Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- The lawyer trying to get two American hikers freed from prison in Iran was not able to get a signature on bail paperwork because a judge is on vacation until Tuesday, he told CNN Sunday.

Bail has been paid for Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, lawyer Masoud Shafiee said, but he needs the signatures of two judges to prove it.

He went to a judge's office Sunday, when he was in court on a separate case, to see if he could get the second signature, but was told that the judge is on vacation until Tuesday and that Shafiee will have to return then, the lawyer said.

Separately, a delegation of American Muslim and Christian leaders asked Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to release the hikers, his office said Sunday.

The four leaders who met with him in Tehran included Nihad Awad, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a photo of the meeting showed.

The head of the human rights department of the Iranian judiciary, Mohammad Javad Larijani, linked the case of Fattal and Bauer to America's treatment of detainees.

"If the U.S. is so sensitive about two of its spies and tries to free them, it should look at the way it treats other nationalities," he said in an interview Sunday with the semi-official Fars news agency.

Fattal and Bauer have been held as spies for more than two years, after they apparently crossed an unmarked border between Iran and Iraq in July 2009.

The two men and a third hiker, Sarah Shourd, were seized while hiking in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

Iranian authorities arrested them, claiming they were spies and had entered the country illegally. Shourd, who is Bauer's fiancee, was released last year for medical reasons, although authorities said her case remains open.

Fattal and Bauer were convicted last month of spying and entering Iran illegally, and each was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Ahmadinejad recently said they could be freed, raising hopes that have been dashed and raised again several times since then.

He said in an interview with NBC's "Today" show that they will be released on humanitarian grounds "in a couple of days."

But the judiciary shot back that only it could make decisions about their release.

Shafiee then announced that all the paperwork had been filed for them to be freed on bail, but their release was delayed.

He said he was "very hopeful" they would be released on Saturday, but the process is being held up by the lack of a judge's signature.

Shafiee said he would not know for sure the amount of the bail or who paid it until he sees the signed document. Earlier reports put it at $500,000 for each American.

An Omani official flew to Iran on Wednesday to help work on any negotiation, a Western diplomat told CNN at the time.

Oman helped secure the release of Shourd, posting her bail last September, a senior Obama administration official said at the time.

Ahmadinejad is slated to travel to New York for the U.N. General Assembly on Monday, the semi-official Mehr News Agency reported. He is expected to give a speech and meet with several other presidents and Iranians living in the United States.

But his visit is not linked to moves to release the Americans, said Larijani of the Iranian judiciary.

CNN's Shirzad Bozorgmehr contributed to this report.

Question: Where is the judge who needs to sign bail paperwork?

Question: Josh and Shane were held for being what?

Question: What country is  Ahmadinejad president of?

Question: Who has requested their release?

Question: How long have Fattal and Bauer been held?

Question: Who asks President Ahmadinejad for their release?

Answer: on vacation

Answer: as spies

Answer: Iran's

Answer: a delegation of American Muslim and Christian leaders

Answer: more than two years,

Answer: a delegation of American Muslim and Christian leaders

Summary:
NEW: An Iranian official links the hikers' case to U.S. treatment of others .
U.S. Muslim, Christian leaders ask President Ahmadinejad for their release .
A judge who needs to sign bail paperwork is on vacation, their lawyer says .
Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer have been held as spies for more than two years .


Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- The office of a reformist Iranian member of parliament burned Tuesday night, and a reformist Web site said the act was the work of extremists. Mir Hossein Moussavi, an opposition candidate in the disputed June 12 presidential election, blamed the fire at the office of Nasrollah Torabi on plainclothes militia on Moussavi's Facebook Web site, where he also posted photos. The photos showed heavy damage, with charred furniture, peeling wallpaper and floors strewn with broken glass, debris and ashes. Parleman News, a newsgathering organization for the Path of the Imam Khomeini faction of parliament, said the office was vandalized before it was torched. Khomeini was the leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. Torabi, who represents the southwestern province of Cahar-Mahal Bakhtiari in parliament, told Parleman News that he was awaiting the outcome of an investigation. The office is in the city of Shahr-e Kurd. Torabi urged people not to react to the incident, according to Parleman News. He said intelligence agencies and the Interior Ministry must investigate the fire and punish those responsible. The lawmaker said that after he gave a speech in parliament criticizing the government, he came under heavy criticism from government supporters, Parleman News said. No date was given for the speech. "After that speech in the meeting of the Planning Council for Cahar-Mahal Bakhtiari [Province], we witnessed the anger of the province's governor-general," Torabi said. Investigators "must not allow some people to use force, scare tactics and oppression to bring the three principles of independence, freedom and Islamic Republic under question," he added, according to Parleman News. Torabi said that after he gave the speech, banners condemning him were distributed throughout Shahr-e Kurd, with the backing of the governor's office. According to Moussavi, Torabi told the news organization: "In the middle of the night some made their last pathetic attempt and set the office of a representative of the people on fire with the aim of silencing the members of the parliament." Moussavi called the fire an attempt at intimidation. Opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have held sometimes-violent protests after he was swept into office for a second term despite accusations of election fraud. The latest protest occurred Sunday on the Shiite Muslim holy day of Ashura, which marks the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammed, as a martyr. A prosecutor said seven people died, including Moussavi's nephew, in the demonstrations.

Question:
Who criticized government in speech?
Whose office burned Tuesday?
Where is his office?
whos office was burned?
when did he make his speech?
Which extremists caused the fire?
who cause the fire?
who was under pressure?

Answer: Mir Hossein Moussavi,

Answer: reformist Iranian member of parliament

Answer: in the city of Shahr-e Kurd.

Answer: Nasrollah Torabi

Answer: No date was given

Answer: plainclothes militia

Answer: plainclothes militia

Answer: Torabi,

Summary:
Reformist lawmaker Nasrollah Torabi's office burned Tuesday .
Opposition figure Mir Hossein Moussavi says fire caused by extremists .
Torabi says he was under pressure after he criticized government in speech .
Torabi urges people not to react to incident, according to Parleman News .


Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- United Nations-backed nuclear inspectors on Sunday visited a newly disclosed Iranian nuclear facility near the city of Qom, Iranian media has reported. "IAEA inspectors today visited the... nuclear installation," the semi-official Mehr news agency said, referring to International Atomic Energy Agency staff. "The IAEA inspectors arrived Saturday night and are scheduled to inspect the... site several times. The inspectors will leave Tehran Tuesday." Tehran sent shock waves through the international community in September by revealing the existence of the previously secret nuclear enrichment facility near Qom. The IAEA announced Saturday its inspectors were leaving for the much-anticipated inspection. The agency declined to give more details on Sunday. "It is our policy not to comment on the itinerary of our inspectors," a spokesman for the U.N. nuclear watchdog told CNN. The inspectors will visit the installation to make sure it is being used for peaceful purposes, said Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. The inspection comes after Iran said Friday that it needs more time to decide whether to sign onto a deal that could help end the international showdown over its nuclear activities. That proposal calls for low-enriched uranium produced in Iran to be sent abroad for further enrichment and then returned for use in medical research and treatment. Tehran is studying the draft proposal and will have an answer next week, Iranian diplomat Ali Asghar Soltanieh said on state-run Press TV. Iran informed IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei that it is "considering the proposal in depth and in a favorable light, but it needs until the middle of next week to provide a response," according to an IAEA statement. Delegations from Iran, France, Russia, the United States and the IAEA met in Vienna this week to work out details of the tentative deal reached in early October. France, Russia and the United States have indicated their approval of the arrangement. "The Director General hopes that Iran's response will equally be positive, since approval of this agreement will signal a new era of cooperation," the IAEA statement said. After the current inspection, but before the end of the month, Iranian officials are expected to meet with the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany to further discuss Tehran's nuclear program. Iran's leaders maintain that their nation's nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes, but many in the West believe Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities. Low-enriched nuclear fuel can be further enriched into weapons-grade material. CNN's Per Nyberg contributed to this report.

Question: What did IAEA announce?

Question: What do many in the West believe?

Question: What country says it's nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes?

Question: Iran said what on Friday?

Question: whai IAEA means

Question: The IAEA announced what?

Question: Whatdid Iran say Friday?

Answer: its inspectors were leaving for the much-anticipated inspection.

Answer: Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities.

Answer: Iran

Answer: it needs more time to decide whether to sign onto a deal that could help end the international showdown over its nuclear activities.

Answer: International Atomic Energy Agency

Answer: Saturday its inspectors were leaving for the much-anticipated inspection. The agency declined to give more details on Sunday.

Answer: that it needs more time to decide whether to sign onto a deal that could help end the international showdown over its nuclear activities.

Summary:
The IAEA announced Saturday its inspectors were leaving for the inspection .
Iran said Friday it needs more time to decide whether to sign onto a nuclear deal .
Iran says its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes .
Many in the West believe Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities .


Tenino, Washington (CNN) -- Authorities in Alaska are examining two wolves to see if they are the animals that killed a jogger last week, said a wildlife biologist investigating the attack.

The two gray wolves were tracked down Monday and shot to death from a helicopter near the town of Chignik Lake, Alaska, said wildlife biologist Lem Butler.

The wolves are suspected of killing special-education teacher Candice Berner last week. Berner, 32, was attacked while jogging near the town, authorities said.

"We had a systematic search," he said. "These were the only two wolves we could find tracks for."

The wolves appeared to be the same ones that left tracks at the scene of the attack, and they matched witnesses' descriptions of the animals seen near Berner's body, Butler said.

Officials will conduct tests on the wolves' carcasses to determine whether they killed Berner, Butler said.

