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At Houston funeral, stories of faith, courage and love

Whitney Houston went to church one last time Saturday. She was welcomed by family, friends and a virtual audience of millions who watched as the pop superstar was remembered as a child of God with the voice of an angel. A voice that never forgot its roots. "Jesus Loves Me" was the last song Houston sang in public before her death February 11 in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 48. So it was fitting that the mourners -- comforted and encouraged by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and R. Kelly -- heard the simple, but powerful, "Jesus Loves Me," this time performed by CeCe Winans. Saturday's homegoing service was held at New Hope Baptist Church, where Houston, nicknamed "Nippy," was soloing in the junior choir by age 11. Even with her ensuing fame, which brought six Grammy Awards, glamorous living and parties on the West Coast, and seven consecutive No. 1 singles, Houston never forgot her Newark, New Jersey, hometown. Actor Kevin Costner, who starred with Houston in her first movie, "The Bodyguard," recounted how both of them grew up in the Baptist faith and had family members who sang in the choir. "Church was our bond," Costner said. Houston, the actor said, overcame her doubts about having what it took to earn the role in "The Bodyguard." She alone, Costner said, was the right choice. "Now you are gone, too soon, leaving us with memories of a little girl who stepped bravely in front of this church, in front of the ones that loved you first," Costner said. "In front of the ones who loved you the best and loved you the longest. And boldly you stepped into the white hot light of the world's stage." During the three-and-a-half-hour service, Houston's casket, covered with a large spray of flowers, rested in front of the altar. While many of her fans lamented the fact that Houston's service was invitation-only, Pastor Marvin Winans, who delivered the eulogy, thanked Cissy Houston, Whitney's mother, for having the service at New Hope. "That took a lot of courage. And because of that you brought the world to church today," Winans said during his eulogy. The six-page funeral program contained color family photos and a letter from Cissy Houston. The letter included the message, "God said 'It's time, Nippy. Your work is done.'" It was signed, "Thanks for being such a wonderful daughter. Love, Mommie." Houston also left behind a daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, 18. Through the tears and occasional laughter, performers and speakers spoke of Houston's loyalty. Gospel singer and longtime friend BeBe Winans was visibly emotional as he recalled a memory of Houston's sense of humor. With his sister, CeCe, by his side, he told the story of how Houston, then a major celebrity, informed them of her intent to sing background vocals on their new tour. When they told her she was too big a star to do that now, Houston responded, "You're my brother and sister, right?" The exchange went on for a few minutes and then Houston told them, "Y'all broke, right? I'm rich, right? So I can buy what I want to for y'all." Winans said that was the Whitney Houston he would remember. Then he sang, "I Really Miss You." A "who's who" of musical performers adapted lyrics in tribute to Houston. Gospel singer and friend Kim Burrell sang a reworked version of Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come," adding glimpses of Houston's life to the lyrics. After finishing, she walked down to the pew where Cissy Houston sat and embraced her. One of the most emotional moments in the service came when Keys sang "Send Me an Angel," her voice soaring into the rafters of the sanctuary. Oprah Winfrey, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Spike Lee, and Houston's former husband, Bobby Brown, were among those in attendance. Brown walked by Houston's casket with his head down before the service began. Police said Brown and his entourage later left the church during the service. At the time of her death, Houston was in the Los Angeles area for the 54th annual Grammy Awards and was to attend a party hosted by her longtime mentor and record producer, Clive Davis. She was discovered dead in her hotel suite. A cause of death has not been determined. Mourners heard only a few indirect references to her personal battles. A close family friend told CNN on Tuesday that Houston had not used "hard drugs" for several years. Investigators are examining prescription drugs found in her hotel room. Through her turmoil, speakers said, Houston remained true to her faith. "In her final days, she held on to what you taught her to believe in," said Patricia Houston, Whitney's sister-in-law and former manager. "I promise you she did." Ray Watson, Houston's bodyguard, recalled some of his last interactions with the singer. "In our final days, she came in my room and she began to speak biblically," he said. "She laid her head on my shoulder and said, 'We are gonna be all right.' Speakers, including Bishop T.D. Jakes and director-producer Tyler Perry, spoke of the promise of tomorrow. "Death has not won. Your tears may flow. The flowers might wither," Jakes said. "You will find people you love may leave you outwardly, but (they) will not leave you inwardly." At the conclusion of the service, Houston's iconic recording of "I Will Always Love You" was played as her coffin was removed from the sanctuary. Her mother leaned on her escorts as they helped her down the aisle. Houston will be laid to rest Sunday at the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, just south of Newark. She has come home.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 03:48:50 GMT

