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Prison riot breaks out in Haiti A riot broken out at Haiti's main prison on Sunday, just before the inauguration of President René Préval. Saddam Hussein's trial resumes, ex-Iraqi President formally charged Saddam Hussein's trial resumed today and the former Iraqi President was officially charged with murder, the torturing of women and children, farmland razing and illegally arresting 399 people in the 1980's. Hussein's half brother Barzan Ibrahim was also read the same charges.

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Michigan woman kidnapped in 1976 found alive in Arizona Genevieve Rachel Nielsen, 31, daughter of Laura Godder, who was kidnapped when she was 21-months old from her home in Oakland County, Michigan, has been found living under another name in Arizona on Sunday, Mother's Day. Eric Douglas Nielsen the ex-husband of Gooder has been charged with her kidnapping.

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United States President George W. Bush gives a speech proposing major immigration reform in the United States. Mount Merapi erupts, according to the national Indonesian news agency. The United States State Department announces it will re-establish diplomatic ties with Libya and remove it from its list of states that sponsor terrorism. Giorgio Napolitano is sworn in as President of the Italian Republic, following his election held in May 10.

Michigan woman kidnapped in 1976 found alive in Arizona
Genevieve Rachel Nielsen, 31, who was kidnapped when she was 21 months old from her home in Oakland County, Michigan, has been found living under another name in Arizona on Sunday, Mother's Day.

In 1976, Eric Douglas Nielsen, the ex-husband of Laura Gooder of Pontiac, Michigan, took Gooder's daughter to his home for a visit and never returned her.

"It's bittersweet. [Gooder] has complete joy and relief that her daughter is alive, but it is a painful reminder of the 30 years she was without her daughter on Mother's Day. The daughter believed her mother had been killed in a car accident a long time ago. She obviously was told something completely different from the father," said Michael Bouchard, an Oakland County Sheriff who was in charge of the investigation. After authority interviews, they contacted the daughter to tell her that her mother was indeed alive, remarried, was residing in Michigan and was a mother to 3 boys.

"The daughter is just reeling. She was shocked. ... Her whole life is a house of cards built on lies," added Bouchard.

A tip led Bouchard and federal marshals to an Arizona prison where Eric Nielson was allegedly being held for 7 years under assault charges.

"He was due to get out at the end of the month, so that put some urgency on us," said Bouchard.

So far, according to Bouchard, the mother and daughter have not yet made contact. "They're both just trying to come to grips with it."

"It is pretty surreal. I am keeping my fingers crossed and waiting for her to call," said Gooder.

Saddam Hussein's trial resumes, ex-Iraqi President formally charged
The trial of Saddam Hussein resumed Monday in Baghdad where the former Iraqi President is now officially charged with murder, with torturing women and children, and with razing farmland and authorizing the illegal arrests of 399 people in the 1980's.

Hussein refused to answer the charges, and when Judge Abdel-Rahman asked Hussein if he pleaded "guilty or not guilty", Hussain simply replied, "this is no way to treat the president of Iraq." Rahman then entered a plea of "not guilty" for the former President.

"I can’t just say yes or no to this. You read all this for the sake of public consumption, and I can’t answer it in brief. This statement cannot influence me or shake a hair of my head," said Hussein.

"You are before Saddam Hussein, president of Iraq. I am the president of Iraq according to the will of the Iraqis and I am still the president up to this moment," he added.

"After allegations of coming under an assassination attempt, you issued orders to security forces and the army to arrest residents and use all weapons against them. As a result for your orders to use force against Dujail residents, nine people were killed in the first two days ... and 399 others were arrested," said Rahman.

Hussein's half brother Barzan Ibrahim who was head of the Mukhabarat intelligence agency, was called in shortly after Saddam rejected to enter a plea. Ibrahim was also charged with the same offenses including the murder of 148 Dujail Shiites in 1982, who were sentenced to death for an assassination attempt on the former Iraqi President. Most died while under interrogation or were put to death.

"All you said are lies, everything you mentioned is a lie," said Ibrahim.

In the Iraqi court system, plaintiffs are the first to present their case on the complaint and present evidence against the defendants. When the charges are read, it means it's time for the defense team to present their case.

Seven other former members of Hussein's government are also on trial, facing the same charges. The trial began October 19, 2005.

Australian Mitchell Dean wins Honolulu Triathlon
Australian Mitchell Dean won the Honolulu Triathlon on Sunday, defeating American Manuel Huerta by five seconds to win the event in 1 hour, 46 minutes, and 55 seconds.

Huerta came in second at 1 hour and 47 minutes flat, and Haven Barnes finished third at 1 hour, 47 minutes, and 6 seconds.

In the women's race, Jasmine Oeinck of Littleton, Colorado won in 1 hour, 56 minutes, and 21 seconds. Sarah Groff finished second in 1 hour, 57 minutes, and 18 seconds; and Sara McLarty finished third in 1 hour, 58 minutes, and 8 seconds.

Dean and Oeinck both earned US$3,000 for their victories.

About 900 triathletes entered the event, which includes a 1.5 km swim at Ala Moana Beach Park just west of Waikiki, a 40 km out-and-back bicycle leg along Nimitz Highway to Aloha Stadium, and a 10 km run around Ala Moana Beach Park and Kewalo Basin. About 250 fewer athletes entered this year, a drop attributed to local triathletes concerned about water quality after the recent sewage spill in nearby Ala Wai Canal.