The carcasses will also be examined to see whether the animals were rabid or starving, or suffering from some condition that led them to attack a human, he said.

The rare wolf attack shook Chignik Lake, population 105.

"We see wolves a lot," said Johnny Lind, president of the Village Council. "But we've never had anything like this happen."

The killing is thought to be only the second fatal wolf attack in North America in more than a century. In 2005, a wolf pack killed a geology student in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Wolves typically avoid human contact and do not threaten people, said John Blankenship, executive director of Wolf Haven.

"They are not human predators. It's healthy to have awareness of them, for sure. But to be afraid of them is too strong an emotion," he said.

Wolf Haven in Tenino educates the public about wolves and serves as a haven for about 50 rescued wolves, many of them once kept as pets.

Question: What was teacher killed by

Question: Where did the attacks occur?

Question: How many wolves were shot?

Question: What do wolves normally do?

Question: How many wolves were shot by wildlife officials?

Question: Who was killed by wolves while jogging?

Question: For what will the bodies be tested?

Answer: two wolves

Answer: near the town of Chignik Lake, Alaska,

Answer: two

Answer: avoid human contact and

Answer: two

Answer: Candice Berner

Answer: conduct tests on the wolves' carcasses to determine whether they killed Berner,

Summary:
Teacher was killed by wolves last week while jogging near Alaska town .
Wildlife officials tracked and shot 2 wolves they believe are the killers .
Carcasses will be tested for rabies, other conditions that might have led to attack .
Wolves normally avoid humans and do not attack them, experts say .


Thanks to the flu, a broken ankle, a staph infection, and bronchitis, plus several school cancellations, my three children were at home -- hurting, vomiting, coughing, or tracking muddy water into our house -- all but seven days last February. (Shall I pause to let the horror of that number sink in? All but seven.) I'm normally an efficient, organized person who thrives on plans and checklists, but by the end of that month, I'd accomplished almost nothing beyond reading aloud the entire fifth book of Harry Potter. I felt so anxious that I was on the verge of hyperventilation. Originally a form of self-defense, the ancient Chinese art of tai chi promotes serenity through gentle movement. "You need to close your eyes, take a deep breath, and imagine yourself surrounded by an egg of light," a Buddhist friend said. But when I closed my eyes and took a breath, I was surrounded by used tissues and dirty laundry. Obviously, I was in need of some inner peace. Studies have shown that learning to still the mind, if only for a few minutes, can lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, limit stress hormones, and enhance immune function. But traditional forms of meditation don't work for me. If I sit still and close my eyes, I fall asleep or think about my to-do list. So, I gave myself a new task: Find an activity that calms my mind without giving my weary body a chance to nod off. Does such a thing exist? Health.com: Making time for me Tai chi This ancient Chinese practice -- believed to offer all the health benefits of silent meditation while giving you something to do with your hands and feet -- seemed like an obvious place to start for an antsy, toe-tapping sort like me. The thing is, I have a poor sense of balance and tai chi often requires standing on one foot. To avoid the not-so-peaceful experience of looking like a dork in front of a group of total strangers, I opted for a DVD, with only the tiniest hope of success. I surprised myself. The quiet music and the calm voice of the middle-aged woman demonstrating the moves were so reassuring that I forgot I looked like an idiot. The effort it took to follow along in what resembles the slow-motion version of a beautiful dance was literally mesmerizing. If I didn't feel peaceful, exactly, at least I was filled with quiet concentration, the kind that banishes all thoughts of picky eaters, mortgage payments, and unreliable co-workers. I emerged from the first lesson feeling refreshed and rested. Health.com: A new prescription for happiness Knitting I have friends who are passionate about knitting. Don't they know that it's possible to buy an immediately wearable sweater for less than the cost of the yarn it takes to knit one? Nonetheless, stressed-out 21st-century workingwomen are returning in droves to the craft. It made no sense to me ... until I tried it, that is. Knitting, it turns out, is the perfect example of active stillness. In fact, 20 minutes of knitting can lower your heart rate and blood pressure -- the same physical response triggered by yoga, Tai Chi, or meditation. Some hospitals have even begun to offer knitting courses for stress release. The secret seems to lie in the soothing combination of rhythm and repetition. By the end of my first lesson, I'd become proficient enough that my hands could make the motions almost automatically. The sound of the needles had a metronomic quality, a calming pace that automatically slowed my thoughts. And the feel of the wool sliding through my fingers was almost like a caress. Health.com: Boost your mood with color Walking in the woods I'd read somewhere that exposure to nature can boost a person's general well-being and sense of calm -- and I certainly needed a dose of that. So I headed to some nearby woods where the redbuds and crab apples were in full bloom. Birds called piercingly, squirrels quarreled,

Question: What number of minutes of knitting can lower your heart rate ?

Question: What should you try  If traditional meditation leaves you sleepy?

Question: what does stilling your mind do

Question: What does knitting for 20 mins. do

Question: Tai chi believed to offer what?

Question: what other thing can you try when traditional meditation leaves you sleepy?

Question: What can lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, limit stress hormones?

Answer: 20

Answer: Tai chi

Answer: can lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, limit stress hormones, and enhance immune function.

Answer: lower your heart rate and blood pressure

Answer: do with your hands and feet

Answer: Find an activity that calms my mind without giving my weary body a chance to nod off.

Answer: tai chi

Summary:
Stilling your mind can lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, limit stress hormones .
If traditional meditation leaves you sleepy, try mind-calming activities .
Tai chi believed to offer benefits of silent meditation but with movement .
20 minutes of knitting can lower your heart rate and blood pressure .


The Hague, Netherlands (CNN) -- After Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic's failure to appear at the start of his trial on genocide and war crimes charges CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson explains what happens next. Q: How does the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) differ from the International Criminal Court (ICC)? A: The ICTY was set up by the United Nations in 1993 specifically to try people for crimes committed during the break up of the former Yugoslavia. The ICC is the first permanent, treaty-based, international criminal court established to prosecute the most serious crimes of concern to the global community including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Q: Why did Karadzic fail to show up in court on Monday? A: Karadzic failed to show up because he wrote to the court several weeks ago telling judges he had not had sufficient time to prepare his defense. He is a "self-representing accused," meaning he is defending himself. But he is backed by a large number of lawyers supported by a bevy of interns from U.S. law schools. Despite all this legal support, Karadzic says there has been too much evidence for him to go through. Prosecutors say they have 490 hours of evidence to present. The judge wrote back to Karadzic last week telling him he doesn't need to present his defense yet, he can do it after the prosecution. But Karadzic still refused to show. The court cannot compel him to come even though he is held in a detention facility about seven minutes drive from the court run exclusively for those awaiting or on trial at the tribunal. The detention facility is a lot more comfortable than a conventional jail. Karadzic will be able to watch TV when he wants, he has access to books and can mix with other defendants. Indeed, detention facility staff report that members of all three ethnic groups -- Serbs, Croats and Bosnians -- mingle freely, even playing games together. Q: Can the trial proceed without a defendant in the dock? A: The trial can go ahead without Karadzic present because there is no legal reason that says he needs to be there, even though he is defending himself. But the court is bound to give him a fair trial so if the prosecution begins without him the judges may give Karadzic a video feed so he can watch proceedings unfold. Q: How long is the trial expected to last? A: The trial could last at least two years and possibly three. The court allows at least one year for the prosecution and one year for the defense as a minimum. Q: What measures have been put in place to prevent a repeat of the delays and obfuscation seen during the trial of the former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic? A: Milosovic's trial dragged on because he defended himself, refused to accept the legitimacy of court and because of the complexity of the case and lengthy charge list -- 66 counts -- against him. Karadzic's case is less complex and this is one of the lessons prosecutors have learned from the Milosevic trial: make cases simpler and only go for those that can be readily proved. But with Karadzic defending himself and refusing to accept the court's legitimacy, the judges are still struggling to figure out how to deal with tactics designed to delay the trial. They are likely to be less lenient than they were with Milosevic.

Question: Can the court compel them?

Question: Against who has the court siplified it's case against?

Question: How long will the trial last?

Question: Can the court compel Karadzic to attend?

Question: What did Karadzic say?

Question: What can the court not compel?

Question: Who says he has not had time to prepare his defense?

Question: DId he have time to prepare?

Answer: cannot

Answer: Radovan Karadzic's

Answer: at least two years and possibly three.

Answer: cannot

Answer: he had not had sufficient time to prepare his defense.

Answer: him to come

Answer: Radovan Karadzic's

Answer: had not had sufficient

Summary:
Karadzic says he has not had sufficient time to prepare his defense .
Court cannot compel Karadzic to attend bur could put video link in cell .
Court has simplified case against Karadzic to avoid repeat of Milosevic trial .
Still, trial will last at least two -- and possibly three -- years .