Both sides rest in lacrosse player's murder trial

The defense and prosecution rested Saturday in the murder trial of a former University of Virginia lacrosse player accused of fatally beating his ex-girlfriend. After closing arguments, the judge had hoped to give the case to jurors, but they felt they were too tired to continue. The trial will resume Wednesday morning and deliberations are expected to begin shortly thereafter. Defendant George Huguely officially waived his right to testify earlier in the day. He faces charges including first-degree murder in the May 2010 death of Yeardley Love, a 22-year-old senior who was also a lacrosse player. Police were initially called to Love's off-campus Charlottesville apartment by a roommate who reported "a possible alcohol overdose," Police Chief Tim Longo said at the time. A medical examiner later ruled that blunt force trauma killed Love, and authorities allege that Huguely caused it during an altercation. His lawyers say that Love's death was an accident. Huguely has been held for nearly two years. If he's convicted of involuntary manslaughter, the most time he could serve is 10 years. Prosecutors, for their part, claim that Huguely followed through on his intentions to kill Love. Earlier in the trial, Charlottesville Commonwealth's Attorney Warner D. Chapman read e-mails exchanged between the two after Huguely heard Love had allegedly slept with someone else. The defendant wrote, "I should have killed you," and Love responded, "You should have killed me?" according to Chapman. Huguely responded that the pair should talk, Chapman said. Chapman also told jurors that Love's death was slow and painful, claiming she could have remained alive for a couple of hours after Huguely left her apartment. The defense similarly claims Love was alive when Huguely left. Charlottesville Police Detective Lisa Reeves wrote in a sworn statement used to obtain a search warrant in the case that "George Huguely admitted on May 3, 2010, that he was involved in an altercation with Yeardley Love and, during the course of the altercation, he shook Love and her head repeatedly hit the wall." Defense attorney Francis Lawrence has said there is no evidence that Love's head hit a wall.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 03:07:22 GMT

Bobby Brown leaves Houston funeral after spat

Singer Bobby Brown made a brief and dramatic appearance at ex-wife Whitney Houston's memorial service on Saturday, leaving abruptly after being told that his entourage couldn't sit together, police sources told CNN. He arrived with several people and was apparently emotionally distraught, with red eyes and head hanging as he walked up the aisle of the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. He approached Houston's casket, passed it and went back down the aisle. On CNN's live video feed, Brown was shown standing out front of the church soon after the service began. He was not seated with family, friends or other celebrities at the front of the church. "My children and I were invited to the funeral of my ex-wife Whitney Houston," Brown later said in a statement. "We were seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions. I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continued to ask us and no one else to move. Security then prevented me from attempting to see my daughter Bobbi Kristina. "In light of the events, I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene. ... I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how," the statement said. Describing what happened at the service, the Rev. Al Sharpton posted on his Twitter account: "I am at Whitney's funeral. I spoke with Bobby Brown trying to calm him down and not distract from the services. Today is about Whitney." Brown performed later Saturday with his group, New Edition, in Connecticut. "I want to give blessings to my ex-wife. Whitney Houston, I love you," he told the audience at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville. Brown considers performing as therapy to get him through a difficult time, a source close to him said earlier this week. He and Houston were married from 1992 until 2007, with Houston getting sole custody of their daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, when they divorced. Their daughter was born in 1993. When they married in July 1992, questions arose about whether it was a publicity stunt to help polish Brown's image as a bad boy who had weathered drug rumors and had acknowledged having three children out of wedlock. Houston scoffed at such rumors, saying that anyone who questioned their marriage didn't understand what the commitment meant to her. They married in a lavish ceremony at her New Jersey estate. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, reports begin to surface about Houston's struggles with drug addiction, health problems and her rocky marriage with Brown. Her album sales dropped, and her voice began to show signs of wear. In a now-infamous interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer in 2002, Houston admitted using drugs, but denied using crack. "Crack is whack," she said, quoting a line from a mural painted in 1986. In the same interview, Houston said, "The biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy." In 2004, filming began on the short-lived reality show "Being Bobby Brown." "The show aired during the worst years of the couple's crumbling marriage: drug use, lifestyle excess and bad behavior were all caught on tape, and Houston's reputation sunk to new lows," according to Biography.com. Houston later said she did the show to try to save her marriage. In March 2011, Brown announced that he and his New Edition bandmates were reuniting and planning a new album and tour. The group -- made up of Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Michael Bivins, Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe and Johnny Gill -- had gotten together periodically over the years, with and without Brown. The band was set to give it one more shot, Brown said last March. "The good news I want to announce is New Edition has gotten back together," he said on daytime talk show "The View." Brown also talked a bit about Houston and their daughter, who he said looked like him, but sang better than Houston. After highly publicized tumultuous times that included substance abuse problems and multiple brushes with the law over the years, Brown said he was doing well. "I have a brand new son, Cassius," he said then. "I have a fiancée. I am just moving forward with my life and trying to stay positive." Brown's music career initially took off with New Edition, which started as an R&B boy band. He left New Edition in 1986, after hits that included "Candy Girl," "Cool It Now," and "Mr. Telephone Man." His solo career has included his 1988 multiplatinum album, "Don't Be Cruel," which featured the hit singles "Don't Be Cruel," "Every Little Step," "Rock Wit' Cha," "My Prerogative" and "Roni."

