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Packers QB Aaron Rodgers voted NFL's MVP

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named the 2011 Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player on Saturday. The 28-year-old earned 48 of a possible 50 votes. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees received the other two votes. Rodgers led the NFL in passing with a 122.5 rating, throwing 45 touchdown passes to lead the Packers to a 15-1 record. Rodgers was the third consecutive quarterback voted MVP. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have alternated winning the award since 2007. Saints QB Brees voted AP Offensive Player of the Year New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was named the 2011 Associate Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year on Saturday. Brees had a record-breaking season that saw him complete 71.6 percent of his passes and throw for 5,476 yards. He received 43 of a possible 50 votes. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers got the other seven votes. 49ers' Harbaugh voted AP Coach of the Year San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh was named the 2011 Associated Press Coach of the Year on Saturday. Harbaugh led the 49ers to a 13-3 record and to the NFC Championship Game in his first season as an NFL head coach. The 48-year-old received 45 of a possible 50 votes from media members who cover the NFL. Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy received three votes, and Denver Broncos head coach John Fox accounted for the other two votes. Ravens LB Suggs voted AP Defensive Player of the Year Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs was named the 2011 Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year on Saturday. Suggs earned 21 of a possible 50 votes to beat out Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, who tallied 14 votes. Suggs had 70 tackles, 14 sacks and seven forced fumbles this season to lead a Baltimore defense that allowed the third-fewest points in the league this season.

Published: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:33:44 GMT

Head-trauma lawsuits against NFL cloud Super Bowl

A nasty collision during a kickoff in 1997 left Kevin Turner seeing stars. The former Philadelphia Eagles fullback, who spent eight seasons battering through defensive lines in the National Football League, said the hit left him wondering where he was. Still, the team's medical staff looked him over and eventually sent him back out to play, he said. "The doctor looked in my eyes," Turner recalled in a statement delivered by his attorney in response to questions from CNN. "He then told me to remember these words, either four or five simple, basic words." But the task proved daunting. "It was the weirdest thing ever and most frustrating because at the time I was clamoring to get back into the game," said Turner. "I was really trying so hard. And I remember it being just the most frustrating thing ever." By the second half, he'd remembered. "I went back in the game after halftime and played the rest of the game," he added in the statement to CNN. A little over a decade later, the former Eagle is battling the debilitating effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. He said his doctors have told him that "there's no cure, you're going to die within two to 10 years, and get your affairs in order." Since the diagnosis, Turner has lost most of the use of his hands and arms. He's also agreed to submit his brain to scientific study following his death. Whether Turner's disease, and those like it, can be linked to the consequences of repeated head trauma is the subject of growing research and the focus of mounting litigation against the NFL. Turner is one of hundreds of former NFL players and their families currently suing the league for alleged negligence, claiming that it didn't do enough to mitigate the risks despite what many say is an inherently dangerous sport. His attorney, Stephen F. Rosenthal -- whose Miami-based firm represents 137 other players and their families who've filed a class-action suit against the league -- said Turner has likely suffered from undiagnosed concussions. He accused the league of deliberately withholding information deemed critical to player safety. "At no time did the NFL inform Plaintiff Turner that he risked severe and permanent brain damage by returning to play too soon after sustaining a concussion," the lawsuit states. "The NFL's failure was a substantial cause of his current injuries." Stars such as former quarterback Jim McMahon, as well as running backs Jamal Lewis and Dorsey Levens, have filed similar lawsuits in states across the country. Attorneys representing Lewis and Levens accuse the league of having used a "hand-picked committee of physicians" to misrepresent evidence of the effects of head trauma, particularly concussions. "We do believe the NFL knew and had that available information with them for many years now," said attorney Mike McGlamry. The league denies the claims and released a statement saying it "has long made player safety a priority and continues to take steps to protect players and to advance the science and medical understanding of the management and treatment of concussions." "The NFL has never misled players with respect to the risks associated with playing football," the statement added. "Any suggestion to the contrary has no merit." A spokesman for the Philadelphia Eagles, regarding Turner's allegations, referred CNN to the league's statement. On Sunday, the NFL is expected to air a multimillion-dollar commercial during the Super Bowl that details the history of the league and emphasizes player health and safety. The league has in recent years also made strides to strengthen rules that govern on-the-field conduct, while adding sideline medical staff -- unaffiliated with the teams -- to more independently evaluate injured players. In 2005, the league banned the practice of tackling a player by using his shoulder pads, a move commonly referred to as a "horse-collar" tackle, after concluding it commonly resulted in injury. It also strengthened a 1979 rule prohibiting players from using their helmets to butt, or "spear" players during a tackle -- a rule that critics often complained had lacked enforcement. Players like Steelers' linebacker James Harrison have since been dealt hefty and repeated fines for helmet-first tackles. Critics, meanwhile, say the league should have made the changes years ago and have called for more protections. Part of the issue, noted a former Atlanta Falcons linebacker, is a sports culture that largely encourages behavior out-of-step with the recognized risks of head trauma. It's exacerbated when coaches, even at the high school level, say " 'Oh, you just got your bell rung. Get back out there and play,'" noted Coy Wire. That attitude, he added, can contribute to the risks of long-term brain damage. A recent study conducted at Boston University's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy found evidence of a condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy -- a dementia-like brain disease -- had been found in the brains of 14 of 15 former NFL players. Their cases shared a common thread -- repeated concussions, sub-concussive blows to the head, or both, according to the study. Many of those named in the recent claims, meanwhile, describe a range of common symptoms that include headaches, sleeplessness and dementia. But whether the league can be proven liable for alleged mistreatment of players, who often acknowledge the risks and likely also suffered head trauma during their high school and collegiate years, is expected to be the source of a drawn-out legal battle involving a growing number of plaintiffs. Still, family and friends close to the players are often left to deal with the gritty aftermath of day-to-day living once the bright lights of prime time fades. Teresa Foley, the wife of former New York Jets quarterback Glenn Foley, who is named in the class-action lawsuit, said she'd like to organize a support group. "We're all going through the same thing," said Teresa Foley. "It'd be great for all of us to be able to just sit down and talk together." She says her husband, a 41-year-old New Jersey native selected in 1994 by the Jets, has faced bouts of depression and severe memory loss since his retirement from the league more than a decade ago. "I sent him to the supermarket a couple of months ago with a list of a few things," said Teresa Foley. "He went with the list. But he forgot what he had to get, and also forgot that he had a list." The former quarterback returned home empty-handed. "It's getting scary," she said. "We had a conversation last night and he doesn't even remember it today. "I just want some place where my husband can go to get help." Part of the claim, the former players' attorneys say, would be used to establish a fund for former players. Earlier this week, a panel of judges ruled that mounting claims against the league -- including class-action lawsuits filed in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Georgia and California -- will be consolidated in a federal court in Philadelphia.

