Facebook won't 'share' contacts with Gmail

(CNN) -- Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg talks about "sharing" info and "connecting" people to each other more than Kanye West talks about himself. And the site's mission statement hits those themes hard, saying Facebook's goal is to give people "the power to share and make the world more open and connected".

So it might come as a surprise to Facebook users that the site takes a do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do approach to letting people share their own information with one of its biggest competitors.

In what's been called "data hoarding," Facebook will not let users export their Facebook contacts lists -- which include pictures and e-mails -- to Google's e-mail system.

That's not new, but Facebook's anti-sharing policy has come under scrutiny recently since Google last week retaliated by blocking users from uploading their Gmail contacts to Facebook, according to TechCrunch.

Facebook, in turn, found a work-around that let it pull in contact lists from Google anyway -- a sort of technical slap in the face to Google.

"We're disappointed that Facebook didn't invest their time in making it possible for their users to get their contacts out of Facebook," a Google spokesperson wrote in an e-mail to CNN. "As passionate believers that people should be able to control the data they create, we will continue to allow our users to export their Google contacts".

Facebook did not respond to a CNN request for comment.

CNN

Should 9-year-old climb Mount Everest?

(CNN) -- This year a 13-year-old from California stunned the world when he became the youngest person to summit Mount Everest.

Now a 9-year-old Nepalese boy says he can do it, too. Or at least that's what the child's father is reportedly promising.

Sherpa Pemba Dorje, who holds the world record for the fastest Everest ascent (8 hours, 10 minutes), recently boasted that his grade-schooler will try to conquer the globe's tallest mountain in 2011.

To illustrate his seriousness, Dorje and his son Tseten last week climbed Mount Ramdung, a 19,440-foot peak in the Dolakha region of Nepal, according to the Himalayan Times daily and the Indo-Asian News Service. Dorje told reporters it was a practice run for Everest, which is more than 29,000 feet.

The notion of another baby-faced adventurer -- backed by an ambitious parent --sailing the widest seas or climbing the tallest mountain unearths a familiar question: Does inherently dangerous record-setting have an age limit?

"Little children do not belong on big mountains," said Jiban Ghimire, a Nepali renown for leading multiple expeditions on Everest. Ghimire's Shangri-La Treks & Expeditions, a go-to climbing assistance company, has employed Dorje as a guide. "I know Pemba Dorje, and I know he's said he wants his child to do this, that his son is capable of it.

CNN

3 French hostages freed in Nigeria

Paris, France (CNN) -- Three French hostages kidnapped in Nigeria have been released, the French government said Wednesday.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner announced their release "with great joy and deep relief," saying the Nigerian authorities had told him the news.

The three French nationals were taken hostage in Nigeria September 22 while on a boat belonging to the oil services company Bourbon.

They all appear to be in good health "despite difficult conditions while in captivity," Bourbon said Wednesday.

They are undergoing medical and psychological tests under the company's care in Nigeria before returning to France, the company said.

Kouchner expressed his "gratitude to the Nigerian authorities for the constant mobilization that led to the release of these three hostages".

They were captured in an attack on their ship, the Bourbon Alexandre, Bourbon said at the time.

It's not clear who captured them, but rebels said the following day that they had located them.

CNN

Haider: I didn't know who to believe

(CNN) -- The Pakistan wicket-keeper, who controversially left his team during a series with South Africa after reportedly refusing to fix a match, spoke exclusively to CNN on Wednesday about the reasons for his departure.

Zulqarnain Haider, 24, who flew to Britain on Monday because he feared reprisals following his decision, said that he kept silent about what had happened until he was in London because he did not know who to trust.

"I listened to people in Pakistan who talked about the match fixing [problem], they said that a lot of people are involved and I felt threatened ... and very disappointed," Haider said.

"I know I can't believe anyone. If you got threatened then you would then not believe people either. If I told anyone, they may have contact with these people [involved in match-fixing], so this could cause a problem for my family in Pakistan and also me in Dubai.

CNN

3 dead, 25 wounded in Baghdad as attacks on Christians continue

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- At least three people were killed and 25 wounded Wednesday morning in continuing attacks on Christians in Iraq, an interior ministry official said.

The roadside bombs and mortar fire targeted Christian homes in several Baghdad neighborhoods, the official said.