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 02:29:34 GMT

Damascus heavy with street protests, conflict

The tensions sweeping across Syria enveloped the capital of Damascus on Saturday, with security forces firing at protesters and a Chinese diplomat urging the country's leaders to negotiate with the opposition. At least two people were killed when demonstrators packed the streets of Damascus to rail against President Bashar al-Assad's regime and mourn the deaths of three other people recently slain by security forces. "Father of the martyr, raise your head high!" demonstrators chanted in the central neighborhood of Mazzeh. Tens of thousands of mourners and protesters packed the streets as security forces confronted them with gunfire and tear gas, killing two people, said the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, a network of opposition activists. The two were among 17 killed across Syria on Saturday, the LCC said. More than 8,500 deaths have been documented since the crackdown started more than 11 months ago, LCC spokeswoman Rafif Jouejati said. The United Nations has said well over 5,000 people have died, though it does not have a recent death count due to the conditions in the country. The regime's security forces started a relentless crackdown on peaceful demonstrators nearly a year ago, a push that stoked a cycle of anti-government sentiment and continual clampdowns in cities across Syria. In recent months, more opposition fighters have taken up arms against government soldiers, police and militia. World powers have denounced the violence but have been unable to stop it. The persistent unrest was the topic on the table when al-Assad met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun Saturday. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said Zhai supports the regime's reform process, including a February 26 referendum on a draft constitution. But Zhai said, "we are worried about the escalation of crisis in Syria," according to SANA. "I exchanged clear and profound viewpoints with President al-Assad about the Syrian issue. ... China as a friendly country to Syria is following with great concern the developments here," Zhai said, according to the Syrian news outlet. Zhai said China urged all sides "to sit on the dialogue table to reach a comprehensive political plan." "I briefed President al-Assad on China's basic stance image over the Syrian issue. This stance is represented by calling on the Syrian government, armed men and the opposition to an immediate halt of acts of violence against civilians." China and Russia have vetoed attempts by the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution condemning the Syrian regime for what many countries call a massacre of civilians. Both nations have major trade ties with Syria, and critics of China say Beijing fears that condoning a resolution that could lead to regime change might one day threaten its own rule. Two of Syria's neighbors weighed in on the unrest Saturday. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said the government is strengthening the nation's border with Syria because of weapons-smuggling. Sunnis in Anbar province at the border have denounced al-Assad's rule and proclaimed their solidarity to Syrian opposition members, many of whom are Sunni. Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak said al-Assad and his family are "doomed" to be toppled because of the government's assault against its citizens. Speaking to reporters in a trip to Japan, Barak said he believes al-Assad could lose power over many weeks and doubts he will be in charge by 2013. The Syrian regime has refuted reports that al-Assad's forces are targeting civilians, saying they are fighting armed gangs and foreign fighters bent on destabilizing the government. But the vast majority of accounts from within the country indicate Syrian forces are slaughtering civilians in an offensive on protesters calling for al-Assad's ouster and scoffing at the government's attempt at reforms. The LCC said Saturday that 295 doctors have been arrested since the start of the unrest, as part of a "fierce campaign" against physicians. Along with the two killed in the capital, the LCC reported deaths in other provinces: six in Homs, three each in Hama and Idlib, two in Daraa and one in Aleppo. The LCC said forces firing a machine gun on a tank in Hama killed two children and injured another person. "The shooting targeted a car they were riding. Security forces arrested the one who was injured and another one who was also with them in the car," the LCC said. Syrian forces shelled a clinic in the Daraa town of Basr al-Hareer and launched raids in the city of Deir Ezzor. Security forces continued their shelling of Homs neighborhoods, including Baba Amr and Inshaat, bastions of anti-government sentiment, the LCC said. The group also reported clashes in Hasakeh, in northeast Syria. Twenty-three people were injured there, the LCC said. The Syrian army is still in control of Zabadani, in the Damascus countryside, where soldiers and tanks made a show of force along the streets, according to Mohamed Ali, a member of the opposition Syrian Revolution Coordination Committee. Security forces are arresting young men, breaking doors and stealing from empty houses, he said. Finally, SANA reported the death of a law enforcement member Saturday and said "many others were wounded" in Idlib province. CNN cannot independently confirm opposition and government reports of violence because the Syrian government has severely restricted the access of international journalists.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 01:25:17 GMT

Human remains found on Long Island, N.Y.