This year's course was changed from last year's amid complaints from East Honolulu residents frustrated with the number of sporting events scheduled in the area, including the Honolulu Marathon.

The Honolulu Triathlon hosted the 2004 U.S. Olympic triathlon trials, and was the only International Triathlon Union World Cup event in the United States in 2005. It is one of four such qualifying events in the U.S. this year.

Wave of attacks strike policemen in Brazil
PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital, Portuguese for First Command of the Capital City) criminals have been backing several attacks against security forces in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Since Friday, there have been 81 deaths: 22 military and 6 civil policemen, 8 prison personnel, 3 city guards and 4 civilians have been targeted. 180 attacks against personnel, police departments, busses and banks have been recorded.

In the meantime, there have been 53 prison riots across São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraná, with hostages. There is no confirmed count of wounded and dead, but early information indicates that rival faction members have killed criminals during the riots.

This has been a response to the government's decision last week to isolate the leaders of the group. Criminals have also set fire to more than forty buses and banks, but there haven't been any confirmed victims.

As a response to these incidents, the State Police of São Paulo have arrested 82 suspects. They have closed streets near police departments, and armed policemen are patrolling regions of the city.

Satellite phone subsidy to be extended in Australia
Senator Helen Coonan, Australian minister for communication, information technology and the arts, has announced the federal government will be extending its subsidy on satellite telephone handsets.

The scheme allows those living or working in parts of remote Australia without conventional mobile telephone services to claim a subsidy of up to AU$1,200 on the purchase of a satellite telephone.

The program was supposed to run for five years from 2002 until 2007. The program will continue until 2009.

In addition to the extension, the scheme's eligibility criteria will be changed from July 1, 2006 to ensure that the scheme "continues to be well targeted," according to Senator Coonan.

The changes will allow aboriginal corporations and educational institutions to claim the subsidy, which were previously ineligible. “These changes include increasing the level of support available to Indigenous corporations who may now be able to receive more than two subsidies in some circumstances, and introducing educational institutions as an eligible category,” Senator Coonan said.

The government will also change the way the subsidy is calculated. In the past, it had been calculated based upon the call plan chosen by the customer. The government will now calculate the subsidy based on the amount of time the customer spends in remote areas. Those operating a business in areas without ground-based mobile telephone services will be eligible for the full AU$1,200 subsidy, while those who spend some time in such areas will be eligible for AU$900.

Australian senator to oppose petrol deregulation
Australian senator Barnaby Joyce (Nationals, Queensland) has moved to oppose the government's planned changes to the country's petrol retail industry. The National Party, of which Senator Joyce is a member, governs Australia in coalition with the Liberal Party.

The government plans to amend regulations governing the petrol industry to allow oil companies to own more than five percent of petrol stations. Senator Joyce has given notice to disallow regulations that would force the government to debate them in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Senator Joyce said the proposed changes would hurt the smaller retailers in the industry. "What we need is protection for independents and mum and dad businesses," he told the Australian Financial Review.

Senator Joyce is concerned that the proposed regulations would start takeovers of smaller retailers by oil companies. "Obviously the sites they're going to get are the sites that are controlled by independents or independent franchisees, what I would term the mum and dad operators," he said.

"In 1980 we thought it was a good thing for there to be wider participation in the retail market by mum and dad operators and I still think that's a just cause," said Senator Joyce.

It is not the first time Senator Joyce has gone against his party's legislation. Senator Joyce refused to support a government bill changing Australia's trade practices law in October 2005 and voted against voluntary student unionism legislation in December 2005.

Greek soccer champions celebrate title win with Maradona
A spectacular fiesta took place in Karaiskaki Stadium in Piraeus, Greece, when 30,000 supporters of Olympiacos F.C., along with players and team administration, celebrated their 34th Alpha Ethniki title. Guest of honour was the retired Argentinian superstar Diego Armando Maradona, who personally delivered the Cup of the Champion to the players of Olympiacos and went on stage, in the centre of the stadium, and shouted "Viva Grecia, viva Olympiacos!".

Diego Maradona had also the opportunity to deliver a short skills demonstration with Olympiacos' Brazilian superstar, Rivaldo, on the Karaiskaki pitch - something which caused delirium within the fans' ranks. Olympiacos' season ended with a 0-0 draw against Ionikos, but this result was irrelevant as the club was already secure at the top of the Greek Championship table. This season, Olympiacos have accomplished the double in Greek football, winning both the Championship and the Cup competition.

As a result of its league position, Olympiakos will play in the Champions League next season, entering at the group stage.

Today in History
1204 - Fourth Crusade: Count Baldwin IX of Flanders was crowned the first Latin Emperor in Constantinople.

1527 - The Medici were driven from Florence and a republic was re-established.

1866 - Root beer was first prepared commercially.

1929 - The first Academy Awards were handed out at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles.

1943 - World War II: SS-Brigadeführer Jürgen Stroop put an end to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the first mass uprising in Poland against the Nazi occupation during the Holocaust.

May 16 is Lag Ba'omer in Judaism (2006)

Quote of the Day

"I like quoting Einstein. Know why? Because nobody dares contradict you."
~ Studs Terkel

Word of the Day

boondoggle; n

Definition

A waste of time and/or money; a pointless activity.

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