The Hague, Netherlands (CNN) -- Bosnian war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic launched a full-throated attack on the International War Crimes Tribunal Tuesday, as he appeared at a hearing to discuss his refusal to appear for trial. He said he "cannot take part in something that has been bad from the start, and where my fundamental rights have been violated." Karadzic, who is accused of responsibility for the worst massacre in Europe since World War II, says he has had insufficient time to prepare his defense. He is representing himself. But Judge O-Gon Kwon told Karadzic it was the court, not the defendant, who decides when the case is ready for trial. He advised Karadzic to participate in order to get a fair trial. The judges will decide by the end of the week how to deal with the former Bosnian leader's boycott of the proceedings, Judge Kwon said before adjourning the trial for the day. Karadzic, the Bosnian Serb leader during the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, faces 11 counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Memories of the massacre remain raw. Watch the video The charges stem partly from the massacre of more than 7,000 Muslim men and boys at the town of Srebrenica, in what is know Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 1995. Karadzic has been insisting he has not had enough time to prepare for the trial, saying there are 1.3 million pages of documents to study. He denied stalling, and said imposing a lawyer on him would not help. "It is with joy that I am preparing for these proceedings," he said through a translator. "Nobody can get through this material better than I can, no lawyer. The best possible solution would be that the defense be given sufficient time" to prepare. He rejected prosecutor Hildegard Uertz-Retzlaff's assertion that Tuesday's proceedings constituted part of the trial. "I hope that this is not some kind of a trick," he said. "I am attending a status conference hearing." The court cannot force a defendant to appear. Karadzic, as a "self-representing accused," is the only one who can cross-examine witnesses and speak in court about the substance of the charges against him. However, judges can impose a lawyer on Karadzic if he continues to refuse to cooperate. The trial began without his presence on October 26, more than a year after Karadzic was captured in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. He had been on the run for more than 13 years and was living in disguise in Belgrade, practicing alternative medicine at a clinic. Karadzic faces life in prison if he is convicted. The court cannot impose the death penalty. The 1992-95 Bosnian conflict was the longest of the wars spawned by the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. Backed by the government of then-Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Bosnian Serb forces seized control of more than half the country and launched a campaign against the Muslim and Croat populations. Karadzic was removed from power in 1995, when the Dayton Accords that ended the Bosnian war barred anyone accused of war crimes from holding office. Milosevic died in 2006 while on trial at The Hague.

Question: what is he planning to do

Question: what is he accused of

Question: Where did Radovan Karadzic apear?

Question: Who is representing Radovan?

Question: What is ex-Bosnian Serb leader accused of?

Question: what happened last year

Answer: "self-representing

Answer: worst massacre in Europe since World War II,

Answer: a hearing to discuss his refusal to appear for trial.

Answer: He is

Answer: of responsibility for the worst massacre in Europe since World War II,

Answer: Karadzic was captured in Belgrade,

Summary:
Radovan Karadzic appears at hearing at International Criminal Tribunal to discuss his refusal to appear for war crimes trial .
Ex-Bosnian Serb leader is accused of responsibility for worst massacre in Europe since World War II .
Karadzic, who is representing himself, says he has had insufficient time to prepare his defense .
Karadzic was arrested last year in Belgrade after more than a decade on the run .


The Hague, Netherlands (CNN) -- Prosecutors in the long-awaited war crimes trial of Radovan Karadzic said they will push ahead Tuesday, though the Bosnian Serb leader is expected to be a no-show once again.

On Monday -- the opening day of the trial -- the court was forced to adjourn after Karadzic refused to appear, saying he did not have enough time to prepare.

Karadzic, who is accused of masterminding the worst massacre in Europe since World War II, is representing himself.

"Obviously, it is the court's preference for Karadzic to attend," said Nerma Jelacic, spokeswoman for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. "But if he chooses not to attend, then some facility will be provided to him to allow him to watch the court's proceedings from his prison cell."

The court cannot force a defendant to appear. Karadzic, as a "self-representing accused," is the only one who can cross-examine witnesses and speak in court about the substance of the charges against him.

However, judges can impose a lawyer on Karadzic if he continues to refuse to cooperate.

Karadzic faces 11 counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity against Bosnian Muslims, Bosnian Croats and other non-Serbian civilians during the brutal and bloody dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Bosnia and Herzegovina were a part of Yugoslavia at the time.

The conflict introduced the phrase "ethnic cleansing" into the lexicon describing war crimes, as different factions in multi-ethnic Yugoslavia sought to kill or drive out other groups.

Karadzic was arrested last year after more than a decade on the run and was found to have been living in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, and practicing alternative medicine in disguise.

In a letter dated Wednesday and made public Thursday, Karadzic complained to the International Criminal Tribunal that he had not received the relevant case material on time. He also said there was too much material to go through, even had he received it promptly.

"I ask Your Excellencies -- why and how is it possible that the prosecution is allowed to literally bury me under a million of pages, only to start disclosing relevant material many months after my arrest?" he wrote.

"Why and how is it possible that the prosecution is allowed to file its final indictment against me on the eve of the planned trial date?"

He promised to continue his preparations in "the most intensive way" and inform the court when he is ready.

The genocide charges against Karadzic stem partly from killings in Srebrenica, the most notorious massacre of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Memories of the massacre remain raw. Watch the video

Prosecutors at the U.N. war crimes tribunal accuse Karadzic of responsibility.

"On 8 March 1995, Karadzic instructed Bosnian Serb forces under his command to create an unbearable situation of total insecurity with no hope of further survival for the inhabitants of Srebrenica, amongst other places," the tribunal said in a statement this month.

The Hague indictment also said Karadzic committed genocide when forces under his command killed non-Serbs during and after attacks in more than a dozen Bosnian municipalities early in the war.

Karadzic, who faces life in prison if he is convicted, denies the charges. The court cannot impose the death penalty.

The 1992-95 Bosnian war was the longest of the wars spawned by the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. Backed by the government of then-Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Bosnian Serb forces seized control of more than half the country and launched a campaign against the Muslim and Croat populations.

Karadzic was removed from power in 1995, when the Dayton Accords that ended the Bosnian war barred anyone accused of war crimes from holding office.

Milosevic died in 2006 while on trial at The Hague.

Question: How long had Karadzic been on the run for?

Question: Who was the court spokeswoman?

Question: Where was Karadzic arrested?

Question: What were the charges at International Criminal Tribunal?

Question: can Radovan Karadzic watch trial from cell?

Question: Where can Radovan Karadizic watch the trial?

Question: What did the Court spokeswoman say?

Answer: a decade

Answer: Nerma Jelacic,

Answer: Belgrade,

Answer: 11 counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity

Answer: some facility will be provided to him to allow him to

Answer: from his prison cell."

Answer: preference for Karadzic to attend,"

Summary:
Court spokeswoman: Radovan Karadzic can watch trial from cell .
Ex-Bosnian Serb leader on genocide charges at International Criminal Tribunal .
Prosecutors seek to impose lawyer on Karadzic if he refuses to cooperate .
Karadzic was arrested last year in Belgrade after more than a decade on the run .


The U.N. Security Council and U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday called for both sides in Sri Lanka's civil war to protect civilians and allow humanitarian aid into the conflict zone, where tens of thousands are trapped. President Obama criticized the Tamil Tigers for using civilians as "human shields." In a statement at the White House, Obama urged Sri Lankan government troops to halt the "indiscriminate" shelling of civilians trapped with the remnants of the country's Tamil Tiger rebels and demanded the rebels stop using civilians as "human shields." Security Council members issued a statement demanding "that all parties respect their obligations under international humanitarian law." Though the rebels once controlled much of northeastern Sri Lanka, government troops have forced them from all but a small portion of the island since November. The remaining rebel force is pinned down on a narrow strip on the island's northern coast, but more than 50,000 civilians are trapped there as well, the United Nations estimates. Anna Neistat, of the New York-based Human Rights Watch, told CNN that both sides in the conflict are guilty of "egregious violations" of humanitarian law. "I think the government claims that they're not using heavy weapons do not pass the laugh test any more," she said. "Witnesses are telling us about the shelling. We also get photos of remnants of the shells that hit the areas." U.N. spokesman Gordon Weiss told CNN on Monday that hundreds of civilians died during weekend fighting because the Sri Lankan army had put residents in the crossfire, and Obama and the Security Council urged the government to live up to its commitment to stop using heavy weapons. Neistat said at least 30 hospitals had been attacked in the conflict zone as well. Meanwhile, the Tigers -- who have been branded a terrorist organization by the United States, more than 30 other countries and the European Union -- are refusing to let the civilians who surround them evacuate, Neistat said. "Witnesses are telling us that they were not allowed to leave, that those who tried to leave were shot at by the Tamil Tigers," she said. The group, formally known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, have fought for an independent state in Sri Lanka since 1983. As many as 70,000 people have been killed since the civil war began, and nearly 200,000 people are now sheltering in camps across the country's north. Obama called on the remaining rebels "to lay down their arms and let civilians go." "Their forced recruitment of civilians and their use of civilians as human shields is deplorable. These tactics will only serve to alienate all those who carry them out," he said. Obama also said government troops "should stop the indiscriminate shelling that has taken hundreds of innocent lives" in recent days. A Red Cross worker was killed Wednesday during shelling in the conflict zone in Sri Lanka -- the third aid worker killed in six weeks -- the International Committee of the Red Cross said. The fighting between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers has intensified in the conflict area to the point that the Red Cross cannot get food to that area or help the sick and wounded, said Sarasi Wijeratne, a Red Cross spokeswoman. "Without urgent action, this humanitarian crisis could turn into a catastrophe," Obama said. "Now's the time, I believe, to put aside some of the political issues that are involved and to put the lives of the men and women and children who are innocently caught in the crossfire, to put them first."

Question: What is demanded of all parties?

Question: What are Tamils fighting for?

Question: What is the security council demanding?

Question: What should be respected?

Question: Who called on the government?

Question: who are the tamil

Question: What made Obama criticize the Tamil Tigers?

Answer: respect their obligations under international humanitarian law."

Answer: an independent state in Sri Lanka

Answer: "that all parties respect their obligations under international humanitarian law."

Answer: their obligations under international humanitarian law."

Answer: Obama and the Security Council

Answer: Tiger rebels

Answer: using civilians as "human shields."