Human skeletal remains have been found on Long Island, New York, authorities said Saturday. The same police department has been involved in the discovery of at least 10 other sets of human remains about 40 miles from the latest site. The discovery of the 10 previous sets of remains at Gilgo Beach has led to a hunt for a possible serial killer. "At this time, we cannot say if the remains are connected to any other cases. The scene will be processed and re-evaluated to see if further searching is necessary," Deputy Inspector Kevin Fallon of the Suffolk County Police Department said in a news statement about the latest find. The remains were found Friday by a man who was walking his dog in a heavily wooded area about 300 feet from a road in Manorville, police said. The grounds are the Upton Ecological Reserve. On December 17, authorities announced that a body discovered earlier in the week along a remote stretch of Long Island beach was that of Shannan Gilbert, the missing New Jersey woman whose disappearance had led investigators to the 10 sets of human remains and the hunt for a possible serial killer. Gilbert, 24, vanished in May 2010 after visiting a client. The Jersey City resident had advertised for prostitution services on websites such as Craigslist, police said. Her body was uncovered December 13 in the wooded marshes of Suffolk County's Oak Beach. That beach is about 9 miles from where the 10 other sets of human remains were found. Gilbert's mother, Mari Gilbert, said in December that police had botched the investigation into her daughter's death and the apparent killings of the other victims. She threatened to sue the Suffolk County police if the FBI didn't take over the case. Attorney John Ray, who represented Mari Gilbert, said that because Shannan -- a resident of Jersey City, New Jersey -- crossed state lines to visit a client in New York, the investigation should be federal. Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer "thinks this is some kind of a silly scene for the Suffolk County police to be involved in only because Shannan was an escort," Ray said. Ray accused Dormer's office of violating the civil rights of the victims by inadequately investigating. Mari Gilbert has said she believes that her daughter was murdered by a serial killer. Police, however, maintained that Shannan Gilbert's death was not thought to be the work of a serial killer. Authorities have conflicting theories about whether a serial killer is involved in the other deaths. The remains found Friday are thought to have been in the area for some time. "This has been determined from the vegetation growth in the area around the remains," the police statement said. The age and gender of the remains are to be determined by medical examiners. "I saw the top of the cranium sticking out of the brush," dog owner Matt Samuel said of his discovery. "It looked like it was wrapped in like bed sheets and then put in a plastic bag and duct taped around tight, and I guess over the time the plastic deteriorated ... and the sheets kind of decomposed," he told CNN affiliate News 12 Long Island. In 2000 and 2003, the torsos of two women were discovered in the same area, News 12 reported. Other body parts belonging to the women have been found at Gilgo Beach, and have been linked to the eight other sets of remains found at Gilgo Beach, the affiliate said.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:37:14 GMT

ESPN apologizes for headline on Jeremy Lin

ESPN apologized Saturday for an offensive headline about New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin that appeared on its mobile website after the team's season-high, seven-game winning streak came to an end. The streak, which began when the unlikely star came off the Knicks' bench to guide the team to win-after-improbable-win, helped transform the Harvard graduate of Taiwanese descent into a global brand -- giving rise to the catchphrase "Linsanity." But early Saturday morning, the network put forth a headline that read "Chink in the Armor," referencing the Knicks' 89- 85 loss Friday night to the New Orleans Hornets at Madison Square Garden, according to ESPN spokesman Kevin Ota. The headline was up for 35 minutes before being removed. "We are conducting a complete review of our cross-platform editorial procedures and are determining appropriate disciplinary action to ensure this does not happen again," the network said in a statement. "We regret and apologize for this mistake." The network also apologized for a question an ESPN anchor posed Wednesday night when asking about Lin. "ESPN apologizes for the incident, and is taking steps to avoid this in the future," the statement said. Anchor Max Bretos asked, "If there is a chink in the armor, where can Lin improve his game?"

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 19:23:34 GMT

Officials: Dutch prince severely injured in Austrian avalanche

A member of the Dutch royal family was severely injured in an avalanche at an Austrian ski resort Friday, local authorities told CNN. Prince Johan Friso, 43, a son of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, was skiing outside the bounds of the ski resort with friends at the resort of Lech am Arlberg when he was hit by an avalanche, a spokesman for the state of Vorarlberg said. No one else in the group was affected, the spokesman said. The prince was under the snow for a "short period of time," the spokesman said. He was wearing an electronic beacon that helped rescuers quickly find him, he said. The prince was airlifted to a hospital in Innsbruck, where he is in intensive care, authorities said. Doctors described the prince as stable but not out of danger, according to a statement from the queen. Lech am Arlberg is in Austria's Vorarlberg state, a popular skiing area in western Austria. The region's avalanche agency reported there was a considerable to great chance of avalanches in Lech on Friday. It cited new snowfall on top of a packed layer of snow that could cause snow slabs to slide off. The prince gave up his right to the throne when he married in 2004 without Parliament's permission. He and his wife live in London with their two daughters.

