Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 10/09/09
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The GOP blasts Pres. Obama's Nobel Peace Prize win. We've got the raw politics. Plus, gun dealers caught on tape breaking the law. See how they could be putting guns in the hands of criminals. It's a "Keeping them Honest" investigation.
Want to know what else we're covering? Read EVENING BUZZ
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Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize – Reactions from around the world
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/WORLD/europe/10/09/nobel.peace.prize/art.obama.mideast.gi.jpg caption="Obama with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last month."]
AC360°
Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas: "Nothing has changed in the Obama administration's policies from previous U.S. governments, except statements, promises and hopes."
Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesman: "We have seen no change in his strategy for peace. He has done nothing for peace in Afghanistan…We condemn the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for Obama."
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter: "It is a bold statement of international support for his vision and commitment to peace and harmony in international relations."
Former U.S. vice-president Al Gore: "I think it will take some time before people put together all the different moves that linked his speech at the U.N. on the abolishing of nuclear weapons, his shift on the missile defense program in Eastern Europe and the movement of Russia to joining the international consensus that confronted Iran to abide by the nonproliferation treaty."
Binyamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel: "You have given inspiration to people all over the world until now and winning this prize is an expression of the hope that your presidency will promote a new era of peace and placation."
Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany: "There is still much left to do, but a window of possibility has been opened."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy: said the decision represented the "return of America into the hearts of the people of the world."
H1N1 rapid rise in pediatric deaths
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/HEALTH/10/05/h1n1.vaccine.campaign/art.h1n1.vaccine.wthr.jpg caption="Health care workers in Indiana and Tennessee were among the first to receive the H1N1 vaccine."]
David Puente
AC360° Producer
“Is Sanjay still in the building?” that’s what I heard a senior producer in New York shouting across the newsroom at almost 6PM today.
“Not likely at this hour on a Friday,” someone else mumbled. But sure enough Sanjay said he’d be ready to be on the set to pretape a segment with Anderson on the rapid rise in pediatric deaths from H1N1. I was assigned to produce the segment so I reached out to our medical unit’s producer and formulated questions.
Then CNN’s medical unit confirmed that there were another 19 deaths of children and teens from H1N1 reported in the past week around the country. That brings the total number of fatalities to 76 among those younger than age 18.
There were two deaths reported in Maryland, three were in Tennessee, seven in Texas and one each in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
“Out of sight, out of mind?” Underground in the tunnels of Las Vegas
Editor's Note: Tune in tonight to hear more about the underground tunnels from Ted Rowlands. AC360° at 10 p.m. ET.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/06/art.lasvegas.tunnels.jpg caption="Inside a living space in the underground flood channels of Las Vegas."]
Michael Cary
CNN Senior Producer
Las Vegas Boulevard, aka the Strip, is known for its glitz, glamour and lure of hitting a jackpot, but a world exists underground that has become home to those down on their luck. People are living in the flood channels that run beneath the city, and some survive in elaborate shelters deep in the dark labyrinths– many of them driven here by unemployment, drugs, alcohol and mental illness.
Hundreds of homeless are living within the more than 300 miles of underground flood channels, according to Matthew O’Brien, author of “Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas.” He says as many as 10 people live in one tunnel near the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” neon sign.
It is the desert, so the storm drains are dry most of the year. But when it does rain heavily, those underground must flee and watch their belongings wash away. Flooding, fires and disease are just some of the dangers.
O’Brien served as our tour guide through four different tunnels around Las Vegas, armed with a black metal flashlight and donning a black-knit cap, boots and long-sleeve black shirt. Above ground, one would think he was a cat burglar or mercenary.
Every tunnel is different – ceilings can range anywhere from four to 12 feet high. Some of the concrete floors are covered with dust, others mud, and – in one section – a foot of stagnant water.
Gun show loophole
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AC360°
New York’s Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, unveiled the results of a 4 month investigation into illegal practices at gun shows. It may shock you to know how many sellers ignore the questionable backgrounds of interested buyers. The investigation also highlights a dangerous loophole that could potentially put guns in the hands of criminals.
The investigation took place in Nevada, Ohio and Tennessee. Do you know the gun laws in your state? What about neighboring states?
Tonight Randi Kaye digs deeper. Tune in at 10pm ET to hear her report.
Check out this chart for trends in crimes committed with firearms from 1973 – 2006.
Nobel Prize fast facts
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/WORLD/europe/10/09/nobel.peace.process/art.nobel.afp.gi.jpg caption="Alfred Nobel's statue in Stockholm. Nobel laid down who should nominate prizewinners in his will."]
