their clash she believes her conqueror will go on to claim the title . `` I think she played really well , '' the 30th seed said . `` I think she 's going to win the tournament . `` It 's just the feeling , how she is on the court , her confidence and the way she 's playing . Sometimes you get the feeling during the match that somebody is really strong and just has that confidence going on , that aura maybe . ''
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Top seed Caroline Wozniacki is into the semifinals of the Australian Open . The Dane beat Francesca Schiavone 3-6 6-3 6-3 to reach her first Melbourne semifinal . She will face Li Na of China , who defeated Andrea Petkovic in straight-sets . Li is bidding to become China 's first grand slam singles champion .
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LAS VEGAS , Nevada -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Cell phones and TVs converging with the Internet ? That 's so 2008 . The next big tech trend may be the marriage of computer technology to your car or truck . This spring , Ford will offer a dashboard computing system on its full-size pickups and E-series vans . This month , Hyundai is launching a system that warns motorists when they drift out of the lane they 're traveling in . Another manufacturer has developed pedestrian-detection software that works with heat-seeking cameras to alert drivers when someone is in their path . In March , Ford will release a fully functional , dashboard computer -- complete with keyboard -- geared to contractors and other business folks who want to access the Web , review documents and log inventory while on the go . In the spring , AT&T will launch an in-car entertainment service with 22 satellite TV channels . Industry executives hope the new technological bells and whistles will put some sizzle back into stagnant vehicle sales . `` Consumers want a vehicle that 's always on and always connected , '' said Kieran O'Sullivan , vice president at Continental Automotive Systems , which supplies parts and technology to automakers . In the near future , he said , `` consumers and carmakers will be able to customize the -LSB- dashboard -RSB- instrument panel to their individual tastes the same way that people customize their mobile phones . '' O'Sullivan spoke Thursday at a panel discussion at the International Consumer Electronics Show subtitled , `` The Automobile 's Convergence with Consumer Electronics . '' Panelists , including executives from Microsoft , Nokia and GM 's OnStar service , agreed the industry is just beginning to tap the potential of in-car computing . `` We 'll someday use this information technology in ways we ca n't even predict today , '' said Tom Phillips , general manager of Microsoft 's automotive unit . `` To me , we 're in the infancy in terms of the amount of evolution that 's going to occur . '' As consumers are growing accustomed to having mobile Internet through their smart phones , more car buyers are seeking connectivity in their vehicles that will allow them to move seamlessly between their digital lives at work and home , panelists said . Half of the new vehicles sold in the United States are now compatible with MP3 players and 80 percent can connect with wireless Bluetooth headsets , said automotive technology expert John Waraniak , who served as the panel 's moderator . iReport.com : Are you attending CES ? General Motors ' OnStar service , which can remotely unlock car doors , reduce gas flow to a stolen vehicle or dial 911 if a car is involved in a crash , now has almost 6 million subscribers . Toyota said this week it plans to launch a similar driver-assist program on certain models beginning this summer . Not to be outdone , Ford 's similar Sync system , which now comes standard on many vehicles , is adding voice-activated , on-demand traffic , sports and weather reports , plus GPS-assisted navigation . In a keynote speech Thursday at CES , Ford CEO Alan Mulally said the automaker is learning to think more like an electronics company . Ford will begin installing its Works Solutions package on its full-size pickups and E-series vans this spring . The dashboard computing system costs $ 1,195 plus a monthly Web access fee , has a 6-inch touch screen and runs on Windows . It will allow electricians and other contractors to create Excel spreadsheets , print invoices and even access other computers . `` Ford is truly making the office mobile , '' said Ford product development manager Bill Frykman while demonstrating the system Thursday to reporters in an F-150 parked in a large tent outside the Las Vegas Convention Center . `` This bridges the gap between the full laptop and a smart phone . '' Meanwhile , an entire hall at CES is devoted to the latest in automotive technology , from portable navigation units to rear-mounted cameras which , with the help of a dashboard screen , allow the driver to see what 's immediately behind his vehicle while backing up . Here 's a quick peek at some other automotive technology on display at CES this week : . -- FLIR Systems , Inc. makes a thermal-imaging camera , an option on BMW 's 6-series sedans , with a new pedestrian-detection feature . When the camera detects a heat source in the shape of a human being , the on-board computer alerts the driver by highlighting the pedestrian in yellow on the dashboard screen . -- AT&T 's CruiseCast service brings 22 satellite TV channels to your vehicle with the help of a small rooftop antenna , augmented by video-buffering technology that supposedly maintains the signal underneath overpasses and trees . It will cost $ 1,299 plus a $ 28 monthly fee and is being pitched to parents with kids and pre-game tailgaters . `` It 's an extension of your living room , '' said Jackie Lapin , a spokeswoman for AT&T . -- Nervous about handing the car keys to your 16-year-old ? The CarChip -LRB- $ 119 -RRB- plugs into any post-1995 model vehicle and records 300 hours of how the car has been driven , including mileage , speed , braking and acceleration . Parents can remove the chip , download its data to a computer and use the information to verify driving agreements with their teens . Newer features even let parents set restrictions on their kids ' driving . `` If you want to set it at a certain speed -- say , ' I do n't want my kid going over 65 mph ' -- it 'll beep at them until they slow down , '' said Michael Copeland , sales manager for manufacturer Davis Instruments . -- Hyundai 's latest vehicles can be outfitted with a system that detects when a car is drifting across lanes , then sounds a buzzer or vibrates the wheel to alert the driver . Some Hyundai vehicles also contain ultrasonic sensors that help drivers to park by measuring the distance between a car and other objects . In fact , the next generation of automotive technology may employ automatic steering and braking systems that relieve drivers of much of the responsibility for , well , driving . `` Maybe 15 years from now , cars will drive themselves . That 's certainly a goal some companies have , '' said Jay James of FLIR Systems . `` It 's not just ` Jetsons ' stuff now . It 's really starting to happen . '' Some 2,700 exhibitors and 130,000 attendees are in Las Vegas , Nevada , for CES , the nation 's largest consumer electronics trade show . The event runs through Sunday . The 2009 North American International Auto Show follows next week in Detroit , Michigan .