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:42:01 GMT

Egypt sets trial date for accused NGO workers

The trial of 43 people in Egypt accused in a case involving foreign funding will take place in a criminal court February 26, the spokesman for the general prosecutor's office said. Americans are among other Westerners and Egyptians who work for civil society groups who face prosecution on charges of illegal foreign funding as part of an ongoing crackdown on nongovernmental organizations. Among the Americans is Sam LaHood, the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, according to the State Department. Egypt put the number of Americans at 19. The employees of the American and European NGOs have been charged with operating in Egypt without licenses. An investigation by authorities revealed that the organizations received millions of pounds from abroad under the names of NGO employees and not through their official bank accounts. Ashraf El-Ashmawi and Sameh Abu Zeid, the two judges handling the cases, said the charges could lead to five-year prison sentences. "These organizations conducted unlicensed and illegal activities without the knowledge of the Egyptian government," said El-Ashmawi. "Documents confiscated during the raids on the NGOs offices confirm illegal foreign funding." Documents also showed that foreign workers employed by the NGOs deliberately had tourist -- not work -- visas, and did not pay taxes. Khalid Abu Bakr, a civil rights lawyer in Cairo, said the 43 suspects would have to be present in court, inside the iron cage that holds defendants in Egyptian criminal trials. Authorities said a travel ban has been imposed on the suspects. "Suspects will not be detained but those who do not attend will be issued an arrest warrant," Abu Bakr told CNN. He added that the defense lawyers would request a postponement in the hearing "until the witnesses give their testimonies and more details are presented." The court did allow the American counsel from the embassy to attend the trial. Egyptian officials have blamed continuing unrest in their country on foreign interference they attribute, in part, to the organizations. In December, authorities carried out 17 raids on the offices of 10 organizations, including the U.S.-based Freedom House, National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute. Adel Saeed, a spokesman with the general prosecutor's office, said the raids were part of an investigation into allegations that the groups had received illegal foreign financing and were operating without a proper license. The U.S. State Department said Tuesday it had received a 24-page document from Egyptian authorities that lays out the charges against the staff of U.S. and international democracy-building groups. Briefing reporters Friday, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that its legal team had held a number of meetings since then. "We continue to work very hard on these issues. So we need to let that work go forward and hope we can solve this in earliest days," she said. Nuland had said Tuesday that no speedy resolution of the case was expected. "We are continuing to work as hard as we can with the Egyptian government to work our way through this, and we continue to insist that our people have done nothing wrong and that they ought to be allowed to come home," she said then. Seven Americans, including LaHood, who is the director of Egypt operations for the International Republican Institute, have been ordered not to leave the country. A "handful" of American employees of the organizations have taken refuge in the U.S. Embassy, Nuland said. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, who serves as IRI board chairman, is expected to visit Egypt soon. McCain said that while he will address the situation of the detained Americans, he will not attempt to negotiate their release. "That is the job of the administration, but we will have conversations with military leaders and others who I have known for many, many years on a personal basis," he said Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:18:06 GMT

iPad manufacturer Foxconn hikes Chinese workers' wages

The largest supplier of Apple's iPads and iPhones said Saturday that it increased wages by up to 25 percent for workers at its factories in China. The announcement by Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology Group follows reports the company's Chinese-based factories were under scrutiny over questionable labor practices. Wages for assembly line workers at Foxconn's Chinese plants were increased by 16 percent to 25 percent, far exceeding China's government-mandated minimum monthly compensation levels in Shenzhen, the statement said. The base pay for workers who have successfully completed a probation period jumps to 2200 to 2500 RMB ($349 to $397) a month, Foxconn said. The state-minimum is 1500 RMB (about $238). Additionally, Foxconn said it was taking steps to reduce overtime at the Chinese factories. Foxconn's wage increases comes on the heels of the arrival this week of an independent labor-rights organization, which included Apple representatives, at the vast Foxconn plant in Shenzhen, known as Foxconn City. The team plans to interview thousands of employees in Shenzhen and other locations about their working and living conditions, including their compensation and working hours, according to the Fair Labor Association. The audit comes amid growing public concern about labor conditions in the overseas factories that many U.S. gadget makers rely on to make their devices. Apple is one of many companies that outsources its manufacturing, but as the industry's most popular and profitable company, it's under the most intense spotlight. Foxconn, one of Apple's largest critical suppliers, has drawn the harshest criticism from labor activists. A spate of suicides at the company's factories in 2010 garnered media coverage of alleged harsh working conditions, including unsafe facilities and illegal amounts of overtime. A story published late last month by The New York Times documented the human toll of a Foxconn plant explosion that killed several workers. Apple has conducted its own supplier audits since 2006, and releases some of its findings on its website. Its latest report, released last month, detailed nearly two dozen labor and human rights violations, including the use of underage workers. In more than 100 facilities, excessive work hours were "commonplace," according to Apple's report, and most of those plants failed to pay proper overtime wages. Two facilities were deemed repeat offenders, and Apple cut ties with one of them. Partnering with the Fair Labor Association for independent assessments is a new step for Apple, which has said that its suppliers have promised unrestricted access and full cooperation. The FLA plans to conduct similar inspections this spring at two more Apple suppliers, Quanta and Pegatron.