On Tuesday evening, three people were wounded in western Baghdad when bombs exploded outside Christian homes there, the ministry said.

It was not clear if the injured were Christian residents or others on the street.

The latest attacks came as 35 Christian survivors of a chilling church attack last month arrived in France, where they will be able to seek asylum.

CNN

Happy 235th birthday, U.S. Marine Corps!

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps received congratulatory messages from its U.S. Air Force comrades recognizing the Corps' 235th birthday Wednesday.

"Having served faithfully for over two centuries, thriving in adversity no matter how brutal the circumstances, and with unmatched courage and conviction, U.S. Marines have answered the nation's call with distinction," Air Force Secretary Michael Donley wrote in a message published by the Air Force News Service. "America's airmen are honored to stand firmly with our Marine Corps partners for the timeless cause of freedom".

In his congratulatory note, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said the Marine heritage is "rich in courage, honor and commitment. Today's Marine represents a legacy of dedication and sacrifice, and embodies the same warrior ethos that has prevailed for more than two centuries".

Chief Master Sgt. James A. Roy said he spoke for all Air Force personnel "when I say thank you for your many contributions to our national security. We are proud to serve with you and call you comrades in arms. Happy birthday!".

UPI

Trial date set in subway bomb plot

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- The Pakistani-born U.S. citizen accused of plotting to bomb four Northern Virginia Metro stations will stand trial April 11 in federal court, officials said.

U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee of the Eastern District of Virginia ordered Farooque Ahmed, 34, held without bond after Ahmed pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday, The Washington Post reported.

Ahmed faces a maximum of 50 years in prison if convicted on charges of attempting to provide material support to terrorists and assisting in an attack on a transit facility.

Ahmed was arrested October 27 in an FBI sting operation.

FBI operatives posing as agents of al-Qaida said they received scouting reports from Ahmed.

Agents seized firearms from his Loudon County townhouse along with dozens of rounds of ammunition, four laptop computers and $8,000 in cash.

They also recovered several CDs of lectures and speeches of the American-born radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, a major player in al-Qaida of the Arabian Peninsula.

UPI

Crippled cruise ship towed to San Diego

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- The disabled Carnival cruise ship Splendor was being towed to San Diego after an engine room fire knocked out the ship's propulsion and power, officials said.

The USS Ronald Reagan, an aircraft carrier, was diverted from its training maneuvers to deliver 4,500 pounds of supplies, including Spam and bottled water, to the ship that has been dead in the water off the western Mexican coast since Monday's fire, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Tuesday.

The ship is carrying 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew members, Carnival said on its Web site.

While the guests have functioning toilets, they can't make phone calls, have no air conditioning or showers and are eating pre-packaged meals because the ship has no refrigeration.

The Splendor is expected to arrive in San Diego Thursday, but officials said it could be detoured to Ensenada, Mexico, if sea conditions make it necessary. Carnival Cruise Lines originally planned to tow the Splendor to Ensenada, but switched to San Diego "given the ship's speed and current position," the cruise line said in a statement Tuesday.

Capt. Anthony Gentilella, aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau, which is accompanying the Splendor, said he hopes conditions cooperate.

UPI

U.S. helps fight against drug cartels

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. government is stepping up efforts to help Mexico deal with its violent drug cartels, U.S. and Mexican officials say.

The officials said the U.S. military has begun working closely with Mexico's armed forces, training soldiers and sharing information, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.

"We have tried to share many of the lessons we've learned in chasing terrorist organizations in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Gen. Victor Renuart, who recently retired as head of the U.S. military's Northern Command.

Renuart characterized the changes in the relationship between the U.S. military and the Mexican military as "historic".

One senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they've "been directed by the president, at a very high level, to really think hard about how we can up our game, do more to support" the partnership.

Counter-narcotics funding for Mexico has nearly tripled from $12.2 million in 2008 to more than $34 million in 2010, the Government Accountability Office said.

UPI

Clashes at student fee protest

There have been clashes between demonstrators and police in London, as students and lecturers protest against plans to treble tuition fees and cut university funding in England.

Protestors have broken into the building housing the Conservative Party headquarters in Westminster.

They have set fire to placards outside.

Student leaders condemned the latest action.

They say about 30,000 people took part in a march earlier.

A stand-off is taking place between students and the police, with protestors surging forward at Millbank Tower, chanting.