Published: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:28:42 GMT

Europe's cold snap spreads west

The cold snap that wreaked havoc on eastern and central Europe this week moved west on Saturday, triggering a rare snowfall in Rome and prompting Heathrow Airport to cancel some flights. Ukraine appears to be the worst affected so far, with Poland, Romania, Serbia and Belarus also suffering much more severe winter conditions than usual. A total of 122 people have frozen to death in Ukraine since the cold spell started more than a week ago, the state-run news agency Ukrinform reported, citing government ministries. More than 1,500 people have been hospitalized, it said. In Rome, residents woke up to snow for the first time since 1985. The rare precipitation caused traffic jams and left some people stranded. While further west, in London, Heathrow Airport said it would cancel approximately 30% of its flights on Sunday in response to the winter weather. "This decision ensures that the greatest number of passengers can fly with the minimum amount of disruption. It also means that those passengers whose flights are canceled will know in advance, and can make alternative arrangements or rebook in relative comfort," said Normand Boivin, chief operating officer for the airport. CNN meteorologist Mari Ramos said the challenge now faced by many people is that the cold spell is lasting so long. The first reports of heavy snow came from Romania on January 26, Ramos said. Now, although temperatures are becoming more moderate, the snowfall will be very heavy. Twenty-nine people had died in Poland as of Thursday, according to the publicly funded Polish Radio's news website. Other cold-related deaths have been reported in Serbia, Romania and elsewhere in the past week.

Published: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:34:18 GMT

Gingrich will try to reset strategy

Newt Gingrich is expected to emphasize a more positive message Saturday following his second straight loss. Gingrich has been meeting with his staff in the last two days and is aiming to reset his campaign strategy and message going forward, sources tell CNN. The campaign staff and Gingrich also have discussed a path to help them accumulate delegates, signaling they still intend to stay in the primary race until the Republican convention in Tampa. The discussions among the campaign staff occurred in Las Vegas and spanned Friday and Saturday. Part of the discussions also centered on how Gingrich should change his message. Gingrich could signal some of his strategy shift in a Las Vegas news conference Saturday evening following his loss in the Nevada caucuses. In an interview with CNN, Gingrich's daughters discussed some of the efforts to reset the campaign. "We have been spending some of our time thinking ahead, planning our time," Jackie Cushman said. Kathy Lubbers added: "We are working towards being in Tampa. This is a fluid race," she said, adding "We are here to stay." Asked what Gingrich will announce Lubbers would only say "You should stay tuned." One participant described Gingrich as "fired up" during Friday's meeting. "I can tell you there's a plan all the way to Tampa," this source said of the strategy sessions. "We're going to play strategically and will have resources ... We are going to win." As for the new "positive" message, that's quite the pivot from Friday when Gingrich harshly criticized Mitt Romney. The Daily Beast first reported some details of the campaign shift.