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:58:07 GMT

Conservatives urge 'immediate' U.S. action on Syria

Prominent U.S. conservatives want the Obama administration to "take immediate action" against the Syrian regime, including "no-go zones" for President Bashar al-Assad's military and "self-defense aid" to resistance forces. Fifty-six foreign policy experts and former U.S. government officials signed a letter dated Friday calling for proactive U.S.-led steps against the government. It comes as Syrian citizens and activists plead for world powers to help stop the government's bloody crackdown. They include Karl Rove, the former Bush administration adviser; Paul Bremer, in charge of the U.S. occupation in Iraq after the 2003 invasion; R. James Woolsey, former CIA chief; Robert McFarlane, former Reagan national security adviser, and Dan Senor, a former Bremer adviser and spokesman for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. The letter can be found on the Foreign Policy Initiative website. "We believe that the United States cannot continue to defer its strategic and moral responsibilities in Syria to regional actors such as the Arab League or to wait for consent from the Assad regime's protectors, Russia and China," the letter said. Russia and China have vetoed strong action against the al-Assad regime at the U.N. Security Council. The letter calls for Syrian safe zones and no-go zones for al-Assad's forces around "Homs, Idlib, and other threatened areas, in order to protect Syrian civilians." "The United States should work with like-minded countries like Turkey and members of the Arab League in these efforts," the letter said. The group wants to "establish contacts" with the Free Syrian Army, the fledgling resistance force of military defectors. It called for a "full range of direct assistance, including self-defense aid to the FSA" and wants to do so with Middle East and European allies. The letter calls for improving "U.S. coordination with the political opposition groups" and to "provide them with secure communications technologies and other assistance that will help to improve their ability to prepare for a post-Assad Syria." It wants the administration to work with lawmakers to impose "crippling U.S. and multilateral sanctions" on the Syrian government, specifically the energy, banking and shipping sectors. The letter cites the Syrian government's bloody siege in the city of Homs, and says the regime "poses a grave threat to national security interests." One Syrian activist group, the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, says more than 8,500 people have died in the unrest, now in its 12th month. It notes that Syria has maintained "a strategic partnership with the terror-sponsoring government of Iran, as well as with Hamas and Hezbollah" and it has "facilitated the entry of foreign fighters into Iraq, who killed U.S. troops." It says foreign powers intervened in support of the al-Assad regime, citing Russia's supply of arms and supplies, and reports of Iran and Hezbollah operating in Syria. "The lack of resolve and actions by the responsible members of the international community is only further emboldening the Assad regime," the letter said. "Unless the United States takes the lead and acts, either individually or in concert with like-minded nations, thousands of additional Syrian civilians will likely die, and the emerging civil war in Syria will likely ignite wider instability in the Middle East." The United States, the European Union, the Arab League and Turkey have initiated a range of sanctions against Syria. The Obama administration has also denounced al-Assad's regime "Assad has no right to lead Syria, and has lost all legitimacy with his people and the international community," Obama said February 4. "A Syria without Assad could be a Syria in which all Syrians are subject to the rule of law and where minorities are able to exercise their legitimate rights and uphold their identities and traditions while acting as fully enfranchised citizens in a unified republic." Despite a General Assembly non-binding resolution endorsing an Arab League plan for al-Assad to step down, world powers haven't been able to stop the bloodshed. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Friday said the United States has not been "deterred" by Security Council vetoes and is moving forward with a group called the Friends of Syria, a coalition of Arab, Western and others countries. The group, which will meet Friday in Tunisia, was formed after Russia and China stood in the way of a Security Council measure to deal with Syria. "We are doing all we can to determine ways forward, to strengthen the opposition, to help them convey to the entire Syrian population that they are seeking an inclusive, peaceful, democratic transition," Clinton said. Victoria Nuland, State Department spokeswoman, said Friday that the president doesn't rule out "any option." "That said, we do not think that more guns into Syria ... or international intervention in Syria is the right answer. We don't think further militarizing the situation is going to bring peace and stability and a democratic transition to the people of Syria," she said. "We are instead focused on strengthening and unifying the opposition so that it is prepared and ready for that day when Assad cedes power, which he will eventually, so that the Arab League proposal or something like it can be implemented. And we're in the short term very focused on strengthening our humanitarian support to those suffering in Syria."