Some protestors are on a roof terrace at the top of the building.

Missiles have been thrown at the police, as thousands of demonstrators crowd the street ouside.

BBC News correspondent Ben Wright is at the scene. He says the atmosphere is "very tense" and that police are four-deep outside the building.

And protestors have been cleared from outside the Liberal Democrat headquarters, where a car window has been smashed.

Elsewhere the march passed off peacefully.

The National Union of Students is threatening to try to unseat Liberal Democrat MPs who go back on pre-election pledges they made to oppose any rise in tuition fees.

Ministers insist their plans offer a "fair deal for students".

BBC News

S Africa hospital fined in organ trafficking scandal

A South African hospital has been fined nearly 8m rand (£700,000) after the group which runs it pleaded guilty in an organ trafficking case.

The Netcare group admitted that illegal kidney transplant operations had been carried out at the hospital in the city of Durban between 2001 and 2003.

It admitted that children were among those recruited to donate their organs.

It is alleged that poor Brazilians and Romanians were paid to donate kidneys to wealthy Israelis.

Netcare said the South African state had agreed to drop the charges against it in return for the guilty plea.

It acknowledged that "payments must have been made to the donors for their kidneys, and that certain of the kidney donors were minors at the time that their kidneys were removed".

Netcare added that some of those working at the Netcare Kwa-Zulu (NKZ) hospital in Durban must have been aware that illegal operations were being performed.

"Certain employees participated in these illegalities, and NKZ wrongly benefited from the proceeds," it said.

The South African media first reported on the case in 2003, saying Israeli citizens needing transplants had been brought to the country to be operated on.

Netcare, which runs a network of hospitals across South Africa, had earlier denied the charges.

BBC News

Protesting students attack UK ruling party HQ

London, England (CNN) -- A group of protesters broke into the headquarters of Britain's governing Conservative party headquarters in London Wednesday and set off flares before being forced out of the building, CNN's Atika Shubert reported from the scene.

They went on to set fires outside the building, where police presence was "minimal," she said.

The violence came during a largely peaceful protest by students against government plans to allow universities to increase tuition fees. The National Union of Students said 40,000 demonstrators were on the streets.

CNN

Las autoridades entregan el cuerpo de 'Tony Tormenta' a su esposa e hija

(Notimex) — La Procuraduría General de la República (PGR) entregó a su familia el cuerpo de Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén, Tony Tormenta, uno de los líderes del cártel del Golfo, quien murió el viernes durante un enfrentamiento en Matamoros.

Autoridades de la dependencia informaron que el cadáver fue entregado a su esposa Hermelinda Rivera y a su hija Carla Elizabeth Cárdenas Rivera, en las instalaciones del Servicio Médico Forense de Ciudad Victoria, en el nororiental estado de Tamaulipas.

Los restos de Tony Tormenta fueron recibidos por sus familiares hasta este martes debido a que peritos de la Procuraduría General le practicaron varias pruebas para confirmar su identidad.

Durante el enfrentamiento que derivó en la muerte del Cárdenas Guillén también fueron detenidos Marco Antonio Cortés Rodríguez y Josué González Rodríguez, quienes este martes fueron puestos a disposición de la Subprocuraduría de Investigación Especializada de Delincuencia Organizada (SIEDO), aunque permanecen hospitalizados por las heridas recibidas en el enfrentamiento contra elementos de las fuerzas armadas mexicanas.

Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén perdió la vida el viernes pasado durante unenfrentamiento con elementos de la Secretaría de Marina-Armada de México (Semar) en calles del centro de la ciudad tamaulipeca de Matamoros.

CNN México

Policía Federal captura en Morelos a Juan Torres, operador de 'La Barbie'

CIUDAD DE MÉXICO (Notimex) — Agentes de la Policía Federal detuvieron este martes a Juan Torres Salazar, alias el Banda, operadorde Edgar Valdés Villarreal, alias La Barbie, cuando circulaba en automóvil con reporte de robo en Puente de Ixtla, en el estado sureño de Morelos.

La Secretaría de Seguridad Pública (SSP) federal informó en un comunicado que este sujeto era operador y distribuidor de la drogaque introducía al país La Barbie y controlaba el mercado de la cocaína en la zona centro del territorio nacional.

Los uniformados identificaron a Juan Torres Salazar cuando viajaba a bordo de un automóvil marca Bora, color blanco, que había sidorobado en Amacuzac, Morelos.