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More automakers are shipping vehicles with computerized features , Web access . Features include pedestrian-detecting cameras , on-demand traffic reports . Ford to include Web-enabled dashboard computer in full-size pickups , vans .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The holidays have arguably come early for armchair disc jockeys , who can scratch along with exclusive musical mash-ups of songs by popular artists in remix simulator `` DJ Hero 2 . '' Supporting two turntables and a plastic microphone , additional freestyle tricks and an expanded single-player career mode , the sequel to last year 's popular rhythm game also enjoys a healthy co-sign from rapper and actor Common . `` The game is exciting , brings good music to the forefront and captures the real DJ aesthetic , '' he says in a recent interview . `` I love that two players can go head-to-head , and the freestyle aspect is really cool . ... You have a microphone you can sing into and you can scratch at your own pace . When you play it , you feel just like you 're at a party . '' While no substitute for actual spinning Common says it 's a reasonable starting point for beginners looking to immerse themselves in DJ culture . Even more important than letting players live the dance-floor dream , he says , is that games like this can help introduce modern fans to classic artists . `` People today might not be watching as much TV or listening to music , '' he told CNN . `` But even when people are n't buzzing about a hot new track , they 're still playing these games and hearing our songs . As an artist , everything you do is a brick you have to build on . Getting a song in a video game is a major stepping stone , and way to get introduced to new audiences . '' A fan of classic titles like `` Pitfall , '' `` Donkey Kong Jr. '' and `` Ms. Pac-Man '' before giving the controller a temporary rest , Common also says that motion-sensing video games are making former arcade enthusiasts take notice again . These so-called `` active '' games are a great way to grab people 's attention , says common , adding that he 's not surprised they 're such high-tech sensations . `` Music games are making a comeback this year , '' he says . `` These titles are constantly improving , the music gets more exciting and more people are being attracted to them . '' Part of the appeal , he says , is that they fit right into nearly any social setting , especially parties , and are as fun to watch and listen to as actively play . High-profile releases like `` DJ Hero 2 '' and recent karaoke outing `` Def Jam Rapstar , '' show hip-hop finally getting some respect from game makers . '' -LSB- The genre -RSB- would 've been much bigger today if we 'd had games like this early on . '' He says he secretly yearns to do a `` DJ Hero 2 '' track with Sade -- `` You 'd have to speed her up or something '' -- and says he plays the game with producer No I.D. during studio downtime . Should new album `` The Believer , '' due Spring 2011 , get pushed back , you 'll know why . `` No , we do n't plan on any delays , '' he says with a laugh .
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Game supports two turntables ; plastic microphone and more freestyle tricks . Common says that games like this can help introduce modern fans to classic artists . MC says motion-sensing video games are making former arcade enthusiasts take notice .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Tyson Gay sent out a world championship message to Usain Bolt as he eased to victory in the 200 meters at the London Grand Prix on Saturday in a super-fast 20 seconds dead . Tyson Gay powers off the bend on his way to 200m victory in the London Grand Prix . Gay shrugged off a minor groin injury coming into the meeting to make a rapid start and had the race wrapped up as he entered the straight . He left compatriot Wallace Spearman 20 meters adrift with Ireland 's Paul Hession in third . In May , reigning double world champion Gay set the fastest time in the world this year when he ran the 200m in 19.58 seconds in New York , but Bolt responded with a 19.59 seconds clocking in difficult conditions in Lausanne . Bolt showed his superlative form by winning the 100 meters on the first day of the London Grand Prix in 9.91 seconds into a strong headwind and anchored Racers TC to an easy victory in the sprint relay which rounded off the action on the second day . The Kingston-based club which included fellow Jamaicans Yohan Blake and Mario Forysth , plus Antigua 's Daniel Bailey , run the fourth-best time in history , 37.46 seconds , as Bolt strode out in typical style . Bolt and Gay are set for a massive showdown for global supremacy in the world championships next month but the American admitted his injury was still a concern . `` My groin has been tight on me , I 'm trying to take a little Advil -LRB- painkillers -RRB- to run through the pain , '' he told reporters . `` I 've got to be tough about it . I do n't feel it when I run , it 's after . `` I 'm just taking it one day at a time , it 's just frustrating . Any time a sprinter feels any type of nagging pain they get frustrated and the mind has to get strong again . `` I did n't get to warm up like I wanted to because of the situation but I do n't think about limping once the gun is shot , I just run . '' In other action on Saturday , Carmelita Jeter of the United States showed she will be a contender at the world championships with a 10.92 second clocking to win the women 's 100m . Double Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia made a successful return to the track after injury to win the women 's 5,000 in 14 minutes 33.65 seconds , the fastest in the world this year .
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Tyson Gay powers to 200m victory in 20 seconds dead at London Grand Prix . Gay has been struggling with a groin injury ahead of the world championships . American is set to take on Usain Bolt over 100 and 200m in Berlin next month . Bolt anchors Racers TC to victory in sprint relay in 37.46 seconds .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Travelers heading for Mumbai were urged to postpone their journeys Thursday amid fears that foreigners could be targeted following Wednesday 's terror attacks that left more than 100 people dead and two luxury hotels under siege . Indian reserve soldiers keep vigil outside the residence of the Indian Prime Minister on Thursday . In a televised statement Thursday , Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the attacks had been intended to `` create a sense of panic by choosing high-profile targets and indiscriminately killing innocent foreigners . '' At least six foreigners were reported dead in the attacks including Italian and British nationals . The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi said the situation in Mumbai remained fluid and warned those planning to travel to Mumbai to postpone their journeys for at least the next 48 to 72 hours . `` Those currently in Mumbai are asked to take shelter at their current location and contact family and friends , '' the embassy said in a statement . The U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai opened for emergency passport issuance Thursday despite the Thanksgiving holiday . `` U.S. citizens who have immediate travel plans and have lost or damaged passports can come directly to the Consulate to obtain an emergency replacement passport , '' a statement said . The UK 's Foreign Office advised against `` all but essential travel to Mumbai until further notice . '' `` We have said to the people of Mumbai they should avoid going out and about more than they need to for the time being . And those planning to visit Mumbai should only do so if they have essential business to do . That is roughly in line with the advice the government has given , that today is not the day to go to Mumbai , '' Richard Stagg , the British High Commissioner to London , told CNN-IBN . Read more on the international reaction . The French Embassy in New Delhi said those living in or traveling to Mumbai should be `` doubly cautious '' and warned : `` Hotels , public places -LRB- markets , railway stations , cinema halls , etc. -RRB- should be avoided and movements outside restricted to a strict minimum until fresh instructions are issued . '' Australia 's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade urged Australians to avoid travel to Mumbai and told those already in the city to remain in a safe location and monitor the media for information about new security risks . '' Flights to and from India were largely undisrupted Thursday . A spokesman for Air India at Mumbai 's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport told CNN the airline was maintaining a normal schedule and said there had been no cancellations or major delays . Singapore Airlines urged passengers to allow extra time for check-in because of additional security checks at the airport 's perimeter . A spokeswoman for London 's Heathrow Airport told CNN services were operating normally . British Airways was running a regular service to Mumbai but said customers with bookings made prior to the attacks could rebook on a different date or to an alternative Indian city at no extra cost . The Taj hotel chain , whose flagship Mumbai residence was attacked by gunmen , said it was working closely with authorities and was taking `` necessary precautions '' across all its hotels . The Oberoi hotel chain said it was `` monitoring the situation closely '' and cooperating with police and government authorities . Meanwhile Indian cricket authorities have canceled the remaining two matches of India 's one-day series with England and postponed the inaugural Champions League tournament which was due to start next week . Participating teams from England and Australia had been due to fly to India on Thursday .