Summary:
NEW: Security Council demands all parties respect international humanitarian law .
Obama criticizes the Tamil Tigers for using civilians as "human shields"
He also calls on government to stop using heavy weapons, allow aid in .
Tamil Tigers have been fighting for an independent state for ethnic Tamil minority .


The company that owns a cash depot targeted in a daring helicopter raid this week said Friday it is offering a reward of more than $1 million for information about the heist. A police Swat team enter a G4S cash depot in Vastberga, Stockholm. G4S said it is offering up to 7 million Swedish kronor ($1.01 million) for information leading directly to the arrest and conviction of the offenders or the recovery of the stolen money. G4S also said the circulation of cash in Stockholm would not be adversely affected by the heist, which occurred just days before Sweden's monthly payday, when the depot would have been rife with cash. The company did not disclose how much money had been lost, but the thieves could have gotten as much as the equivalent of several millions of U.S. dollars, according to CNN affiliate TV4. A group of heavily-armed thieves used a helicopter early Wednesday to land on the roof of the cash depot in Vastbarga, Stockholm, which serves automatic teller machines all across the capital, TV4 reported. They used explosives to get into the building, witness Bjorn Lockstrom told TV4, and later hoisted bags of money to the waiting chopper. TV4 later reported that the blueprints of the building were public documents which anybody could request to see. G4S had never asked for the blueprints to be classified. The helicopter had been stolen earlier during the night, police said. The thieves had also placed a bag marked "bomb" outside the police heliport, meaning Swedish police couldn't immediately pursue the thieves because they had to first deal with the bag. TV4 later reported that the bag never contained a bomb. The thieves had also blocked the roads around the cash depot with metal spikes, TV4 reported. No one was hurt during the heist, police said, even though several employees had been in the building when the robbers entered. Stockholm police said the heist had been elaborate. "The robbery was very well planned. They brought a lot of firepower with them, among other things automatic weapons," Anders Bjargard from the Stockholm police, told TV4. Two people have been questioned in relation to the heist, but no one has been arrested. Police are still hopeful they will find the perpetrators. "We have a lot of traces after the perpetrators, both where the robbery took place and where we found the helicopter," Bjargard said. The investigation is the biggest operation the Swedish police have mounted since the murder of Sweden's then-Foreign Minister Anna Lindh in 2003. "It's an enormous piece of puzzle, and we don't want to miss anything," Anders Buren, head of police operations, told TV4. Since the heist, Swedish police have been criticized for storing their helicopters at an unguarded heliport in the Stockholm archipelago, which enabled the thieves easily to put the police helicopter out of commission. Swedish media also criticized police for not shooting at the thieves as they escaped in their helicopter. But Bengt Svensson, the head of Swedish police, defended the police officers' actions. "Just because we now have criminals who act like they do in the movies doesn't mean that we can do it as well," Svensson told Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.

Question: How much money is believed to have been stolen?

Question: What did the thieves use during the raide?

Question: What did armed thieves use during the raid?

Question: How much money I'd being offered for information on the heist?

Question: What country did the heist occur in?

Question: How much did the owners of the depot offer?

Question: What was stolen?

Question: Who stole the helicoptor?

Question: What reward is being offered?

Question: Thieves stole the equivalent of how much?

Question: What mode of transportation was used during the raid?

Question: What amount of money did the thieves steal?

Question: What did the armed thieves use during the raid?

Question: What reward did owners offer for information on the heist?

Question: Who offered £1M reward for information on heist?

Answer: The company did not disclose

Answer: helicopter

Answer: helicopter

Answer: more than $1 million

Answer: Sweden's

Answer: $1 million

Answer: The company did not disclose how much money had been lost, but the thieves could have gotten as much as the equivalent of several millions of U.S. dollars,

Answer: group of heavily-armed thieves

Answer: 7 million Swedish kronor ($1.01 million)

Answer: ($1.01 million)

Answer: helicopter

Answer: several millions of U.S. dollars,

Answer: explosives

Answer: $1 million

Answer: G4S

Summary:
Owners of Swedish cash depot offer £1M reward for information on heist .
Thieves believed to have stolen the equivalent of several million dollars .
Armed thieves used a stolen helicopter during the raid .


The father of missing child Haleigh Cummings' married his 17-year-old-girlfriend, who was the last one known to have seen the child alive, the girl's grandmother told Nancy Grace producers. Ronald Cummings proposes to Misty Croslin Sunday at a local Chili's restaurant. On Sunday Ronald Cummings asked his teenage girlfriend, Misty Croslin, for her hand in marriage at a local Chili's restaurant. While he was with several family members, Cummings got down on one knee, asked Croslin to marry him and gave her Haleigh's grandmother's diamond ring. Because Croslin is only 17 years old, her mother filled out the paperwork so the two could be married. On Thursday, the pair tied the knot, after the three-day waiting period required by Florida law. Croslin, who was beaming earlier in the week after the engagement, told CNN affiliate WJXT-TV that while she knows there will be critics of the marriage and the timing, "everything is still about Haleigh." Croslin said she wanted to be together as a family, just as Haleigh would have wanted. "Everybody is probably going to take this marriage thing the wrong way," Croslin told WJXT. "This is what Haleigh wanted. She has always talked about it, and even if she's not with us, she is still with us." Croslin told police she tucked Haleigh and her 4-year-old brother into bed about 8 p.m. February 9 in their Satsuma, Florida, home. She said she went to sleep herself about 10 p.m. but woke at 3 a.m. to find Haleigh missing and a back door propped open by bricks. Police are still actively searching for the girl, with a new search happening this week, and investigators Wednesday took the back door that was found propped open. In the middle of the search for the girl, the newlyweds will fly to New York Thursday night for their honeymoon and an exclusive appearance on the Today show. Haleigh's grandmother, Teresa Neves, also acknowledged the timing might seem "unusual." "Well, it is unusual for some onlookers, but those people didn't live with my two grandchildren," she told Nancy Grace. "My grandchildren, both Haleigh and Junior, have very often said that they would love for their daddy to marry Misty and that they wanted Misty to be their mommy. And so I feel like they are just trying to fulfill a wish for Haleigh so that when she comes home she will have that extra happiness to come home to." Before the wedding, Neves told CNN affiliate WKMG-TV the wedding would be difficult without Haleigh. "It's an event that Haleigh really should be at, but when she comes home, we'll have a great big wedding so she can be the flower girl and see it all again," Neves said.

Question: Where did the engagement of Ronald Cummings took place?

Question: who is haleigh?

Question: isnt 17 too young to marry?

Question: Who acknowledges critics?

Answer: local Chili's restaurant.

Answer: missing child

Answer: Because Croslin is only

Answer: Misty Croslin

Summary:
Ronald Cummings, Misty Croslin, 17, wed after getting engaged at Chili's Sunday .
Croslin acknowledges critics, but says "this is what Haleigh wanted"
Grandma Theresa Neves says Haleigh, brother, both wanted the pair to get married .
Neves: "When she comes home she will have that extra happiness to come home to"


The mother of murdered schoolboy Damilola Taylor has died of a suspected heart attack, The Press Association reported Wednesday. Gloria Taylor outside London's Central Criminal Court with Damilola's older brother Tunde in 2006. Gloria Taylor, 57, collapsed while walking with her husband Richard in south-east London Tuesday, the agency reported. Efforts to revive her at hospital failed and she was pronounced dead moments later, according to London police headquarters Scotland Yard. Damilola, 10, bled to death after being attacked on his way home from Oliver Goldsmith Primary School in November 2000. He staggered 100 yards with blood pouring from a sliced artery in his leg after being stabbed. Nigerian-born Damilola had been in Britain for only a few months when he was attacked while walking home from an after school computer club. Damilola's killing was front-page news in Britain, and prompted soul-searching on topics ranging from the deprivation of inner cities to school bullying. A year after their son's death, the Taylors established the Damilola Taylor Trust, aimed at improving the lives of underprivileged young people. The trust offers scholarships for medical students from poor backgrounds, and also set up the Damilola Taylor Center, in Peckham, south-east London, which provides sports and community activities. At the time, Gloria said the trust aimed to provide hope and opportunities for Britain's "downtrodden and underprivileged youth". "Damilola lost his life because of enormous problems in this society. Our son wanted to be a doctor. "He was a leader, and we are sure he would have been extraordinary. We would like the trust to heal many of the ills faced by today's youth," The Guardian newspaper reported her saying at the time. In August 2006, two teenage brothers were convicted of his manslaughter and given eight-year youth custody sentences. Danny and Ricky Preddie, who were 12 and 13 at the time of the killing, were convicted at a retrial. The conviction came after three trials and two police investigations, parts of which were strongly criticized, The Guardian reported. PA quoted a Metropolitan Police spokeswoman as saying: "Police were called at about 7.45pm on April 8 by London Ambulance Service to reports of a woman taken ill on the street in Shooters Hill. "Local officers and London Ambulance Service were in attendance and a woman in her 50s was taken by ambulance to hospital suffering a suspected heart attack and was pronounced life extinct at 8.29pm. "A post-mortem examination will take place in due course. "The incident is being investigated by local borough officers and is currently being treated as non suspicious."  E-mail to a friend

Question: What did Damilola die of?

Question: Who was the murdered schoolboy?

Question: When did Gloria Taylor collapse?

Question: What did Taylor's mother die of?

Question: Who was stabbed?

Question: When did the child die?

Question: Who was she walking with?

Question: What was the age of the child at her death?