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:37:14 GMT

Pope appoints 22 new Cardinals

Pope Benedict appointed 22 new cardinals at the Vatican on Saturday, with his choices for the lofty role likely to influence who will appointed as the next pontiff. The Vatican named the new cardinals last month, but they were officially appointed in a special ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica. Among those elevated to the College of Cardinals were New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, cementing his standing as the top Catholic in the United States, and Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien of Baltimore. Others include Archbishop Thomas Collins, from Toronto, as well as the Bishop of Hong Kong, John Tong Hon, and Major Archbishop George Alencherry from India Senior clerics from Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Romania and Brazil are also represented, as well as several from Italy. The College of Cardinals was established in 1150. Its main role is to advise the current pope and pick his successor. "This is the most exclusive club in the Catholic Church," said John Allen, CNN's Vatican analyst. "In many cases, you also become, at least informally, a candidate to be the next pope, because the next pope will almost certainly come from the roughly 120 cardinals under the age of 80." Once a cardinal reaches 80, he is no longer able to participate in the election of the pope or enter the secret conclave where cardinals gather when the time comes to select the next pope, typically upon the prior pope's death. The new cardinals each professed their faith and swore an oath of obedience to Pope Benedict and his successors during Saturday's ceremony, called the Consistory, at the Vatican. They then walked one by one to the pontiff, knelt in front of him and received the traditional red hat, a gold ring, and a document with the name of the cardinal's titular church in Rome. The pope and newly-created cardinal then embraced. Pope Benedict also announced seven new saints, including the first Native American saint, a 17th-Century Mohawk woman called Kateri, or Catherine, Tekakwitha, who was a Catholic convert. Existing members of the College of Cardinals and the new cardinals-elect came together for a day of prayer and reflection Friday, in preparation for the ceremony, according to the Holy See Press Office. Dolan addressed the gathering on the subject of evangelization, saying there was a need to challenge a growing secularization of society.

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:53:27 GMT

NATO looking into reports of chopper crash in Afghanistan

A local official reported a NATO helicopter crashed Saturday in eastern Afghanistan, though there was no immediate confirmation from coalition forces. A spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force, Capt. Justin Brockhoff, said ISAF officials are looking into the reported incident but have no indications that any ISAF aircraft have been lost. Abdul Rahman Sarjang, the chief of police in eastern Laghman province, said it was an American helicopter that crashed, but he had no other details.

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:16:32 GMT

Obama budget proposal under fire in GOP address

In his weekly address, President Barack Obama spoke on U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, while Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers used the Republican response to hammer the budget proposal he sent to Congress on Monday. The president made no mention of his budget, and in his remarks -- taped at the Washington state Boeing plant he visited Friday -- said that the U.S. is making progress toward becoming a more desirable place for manufacturing. "It's now getting more expensive to do business in places like China," he said. "Meanwhile, America is more productive than ever. And companies like Boeing are realizing that even when we can't make things cheaper than China, we can make things better. That's how we're going to compete globally." He argued for the manufacturing tax policy changes he outlined in his State of the Union address in January. "No company should get a tax break for outsourcing jobs. Instead, tax breaks should go to manufacturers who set up shop here at home," Obama said. "Bigger tax breaks should go to high-tech manufacturers who create the jobs of the future. And if you relocate your company to a struggling community, you should get help financing that new plant, that new equipment, or training for new workers." "And Congress should send me that kind of tax reform right away," he continued, mirroring a theme of urgency from his January address. McMorris Rodgers -- whose district does not include the Everett, Washington, plant that Obama visited Friday -- argued that the president's budget would instead make the country less competitive with manufacturing giants such as China. "Instead of leading the effort to bring down our debt and make tough choices, the president is proposing that we spend more and more," she said. "All his wasteful spending puts us deeper in debt to China. All his tax hikes would destroy jobs and make it tougher to compete with China." His $3.8 trillion proposal, she said, reneges on Obama's promise to halve federal deficits by the end of his first term. http://articles.cnn.com/2012-02-13/politics/politics_obama-congress-budget_1_trillion-budget-spending-cuts-federal-budget "He won't even come close," she said. "Because of the president's failure to control spending, the government will run trillion-dollar deficits in each of his four years in office. President Obama's broken promises have left our country broke." The administration predicted that under this proposal, the deficit would reach $1.3 trillion, then drop to $901 billion in 2013. And McMorris Rodgers argued that the spending cuts are not new sacrifices, but previously negotiated cuts and mirage. "More than half of the proposed 'savings' in the president's budget for the next year -- about $2 trillion -- are already law," she said. "These savings come from the Budget Control Act -- the bill congressional Republicans insisted that the president sign last year in response to his demand for an increase in the nation's debt limit." She continued, "Another almost $1 trillion in 'savings' comes from what we call the 'war gimmick' -- money that was never requested and will never be spent on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those aren't real savings." Capitol Hill is expected to be quiet in the week ahead, as the House and Senate voted on Friday to extend the payroll tax cut, unemployment benefits and Medicare reimbursements.