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Travelers urged to postpone journeys to Mumbai following terror attacks . Indian PM says attackers aimed to `` indiscriminately kill innocent foreigners '' Visitors to Mumbai urged to stay indoors , await further developments . Flights to , from Mumbai 's main airport undisrupted , Air India spokesman says .
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Moderate exercise can help patients with failing hearts feel better -- and it 's safe , according to the largest-ever study of exercise in people with chronic heart failure , published as two articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association . Patients in the exercise group were given exercise training and either a treadmill or an exercise bike . The study 's results may not have been groundbreaking : Fewer than half of patients were fully following the recommended exercise regimen -LRB- the equivalent of brisk walking or stationary cycling for about two to three hours a week -RRB- by the end of the study , and the effect of exercise on mortality and hospitalization risk was small . But these benefits should n't be dismissed , given the poor quality of life many chronic heart failure patients have , says Clyde Yancy , M.D. , medical director of the Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute in Houston , Texas . `` Having any strategy that 's reasonable , that has the potential to help even a little bit , is pretty important , '' says Yancy , who was not involved in the research . `` The real gain might be in helping our patients feel better . '' About 5 million people in the United States have chronic heart failure , in which the heart becomes too weak to pump blood through the body effectively . Not too long ago , bed rest was the standard treatment for these patients , who suffer from fatigue , difficulty breathing , and swelling of the legs , among other symptoms . But for the past 20 or 30 years , evidence has been trickling in to show that these patients can actually benefit from being active , says Kathryn E. Flynn , Ph.D. , of Duke University School of Medicine in Durham , North Carolina . To get a clearer sense of the benefits -LRB- and potential risks -RRB- of exercise for heart failure patients , Flynn -- along with Christopher M. O'Connor , M.D. , director of the Heart Center at Duke , as well as colleagues from several centers across the country -- randomly assigned 2,331 men and women with heart failure to one of two groups : standard medical care plus aerobic exercise training or standard care only . People in the exercise group started out with 36 supervised-exercise sessions , then were sent home with a treadmill or exercise bike and instructed to get 120 to 200 minutes of exercise a week . Within three months , Flynn and her team found , the exercisers said they felt better . `` The average difference was modest , but it happened early , '' Flynn says . `` And it persisted over time : 54 percent of the men and women in this group reported clinically meaningful improvements in their health status three months into the study , compared with 29 percent of people in the control group . '' After two and a-half years , the people in the exercise group were slightly less likely to be hospitalized for any cause or for heart failure . They were also at modestly reduced risk of death from any cause , as well as death from heart failure . Unsurprisingly , exercisers also were somewhat more fit than they were at the study 's outset . Health.com : What puts you at risk for high cholesterol ? `` I think this study really helps to show that when you look across a lot of different people , exercise is a good thing , '' Flynn says , noting that past studies have included far fewer women and older people . Given that fewer than half of the patients in the exercise group were actually following recommendations for physical activity by the end of the study -- par for the course with behavioral-intervention trials requiring lifestyle changes -- O'Connor says he was n't disappointed that the benefits were small . `` Really , it 's quite remarkable in my opinion that we found these modest improvements , '' he adds . Health.com : Good fats vs. bad fats : Which fats are good for your heart ? When O'Connor and his colleagues broke down the results based on how well people were sticking to the exercise recommendations , an analysis not published in the JAMA paper , more striking differences emerged . `` The more you did with greater intensity , the greater benefit , '' O'Connor says . It 's also important , he adds , that the research was able to confirm that exercise does not carry risks for people with stable heart failure . `` It was not known that it was safe with this degree of certainty , '' O'Connor says . The question now , Yancy says , is whether insurers will decide to pay to help chronic heart failure patients exercise , given the modesty of the benefits . `` We really ca n't deploy this in a broad way without getting support from payers , '' he adds . `` I ca n't forecast which way that will go . '' Health.com : How I survived a heart attack at 43 . But O'Connor is willing to hazard a guess . Because his analysis suggests that patients with the most severe heart failure benefit the most from exercise , he says , it 's likely that insurers will pay for exercise training for these patients who will offer them the `` biggest bang for the buck . '' Try a FREE TRIAL issue of Health - CLICK HERE ! Copyright Health Magazine 2009 .
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Study : Exercise in heart-failure patients is safe , helps well-being , reduces mortality . About 5 million people in the United States have chronic heart failure . In heart failure , the heart is too weak to pump blood through the body effectively .
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ISLAMABAD , Pakistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A military offensive to rid Pakistan 's northwest of al Qaeda and Taliban fighters has killed more than 1,000 militants since it began in full force earlier this month , the country 's interior ministry said Sunday . A Pakistani girl displaced by the offensive against the Taliban rests at a camp Saturday north of Islamabad . Officials also said that only 2 percent of the North West Frontier Province remains under Taliban control as a result of the operation . Both claims were difficult to verify independently . The government did not say whether the operation resulted in civilian casualties , or how many people it displaced . The United Nations said Saturday that more than a million people have been displaced as a result of the two-week-old offensive . The U.S-led coalition and NATO -- based in Afghanistan -- have long said Pakistan is not being proactive enough in battling militants who are launching attacks from Pakistan 's swath of tribal areas along the border . Pakistan has denied the claim . But the country 's military launched an intense operation to rout out militants from the area after Taliban fighters took control of a district just 60 miles from the capital , Islamabad . The control of the Buner district brought the Taliban closer to the capital of the nuclear-armed country than it had been since it mounted its insurgency . Watch car bomb , drone attack in Pakistan ''
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Pakistani troops fighting to oust Taliban militants from volatile province . U.S-led coalition and NATO , based in Afghanistan , have long criticized Pakistan . Islamabad , coalition says , not effective in halting border attacks from inside Pakistan . Pakistan has denied the claims , has launched operations to rout out militants .