Answer: bled to death

Answer: Damilola Taylor

Answer: Tuesday,

Answer: suspected heart attack,

Answer: Damilola,

Answer: 2000.

Answer: her husband Richard

Answer: 10,

Summary:
Mother of murdered schoolboy Damilola Taylor dies of suspected heart attack .
Gloria Taylor, 57, collapsed while walking with her husband Richard Tuesday .
Damilola, 10, was stabbed in 2000, death prompted soul-searching in Britain .


The second most-dreaded question for new parents after "Is your baby sleeping?" (Answer: "Well, yes, for forty-five-minute stretches, but not during the night, and only after I conduct a two-hour-long routine including feeding, swaddling, singing, rocking, and an ancient tribal sleep dance") is "Where does he sleep?" Some say a baby should never sleep in the same bed as you, while others say it's the only way to go. That's because the response is usually just as complicated and the people who ask are often ready to pass judgment on it. At least, that's what more than 6,000 of you told us in our national survey about sleep habits, in which we set out to determine the differences between parents who put their babies down to sleep at night in a crib (for convenience's sake, we're calling them "crib-sleepers") and those who share a family bed with their children (co-sleepers). Here, an illuminating peek into the night lives of new families: "Now, that's crazy!" When we were creating this survey, we imagined a giant pillow fight, with moms on one side of the bed yelling "Safety!" and a posse on the other shouting "Bonding!" And we did hear those battle cries: Nearly half of all crib-sleepers admitted that they think co-sleepers are "irresponsible" and that parents who share a family bed are "putting their baby's life at risk." Parenting.com: Guide to baby sleep Another 39 percent think that co-sleeping parents are spoiling their baby. "I know people who still have a three-year-old in bed with them because the kid won't sleep alone. Now, that's crazy!" exclaims Patty Queen, a mom of two in Marion, North Carolina. "Come on, people, you are only making it hard on the kids by keeping them in the bed with you." Another crib proponent, Esther Tune of Henderson, Nevada, considers co-sleeping to be "the easy option." "I never brought my kids into my bed -- even though it would have been easier. I believe they're safer in their own crib." So what about the safety issue? In a 2005 policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warned that bed-sharing was associated with an increase in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and strongly recommended against the practice. "There is no evidence that co-sleeping can be done safely," adds John Kattwinkel, M.D., chairperson of the AAP's Task Force on SIDS. Parenting.com: Baby sleep strategies No wonder moms who co-sleep are twice as likely to feel judged compared with crib-sleepers. In their defense, co-sleepers cite the work of James McKenna, Ph.D., an anthropologist whose research shows SIDS rates to be lower in countries where co-sleeping is the norm, and the attachment-parenting theories of Babytalk contributing editor William Sears, M.D. (Both experts believe parents can -- and must -- co-sleep safely; see Askdrsears.com for guidelines.) Parenting.com: Why are infants still dying from SIDS? In fact, co-sleepers were just as likely to choose their sleeping arrangement for safety reasons as crib-sleepers. And they also slung some arrows: 40 percent of moms who planned to co-sleep believe that parents who use a crib won't have as close a bond with their babies as they do; another 20 percent feel that crib-sleepers are "selfish" and "only thinking of their own sleep." "Babies grow up more secure when they sleep with their moms for the first year of their lives," contends Phasinee Brown of Kansas City, Kansas. Parenting.com: Learning to sleep solo Giving up control The majority of parents agreed, however, that in the quest for rest, one size does not fit all babies. "After having three children," Trenny Suggs of Spring Hill, Tennessee

Question: What is associated with an increase in sudden infant death syndrome?

Question: What is associated with an increase in SIDS?

Question: What is the norm for countries where SIDS rates are lower?

Answer: bed-sharing

Answer: bed-sharing

Answer: co-sleeping

Summary:
AAP: Bed-sharing associated with an increase in sudden infant death syndrome .
Study: SIDS rates to be lower in countries where co-sleeping is the norm .
Survey: Few moms planned on co-sleeping, but 42 percent ended up doing so .
There is no perfect sleep solution .


The state you live in may affect your state of mind, according to new report that shows that rates of stress, depression, and emotional problems vary by geographic region. Where you live may affect your state of mind, according to a new mental health report. That's good news if you live in Hawaii, where only 6.6 percent of people report frequent mental distress. Not-so-good news for those in Kentucky: In the Bluegrass State, 14.4 percent of people said they frequently experienced mental distress -- the highest prevalence in the country. Frequent mental distress is defined as having 14 or more mentally unhealthy days during the previous 30-day period. The researchers were surprised that the study, which will be published in the June 2009 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, showed such a broad range in mental distress depending on geographic location. "The occurrence of frequent mental distress in adults differs much more than expected among the residents of U.S. states and counties," said lead researcher Dr. Matthew M. Zack, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. People who have frequent mental distress may have treatable and preventable mental illnesses or problems, and social programs or interventions may help, Zack said.  Health.com: How stress may affect psoriasis In the study, the researchers looked at rates of mental distress by state among 2.4 million adults across two time periods -- 1993 through 2001 and 2003 through 2006 -- as part of the ongoing Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System study. Overall, the prevalence for frequent mental distress across both time periods was 9.4 percent, with the lowest rate in Hawaii and the highest rate in Kentucky. Why the difference? It may be because residents in some areas of the country are more likely than others to have health conditions such as disability or diabetes, untreated mental conditions like anxiety or depression, high unemployment rates, risky behaviors including cigarette smoking and alcohol abuse, and/or social circumstances such as lower incomes. Health.com: Manic spending puts bipolar patients at risk for financial woes An area centered on Kentucky showed high levels of frequent mental distress that remained elevated over time, while in other parts of the country (such as the upper Midwest) low levels of frequent mental distress remained low over time, the study showed. Health.com: Secrets to a stress-free home Overall, though, frequent mental distress seems to be on the rise. The rate of frequent mental distress increased by at least 1 percentage point in 27 states, and by more than 4 percentage points in Mississippi, Oklahoma, and West Virginia from the first time period to the second time period. "In some areas, normal or low frequent-mental-distress levels increased over time, implying the introduction of influences that increased levels of frequent mental distress," Zack said. Health.com: Stress-reduction therapy may hike breast cancer survival rates The new state-by-state breakdown of rates of mental distress should have ramifications as the Obama Administration takes on health care reform, said Chuck Holzer, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. "From a public health standpoint, it's great to be aware of places with high rates of frequent mental distress so we can help make sure that access to care is increasing in those areas," he said. Many of the states with high rates of frequent mental distress are struggling economically, as are their residents. As a result, they may not be able to afford health insurance that includes mental health services. "The big message is that you need to monitor the health and mental health of the country because it will lead to greater equity in mental health services," Holzer said. And Zack said, "Community mental health agencies, social service agencies, and public health agencies in counties where frequent mental distress is increased should recognize that such increases may indicate unmet health and social service needs." Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com

Question: What is the rate in Kentucky?

Question: What are residents likely to have?

Question: What differs amoung US?

Question: What differs among residents of U.S. States?

Question: How many percent report in hawaii?

Question: What is the rate in Hawaii?

Answer: 14.4 percent

Answer: health conditions

Answer: "The occurrence of frequent mental distress in adults

Answer: stress, depression, and emotional problems

Answer: 6.6

Answer: 6.6 percent

Summary:
Mental distress differs among residents of U.S. states and counties .
Hawaii: 6.6 percent of people report frequent mental distress; Kentucky: 14.4 percent .
Residents in some areas are more likely to have health conditions or disabilities .


The swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, is all over the news. A string of cases have been reported across the United States, as well as across the globe, with Mexico the hardest hit country, so far.

Older kids, who may be scared but hide it, should be reassured that parents and health officials are on top of it.

It's easy to freak out amid these disturbing reports, but the truth is you're probably doing everything you need to do to protect your family.

"Parents should be aware of what public health officials are saying, and then just be extra vigilant about the precautions they'd normally take to prevent the spread of germs," says Joseph Bocchini, M.D., chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics committee on infectious diseases and pediatrics chair of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport.

No. 1 on the list: washing hands more frequently. So take a deep breath, put down the surgical mask, and read on for all information you need to know. Parenting.com: Cold and flu old wives' tales

Signs and symptoms

Indicators of swine flu are not unlike those for regular old run-of-the-mill flu. What makes this virus different from typical flu is that more serious complications, such as pneumonia, might occur more often. Also, says Bocchini, this is a new strain of flu, and no one in the population would be expected to be immune.

One of the biggest concerns for officials is simply that a lot of people could get sick at the same time. Take heart in knowing that our government health officials are doing everything they can to make sure the country's prepared. In the mean time, your job is to know how to spot the signs. If you or your child are experiencing any of the following, call your doctor. He or she may want you to come in and be tested. Parenting.com: Interactive symptom checker

• fever (above 100.4 for babies 3 months and younger, and 101.1 for everyone else), plus

• cough

• sore throat

• intense body aches

• headache

• chills

• fatigue

Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting, too.

Pregnant women are at extra risk for complications even with regular flu, according to Bocchini, and small children have a higher rate of hospitalization. Both expectant women and moms of kids under 2 should be extra careful about taking action quickly.  Parenting.com: How to keep nosy, germy strangers away from your baby

When to head to the ER

If your child demonstrates any of the following symptoms, it's time to seek emergency care:

• Fast or troubled breathing

• Bluish skin color

• Refusal to drink fluids

• Difficulty waking up and/or interacting

• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

• Fever with a rash, especially one that does not blanch

In adults, the following symptoms deserve an ER trip as well:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Pain or pressure in the chest

• Abdominal pain

• Sudden dizziness

• Confusion

• Severe or persistent vomiting

How to talk to your kids about It

As always, you'll want to explain to kids that germs can make us sick, and that's why it's important to wash your hands. You can say, "Soap and water rinse away the little buggers so they can't make us feel bad."