Este sujeto viajaba acompañado de Víctor Manuel Román Balladares, alias El Manolo, de 24 años de edad, quien supuestamente cuidaba una propiedad donde se vendía la droga.

Torres Salazar conocía a La Barbie desde que el primero ingresó a trabajar con Arturo Beltrán Leyva, y quien lo acercó con ese capo ahora desaparecido fue Ricardo Terrones Rodríguez, alias El Chaparrito, detenido el 4 de enero de este año.

De acuerdo con informes de la Policía Federal, después de que murió Arturo Beltrán, en diciembre de 2009, Juan Torres vigilaba las rutas de trasiego que dejó Ricardo Terrones, luego de que fue detenido en enero de 2010.

Juan Torres Salazar tenía como principal actividad la distribución de droga en la zona poniente de Morelos, pero ejercía también enextorsiones y actuaba como sicario, asesinando a personas de organizaciones criminales ajenas.

Se sabe que Torres Salazar también colocaba narcomantas con mensajes en donde acusaba a El Grande.

Torres Salazar incursionó en la comisión de secuestros y él negociaba el pago de rescate de sus víctimas, y a pesar de que recibía el dinero asesinaba a sus víctimas, a quienes enterraba o desaparecía para evitar llamar la atención de los medios de comunicación.

Al momento de ser detenidos estos sujetos llevaban dos armas largas, una pistola 9 milímetros, 11 cartuchos 9 milímetros, 28 cartuchos para fusil AR15, dos cargadores abastecidos con 28 cartuchos, dos paquetes de droga, seis teléfonos celulares y objetos varios.

Los detenidos y los objetos asegurados serán puestos a disposición del Ministerio Público de la Federación, para que siga con las indagatorias del caso en las próximas horas.

CNN México

Gobierno: El poder de ataque del narco se debe a tráfico de armas desde EU

(CNNMéxico) — El gobierno de México exigió nuevamente al de Estados Unidos una lucha más fuerte contra el tráfico de armas, del que se nutre la capacidad de fuego de los grupos del crimen organizado mexicanos.

Durante un foro en la Ciudad de México, el secretario de Seguridad Pública, Genaro García Luna, señaló que “hay organizaciones criminales que tienen lanzagranadas porque tienen un mercado abierto”, reportó la agencia Notimex.

“Necesitamos un sistema de corresponsabilidad para combatir la logística” de los grupos criminales, afirmó García Luna, quien expuso que durante los últimos cuatro años las autoridades mexicanas han confiscado 90,000 armas y más de nueve millones de cartuchos a grupos delictivos, de acuerdo con Notimex.

Las declaraciones del funcionario se producen el mismo día que la agencia AFP difundió un informe interno del Departamento de Justicia estadounidense, que señala que la agencia encargada de combatir el tráfico de armas (ATP, por sus siglas en inglés) “no comparte sistemática y coherentemente informaciones con sus aliados mexicanos y con algunas de sus agencias asociadas en Estados Unidos”.

Anteriormente, el llamado a que Washington enfrente con fuerza el tráfico de armas ha sido expresado por el presidente mexicano, Felipe Calderón, quien lo considera una medida necesaria para frenar a loscárteles del narcotráfico.

“Si ustedes no regulan la venta de armas de manera correcta, nada garantiza que los criminales no tengan acceso a éstas; hay más de 7,000 tiendas de armas en la frontera con México donde cualquier puede comprar. Pediré al Congreso ayudarnos y entender lo importante que es tener leyes más fuertes para no proveer de armas a los criminales”, dijo Calderón en mayo, en un discurso ante el Congreso estadounidense.

El mandatario estadounidense, Barack Obama, ha admitido que Estados Unidos necesita realizar mayores esfuerzos en la materia, en tanto, agencias de ambos países han firmado acuerdos de cooperación.

Un reporte de la Cámara de Diputados informó en agosto que 70% de las armas ilegales que ingresa a México lo hace por Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, la localidad más violenta del país.

Durante el mismo foro, el jefe de la Policía Nacional de Colombia, Óscar Naranjo, aplaudió la estrategia de México de usar al Ejército en la lucha contra la delincuencia y dijo que gracias a ese esfuerzo “ningún narcotraficante está tranquilo”, indicó Notimex.

CNN México