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L'AQUILA , Italy -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The youngest had n't lived half a year . The oldest had lived nearly a hundred . A rescue worker Friday kisses the coffin of a child killed by this week 's earthquake in central Italy . The official government list of victims from this week 's earthquake in central Italy reached 287 on Friday , as Italians held a mass state funeral to lay the victims to rest . They included Antonio Loavan Ghiroceanu , who was born December 11 . He would have been 6 months old on Saturday . The oldest-known victim of the quake was Evandro Testa , 96 , who was born in 1913 . More than 200 caskets were lined up at the funeral , draped with flowers . At least one small white coffin belonging to a child sat atop a larger coffin , a baby 's pastel outfit hanging off the side . The funeral was being held outside a hangar in Coppito , a town adjacent to the earthquake 's epicenter of L'Aquila . Officials elected to hold the Mass in the open air to avoid the risk of injury from falling debris . Aftershocks continue to shake the region more than four days after the earthquake , and some were even felt during Friday 's funeral . All of the area 's cardinals and bishops , along with 100 priests , attended the special funeral Mass. . Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was also there , greeting and embracing some of the thousands of mourners before the service . Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone presided over the Mass as an envoy from Pope Benedict XVI , who plans to visit the region after Easter . Watch Italy bury its dead '' Bertone said the funeral was a `` precious moment '' to understand the meaning of life and death . `` Everything can stop in a second -- projects , plans -- everything finishes . All that remains is love , '' he said . Watch more on funeral . Mourners , who were transported to the funeral on buses , dabbed their eyes and noses . Some stared at the ground or held each other . Few appeared focused on anything but remembering the victims . `` I feel rebirth in the heart , because below that rubble there is a will to rebuild , to start again , to plan and to dream , '' Bertone said , offering a message of hope . The towns of L'Aquila and the surrounding region , he said , `` will come back stronger , will have more courage and give life to these places with that power and strength and dignity of the soul that distinguishes them . '' As well as sending Bertone to deliver his message , the pope sent holy oils to L'Aquila and a chalice with which to take Communion . Archbishop Giuseppe Molinari of L'Aquila also planned to deliver a message . The 6.3-magnitude quake Monday morning left about 30,000 people without their homes . Almost 20,000 of them are braving chilly nights in tents while about 11,000 others are staying in hotels , said Agostino Miozzo , a spokesman for the Italian Civil Protection Agency . Watch more on the aftermath . Recovering from such losses and rebuilding the city of L'Aquila will take several years , according to Miozzo . The medieval city is about 120 km -LRB- 75 miles -RRB- northeast of Rome . Berlusconi has said rebuilding will cost several billion euros . Aftershocks have heightened anxiety in the area -- including a moderate 5.6 magnitude tremor that struck the area Tuesday . `` The mood is a little bit afraid , '' said Marco Volponi of the Civil Protection agency . He was working in a tent camp , housing people whose homes were inhabitable . In the nearby village of Onna , 40 people -- more than one out of every eight residents in the town of 300 -- were killed in the earthquake . On some streets , every single home was destroyed . Anna Rita Difilice lost her son , Fabio , 20 , to the quake -- the deadliest to strike Italy in decades and the first major quake in the country in seven years . She said she does n't know what comes next for her . Her village has become populated with tents , fold-up beds and feeding stations handing out food , water and other supplies for survivors . But she said she knew one thing : she 's not going anywhere . `` My son died here , '' she said . `` There is no way I 'm leaving this town -- not ever . ''
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Italians have gathered to farewell nearly 300 earthquake victims . Almost 20,000 have braved chilly nights in tents , about 11,000 others in hotels . Toll from Monday morning 's earthquake continues to rise : 287 now dead .
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LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- They are the tales of two very different people . Director Danny Boyle 's film `` Slumdog Millionaire '' shines a stark light on poverty in India . One an amoral businessman pouring out his life story to the Chinese Premier , the other a lovelorn teenager appearing on `` Kaun Banega Crorepati , '' the Indian version of `` Who Wants to Be a Millionaire ? '' But if their protagonists are polar opposites , both stories -- one as told in Aravind Adiga 's best-selling novel `` The White Tiger , '' the other in `` Slumdog Millionaire , '' the new movie from `` Trainspotting '' director Danny Boyle -- have much in common . Both are based in modern day India , both feature characters who succeed against all the odds , and both have garnered considerable critical acclaim , with `` Slumdog Millionaire '' recently awarded the three top prizes at the British Independent Film Awards . `` Slumdog , '' which is set in Mumbai , has also assumed a particularly poignant resonance in light of the recent terror attacks that left 174 people dead . Above all , both narratives shine a stark light on poverty -- an aspect of Indian society that has increasingly been pushed into the background by a decade and more of upbeat headlines about the country 's dramatic economic growth . `` The growth aspect has tended to receive much more attention than the darker side of the Indian story , '' Professor Babu Mathew , Country Director of Action Aid India , told CNN , `` More and more the poverty goes unnoticed , and there is less and less of a voice for the excluded peoples . '' The breadth of the divide between what Aravind Adiga calls the `` India of Light , '' and the `` India of Darkness , '' is both dramatic and shocking . Since 1991 when `` neo-liberal '' market reforms were introduced , India 's economy has ballooned . From 1991 to 2004 , the world 's largest democracy grew at 6.5 percent annually , a figure which increased to over 9 percent between 2005 and 2007 . The result has been a massive explosion of wealth creation among the middle and upper echelons of Indian society , with Indian billionaires now occupying four of the top eight slots on the annual Forbes rich list . While growth has benefited one section of society , it has left a vast swathe of the population lagging far behind . `` People in urban areas , the rich , the middle classes , the educated -- all of these have benefited from economic growth , '' Dr Arun Kumar of Development Alternatives Group , a sustainable development organization based in Delhi , told CNN , `` Those who have not benefited are the small farmers , the rural poor , the artisans -- for these their situation has worsened . '' Nisha Agrawal , CEO of Oxfam India , agrees . `` Economic growth has been primarily focused on manufacturing and services and largely in urban areas , '' she told CNN , `` Rural agriculture has not received the kind of attention it deserves . And since the bulk of poor people derive their incomes from agriculture , that has left us with two Indias , one rich , one impoverished . '' Even a cursory glance at the statistics reveals a problem on a huge scale . According to World Bank estimates , 456 million people -- just over 40 percent of India 's population of 1.2 billion -- now live on less than $ 1.25 per day , a sum recognized as the international poverty line . Almost half of India 's