If they've caught wind of swine flu in particular, it's important to project an image of calm (even if you're internally flipping out) and make them feel safe. Small kids should be soothed with a simple explanation that there are different kinds of flu, and we should just keep up with washing up. Older kids, who may be scared but hide it, can be given a few more details but should still be reassured that their parents and our health officials are on top of it.

Easing symptoms and treatment

Question: What needs to be explained to children?

Question: What is being spread?

Question: What precautions should we take?

Question: What should parents tell their kids about the swine flu?

Question: What do germs do?

Answer: H1N1 virus,

Answer: H1N1 virus,

Answer: washing hands more frequently.

Answer: that germs can make us sick, and that's why it's important to wash your hands.

Answer: can make us sick,

Summary:
What parents should tell children about swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus .
Explain to kids that germs can make us sick, so it's important to wash hands .
Project an image of calm to make them feel safe. Tailor explanation to age .
Take common flu-season precautions .


There's always something happening in the city that never sleeps, but if you're in New York at the right time you'll get to see New Yorkers coming together for one of the city's big annual events. Giant inflatables are the highlight of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. St Patrick's Day Parade (17 March) St Patrick's Day is when New York's sizeable Irish-American community celebrates its long association with the city, with thousands joining a flag-waving parade of traditional marching pipe bands. Dating back to 1762, it's far more traditional than New York's other parades. There are no floats or corporate sponsors involved -- just vast numbers of green-clad revelers. Indeed, it's the one day of the year when shamrock-adorned hats and stick on ginger beards are considered appropriate attire. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. at 44th Street, making its way past St. Patrick's Cathedral at 50th Street and the American Irish Historical Society at 83rd, finishing at 86th Street at around 5:00 p.m. Needless to say, New York's Irish bars get pretty crowded in the evening. Watch Candace Bushnell take CNN on a tour of New York. » Met in the Parks (June) An al fresco treat for opera lovers, every summer New York's Metropolitan Opera Company lays on free outdoor performances in the city's parks. The 2009 program will feature performances in each of the five boroughs, at Staten Island's Tappan Park, Crotona Park in The Bronx, Queensbridge Park in Queens; Coffey Park in Brooklyn, East River Park in Manhattan and at SummerStage in Central Park. If that's whet your appetite for evenings of outdoor classical music, "New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks" takes place in July at parks around the city. Take a blanket and a well-stocked picnic hamper for maximum enjoyment. What do you think are New York's seasonal highlights? Sound Off below. Independence Day (July 4) The day America declared its independence from Britain in 1776 is a national holiday celebrated in style throughout the country. But, naturally, New York is where the celebrations become a full-blown extravaganza. The highlight of New York's Independence Day celebrations is the Macy's fireworks display. Usually, fireworks are launched from the East River, but the 2009 fireworks will be launched from barges positioned between 24th and 50th Streets on the Hudson River. That means Manhattan's West Side and New Jersey will provide prime viewing spots and will consequently be packed to the gills with tens of thousands of rubbernecking New Yorkers. See photos of Candace Bushnell in New York. » Village Halloween Parade (31 October) Halloween is a big deal in America and the nation's biggest and best Halloween parade takes place along New York's Sixth Avenue. Greenwich Village's "anything goes" attitude is what makes this event special, translating into eye-popping costumes, heaps of audience interaction and dazzling giant puppets, brought to life by showboating puppeteers. The parade begins at 6.30 p.m., starting on Spring Street and making its way to 23rd Street. You'll need to stake your roadside spot early if you want to see more than the backs of other spectators. Better still, wear a costume and you're entitled to join in the parade -- nothing is too outrageous. Even if you're cheering from the sidelines, you should get into the spirit of things by donning a ghoulish mask at the very least, thousands of which suddenly appear in local shops in the days leading up to the parade. http://www.halloween-nyc.com Macy's Thanksgiving Parade (fourth Thursday in November) A New York institution, the inaugural parade in 1924 included live animals on loan from from Central Park Zoo. The zoo animals have long been retired, replaced by floats that act as moving anchors for enormous helium balloons of various colorful cartoon characters. These floating colossi are the highlight of the event and attract annual crowds of around three million New Yorkers. The parade runs from 9 a.m. to midday and follows a two-and-a-half mile route through Central Park West to Herald

Question: Which characters are in the parade?

Question: What city turns green for the traditional St Patty's Day Parade?

Question: What is the highlight of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?

Question: Wearing a costume will let you join what?

Question: What do you do to join the celebration?

Answer: green-clad revelers.

Answer: New York's

Answer: Giant inflatables

Answer: the parade

Answer: wear a costume

Summary:
New York turns green for the city's traditional St Patrick's Day Parade .
Wearing a costume lets you join in the the Village Halloween celebrations .
Inflatable cartoon characters are the highlight of Macy's Thanksgiving Parade .


They're bigger, brawnier, and faster than the typical male, but are National Football League players healthier than other men their age? Justin Bannan, who plays for the Baltimore Ravens, participated in the study on NFL players. Yes and no, according to a new NFL-funded study that looks at the cardiovascular health of young athletes. The good news is that NFL players have cholesterol levels similar to other men in their 20s and 30s, and their blood sugar tends to be even healthier. However, they are much more likely to have high blood pressure or borderline hypertension when compared with men who aren't professional athletes. "It's a step in the right direction to have this study," says Justin Bannan, 30, who plays defensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens and took part in the research. "I think the more information we can find out and the more studies we can do, the better." The study, published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is important, particularly as more and more players are weighing in at 300-plus pounds. The extra weight could potentially strain an athlete's heart in youth or even after retirement, and many question whether it has played a role in a handful of high-profile deaths. Health.com: Eat right advice: Fiber, starch, fats, serving sizes In particular, the death of Thomas Herrion at age 23 has raised concerns about the heart health of larger players. Herrion, who was 6'3" and 330 pounds, had just finished an exhibition game with the San Francisco 49ers when he collapsed and died in 2005. "He's sort of the prototype of the bigger, stronger linemen that populates the NFL now, as compared with 20 or 30 years ago," says lead study author Dr. Andrew M. Tucker, the team physician for the Baltimore Ravens. "We have so many big, strong guys over 300 pounds. I think that case in particular was important in stimulating the whole study and the investigation." Other heavy players-- such as defensive end Reggie White-- have also died at an early age. White was 43 when he died from cardiac arrhythmia in 2004. In the study, Tucker, who is the cochair of the NFL subcommittee on cardiovascular health, and his colleagues looked at 504 active players from 12 teams in 2007. The researchers measured the players' height, weight, percentage of body fat, and other factors, and then compared them to 1,959 men ages 23 to 35 who participated in a study called CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults). Health.com: 20 little ways to lose drop the pounds and keep them off They found that players were less likely to smoke or have blood-sugar problems than other men (only 6.7 percent of players had impaired fasting glucose compared to 15.5 percent of other men) and their cholesterol levels were essentially the same. However, 13.8 percent of players had high blood pressure and 64.5 percent had prehypertension, or borderline high blood pressure, compared to 5.5 percent and 24.2 percent of other men, respectively. Tucker notes that the football players outweighed the men in the CARDIA study by an average of 70 pounds and that it's natural to assume that larger people may have higher blood pressure. "But what was fascinating to us was the category of prehypertension," says  Tucker, who is also the medical director of sports medicine at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Health.com: How to eat out without getting fat The study found that NFL athletes are more likely to have prehypertension than other men-- regardless of the size of the player or his position. "So our lean players who play defensive back and wide receiver, they have prevalence of prehypertension just as common as the really big guys playing offensive and defensive line," says Tucker. "So there's something that we're trying to investigate now that accounts for elevated blood pressures in our active players that is not accounted for by size alone-- there's got to be something else." Health.com: Cut up to 900 calories with simple substitutions That "something else"

Question: How many teams were involved in the research?

Question: Whose death has raised worries over heart health of big players?

Question: who are more likely to have prehypertension than other men?

Question: What is the name of the NFL player that died?

Question: Compared to other men, what disease are NFL players more likely to have?

Question: When did the researchers look at the players for the study?

Question: How many teams did researches look at in 2007?

Question: NFL athletes are more likely to have what?

Question: The death of who raised worries?

Answer: 12

Answer: Thomas Herrion

Answer: NFL players

Answer: Thomas Herrion

Answer: high blood pressure or borderline hypertension

Answer: 2007.

Answer: in

Answer: high blood pressure or borderline hypertension

Answer: Thomas Herrion

Summary:
Death of Thomas Herrion has raised worries over the heart health of big  players .
Researchers looked at 504 active NFL players from 12 teams in 2007 .
Players were less likely to smoke or have blood-sugar problems than other men .
NFL athletes are more likely to have prehypertension than other men .


This Mother's Day, skip the flowers and forget the chocolate (unless it's dark)! Give your mom something she really needs -- the gift of good health.

Do something good for mom this Mother's Day by getting her healthy food and investing in her wellness.

No, you don't have to buy her a treadmill. There are many other things you can do to give your mom a boost in terms of her physical (or mental) well-being. Most moms will truly appreciate that your Mother's Day gift is aimed at keeping her happy, healthy, and in your life for a long time.

In case you are drawing a blank, we came up with a list of healthy -- and relatively inexpensive -- gift ideas for every mom.