Published: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:24:11 GMT

Romney thanks supporters as CNN projects Nevada win

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney thanked supporters Saturday night for handing him their "vote of confidence" and vowed to "take it to the White House." CNN projects that the former Massachusetts governor will win Saturday's Republican caucuses in Nevada, making him the first GOP candidate in this campaign cycle to score back-to-back victories. In his speech in Las Vegas, Romney did not mention any of his fellow GOP contenders. Instead, he set his sights directly on President Barack Obama. The president, he said, began his presidency by "apologizing for America." "He should now be apologizing to America," Romney said to loud cheers. He assailed the president for proposed military cuts, saying he will "insist on a military so powerful that no in the world would ever think of challenging it." "I believe the 21st century must be and will be an American century," Romney said. With 13% of precincts counted, Romney had garnered about 47% of the vote. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. Ron Paul trailed with 22% and 19% respectively, according to CNN's tally. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum had 12% of the vote. The front-runner's son, Joshua, told CNN that Romney understands the economy better than Obama and is the right candidate. "My dad is a turnaround guy," he said. Romney appeared to win in the Iowa caucuses but the contest was later awarded to Santorum when the vote was certified. Romney scored a big win in New Hampshire but was then stunned in South Carolina by Gingrich. Romney scored a 14-point victory over Gingrich and the rest of the field in Tuesday's Florida primary and entered Saturday's contest with a sizable lead in polls. The Nevada caucuses were open only to the state's more than 470,000 registered Republicans. Nevada's 28 delegates will be awarded proportionately based on the statewide vote. Polls leading up to the vote showed Gingrich trailing far behind Romney. At one point in the wake of a poor showing in the Florida primary, Gingrich advisers said he would basically concede the state and look down the road to more friendly states. But ultimately he chose to campaign in Nevada and didn't appear to make up much ground on Romney. Jackie Cushman, one of Gingrich's daughters, told CNN the family didn't expect him to prevail in Nevada, but was excited about the direction of the campaign. "He's not a traditional candidate," she said of her father. "He has his own ideas and that's what people love about him. He's a real person. He's authentic." As the votes were being counted, a leading Romney backer in Nevada was calling for Gingrich to drop out of the race instead of continuing to divide the party. Nevada Rep. Joe Heck, who has been closely allied with Romney since his 2008 presidential bid, said the results of the caucuses should be a wake up call for Gingrich. "I hope he takes the message that it's time to withdraw gracefully and not continue to divide the party," Heck told reporters in Las Vegas, shortly before the first round of caucus results were announced. Heck was not as insistent, however, when asked if Paul should also bow out for the good of the party. Paul should quit when it becomes apparent that there is "enough critical mass in terms of delegates," he said, probably sometime after Super Tuesday. Gingrich has vowed to stay in the race all the way to the Republican National Convention in August. He is hoping to survive through low-level contests in February and rebound on Super Tuesday, where he could find friendlier voters in March 6 Super Tuesday contests in Georgia, which he represented in Congress, neighboring Tennessee and Oklahoma. Both Romney and Gingrich spent caucus night in Nevada. As they did on primary night in Florida, both Paul and Santorum looked ahead to Tuesday caucus states -- Paul in Minnesota and Santorum in Colorado. Paul told CNN's Wolf Bilitzer Saturday night that he was watching to "see if we do have a good second place coming up" in Nevada. Asked about how long his campaign could run, Paul said even if he wanted to drop out of the race ahead of the convention, he couldn't because there would be a "strong rebellion with my friends." "But we're doing so well there's no reason to think about that," Paul added. Campaigning in Colorado, Santorum told CNN that he expects to win one of the three events next week in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri. "I expect to win the nomination," Santorum said. "I feel very good about how it is going. This race is a long way from being over.