Mishan Afsari
AC360°
Alfred Nobel invented dynamite? Yes, the famous scientist mixed nitroglycerine with kieselguhr and voila! The volatile liquid became a paste that was shaped into rods – a material Nobel patented as dynamite in 1867.
Only 12 women have won the Peace Prize? That's 12 women out of 96 individual winners. The first woman given the award was peace activist Bertha von Suttner in 1906, only 5 years after they started giving the award.
Only one recipient has declined the prize? Vietnamese politician Le Duc Tho was given the award jointly with U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in their work on the Vietnam peace accord, but Le Duc Tho declined because of the continued situation in his country.
Two laureates were awarded the prize posthumously? In 1931 and 1961 the prize was awarded to people after their death, but since 1974 the Nobel Foundation changed the rules so that a nominee cannot get the prize posthumously unless they died after the announcement.
Winston Churchill actually won the Nobel Prize in Literature but not the Nobel Peace Prize?
In 1953 Churchill only won the prize for literature, although he was nominated for both prizes.
Photo Gallery: Underground America
Editor's Note: Las Vegas Boulevard – also known as “The Strip” – is known for its glitz, glamour and lure of hitting the jackpot. But a world exists beneath this iconic area – it has also become home to those down on their luck. Homeless are living in the flood channels that run beneath the city, where many of them have built elaborate shelters deep in the dark labyrinths.
Many of the people who have settled underground are driven here by unemployment, drugs and mental illness. Ted Rowlands talks to one man who created a 400-square foot space with a living room, bedroom and kitchen in a soot-covered section of tunnel practically under the casino-lined boulevard. Don't miss Ted's report tonight on AC360° at 10 p.m. ET.
Evening Buzz: Peace Prize Praise & Criticism
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/WORLD/europe/10/09/nobel.peace.prize/art.obama.npp.cnn.jpg caption= "President Obama, speaking Friday, said the award was 'an affirmation of American leadership.'"]
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
President Obama said he's "surprised and humbled" and he doesn't deserve to be in the company of some of the others who've won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Though, Pres. Obama said he viewed the decision as a "call of action."
Do you agree? Share your thoughts below.
The news shocked many people. There was a gasp from reporters gathered to hear the name of the winner in Oslo, Norway.
While, at the White House, the president's top advisers said they were caught off guard. The White House press secretary woke up Pres. Obama shortly before the 6am ET announcement to give him the news.
The Nobel Committee said it awarded Pres. Obama the Peace Prize for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."
"He created a new international climate, the committee said.
Pres. Obama's critics said he does not deserve the award, considering he's only been in office eight months.
The chairman of the Republican National Congress, Michael Steele, asked: "What has President Obama actually accomplished?"
We'll be digging deeper on the Nobel committee's decision.
Also tonight, we have new numbers on childhood swine flu deaths. 76 children have died from the H1NI1 virus since April, including 19 in the last week alone. Should parents be concerned? We'll talk it over with 360 M.D. Sanjay Gupta.
And, we take you under the Las Vegas strip to show you how some people live under the casinos. That's tonight's "Uncovering America" segment.
Join us for these stories and much more starting at 10pm ET. See you then!
Beat 360° 10/9/09
Ready for today's Beat 360°? Everyday we post a picture – and you provide the caption and our staff will join in too. Tune in tonight at 10pm to see if you are our favorite! Here is the 'Beat 360°' pic:
U.S. President Barack Obama laughs with Senate Banking and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd after making remarks about financial institution regulation reform on October 9, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Have fun with it. We're looking forward to your captions! Make sure to include your name, city, state (or country) so we can post your comment.
UPDATE BEAT 360º WINNERS
Staff:
Kirk McDonald
“President Obama wins the Nobel Teeth Prize.”
Viewer:
Katherine
"President Obama smiles as he is informed he’s been named Super Bowl Champion, winner of the World Series and Miss Universe."
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State Department on Nobel Prize: better to be thrown accolades than shoes
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/WORLD/meast/12/16/shoe.reporter.profile/art.shoes.bush.afp.gi.jpg caption="President Bush, left, ducks a shoe as Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki tries to protect him."]
Elise Labott
CNN State Department Producer
"Certainly from our standpoint this gives us a sense of momentum when the United States has accolades tossed its way rather than shoes."
That's the take of Hillary Clinton's State Department on President Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, according to her spokesman, Assistant Secretary PJ Crowley.
Crowley was referring to an incident last December, when an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at President George W. Bush during his final visit to Iraq during his administration.
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