children are malnourished ; 1000 die every day from diarrhea ; hundreds of millions have no access to proper sanitation . These figures provide a grim counterpoint to the glitzy high-rises and designer shopping malls that have sprung up throughout the country 's major cities . How to narrow this gulf between the haves and the have-nots is a fiendishly complex issue and one that has no quick or easy solutions . More investment in basic infrastructure is seen as crucial , as is a reform of international trade agreements . `` Import and energy prices have increased for farmers , but global markets are not opening up for Indian agricultural products , '' Agrawal told CNN , `` That needs to change . '' Greater access to institutional finance , the creation of new jobs and economic opportunities , and the spread of information technology all have a major role to play . `` We already have small pockets of improvement , '' says Arun Kumar , `` But these involve limited numbers in limited geographies . `` We need to scale everything up . It is a huge challenge . '' The global economic problems have not bypassed India . Inflation is now running close to 12 percent and the Mumbai Stock Exchange has almost halved in value from a peak in January 2008 . Sensex -- the Bombay Stock Exchange Sensitive Index -- has not registered any significant drop as a result of the recent Mumbai attacks , and it remains to be seen what the longer term effect will be on the Indian economy . Nonetheless , these difficult and uncertain times may make the challenge of poverty reduction an even harder one . Will India be able to successfully reduce the gap between rich and poor ? Leave your comments in the SoundOff box below . Both Kumar and Agrawal remain hopeful that change is coming to India , albeit slowly . `` We are eternal optimists , '' says Kumar , `` I do believe things are changing . '' `` The government recognizes that people do n't just want a high level of growth , '' adds Agrawal , `` But also growth that is more equalizing . We need to bring the two Indias together , and I believe we can do it . '' Despite their optimism , the problems remain vast , and the darkness intense . For the foreseeable future it seems likely the question most on the minds of India 's 456 million poor will be less `` Who wants to be a millionaire ? '' than `` Will I be able to feed myself and my family today ? ''
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Danny Boyle 's `` Slumdog Millionaire '' shines a light on slum-dwellers in India . Huge growth means four of top eight billionaires on Forbes rich list are Indian . But the new wealth has bypassed India 's 456 million poor . Nisha Agrawal of Oxfam says there are : `` two Indias , one rich , one impoverished ''
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[[86, 114], [141, 183], [2130, 2224], [2275, 2328]]
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Editor 's note : CNN agreed not to use the full names of the family members in this article due to concern for their safety . Youssif , now in an apartment in Los Angeles , will need months of treatment . LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Youssif , the 5-year-old Iraqi boy who was savagely burned by masked men , arrived in the United States late Tuesday with his family -- the first step toward his lengthy rehabilitation . For a family whose lives were tortured by the random and brutal violence of Iraq , the sheer magnitude of stepping onto American soil was surreal . His parents were rendered speechless . Quite simply they grinned from ear to ear . They did n't need to speak . The joy on their faces was palpable . They had traveled more than 7,500 miles to get help for their son , from war-torn central Baghdad to coastal Los Angeles . It marked the first time the family had ever left their homeland , let alone flown on a plane . `` Oh my God , it 's so green . Am I in heaven ? '' Youssif 's mother , Zainab , said after arriving in Chicago before the family flew on to Los Angeles where Youssif will be treated . `` I feel like I 'm in a dream , '' said his father , whom CNN has agreed not to name . `` Someone needs to pinch me . '' Watch Youssif 's doctor 's prognosis for the burned boy '' The family left Amman , Jordan , early Tuesday en route to the United States . The night before they departed , Youssif did n't sleep a wink . He woke the family up extra early , shouting , `` Let 's go ! Let 's go ! '' Youssif , his parents and his infant sister , Ayaa , finished their 24-hour journey in Los Angeles around 11 p.m. PT Tuesday . They were greeted by members of the Children 's Burn Foundation , the nonprofit organization that paid for the family 's travel and is covering all of Youssif 's medical bills . Youssif playfully fought with his father over the luggage cart in Los Angeles International Airport . `` I want to push it . I want to push it , '' he said gleefully . The family was then whisked away to the two-bedroom , two-bath apartment where they will be staying during Youssif 's treatment . It 's a stark contrast to their humble one-room home in a rundown central Baghdad neighborhood rife with violence . There was a television , toys everywhere , and a balcony . A crib sat in the kids ' bedroom and the kitchen even had a high-chair so that Youssif 's sister would be able to eat with them at the table . For the first time in a long time , the family laughed out of pure joy . See Youssif play with his new toys '' When Youssif walked into the new home , he glanced at the plush wall-to-wall carpet and ordered everyone to take their shoes off . Do n't get it dirty , he said . His mother opened a door in the master bedroom and marveled at the walk-in closet . `` Is this a bedroom ? It ca n't be a closet , '' she said . Standing on the apartment 's balcony , Youssif 's father turned to Barbara Friedman , executive director of the Children 's Burn Foundation . `` You see America on television , but you never imagine or dream that you will ever be here . '' He paused , tears in his eyes . `` It 's more than paradise . '' This is the same father who walked the streets of Baghdad seeking help for his boy . He went to the Health Ministry and even wrote letters to the Iraqi parliament and the prime minister 's office for help . No one would listen . Desperate , he turned to CNN . `` Look at what these monsters did to my boy , '' he said . Watch how Youssif was transformed from a smiling boy to a disfigured victim . CNN and CNN.com first reported his story on August 22 after the family risked their lives to tell his story : On January 15 , masked men grabbed Youssif outside his home , doused him with gas and set him on fire . The story prompted an outpouring of support to get help for Youssif . More than 12,000 CNN.com users have contributed to a fund set up by the Children 's Burn Foundation . In recent weeks , the foundation worked feverishly with the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to secure the necessary paperwork for the family 's travel to the United States -- something that typically takes months , if not years , to do . Youssif and his family are expected to be in the United States for six months to a year while he undergoes multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation . They are to meet with Dr. Peter Grossman , the plastic surgeon who will perform the operations , Wednesday afternoon . Grossman works for the nearby Grossman Burn Center and is donating his services to Youssif 's cause . On this day , the family was simply ecstatic to have finally made it here . They arrived on September 11 -- the date the United States will always remember as a day of unspeakable horror . But for this family , 9/11 will always mean something much different : Hope and a better future for their son -- and a newfound love for America . `` This is a moment that will stay with us forever , '' Youssif 's dad said . Friedman smiled broadly and said , `` For us too . '' E-mail to a friend .