Published: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:42:51 GMT

Komen Foundation reverses funding decision of Planned Parenthood

Faced with a deluge of opposition that included pressure from lawmakers and internal dissent, one of America's leading breast cancer advocacy groups on Friday reversed itself on a decision that would have cut off funding to some Planned Parenthood projects. "We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives," the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation said in a statement. "We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities." The group's earlier decision not to renew part of its longstanding partnership with Planned Parenthood, which operates hundreds of family clinics that perform abortions, triggered strong emotions across the country. It provoked objection even from some of its own affiliates. Planned Parenthood said funding from the Komen foundation has largely paid for breast exams at local centers. In the last five years, grants from the group have directly supported 170,000 screenings, making up about 4% of the total exams performed at Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide. In Washington, 26 Senate Democrats had signed a letter calling on Komen to reconsider. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a longtime Planned Parenthood supporter, pledged $250,000 in matching grants to help make up for the loss in funding. "Politics have no place in health care," the mayor said. "Breast cancer screening saves lives, and hundreds of thousands of women rely on Planned Parenthood for access to care. We should be helping women access that care, not placing barriers in their way." Bloomberg's gift came on top of $400,000 that Planned Parenthood reported raising online from 6,000 donors the first 24 hours after the initial announcement. By Friday, the group had raised more than $3 million. "It's a testament to America's compassion and sincerity," said Barbara Zdravecky, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. Addressing the controversy, Zdravecky said only about 3% of the group's services provide for abortions, a hot button issue in presidential politics, while the majority of the group's work is based on prevention, screening and family planning. An anonymous donor had also offered $300,000 in matching grant money earlier this week, Zdravecky said. "Today, the interests of women's health prevailed over partisan politics," said Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-New Jersey). "The Komen Foundation did the right thing." Other lawmakers expressed outrage over Friday's announcement. Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers added that the group's "original stance to stop funding pending an important congressional investigation was an act of courage and prudence, making their sudden reversal today appear hollow and weak." Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum said he was "deeply disappointed " in the decision. CREDO, which describes itself as the largest corporate donor to Planned Parenthood, said Thursday that 250,000 of its members had signed a petition urging the Komen Foundation to reverse its decision. "The (earlier) move is clearly connected to attempts by Republicans in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood," the organization said in a statement. "In responding to questions about its decision, the foundation cited as its rationale a sham 'investigation' into Planned Parenthood launched by Republican Rep. Cliff Stearns," who the group called "one of the most militant anti-choice members of Congress." In September, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, on which the Florida congressman sits, began an investigation into Planned Parenthood over the organization's "compliance with federal restrictions on funding abortions." The group said Tuesday that the Komen Foundation had "succumbed to political pressure" by cutting its funding for breast cancer screenings amid increased scrutiny by Congress over how Planned Parenthood provides abortion services. But the American Life League said in a statement that the foundation's decision was justified. Planned Parenthood "is currently the focus of a congressional investigation, and multiple affiliates are under state investigations," it said. "Planned Parenthood operatives are lashing out at Komen across the Internet and throughout the media, in what appears to be a coordinated effort to paint Komen's policy as cowardly and politically motivated." The Komen Foundation had also denied that its decision stemmed from politics. "We've always had the right to cancel contracts for organizations that came under investigation for potential wrongdoing," said Nancy Brinker, CEO and founder of the group. In all, grants were not renewed to 16 of 19 Planned Parenthood clinics, she said. "We don't base our funding decisions on emotions or politics or whether one side or another will be pleased." Brinker was a political appointee of the George W. Bush administration, in which she served as U.S. ambassador to Hungary and as chief of protocol. Susan G. Komen was Brinker's sister. Komen Foundation President Liz Thompson said the funds would have been redirected "to other programs in our communities that can provide these services more directly." She said there was "amazing consensus" among foundation board members about the decision, which was made "over the better part of two years." That consensus did not include Dr. Kathy Plesser, a member of the foundation's medical advisory board in New York, who had pledged to resign if the decision was not overturned. "I cannot as a physician and advocate for women's health continue to be a part of the organization if it continues in this direction," Plesser said. "A big part of what Komen does is reach underserved communities of women. With this (earlier) decision, they're not living up to this mission." Mollie Williams, the group's managing director of community health programs, left Komen this month. "It was an honor to oversee and expand their public health efforts during my six years there," Williams said. "At the same time, I respect the work of Planned Parenthood, including their lifesaving efforts to detect cancer in its earliest stages. The divide between these two very important organizations saddens me." It wasn't immediately clear whether she had resigned. Thompson said it's policy not to release information about employees other than start and end dates.

Published: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:54:14 GMT

Russia, China veto U.N. action on Syria; opposition group calls for strike

As international anger grows over reports of mass carnage at the hands of the Syrian regime, a U.N. Security Council draft resolution condemning Syria failed to be adopted Saturday after veto-wielding members Russia and China voted against it. Ambassadors from the other permanent members of the council -- the United States, France, and the United Kingdom -- said they were furious at Russia and China for failing to halt the worsening, bloody violence that has consumed the Middle Eastern nation. Thirteen Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution. The vote was a major diplomatic setback for countries hoping to send a unified message to embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and also for opposition groups that look toward the United Nations for support. "Those that have blocked potentially the last effort to resolve this peacefully ... will have any future blood spill on their hands," U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice told CNN. "The people of Syria have yet again been abandoned by this Council and by the international community." Some Syrians have cried out for international action to stop attacks on civilians, more so after opposition groups said at least 321 civilians were killed and hundreds wounded in the city of Homs in the past two days. The opposition Syrian National Council blamed government forces for the attack in Homs, calling it one of the most "horrific massacres" since the start of the Syrian uprising. Residential buildings and homes were "randomly and heavily bombed," the group said. The Local Coordination Committees (LCC), a Syrian opposition group, said 90 people had been killed in Syria on Saturday, including 61 in Homs, 10 in Idlib, and 19 in a Damascus suburb. In a bid to pressure the government, the group called for a two-day civil strike to start on Sunday. Another opposition group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that 48 people were killed across Syria on Saturday, including six army defectors and 18 members of the Syrian security forces. CNN cannot independently confirm opposition or government reports from Syria because the government has restricted journalists' access to the country. Some residents accused the international community of sitting idle as bodies mount in the streets, and predicted worsening violence in the wake of the vote. "We've been expected the U.N. to help us ... and they just left us like this," said an activist identified as Danny. "Now this regime is going to hit us harder." Syria's U.N. ambassador, Bashar Jaafari, said his country has been "targeted by some powers seeking to punish it." Jaafari called the crisis "manufactured" and said there is a media campaign to make the Syrian regime look bad. Following the vote, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that diplomatic efforts are ongoing. France, its European and Arab partners are in talks to create a "Group of Friends for the Syrian People," he said. In a strongly-worded statement before the vote, U.S. President Barack Obama said Syrian President al-Assad has lost all legitimacy and that the international community "must work to protect the Syrian people from this abhorrent brutality." He pointed the finger directly at al-Assad and what he called his "killing machine." On Saturday, funerals were held in Homs and residents worked to free bodies trapped under the rubble, said resident Abu Abdo Alhomsy. Snipers remained perched throughout the city, he said, complicating efforts. "The blood of our children is not a game," Alhomsy said. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the vote was a lost opportunity to halt the violence. The resolution would have demanded that al-Assad stop the killing and answer international calls aimed at finding a Syrian-led solution to the crisis. U.S. Ambassador Rice said the United States was "disgusted" at the veto by Russia and China. Referring to Russia, she said, "This intransigence is even more shameful when you consider that one of these members continues to deliver weapons to Assad." The Russian foreign minister has spoken in defense of Russian arm sales to Syria, saying they did not affect the regional balance of power. Russia, which counts Syria as a major weapons client, has made clear that it will not accept an arms embargo or economic sanctions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to visit Damascus on Tuesday to meet with al-Assad, according to his ministry. British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said the United Kingdom was "appalled" at the veto. "Those who blocked the council action today must ask themselves how many more deaths they will be prepared to tolerate," Lyall Grant said. It effectively means Russia and China "support tyranny rather than the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people," he said. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the resolution supported Arab League efforts to resolve the crisis in Syria. "It did not impose any sanctions, nor did it authorize military action," Hague said. "There was nothing in the draft to warrant opposition." Jaafari said such statements "fan the flames of escalation of the violence and bloodshed" and "betray the true hostile, genuine intentions against Syria, the people of Syria, and the government of Syria." All along, he said, "the tone of their statements was not diplomatic ... when they describe the government of Syria as a 'regime' and addressed the president of the state of Syria with inappropriate language." Speaking after the vote, ambassadors from both Russia and China said they do support an end to the violence but felt the resolution did not address the crisis properly. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the text "did not adequately reflect the real state of affairs and sent an unbalanced signal" to the various sides in Syria. He noted that the minister for foreign affairs will visit Damascus to hold a meeting with al-Assad in three days. Chinese Ambassador Li Baodong called on all parties in Syria to stop the violence and restore order as soon as possible. But he said the text would have served only to "complicate the issue" and would "prejudge the result of dialogue." China and Russia vetoed another Security Council resolution in October that would have called for an immediate halt to the crackdown, which United Nations officials have said has resulted in an estimated 6,000 deaths since protests began nearly a year ago. The LCC estimates that at least 7,339 people have been killed. "Since these two members last vetoed a resolution on Syria, an estimated 3,000 more civilians have been killed," Rice said Saturday. Earlier Saturday, Tunisia said it would expel the Syrian ambassador from Tunis in response to the killings in Homs, while British Foreign Secretary Hague and his French counterpart Alain Juppe condemned the violence. Obama noted the violence in Homs came as the Syrian people were celebrating the birth of the Prophet Mohammed and marking 30 years since al-Assad's father oversaw a massacre in the city of Hama. The resolution voted on Saturday had dropped demands from an Arab League plan for Syria to form a unity government and for al-Assad to delegate power to his deputy. U.N. diplomats said the changes reflected a big concession to Russia, which had been reluctant to sign on to any plan that could be seen as a mandate for regime change in Damascus. Reports of the violence in Homs led to protests breaking out at Syrian embassies in Cairo, Berlin, Washington, Kuwait and London on Friday and Saturday.