1. Give the gift of (your) time and support at the doctor's office.

"Offer to be your mom's health buddy," says Philadelphia-based women's health expert Dr. Marie Savard, author of several books, including Ask Dr. Marie: Straight Talk and Reassuring Answers to Your Most Private Questions. "Promise to be there for any and all doctor's visits whether a mammogram or routine appointment," she said. "Most moms always say 'don't bother,' but another set of eyes and ears is always a good idea at a doctor's visit." The best part? This one is free. Health.com: A mammogram may have saved my life

2. Give the gift of healthy eating.

Rather than an expensive, artery-clogging brunch, you can spring for a visit with the nutritionist and follow it with a healthy meal.

"Mother's Day is a great reason to get your mom to see a nutritionist," said Dana Greene, a nutritionist in private practice in Boston.

"Nutritionists can really tailor their advice to whatever issues mom is having with her diet, including losing weight or learning how to eat to reduce her risk of certain diseases such as breast cancer or osteoporosis," Greene says. "An appointment lasts about an hour and is relatively inexpensive. Take mom out for a healthy brunch afterward and watch her put all she learned into practice." Health.com: How to eat out without getting fat

Greene also suggests subscribing to a healthy-cooking magazine to keep your mom in the healthy-eating mindset all year. Savard added: "Make and freeze healthy foods in individual containers for your mom." She suggested making healthy versions of your mother's fave foods.

3. Give the gift of organization.

Instead of making a photo album of family snapshots (although that's nice too), make your mom a folder containing all of her medical records, Savard said. "Put a folder together of test results and vital information so it is all in one place," she said. Make sure to include a list of all of her medications and what times she takes them. "Having all this information in one place could end up saving your mom's life," Savard said.

4. Give the gift of a good night's sleep.

Adequate sleep is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, as well as other health conditions. "Buy your mom satin sheets, a new mattress, a mattress cover, or a luxurious pillow to encourage better sleep," Savard said. "We know that restorative sleep is critical to our immune system and heart health." For new mothers, offer to watch the baby while she takes a nap. This will also allow you to spend quality time with the kids, so "it's a win-win," she said. Health.com: 10 Risk factors for heart disease

5. Give the gift of healthful goodies.

Instead of a gourmet gift basket filled with cheese and crackers or sweets, make your own healthy gift basket for your mom, suggests Savard. Not sure what to put in it? Start with a multivitamin, calcium supplements, and vitamin D supplements. "If you know your mom is trying to get more fiber, put some fiber supplements

Question: Try healthy gifts for what holiday?

Question: Give the gift of (your) time where?

Question: Try healthy gifts for which day?

Question: Visit a nutritionist rather than giving what?

Question: What can cause artery-clogging?

Question: Where can you give the gift of time?

Answer: Mother's Day

Answer: at the doctor's office.

Answer: Mother's

Answer: an expensive, artery-clogging brunch,

Answer: brunch,

Answer: doctor's office.

Summary:
Forget conventional flowers and chocolate, try healthy gifts for Mother's Day .
Give the gift of (your) time and support at the doctor's office .
Rather than artery-clogging brunch, spring for a visit with nutritionist .


This story is part of an ongoing series of profiles by CNN about economic survival in this time of financial crisis. Jean Lindsay records a video telling people to get out of their nightgowns and look for work. (CNN) -- Jean Lindsay, a spunky 67-year-old with two masters' degrees, panicked after she failed to land a job in the garden center of a Lowe's home-improvement store. She started to wonder whether a woman of her age ever would be able to find work. She worried about her debt, and weeks of unemployment were turning into months. After the job interview, she stayed up most of the night in the fits of an anxiety attack -- vomiting and huddling under the bedcovers with her two dogs. "God, I felt like I was falling off the ends of the earth," she said. A few days later, though, she tossed on a red sweater, plopped down in front of her computer, flipped on her Web camera -- and, suddenly, while streaming her story onto the Internet, things seemed OK. "I know I can count on you to send me great letters of support and cheer," Lindsay told viewers on CNN's iReport.com. "And remember, if you're going through this, I'm going through it too. There are lots of us going through this." Watch Lindsay's post For Lindsay, like many people these days, the Internet has become both a tool for economic recovery and a cure for isolation. iReport.com: Share your survivor story At a time when the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that 1.07 million people 55 and older are unemployed and looking for work, the Internet is an increasingly useful tool for older people looking for jobs and a sense of community, said Deborah Russell the AARP's director of workforce issues. "It's a great way of being able to network with people who are either in a similar situation or who may have some resources to help you," she said. The number of people who need this help is on the rise. Some older people are delaying retirement because of the economic recession; and, according to an analysis by the AARP Public Policy Institute, those who are looking for work typically search for about a third longer than people younger than 55.  Watch how one senior goes back to school for a living » Lindsay had been out of work for about three months before her brother gave her a Web camera for Christmas last year. Almost immediately, she was hooked. Her brother intended her to use the Web cam mostly to communicate with family members who are spread out across the country, she said. But Lindsay didn't stop there. She got a creative jolt from filming quirky videos of her own. So, she started posting video monologues for the Internet world to see. In the past three weeks, she's posted nearly 40 videos on iReport. Her most popular video -- in which she talks about depression while wearing a plaid nightgown -- has been viewed by more than 140,000 people. "I was in my nightgown at noon, and I wasn't getting at the job search very fast, and I thought, 'this is instructive,' " she said, laughing. She signs off from the video simply: "Get up, and get out!" Watch Lindsay's tips for getting out of the house Her own advice compelled her to do the same. Lindsay says sharing her failures as well as successes online is cathartic, but she also hopes it's helpful for people in similar circumstances. She's not shy about saying that she suffers from mild bipolar disorder. This economy can push people into depression and mental illness, she said, and she wants people to know they're not alone. The same goes for her job search. "This has really invigorated me," she said of her forays with a virtual persona. "It's something where I've had success. And the job search is not always successful -- it's dealing with a lot of

Question: What is Jean Lindsay's advice to  unemployed older people?

Question: What was her advice?

Question: Who is Jean Lindsay?

Answer: get out of their nightgowns and look for work.

Answer: get out of their nightgowns and look for work.

Answer: a spunky 67-year-old with two masters' degrees, panicked after she failed to land a job in the garden center of a Lowe's home-improvement store.

Summary:
Jean Lindsay, 67, uploads videos about her struggles finding a job .
Lindsay says support from her online viewers keeps her moving .
Her advice to depressed older people who are out of work: "Get up, and get out!"
Web skills are increasingly important in today's job market, AARP says .


This week in iReport we're celebrating a couple anniversaries. It's been 20 years since the world watched the Berlin Wall fall. And, that children's television favorite "Sesame Street" turned the big 4-0. Meanwhile, Hurricane Ida stormed ashore, slamming the Gulf Coast. We've got all this and more in this week's video wrap-up. Berlin Wall anniversary -- Twenty years ago this week, the Berlin Wall came tumbling down in a decisive moment in a revolution that ultimately ended decades of Communist rule and signaled the end of the Cold War. For many iReporters, the fall of the wall holds personal significance. They dug into their photo albums to share memories of this historic event. Bracing for Ida -- iReporters updated on preparations and conditions as Hurricane Ida approached the Gulf Coast. Two iReporters shared several photos of preparations in Pensacola Beach, Florida, including closed roads, sandbags and high tides, saying it "packed a pretty good punch." Another in New Orleans compared the rising waters from Ida with those of Gustav last year. Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street? -- The classic children's television show 'Sesame Street' turned 40 this week. CNN producers collaborated with iReporters to create a fun video alphabet that would make Jim Henson proud. iReporters of all ages also shared their memories of "Sesame Street" and how the show made an impact on their lives.

Question: Who is remembering the fall of the Berlin Wall?

Question: Who remembers the fall of the Berlin Wall, 20 years later?

Question: Did iReporters remembered the fall of the wall Berlin Wall?

Question: What is the age of Sesame Street?

Question: What does the Gulf Coast brace for?

Question: What is The Gulf Coast bracing for?

Question: Which birthday `Sesame Street` celebrating?

Answer: iReport

Answer: iReporters,

Answer: They dug into their photo albums to share memories

Answer: 40

Answer: Ida

Answer: Hurricane Ida

Answer: 20 years

Summary:
iReporters remember the fall of the Berlin Wall, 20 years later .
The Gulf Coast braces for Hurricane Ida .
'Sesame Street' celebrates 40 years .
Tell your stories at CNN iReport .