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Iraqi boy who was set on fire by masked men arrives for treatment . 12,000 CNN readers contributed to fund to help 5-year-old Youssif . Boy 's mom asks , `` Am I in heaven ? '' Youssif is to meet with surgeon later Wednesday .
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BANGOR , Maine -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Karen Walker has shaken half a million hands in the last few years -- at least that 's her best guess . Korean War veteran Don Guptill greets a returning soldier at Bangor International Airport in Maine . She and the other 40 or so members of the Maine Troop Greeters have made it their mission to welcome every incoming and outbound flight of soldiers and Marines who use Bangor International Airport as a refueling stop . No matter what time of day or night , there will always be applause , handshakes and hugs to make the troops feel appreciated . The goal is clear : `` Greet the troops , and thank them for what they do , '' says Korean War veteran Don Guptill . Watch the volunteers in action '' Guptill says he remembers coming home from that conflict and receiving no welcome at all . Guptill and other veterans , including those who served in Vietnam and World War II , were determined not to let that happen again . For those heading to Iraq or Afghanistan , the recognition is noticed and greatly appreciated , troops say . `` It makes me feel good , '' said one soldier headed out on his first deployment . `` I 'm a little nervous , '' he continued , adding that the warm greeting helped ease his nerves . Another soldier , firmly shaking the hands in line , said , `` This is fantastic . These people are wonderful for coming down . '' The group of volunteers first started during the Persian Gulf War in 1991 and continued following the invasion of Iraq in 2003 . As of October , the group has seen off 3,598 flights , 727,292 troops and 135 military dogs , according to the greeters . Besides the support of the receiving line , troops also are offered snacks and the use of a cell phone to call their loved ones , free of charge . `` All they do is put an ID card down and pick up a phone , '' says Bill Knight , who stands behind a counter giving out the phones . Cell phone carriers donate the minutes . The airport donates the room where Knight works . Once a duty-free shop , it 's now decorated with flags , unit patches , pins , photos and other items given to the Maine Troop Greeters as a show of appreciation from the many units that have passed through the airport . While the firm grips of so many soldiers sometimes can make the greeters ' hands a little sore , the volunteers get used to the strong handshakes . `` They used to -LSB- cause tenderness -RSB- , '' Walker says , `` but not anymore . '' When a handshake wo n't do , some military men and women will reach out and just hug the person who came by to welcome them home . Meeting the troops also tugs at the emotions of the greeters . `` It 's a good feeling , '' Guptill says . `` Some days it 's a tear-jerker . '' After about an hour and a half on the ground , it 's time for an outbound flight to take off and head to a war zone . The greeters line up again to wish the soldiers well as they head up the ramp to the plane , thanking them for their service . Guptill says if the war ended tomorrow it would be fine with them , but adds , `` We 'll do this until this thing ends . ''
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Maine Troop Greeters welcome soldiers and Marines at Bangor International Airport . The mission includes troops returning from or heading to a war zone . `` It makes me feel good , '' says one soldier headed out on his first deployment . Troops also are offered snacks and the use of a cell phone to call their loved ones .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- As the swine flu outbreak escalates across the globe , U.S. travelers returning from Mexico are wondering what to do when they come home . Travelers leaving a Mexican airport fill out questionnaires about their health . On Wednesday , Christine Kovar of San Francisco , California , returned from a vacation to Nuevo Vallarta , Mexico . She said she was n't sure whether she should attend work or stay home . `` I feel fine , '' said Kovar . `` It will be the discretion of my boss whether I go back to work . '' The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta , Georgia , is advising U.S. travelers back from Mexico with at least two of the swine flu symptoms to stay at home and avoid public places upon return . Symptoms of swine flu , also known as 2009 N1H1 , can include a fever , sore throat , cough , chills , headaches and runny nose . People with symptoms should report to a health care provider or local health department and provide itinerary details and symptoms , according to the CDC . If infected , the swine flu is contagious for up to seven days . People who are n't sick should continue to work and use normal precautions like washing hands , according to the CDC . They should monitor their health for seven days . `` As long as they are n't presenting any flu-like symptoms , there is no reason why they ca n't continue to do things that they normally would , '' said Llelwyn Grant , a spokesman for the CDC . Meanwhile , the death toll from swine flu continues to climb . On Thursday , the World Health Organization reported 236 cases of swine flu worldwide . In the United States , the CDC said it confirmed 109 cases of swine flu , or 2009 H1N1 , in 11 states , an increase of 18 from its previous total . On Wednesday , the WHO raised the pandemic threat level to 5 on a six-step scale . These numbers are causing alarm among the public , as schools and businesses try to contain the disease and protect the health of others . Some companies are erring on the side of safety , telling employees who returned from Mexico to stay at home for a few days . One university in Pennsylvania barred nearly two dozen students back from Mexico from attending graduation . More than 100 schools across the country have shut down . Greenville County School District in South Carolina shut down on Thursday to clean the buildings and busses when 18 students reported flu-like symptoms after a band trip to Disney World in Florida . School officials are awaiting the test results of the children . `` We are being proactive and trying to take -LSB- the -RSB- right precautions , '' said Oby Lyles , spokesman for the Greenville County School District . Several state health departments such as the New York , where there are 50 confirmed cases , and Kansas , where there are two confirmed cases , said they have n't made state-level advisories yet on whether travelers from Mexico who feel healthy should attend work or not . If travelers are feeling sick , the state departments said travelers should follow CDC guidelines and stay at home . `` If you are n't sick , make sure you are practicing the common sense precautions , '' said a spokesman at the New York State Department of Health . `` Wash your hands . Cover your mouth when you sneeze . '' In addition to advising ill U.S. travelers returning from Mexico to stay confined , government officials are turning to the travel industry for help , particularly air travel . The CDC is advising airline crew members who have arrived from domestic and international areas affected by the swine flu to be on the lookout for ill passengers . Airlines have been advised to stock the planes with gloves and face masks in case of an emergency . The CDC said airline crew members need to ask passengers who appear sick to be quarantined at one of the CDC 's 20 locations across the country . It 's been smooth sailing at U.S. airports , several passengers say . There have been no nationwide questionnaires being issued at the airports , according to a spokeswoman at U.S. Customs and Border Protection yet . In contrast , at some Mexican airports , travelers are asked to fill out forms asking about his or her health , passengers interviewed say . Still , travelers will find warnings about swine flu all over the airport . At O'Hare International Airport in Chicago , Illinois , travel warnings about the flu are being distributed . Signs informing passengers about swine flu , particularly in the international terminal , are posted . As of Friday , the CDC was recommending U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico .
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Travelers with flu-like symptoms coming back from Mexico should stay at home . Healthy travelers coming from Mexico can continue to go to work and school . There are more than 230 confirmed cases of swine flu worldwide , according to WHO . Companies and schools are erring on the side of safety asking people not to come .
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Seoul , South Korea -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The body of a missing sailor was recovered in the wreckage of a South Korean ship that went down in the Yellow Sea in March , Yonhap news agency reported Saturday . The ship sank mysteriously in an incident that heightened tensions between North and South Korea . South Korea is investigating what caused the ship to sink and has not ruled out a theory that North Korea was involved , but Seoul has avoided directly blaming North Korea , which denied allegations it was responsible . South Korea 's Yonhap reported Saturday that authorities have lifted the remaining half of the vessel , which could help aid the investigation . The 1,200-ton patrol ship Cheonan sank near the western sea border with North Korea on March 26 . Forty of Cheonan 's 104 crewmembers have now been confirmed dead , and six more are also believed dead , though they are still listed as missing . Fifty-eight crewmembers were rescued before the vessel sank .
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Crews recover body of missing sailor from sunken South Korea ship . Ship went down in Yellow Sea ; cause not yet known . Death toll now stands at 40 ; six sailors listed as missing .
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Pensacola , Florida -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Evelyn Rasco started crying early Saturday morning as soon as she saw the cars carrying her daughters turn the corner . Minutes later , her voice took on a tougher tone : `` I 'll tell you one thing , y' all ai n't going back to the state of Mississippi . I 'll tell you that . Y' all ai n't going there to get a drink of water . '' Her daughters , Gladys and Jamie Scott , were released from a Mississippi prison Friday after 16 years behind bars . Gov. Haley Barbour suspended their armed robbery sentences on one condition -- that one sister donate a kidney to the other . Jamie Scott , 38 , is gravely ill and needs a kidney transplant , said attorney Chokwe Lumumba . Barbour said last week it `` should be scheduled with urgency . '' And Jamie Scott told CNN she feared at one point that she would die in prison . The sisters were convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to life in prison for their role in a 1993 ambush in Scott County , Mississippi . Authorities accused the sisters of leading two men to a group of three teenagers , who hit them with a shotgun and took their wallets . The robbers netted between $ 11 and $ 200 , according to CNN affiliate WLBT . Both sisters have maintained their innocence . After their release Friday , they told reporters they planned to continue fighting . `` The governor granted us our first step and we are grateful for that , '' Jamie Scott said , her sister next to her , nodding in agreement . `` The fight is not over until our name is cleared . '' Early Saturday morning , the sisters arrived at their mother 's home in Pensacola , Florida . Gladys Scott , 36 , walked arm-in-arm with her mother toward the door . `` We 're home , Mama , we 're home , '' she said . `` You do n't know how many nights I prayed for this , '' Rasco replied . Gladys Scott 's 22-year-old daughter , Olivia , placed her arm around her mother 's shoulder and said she was looking forward to making up for lost time . `` We 're going to get her an up-to-date cell phone . We 're going to show her the beach ... We 're going to have fun , do what we could n't do , do what the state of Mississippi took from us , '' she said . In Florida , the sisters will be under the supervision of the Florida Department of Corrections parole office , said Suzanne Singletary , a spokeswoman for the Mississippi Department of Corrections . Lumumba said Friday that Gladys Scott had not yet been tested to determine whether her kidney could be used in a transplant . `` I 'm praying to God I 'm a match , '' she said . `` I want her to raise her grandkids with me . '' Bumper stickers on cars parked in the Rasco 's driveway Saturday said `` The Scott Sisters '' -- a lingering sign of the legal fight the family says it 's determined to continue . Lumumba said the sisters would seek a pardon from the state of Mississippi . `` We 're not going to lay down the guns . We 're going to keep fighting in order to get them totally exonerated , '' he said .
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A governor suspends their sentences , saying one must donate a kidney to the other . `` You do n't know how many nights I prayed for this , '' their mother says . The two sisters spent 16 years in prison for armed robbery . A lawyer says Jamie Scott is gravely ill and needs a kidney transplant .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- International music stars Shakira , the Black-Eyed Peas and Alicia Keys will now be joined by several top South African names at the launch concert for the soccer World Cup in June . Local artists had been upset that the host nation would not well-represented at the June 10 event after only three acts -- BLK JKS , The Parlotones and folk singer Vusi Mahlasela -- were named in the initial line-up . But legendary jazz musician Hugh Masekela , the award-winning Freshlyground and Soweto Gospel Choir are among those added to the bill following a meeting with organizers last month . Soweto 's Mzansi Youth Choir and Canada-based , Somalia-born hip-hop artist K'naan will also now appear at Johannesburg 's Orlando Stadium the night before the month-long tournament kicks off . `` As South Africans we are proud to be hosting the first ever World Cup on African soil , '' the 71-year-old Masekela told the South Africa Organizing Committee Web site . Hugh Masekela : The sound of South Africa . `` I am very humbled and flattered to be part of this global event and am looking forward to the concert with great interest and excitement . '' Freshlyground , five-time South African Music Award winners , will perform the tournament 's official anthem `` Waka Waka -LRB- This Time For Africa -RRB- '' with co-collaborator Shakira , the multi-million-selling Colombian singer . K'naan 's Canadian hit `` Wavin ' Flag '' has been remixed into a bilingual English-Spanish song which is Coca-Cola 's official World Cup tune . Other featured artists include blind Mali duo Amadou & Mariam , 2008 Grammy Award winner Angelique Kidjo of Benin and six-time recipient John Legend of the United States . Hugh Masekela 's Johannesburg . Shakira 's platinum-selling compatriot Juanes is also on the bill along with Tuareg group Tinariwen and their fellow Malian Vieux Farka Toure . `` We wanted to have an eclectic , international mix of music genres to appeal to as many people as possible around the world whilst at the same time showcasing the immense home-grown talent of the host country , '' said Niclas Ericson , director of TV for world soccer 's governing body FIFA . The concert will be broadcast live worldwide , with profits going to FIFA 's project to build 20 centers across Africa providing education , healthcare services and football training to disadvantaged communities . Orlando Stadium , in the suburb of Soweto , is also being used as a training facility for World Cup teams .
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Hugh Masekela , Freshlyground and Soweto Gospel Choir among those added to concert . Local artists had been angry that South Africans would not be properly represented . Organizers initially named only three South African acts for June 10 line-up . Concert takes place in Johannesburg the night before the World Cup kicks off .