Published: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:36:44 GMT

Eight arrested as police raid Occupy DC camp

Dressed in yellow full-body sanitation suits, members of the U.S. Park Police combed through tents in the Occupy DC camp Saturday, taking down ones violating park policies. The owners of the tossed tents and other protesters were agitated by the move, but there was little unrest at McPherson Square in downtown Washington. Park police in riot gear first entered at dawn Saturday, and said they were not there to evict protesters, but to check for compliance with "no camping" laws. Still, at one point, there was a confrontation between protesters and riot police. The move comes after a federal judge Tuesday rejected an Occupy DC demonstrator's request to keep park police from enforcing a ban on camping in McPherson park and nearby Freedom Plaza. Living in a public park as a means of protest is not protected by the First Amendment, Judge James Boasberg ruled. The operation was a success and a majority of those in the park cooperated with police, park police spokesman David Schlosser said. Eight people were arrested in the confrontation with police, he said. Four for failure to obey a lawful order, and three for crossing a police line. Another person was arrested for felony assault on an officer and assault with a deadly weapon after Schlosser said the man threw a brick at one of the officers. The officer was treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, Schlosser said. "The United States Park Police continue to support the right of people to exercise their constitutionally protected rights," he said. Protesters heckled him as he briefed reporters early Saturday. As he spoke, the officer was interrupted by someone who made a rooster sound, and others made ghost-like noises in the background. "In some of the tents we found urine-soaked bedding materials, bottles of urine," noted Schlosser. "In some of the tents we found some dead rats. We also found some live rats, with some rat families." Authorities told protesters Monday that they had to remove camping gear such as sleeping bags and housekeeping materials, but could keep their tents as long as one flap remains open at all times. On Saturday, police began removing the tents from the park that had camping gear inside. Protesters complained and accused the officers of taking down tents that were not in violation. At the outset of their search, police found only one compliant tent, and took down there rest. Once the inspection is complete, the park will be reopened to the public, Schlosser said. Occupy DC is part of a larger activist movement that began last year in New York and quickly spread across the country. While the protesters have highlighted a number of causes, the overarching theme has remained largely the same: populist anger over what activists portray as an out-of-touch corporate, financial and political elite.