This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Solferino which led to the creation of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The ICRC is using the date to launch an awareness campaign of its work in conflict-affected countries, featuring photos taken by five award-winning photojournalists. This week we're bringing you stories from some of the world's most troubled countries, as told by the ICRC. CITÉ SOLEIL, Haiti (ICRC) -- Roudeline Lamy was 23 when she was shot in the stomach. The impact of the bullet sent the small baby she was holding tumbling to the ground. Roudeline Lamy shows the scar from her bullet wound. At 26, she's a widow after losing her husband to gangland violence. Roudeline still suffers from stomach pains and her daughter, now three years old, is paralyzed from the waist down. The mother and child sleep on the concrete floor of a shack that floods every time it rains. Since Roudeline's husband was killed by the gangs, she has had to rely on the charity of friends and her faith that God will not abandon her. With very few State services, God is all the poor in Haiti's sprawling seaside slum of Cité Soleil can believe in. Two schools and one state hospital serve the ever-expanding population, with aid agencies and religious groups trying to plug the gap. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been in Haiti since 1994 and in Cité Soleil since 2003. Rob Drouen, head of the ICRC delegation, explains, "Haiti is a fragile state where armed gangs can be used to stir up trouble for political reasons and abject poverty fuels discontent."   See photos taken by award-winning photojournalist Ron Haviv » Even among the children. In Cité Soleil, a dozen street children start pummeling a young girl. It's not known why. But within seconds word has spread that a fight is on. Hordes of children with matted hair and ragged clothes race to the scene, glad of anything to relieve the monotony of yet another day with nothing to do. Weary parents pull their children away, leaving the shaken girl to escape. This is a far cry from the days when families ran for cover from daily gun battles. A few years ago, Cité Soleil was one of the most dangerous and destitute places on earth -- a shanty town torn apart by a vicious gang war for control of the area. United Nations troops have stabilized the security situation in Haiti, the western world's poorest country, and many gang members are either dead or behind bars. Nevertheless, violence still surrounds the 300,000 residents of Cité Soleil, fueled by hunger and the frustration of trying to survive on less than a dollar a day. I sidestep the brawling children and enter the home of a woman who has suffered more than most. A long-standing resident of Cité Soleil, 83 year old Elevanise Tidor was first caught in gangland crossfire in 1993. In 2004 she stepped into harm's away again when she was shot in the breast and stomach. As she undoes her faded dress to show the scars from her mastectomy, she tells me she was later hit by a car and now can hardly walk.  Watch Elevanise Tidor tell her story » Confined to a sparsely furnished corrugated iron shack, she worries about how her children and grandchildren are going to make ends meet. "My body took the bullets, but my family has been hit the hardest," she says. "I can't work or do anything for them. My grandchildren often go to bed crying with hunger." That the victims of violence can suffer for years after the event is well-known, but in Cité Soleil the suffering can last a lifetime. With the help of the ICRC, a group of victims of the violence is aiding fellow sufferers. In 2007, Pierre Wilber founded REVICIS (Regroupement des victimes de Cité Soleil) after gang members beat him up for political reasons. REVICIS has already identified 300 victims and is now trying to get funds for social, psychological and legal help. "There

Question: Where are residesnts still bearing scars of gang related warfare?

Question: Who has stabilized the situation?

Question: Where was the violence?

Question: Which city suffered hardest from gang related warfare?

Question: What have UN troops done?

Answer: CITÉ SOLEIL, Haiti

Answer: United Nations troops

Answer: Cité Soleil

Answer: Cité Soleil

Answer: stabilized the security situation in Haiti,

Summary:
Many members of Liberia's amputee football team had lost the will to live .
They were recruited by a counselor working to rehabilitate former fighters .
Coach Paul Tolbert: "They are men who bring pride to this nation"
Photos were taken by war photographer Christopher Morris for the ICRC .


This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Solferino which led to the creation of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The ICRC is using the date to launch an awareness campaign of its work in conflict-affected countries, featuring photos taken by five award-winning photojournalists. This week we're bringing you stories from some of the world's most troubled countries, as told by the ICRC. MONROVIA, Liberia (ICRC) -- On a dusty pitch in the middle of the capital of Monrovia limbless young men play football as though their lives depended on it. Coach Paul Tolbert says many members of Liberia's amputee football team had lost the will to live. Football has given them hope. They are members of the Liberian National Amputee Football Team and for the most part, victims of the war. Some participated in cruel acts against civilians during the fighting and face a daily struggle to live with both their disability and the past. "I was at church when armed men came in and killed hundreds of us," says 18 year old Richard Duo, who is now a star infield attacker and one of the highest goal-scorers on the team. "I lost my mother, father and one of my brothers. My other siblings were wounded and I lost my leg. "Now that there is peace, I have decided not to think about that anymore. I only want to look forward, to see what I can do to help myself and my family in the future. Those terrible things have already happened. I just want to focus on the future," he says.  See photos of Richard Duo and his team mates » Tens of thousands of people were killed or injured in Liberia's 14-year civil war. The fighting brought rape and mutilation, children were abducted and forced to become fighters and untold numbers had to flee their homes. Since 2003, peace has returned and while efforts are underway to rebuild the country the emotional and physical scars of war remain. Amputee football began in Liberia as a means of therapy and healing. It was an initiative of the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Rehabilitation, which is responsible for assisting former fighters. The team's coach, 30 year old Paul Tolbert, began recruiting members when he worked for the commission as a counseling coordinator. "When you ask them how they felt after they were amputated, most of them wanted to kill themselves," says Tolbert. "Life no longer had meaning for them. Amputee football restores their hope. Take the example of the guy who won Most Valuable Player in the recent African Cup of Nations. He was a very good player before he was amputated, but gave up hope when he lost his leg. "When I went to recruit him, I told him 'You can make it, there is still a chance for you.' He since has regained a sense of hope.'" In 2008, the Liberian team hosted the African Cup of Nations and won the tournament. The team has been to Russia and Turkey for international competitions and will travel to England in June for the Amputee World Cup, where they have a very good chance of making it to the final. The President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, is their number one fan, ensuring support for travel and profiling the team in her speeches. Tolbert says the healing effects go well beyond the players. "I tell my team they are bringing a sense of victory to the country. In my eyes, they are not disabled. They are men who bring pride to this nation." The players themselves say they are motivated by a desire to leave the war behind and to make something of themselves for their families. They're also looking for a sense of belonging and brotherhood among those who know what it's like to live with the horrors of war and to struggle just to survive. "I love the sport because I can experience friendship again," says Joseph Allen, 21, who was named the best goalkeeper in the Russian tournament

Question: who had lost the will to live?

Question: what did the coach say?

Question: What happened to the liberia football team?

Question: What coach Paul mention?

Question: what is the name of the coach?

Answer: Liberia's amputee football team

Answer: many members of Liberia's amputee football team had lost the will to live.

Answer: hosted the African Cup of Nations and won the tournament.

Answer: many members of Liberia's amputee football team had lost the will to live.

Answer: Paul Tolbert


Tim Welch was never the kind of guy who worried about his weight. Tim Welch topped 260 pounds at his heaviest weight, before his cousin convinced him to join Weight Watchers. In fact, the 37-year-old accounts manager from Seattle, Washington, ate a fairly balanced diet and loved participating in sports while growing up. "I was thin and fit my whole life," Welch remembers. "I was always active in sports such as running cross-country in high school and swimming on the swim team in college." Things started to change in 1995 after he graduated from college. Welch got a job, moved out of his parents' house and began indulging in late-night meals with his friends. "I remember specifically in 1995, my waist size went from a 34 [inches] to a 38 in a matter of months," Welch said. "I got a size 36 pants to accommodate my waist size and I had to ask for a bigger size for Christmas because they were too tight." Welch was in total disbelief when he stepped on the scale and realized he was carrying 200 pounds on his 5-foot-10-inch frame. Despite the initial shock, he continued to gain weight. Even though he fit the medical definition of obese, Welch stayed physically active. He joined a master's swim team, hiked and walked regularly. Because he was physically active, Welch thought he could keep eating whatever he wanted. As his weight crept up, his desire to exercise waned. By the winter of 2005, the extra calories and his now-sedentary lifestyle caught up with him. During a doctor's visit, Welch discovered that his weight had skyrocketed. "That was pretty depressing to see that 262 [pounds] on the physical. Just knowing that I had become that heavy," said Welch. About the same time, Welch started walking with a cousin who had lost 70 to 80 pounds on Weight Watchers. During their walks, she would gently encourage him to give the program a try, he says. She also tried to calm his fears that he'd have to stop eating all of the foods he loved in order to lose weight. "I kept expressing a really persistent fear I had of restricting my comfort foods. I felt to truly lose weight, I couldn't ever eat the things I loved -- hamburgers, ice cream, chocolate, bacon, cheese [and] cookies," said Welch. "I felt like in order to lose weight I would have to give up those things." Welch started to become depressed and ashamed of his increasing waist size. Embarrassing moments such as asking for a bigger pants size and having a homeless man yell, "Hey, big guy!" on the street -- began to take a toll on him. As a new year approached, Welch reached his breaking point. In January 2006, as part of his New Year's resolution, Welch reluctantly attended his first Weight Watchers meeting, but not before making one last stop for what Welch called his "last meal." "I had a double-cheeseburger, onion rings and milkshake at Johnny Rockets right before the meeting," said Welch. "I weighed 252.6 at my first meeting." During the first week on Weight Watchers, he dropped 7 pounds. Welch also learned how to enjoy his favorite foods through portion control, eating in moderation and choosing healthier foods first.   Welch, who was already walking 3.5 miles a day roundtrip to work, started taking water aerobics three times a week and swimming again competitively. The weight continued to come off, about 2-3 pounds a week.  CNN iReporters before-and-after weight loss photos » "When I got to 200 pounds, I decided, well, 'Why don't I go for a weight that's a healthy weight range for my height,'" said Welch. "So I did, and by that point the weight had slowed down. It doesn't come off as quickly as you get closer to your goal weight.

Question: What did Welch say?

Question: What was he battling?

Question: What did he do to lose 87 pounds?

Question: How much did Tim Welch weigh at his heaviest?

Question: At what weight was Tim Welch at his heaviest?

Answer: "I was thin and fit my whole life,"

Answer: weight

Answer: Weight Watchers.

Answer: topped 260 pounds

Answer: 260 pounds

Summary:
At his heaviest, Tim Welch tipped the scales at 262 pounds .
Battling depression, he reluctantly joined Weight Watchers .
He lost 87 pounds through exercise, portion control and better food choices .
Welch says he's become a more optimistic person .