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:38:03 GMT

Battle looms over cutting nuclear arsenal

The Pentagon is currently analyzing U.S. nuclear options under the Nuclear Posture Review Implementation Study -- a process that could result in significant cuts in the number of warheads. And one senior Republican senator is sounding a warning. "Obviously this is going to create a huge stir in Congress," Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Arizona, said during a keynote address Thursday at a nuclear deterrence summit in Arlington, Virginia. "We will have a battle royal in Congress if the president moves forward with these kinds of plans." As recently as last month, the Defense Department did not discount the possibility of further cuts to its arsenal eventually. "It is possible that our deterrence goals can be achieved with a smaller nuclear force, which would reduce the number of nuclear weapons in our inventory as well as their role in U.S. national security strategy," the Pentagon said in releasing its latest strategic guidance review last month. James Miller, the acting defense undersecretary for policy, told the same summit Wednesday that the Pentagon is looking at "a number of options" regarding the size of its nuclear arsenal, but refused to go into detail as no decision has been made yet. "It is absolutely appropriate for the president and the Pentagon to look at those [lower] levels," Stephen Young with the Union of Concerned Scientists told CNN. Today's geopolitical order is much different than 20 years ago, Young said. There's no longer a Soviet Union, there's no longer a massive army looming over Europe, the current role of nuclear weapons is much smaller and so there's no need for a massive nuclear arsenal," he said. The current U.S.-Russian arms treaty, known as New START, went into effect a year ago and requires that each side cap its strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 by 2018. It also limits each nation to 700 deployed strategic launchers and heavy bombers, with another 100 held in reserve. But there is precedent in cutting the U.S. nuclear arsenal below treaty-mandated levels. The administration of former President George W. Bush cut the arsenal to 2,200 warheads, while both the United States and Russia were permitted 6,000 each under the START treaty in force at that time. Some analysts say any reduction below what the Russian Federation maintains in its arsenal is unlikely to happen in the current era. "Russia right now is putting more emphasis on the role of nuclear weapons in its policy," Clark Murdock, director of the Project on Nuclear Issues at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told CNN. Murdock said making deep cuts in the number of U.S. warheads is "just politically out of the question," in the face of Russian nuclear modernization. Defense officials are unambiguous when it comes to the importance of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. "We continue to believe that U.S. forces play a critical role in 21st century strategic deterrence, primarily because they cast a long and very dark shadow over the decision-making of any adversary contemplating a strategic attack on the United States or our allies," said Greg Weaver, deputy director of Plans and Policy at U.S. Strategic Command. He also spoke Thursday at the nuclear deterrence summit. For Kyl, who recently announced he will not seek re-election, concerns over the nuclear arsenal go beyond its size. He told Thursday's summit audience that he found the pace of modernizing the nuclear infrastructure "disheartening." Paul Hommert, director of Sandia National Laboratories, told the same audience that the nation's stockpile is "the oldest it has ever been," with many of the weapons having been designed and constructed in the 1970s and '80s. "The net result of that is that there is a fair amount of work that is embedded in what's coming forward to us." But in an era of fiscal austerity, with a mandate to cut $497 billion out of the defense budget over the next 10 years, the need to modernize the nuclear arsenal may come at the cost of the current infrastructure. Gen. James Cartwright, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in July that the current nuclear "triad"of submarines, ballistic missiles, and bombers was not sustainable or even practical in a post- Cold War and budget conscious era. Weaver, with Strategic Command -- which oversees the U.S. nuclear arsenal -- said the modernization of the arsenal will have to take a lot into account. Our challenge," he said, is to ensure that U.S. nuclear forces "can ... play [effective deterrence roles] now and in the years to come, and we don't know how many years to come."

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:37:57 GMT

J&J's McNeil unit recalls Infants' Tylenol

The healthcare company McNeil is recalling more than half a million bottles of Infants' Tylenol because of consumer complaints about the difficulties of using the dosing system. McNeil is recalling about 574,000 bottles after receiving a "small number" of complaints regarding the so-called "dosing syringe" of the orally-administered over-the-counter painkiller. The company said that in some cases the "flow restrictor was pushed into the bottle when inserting the syringe." The recall applies to one-ounce bottles of grape-flavored Infants' Tylenol Oral Suspension. The company said there have been "no adverse events" from the problem and that "the risk of series adverse medical event is remote." The company said that consumers can continue to use the product, despite the voluntary recall, so long as the flow restrictor remains in place at the top of the bottle. McNeil, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has had numerous recalls in the recent past, especially with Tylenol. The U.S. government took over three Tylenol plants last year for failure to comply with federally-mandated manufacturing procedures.

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 05:42:05 GMT

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