Published: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:45:52 GMT

Fidel Castro unveils 1,000-page memoir

Fidel Castro has released a previously unannounced two-volume memoir of his life, Cuban state-run media reported Saturday. In a six-hour presentation Friday, the leader of the Cuban Revolution and former president was jovial as he spoke about the 1,000-page work, the Granma newspaper reported. Castro, 85, spoke together with a panel of cultural and literary officials at the unveiling of the books. "They are going to talk to you about two books that you had no idea about," Castro said, according to Granma. The two volumes, titled "Fidel Castro Ruz: Guerrilla of Time," is based on conversations with the writer and journalist Katiuska Blanco. The books cover his life from infancy to December 1958, on the eve of victory of the Cuban Revolution. In photos published online, Castro is seen at the unveiling, wearing a dark blue workout suit over a checkered button-down shirt. A Cuban writer, Graziella Pogolotti, said she encouraged Castro to continue writing, despite the challenges of recalling the past, Granma reported. "I have to take advantage now, because memories fade," Castro was quoted as saying."I am willing to do everything possible to share everything I remember well." Castro handed the presidency to his brother Raul in 2008.

Published: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:46:46 GMT

Charges dismissed against soldier in sport killing case

Charges have been dismissed against an Army soldier accused in what prosecutors described as a conspiracy to kill Afghan civilians for sport and then cover it up, the military said Friday. The charges against Spec. Michael S. Wagnon were dismissed without prejudice, according to a statement released by the military at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. "The United States dismissed the charges in the interest of justice," the statement said. While the U.S. military did not say why the charges were dismissed, Wagnon's attorney, Colby Vokey, believes it was because new evidence was uncovered as well as problems identified with the testimony of a key prosecution witness -- a fellow soldier. "The evidence proving his innocence was overwhelming," Vokey said. By dismissing the case without prejudice, military prosecutors could file charges against Wagnon at a later date, according to the attorney. Wagnon, 31, was charged with the February 2010 unlawful killing of an Afghan civilian. The Las Vegas resident was the last of 12 soldiers, all members of the Washington-based 5th Stryker Combat Brigade, to be tried in a case that strained U.S. relations with Afghanistan after allegations emerged that some of the soldiers allegedly posed with dead Afghans and collected souvenirs from the killings. Military prosecutors have said the killing-for-sport plan was hatched by Staff Sgt. Calvin R. Gibbs, 25, of Billings, Montana, and that the group based in the volatile Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan began killing civilians in January 2010. The case drew international outrage when Der Spiegel, a German news magazine, published photos that showed two of the soldiers -- Spec. Jeremy Morlock and Pfc. Andrew Holmes -- posing over dead bodies of Afghans. In November, Gibbs was sentenced to life in military prison with eligibility for parole in 10 years. A military court-martial found Gibbs guilty of murdering three Afghan civilians, illegally cutting off pieces of their corpses to keep as "souvenirs" and planting weapons to make the men appear as if they were Taliban fighters killed in legitimate firefights. Five soldiers, including Morlock and Holmes, were convicted for various roles in the conspiracy. Six other soldiers, including one who posed for photos with a dead Afghan, accepted plea deals, the military has said. As part of a deal, Morlock agreed to testify against the other soldiers and was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his role in the Afghan killings. But Vokey maintains there were problems with Morlock's testimony against Wagnon, who has proclaimed his innocence since he was charged. Morlock, according to previous testimony, admitted to frequent drug use and problems with memory loss. Vokey also raised questions about Morlock's version of events, saying he did not initially identify Wagnon as one of the soldiers involved. That only came after Morlock reached a plea deal, he said. When Wagnon received news the charges were dismissed, he was overwhelmed. "He said 'Are you sure they really did that? It isn't really a dream?,'" Vokey said. Wagnon will remain in the military, serving at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, he said.

Published: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:30:56 GMT

Auto stocks gain on jobs report; GM up 7%

Shares of General Motors and Ford surged on Friday following strong data on the U.S. job market. On Friday morning, the U.S. government announced that the economy added 243,000 jobs in January, far outpacing analyst estimates. The news sparked a broad rally in U.S. stocks, with the Dow closing at its highest level in nearly four years. U.S. automakers were big beneficiaries: GM shares closed up 7.7% and Ford ended up 4.3%. Alex Potter, a senior research analyst at Piper Jaffray, called the unemployment data a "huge" indicator for domestic car consumption. "There's been a lot of optimism permeating the entire industry and just looking for an opportunity to break out," he said. Ford, GM and Chrysler all gained market share last year for the first time since 1988, according to estimates from sales tracker Autodata.