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New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Exposure to debris at Ground Zero may be linked to heart problems in police officers , according to a new study announced Saturday . The study revealed that police officers who worked at the World Trade Center site in the aftermath of the September 11 , 2001 , terror attacks had unusually high occurrences of abnormal left and right ventricular functioning , leading doctors to consider the role Ground Zero played in their diminished heart function . The study , which started in January 2008 and ended in June , was funded by the Fraternal Order of Police of New York State . The study was not intended at first to focus on the effects of Ground Zero , but rather to test the strains of the job , said Dr. Lori Croft , the study 's lead investigator . Many Ground Zero workers have been reported to suffer from lung ailments after exposure to dust and debris at the site , but this is the first study that offers evidence that work at Ground Zero may lead to cardiovascular problems , said Croft of the Mount Sinai Medical Center . Once microscopic matter is inhaled , it can result in harmful scarring to the lungs and heart , said Croft . Croft said that a healthy person 's heart muscle relaxes when it fills with blood . In the cases of the study participants , Croft said the heart remains somewhat stiff , which hinders blood flow and can lead to heart disease later in life . Croft tested about 1,200 police officers over an 18-month period and found that 53 percent had abnormal left ventricular functioning and 59 percent had problems with their right ventricle . This would come as little surprise if they were in their 80s , but the mean age in the group was 49 , Croft said . `` If you 're talking about 80-year-olds with these statistics , that 's one thing , '' she said . `` But these are people in their 40s and 50s . That 's unusual . '' About 7 percent of 50-year-olds have this problem , Croft said . Croft said some questions remain . Law enforcement is generally a stressful occupation and police often work varying shifts and might sit in a patrol car for long periods -- all unhealthy for the heart , she said . The study , while revealing , needs to be further explored , she said . For example , testing police officers in other cities might help put the findings in context , she said .
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Study finds unusually high occurrences of abnormal left and right ventricular functioning . Findings are first to possibly link work at Ground Zero to cardiovascular problems . Study was initially intended to test strains of job and effects of Ground Zero . Testing officers in other cities could help put findings in context , study 's leader says .
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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Lynn Malerba has years of experience taking care of hearts -- those of her patients as a nurse , those of her community as health director and now , as chief , those of her tribe . Recently , Malerba officially accepted the leadership role of chief of the Mohegan tribe -- the tribe 's first female leader in almost 300 years . Malerba , 56 , holds a nursing degree and a master 's degree in public administration and lives in Uncasville , Connecticut . CNN talked with her about her role , beliefs and the future of the Mohegans . Who are you ? How do you define yourself ? I define myself by my relationships as well as by my chosen career path . I need to know that my actions personally and professionally make a positive difference in people 's lives . My name , Soqsqua Mutawi Mutahash , translated means `` Female Sachem Many Hearts '' or `` Chief Many Hearts . '' It reflects my life 's work : I have cared for many hearts in my past roles as critical care nurse and health and human services director for the tribe . As the new Mohegan Chief , I will care for the many hearts I know today and those I have yet to meet . It is an honor to be so connected to our ancestors and to share such a vibrant and rich culture with an extended family . It is unique and something to be celebrated . My great-grandfather , Chief Matagha , was known for the love of his culture . His name represents both `` He Who Dances '' as well as `` Brave and Faithful Soldier . '' He passed that love down to all generations following him . My generation has seen a tribal chairman , a tribal chairwoman and two elected elders in service to the tribe . His example is obviously one to live up to . It is my duty to faithfully follow in his footsteps as well as the footsteps of my mother , who so carefully kept our tribal history and culture alive for my family . What is something that everyone should know about you ? I love being Mohegan because it is something bigger than ourselves . We are a community that shares a very rich history that informs us as a people . It is also essential that we pass on our tribal traditions to the next generations and that we pave the way for them to live successfully in two worlds : Mohegan and the local community . We have a sense of family and roots that goes very deep , and stays with us wherever we go . Growing up in Uncasville , Connecticut , in the 1950s was a much simpler time than what we have today . We lived next door to my grandmother , two aunts lived on my street and two of my mother 's cousins lived on my street . So to say we were surrounded by family is a bit of an understatement . Growing up on Mohegan Hill , you were immersed in your culture and in your greater Mohegan family in a very casual way . We visited the museum regularly , visited with our Mohegan relatives , went to Fort Shantok -LRB- which holds one of our burial grounds -RRB- for family picnics -LRB- and even swam in the little pond there -RRB- and understood our place on this earth . The thought of being chief was never in my consciousness as an aspiration . When the tribal membership was asked by the Council of Elders who they thought should be appointed chief , I exercised my right as a tribal member and wrote a letter stating who I thought should be appointed -LRB- not me -RRB- and certainly never in my wildest dreams thought I would be selected . What gets you up and going each morning ? I love the fact that each day brings something new and that no two days are the same . This was true both in my career in critical care nursing as well as my role here as chairwoman and now chief of the tribe . I love being busy and working hard -- and love that there is no shortage of surprises in my day . My greatest hopes for the future of Mohegan are simple : that we always look back and are faithful to the vision of our ancestors while we protect the generations to come . We need to work to ensure that our tribal family preserves our culture , protects our lands and protects all generations of the tribe through health care , education , elder services and youth programming . What is in your pocket right now that might surprise us ? I keep an arrowhead in my purse that someone had given me as a reminder of the fact that we Mohegans live in two worlds -- the modern world of commerce and business , and the ancient world of nature and tradition . What would you tell your younger self about who you are now ? It is great to have a plan but not to hold on to that plan too tightly , because you might miss all the surprises and fun along the way . What do you believe in ? I believe that one should try to always be a positive force in the world . It is a form of spirituality to work for the good of others . What message does this -LRB- being voted as the new Chief of the Mohegan tribe -RRB- send both to today 's `` Indian Country , '' and the U.S. as a whole ? My being elected as chief confirms to those outside of Indian Country , what we have known all along : Tribes are very egalitarian and women are strong advocates for their people . The word `` chief '' may conjure up a male image to many peoples ' minds , but in truth women such as Ada Deer and Wilma Mankiller have also provided inspirational leadership for Indian Country -- I hope to be able to continue that kind of legacy in my work as chief .
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Malerba is the tribe 's first female leader in almost 300 years . She believes that one should try to always be a positive force in the world . She wants to help members straddle both the Mohegan world and the local community .
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[[4630, 4704], [4645, 4704]]
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