3/17 CNN.com Recently Published/Updated

Judge Judy encourages Americans, slams Madoff March 17, 2009 at 4:01 am Viewers have learned that television's no-nonsense Judge Judy cuts through the bull and gets to the heart of the matter. Hamas hardens position on kidnapped soldier's release March 17, 2009 at 3:49 am Israeli negotiators returned to Jerusalem for a Tuesday afternoon Cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert after Hamas officials "hardened" their position over the release of an abducted soldier. Nigerian's scam nets 19-year sentence March 17, 2009 at 3:46 am A college student in Nigeria has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for scamming an Australian woman out of $47,000 online by pretending to be a widowed white businessman desperately in love with her. Cops bust upscale prostitution ring March 17, 2009 at 2:50 am Police in Houston, Texas, say they have busted a prostitution ring that may involve more than 1,500 clients, including professional athletes, doctors and lawyers. Troops storm Madagascar presidential palace March 17, 2009 at 2:41 am Members of Madagascar's military stormed the presidential palace and overran it Monday evening. President Marc Ravalomanana was in another palace at the time, reports said. At least 9 foreign troops killed in Afghanistan in 48 hours March 17, 2009 at 2:32 am At least nine foreign soldiers were killed in Afghanistan over the weekend -- eight in combat and one in a traffic accident, a spokesman for the NATO mission in the country told CNN Monday. North Korean premier arrives in China March 17, 2009 at 2:20 am North Korea Premier Kim Yong-Il arrived in China on Tuesday for a five-day visit that coincides with the 60th anniversary celebration of diplomatic ties between the two countries, state media said. Vancouver: Perfecting city life with the great outdoors March 17, 2009 at 1:42 am Vancouver is regularly at the top of the world's most livable list of cities. North Korea reopens border to South Koreans March 17, 2009 at 1:37 am North Korea fully reopened its border to South Koreans on Tuesday, without explaining its reversal, the South's Unification Ministry said. Financier Stanford owes at least $226 million, IRS says March 17, 2009 at 1:27 am American financier Robert Allen Stanford and his wife, Susan, owe back taxes, penalties and interest of at least $226.5 million, the IRS said in court documents filed in Dallas, Texas. Seattle Post-Intelligencer prints final edition in online transition March 17, 2009 at 1:15 am Reporters, editors and photographers at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer prepared their final contributions to the paper, toasted one another with shots of Wild Turkey and packed up their desks in an "eerily clean" newsroom as the final edition of the paper went to the presses Monday night. Commentary: Former AIG exec at center of economic crisis March 16, 2009 at 11:25 pm All this week, as part of CNN's focus on the Road to Rescue, we're going to name names. We are going to introduce you this week to five new inductees into our Rogues Gallery. And given today's news, our obvious first choice is the man many say played a big role in AIG to its knees: Joseph Cassano. He was once head of AIG's financial products unit. He left the company last March. Commentary: Cheney says U.S. can torture but can't heal March 16, 2009 at 10:58 pm Dick Cheney has finally found the limits of government power. New Mexico man pleads guilty in bank biohazard hoaxes March 16, 2009 at 10:46 pm A New Mexico man has admitted to sending threatening letters filled with white powder to dozens of banks in 2008 out of what federal agents said was anger over his losses in a failed bank. CNN Student News Transcript: March 17, 2009 March 16, 2009 at 10:36 pm March 17, 2009 Iranians at Iraq camp allege abuse March 16, 2009 at 10:14 pm Members of an Iranian group say Iraqi forces have beaten and abused them as Iraqis move to expel the Iranians from a camp on Iraqi land. CNN Student News: Ten Questions March 16, 2009 at 9:44 pm March 17, 2009 Offbeat iReports: Your fun and amazing photos March 16, 2009 at 9:37 pm Doctor surrenders in Anna Nicole Smith drugs case March 16, 2009 at 5:43 pm One of two doctors charged with conspiring to furnish drugs to Anna Nicole Smith before her fatal overdose in 2007 surrendered to authorities and was jailed Monday, authorities said. White House rejects request to use stimulus to pay off state debt March 16, 2009 at 5:14 pm The White House has rejected South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's request to use a portion of the state's allotted federal stimulus funds to pay off state debt instead of spending it on government services or programs. Obama tries to stop AIG bonuses: 'How do they justify this outrage?' March 16, 2009 at 5:08 pm President Obama said Monday he will attempt to block bonuses to executives at ailing insurance giant AIG, payments he described as an "outrage." Murray cruises into Indian Wells last 16 March 16, 2009 at 5:05 pm World number four Andy Murray continued his comeback from illness by easing into the fourth round of the Indian Wells Masters with a comfortable straight sets victory over Paul-Henri Mathieu. Commentary: Time for dialogue on race is now March 16, 2009 at 5:03 pm Privilege can be a dangerous thing. It releases you from the task of thinking about things that others must. I am an African-American male and I am privileged. Not on race; but on gender, education, religion, income and many other areas. Ex-thief a convert to money missionary March 16, 2009 at 4:26 pm You don't expect to hear an electric saw in church, but Kevin Cross uses the tool along with a frying pan, blender and toaster oven to help free people from debt. Satellite debris expected within half a mile of space station March 16, 2009 at 4:05 pm A piece of an old Soviet-era satellite spinning through space could threaten the International Space Station overnight, NASA said Monday. Obama pledges more help for veterans March 16, 2009 at 4:04 pm President Obama pledged Monday to make good on his promise to transform the Department of Veterans Affairs and said he would "dramatically improve" mental health aid. Sprinter Cavendish named in GB track squad March 16, 2009 at 4:03 pm Top sprinter Mark Cavendish has been named in the Great Britain squad for next week's world track cycling championships in Poland -- six months after becoming the only member of the nation's Olympic squad to return home from Beijing without a medal. Manslations: What men really mean March 16, 2009 at 3:51 pm I've never really been a fan of the "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" school of relationship thought, but I'll admit that sometimes I feel as though the men I've dated have spoken a different language. 'Star Wars' scientists create laser gun to kill mosquitoes March 16, 2009 at 3:26 pm Scientists in the U.S. are developing a laser gun that could kill millions of mosquitoes in minutes. Payout for women who got breast cancer after night shifts March 16, 2009 at 3:11 pm Employers in Denmark have started paying compensation to women who have developed breast cancer after working night shifts. Violence flares at Madagascar palace March 16, 2009 at 3:10 pm Members of Madagascar's military battled supporters of President Marc Ravalomanana outside the presidential palace Monday as the turmoil over whether he stays in office intensified. Warrant for Lohan's arrest dropped March 16, 2009 at 3:03 pm A warrant for Lindsay Lohan's arrest was dropped Monday after a Beverly Hills judge said the actress-singer is in full compliance with terms of her probation for a drunken driving conviction. Paul O'Neill: Banks must show U.S. the money March 16, 2009 at 2:52 pm Paul O'Neill, who was appointed treasury secretary in 2001 by President Bush, says the federal government is not doing enough to fix the U.S. financial system. Pakistan to reinstate chief justice March 16, 2009 at 2:24 pm All judges sacked by Pakistan's previous president, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, will be reinstated, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani announced Monday, triggering celebrations in major cities after days of massive demonstrations.