Published: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:29:21 GMT

Nevada's triple economic whammy

The Great Recession has dealt Nevada a losing hand. The Silver State, which will hold the Republican caucus on Saturday, has the dubious distinction of leading the nation in unemployment, foreclosure filings and share of homes worth less than the mortgages on them. The collapse of the housing market wreaked havoc on homeowners, but also caused the once-prospering construction industry to fold, sending the unemployment rate skyrocketing. Adding to the state's woes, the national economic downturn hurt Nevada's lifeblood of tourism and gambling, costing even more jobs. Nevada's unemployment rate soared to an all-time high of 14.9% in December 2010. While it's since fallen to 12.6%, that's still more than four percentage points higher than the national rate. And more than half of those out of work have been jobless for at least six months. A staggering 1 in 16 homes have been hit with a foreclosure filing, versus the national rate of 1 in 69 homes. And more than half of borrowers owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth, compared to just over a fifth nationwide. Meanwhile, home prices continue to plummet. S&P/Case Shiller recently reported that Las Vegas home prices fell by 9.1% over the 12 months ending in November, the second-worst performance among the 20 cities surveyed. The reason: a high number of foreclosure sales. The myriad foreclosure prevention programs rolled out by the Obama administration have done little to stabilize housing and the economy in this hard-hit state, housing counselors say. "While they've been helpful, they haven't addressed the heart of the problem," said Gail Burks, chief executive of the Nevada Fair Housing Center, noting the unending drop in home values. "Nothing in Nevada has stemmed the tide and gotten the market back on track." Maria Plumeri is one of those delinquent homeowners fighting to get a loan modification. She and her husband, Paul, stopped paying their mortgage in September after the $1,200 monthly tab became too much for them on his Social Security and pension and her disability checks. Plumeri, who owes $189,000 on a home worth $32,000, is hardly alone in her Sandy Valley community. Neighbors on either side of her are also delinquent. "If you drove around Sandy Valley, you'd see a lot of stickers from the bank. There has to be 20 houses with no one living in the them," said Plumeri, 64. "The government hasn't helped anyone here in Sandy Valley." Experts cite several stumbling blocks, including an unwillingness of the banks to participate and the need to reduce the mortgage principal for so-called underwater borrowers. Even if home prices rise 2% to 3% a year, it will take an average of 10 years for homeowners' debts to come in line with property values, said Nasser Daneshvary, director of Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Many people aren't willing to wait that long, instead choosing to simply walk away. Others say increasing employment is the key to saving the state's housing market. Not only is joblessness prompting people to default on their mortgages, but it's preventing them from buying properties. "No matter what we do for them, no matter how much principal reduction we give them, if they don't have a job, they will default," said Leonard Chide, executive director of Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada. "If people had jobs, they'd pay their bills." The good news is that a sliver of silver lining has appeared. The state's economy has begun to recover, though improvement is slow, said Stephen Brown, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Tourism is picking up, as is gambling. But the housing and construction industries are expected to remain in the doldrums for the time being. "Nevada cannot look to real estate for its economic growth right now," Brown wrote recently in his 2012 outlook for the state. "Diversification will pay dividends in the future."

Published: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:27:20 GMT

Conflict-related civilian deaths rise in Afghanistan

A United Nations report blaming a record loss of Afghan civilian lives last year on insurgents and the Taliban was dismissed as "untrue" by a Taliban spokesman Saturday. Meanwhile, a commander of the International Security Assistance Force was encouraged by the report's findings on who's causing the increasing deaths, but agreed that civilian deaths must drop. The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said civilian deaths rose to 3,021 last year, up from 2,790 the prior year. In an e-mail sent to CNN, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid "strongly" disputed the U.N. mission's report as "untrue." "It has been ten years since UNAMA has started blaming our Mujahideen with such numbers and untrue figures while the invading forces are using tons of explosives every day in our country, conducting raids on civilian houses and they are killing our innocent people," Mujahid said in the e-mail. "Unfortunately I should say that UNAMA, which is operating under the umbrella of the U.N. as a propaganda tool for the invading forces, is trying to blame Mujahideen for the majority of the killings happening in Afghanistan," Mujahid wrote. "It is unfortunate that UNAMA is supporting oppressor Americans and other invading forces and is undermining its international reputation," Mujahid stated. A total of 11,864 civilians have been killed in the Afghanistan conflict since 2007, the U.N. mission said. "Afghan children, women and men continue to be killed in this war in ever-increasing numbers," Jan Kubis, the U.N. special representative for the secretary-general, said in a statement. "For much too long Afghan civilians have paid the highest price of war. Parties to the conflict must greatly increase their efforts to protect civilians to prevent yet another increase in civilian deaths and injuries in 2012." General John R. Allen, ISAF commander, said the report showed a reduction in coalition-related civilian casualties. "Every citizen of Afghanistan must know ISAF will continue to do all we can to reduce casualties that affect the Afghan civilian population. This data is promising but there is more work to be done," Allen said in a statement. "The most striking -- and obvious -- component of the report is the increasing number of civilian casualties attributed to insurgents," said Allen. "IEDs are now responsible for roughly one out of three civilian casualties according to UNAMA. The death toll from insurgent attacks is much too high and deserves Mullah Omar's direct attention and action." The U.N. report said last year's deaths are 8% more than in 2010, and double the number in 2007. The vast majority of 2011 civilian casualties -- 77%, according to the U.N. report -- were caused by anti-government forces. The number of deaths attributable to the Afghan army and international forces declined year-over-year by 4%, to 410. The report concludes that the higher number of casualties was due to changing tactics on the part of insurgents, including greater use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), deadlier suicide attacks and more targeted assassinations. IEDs alone killed 967 Afghan men, women and children in 2011. Many of the 495 victims of targeted killings were provincial and district governors, peace council members and tribal elders. Among the most disturbing statistics: in the second half of 2011, the number of women and children killed grew by 29 and 51% respectively, compared to 2010. That is in part due to the growing use of the pressure-plate IEDs, which are indiscriminate -- such that a van carrying civilians is just as likely to set off the explosive as a Humvee. "A piece of shrapnel had gone through his head. My son is dead, and his loss is killing me and my wife. He was the only son I had," said a man in Mazar-e Sharif, who was quoted in the report. "My daughter is nine years old, and every day before I leave for work, she cries: 'Mama, don't go to work, I don't need to eat,' "a police officer in Herat was quoted as saying. The U.N. report says several statements from Taliban leaders in 2011 pledging greater efforts to avoid civilian casualties "neither resulted in improved protection of civilians nor minimized civilian casualties." While NATO can take comfort from the fact that its forces -- and its allies in the Afghan National Army -- caused fewer civilian casualties last year, it is clear that overall security for civilians has not improved. This is despite the deployment of well over 100,000 international troops across Afghanistan in 2011. In addition to casualties, the number of Afghan civilians displaced by conflict soared last year. According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, conflict and insecurity displaced some 185,000 people in Afghanistan, a jump of 41% compared to 2010. The U.N. report suggests that there has been a significant geographic shift in casualties. As NATO and Afghan Army units focused on the southern provinces of Kandahar and Helmand, the number of civilian casualties fell sharply in the second half of 2011. But elsewhere -- in southeastern, eastern and northern Afghanistan -- incidents rose. The number of civilians killed in Kabul province, including in the capital itself, more than tripled largely because of several devastating suicide bombings. The figures show that the number of casualties caused by NATO and allied night operations dropped sharply, despite the much greater intensity and frequency of such operations. That suggests better intelligence and tactics among pro-government forces. But the number of civilian killed in NATO airstrikes -- a source of friction with the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai -- rose 9%. Increasingly, as the transition to Afghan leadership gets underway, local security duties are being assigned to a relatively new force: the Afghan Local Police. The U.N. says it has received "mixed reports" about this entity's overall performance. While most suggested that it had improved security, there were also accounts of human rights abuses and corruption. Altogether, the U.N. Assistance Mission concludes that "the unremitting toll of civilian casualties coupled with pervasive intimidation affected many civilians directly, and many more indirectly, by fueling uncertainty, tension and fear." The report's authors welcome "ideas that could contribute toward peace negotiations," adding their value will be measured by reduced civilian casualties and improved security.

Published: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:24:10 GMT

Paul defends Romney on 'poor' comment

While some opponents of Mitt Romney seized on his now-famous "misstatement" about the poor this week, Ron Paul defended his Republican presidential rival on Friday. "I don't believe for a minute that if Mitt Romney was sitting here, that if he released everything in his heart, he (would say): 'You know what, the truth is, I really don't care about poor people.' That isn't--I just don't believe that," Paul said in an interview on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight." Romney made the original comment in an interview with CNN on Wednesday morning, in which he said he was not "concerned about the very poor" because they have a government-backed safety net in place. He added, however, that "if there are holes in it, I will work to repair that." His remark quickly sparked an outcry that forced the former Massachusetts to spend much of the day clarifying his comment and providing fuller context. Ultimately Romney conceded Thursday, saying he "misspoke." "When you do I don't know how many thousands of interviews, now and then you may get it wrong, and I misspoke," Romney said in an interview on KSNV, a CNN affiliate in Las Vegas. Republican presidential candidates Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, as well as top Democratic groups, took swipes at Romney over the remark, hitting the candidate as insensitive. But Paul, who will compete with Romney in the Nevada caucuses on Saturday, said the comment was overblown. "I think it was a big issue because of politics, because of the opposition, the demagoguing, the media jumping on this," Paul said. "Actually, I think I ended up probably defending him more than he defended himself." The libertarian Texas congressman, instead, faulted Romney's economic plans for his slip-up. "I think the problem is he's a victim of his own economic theories, rather than him being cold and heartless," Paul said.

Published: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:33:30 GMT

Obama, GOP offer economic solutions in weekly addresses

President Barack Obama on Saturday urged Congress to pass his recently announced housing plan, describing it as a key component to getting the American economy back on track. "What this plan will do is help millions of responsible homeowners who make their payments every month, but who, until now, couldn't refinance because their home values kept dropping or they got wrapped up in too much red tape," Obama said in the White House weekly address. The plan would allow borrowers to save an average of $3,000 a year by refinancing into loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. With an estimated cost between $5 billion and $10 billion, Obama said he would pay for it by imposing a fee on large banks, a move unlikely to win favor with members of Congress who have previously shot down the notion of taxing banks. House Speaker John Boehner cast doubt on the proposal, saying Wednesday that the plan would join a long line of ineffective programs. "We've done this at least four times where there's some new government program to help homeowners who have trouble with their mortgages," Boehner said. "None of these programs have worked and I don't know why anyone would think that this next idea's going to work and all they've done is delay the clearing of the market. " In the Republican weekly address, meanwhile, Rep. Pat Meehan of Pennsylvania spelled out other options to boost the economy. He urged the Senate to pass two House bills-one that would extend the payroll tax cut and another that aims to improve energy and infrastructure. Both proposals have passed the House but would need to clear the Democratic-controlled Senate. "Our economy faces serious challenges right now - gridlock in Washington doesn't have to be one of them," Meehan said. "The House is acting on good ideas, and with help from the president and Democrats in the Senate, we can get things done. The people we represent sent us here to find solutions and move the country forward - not further divide it."

Published: Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:11:08 GMT

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