WikiLeaks promises Swiss banking secrets revelations

By the CNN Wire Staff

January 17, 2011 -- Updated 1233 GMT (2033 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW:WikiLeaks could publish the documents within weeks, Julian Assange says
• Rudolf Elmer says he has a right to stand up if he sees something wrong
• The Swiss whistle-blower hands over papers to WikiLeaks
• Elmer and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange are fighting Swiss banking secrecy

London (CNN) -- A Swiss whistle-blower Monday handed over what he said were secret Swiss banking records to WikiLeaks, the website dedicated to revealing secrets.

Swiss banker Rudolf Elmer handed two discs to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at a press conference in London.

WikiLeaks could release secret Swiss banking records it received Monday in "a matter of weeks" if it can process them quickly enough, Assange said.

Elmer said he would not reveal the names in the records, and said he was unable to say how many people were covered.

Elmer describes himself as an activist/reformer/banker.

"I think, as a banker, I do have the right to stand up if something is wrong," he said Monday, explaining why he was giving the documents to the website.

Elmer is due to go on trial Wednesday in Switzerland for violating the country's banking secrecy regulations.

He said he wanted "to let society know what I do know and how this system works because it is damaging our society in the way that money is moved" and hidden in offshore jurisdictions.

He began looking into the issue when he was a banker in the Cayman Islands, he said.

When he first looked into the problems of offshore banking he said it looked like "a mouse tail," but as he investigated in the Cayman Islands and Switzerland, it became a "dragon's tail," and finally a many-headed dragon.

Elmer will not reveal names, lawyer Jack Blum said Monday, saying it was not always possible to determine who, if anyone, had engaged in "criminal tax evasion."

Elmer aims to "challenge Swiss Bank Secrecy at the European Court of Human Rights and the Swiss courts," he says on his website. He has worked at six offshore banking centers, he says.

Elmer and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange worked together on a complaint against Swiss banking secrecy at the European Court of Human Rights in 2008.

Federer opens with straight sets win over Lacko

January 17, 2011 -- Updated 1058 GMT (1858 HKT)

Roger Federer was untroubled in the first match of his title defense in Melbourne.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Defending champion Roger Federer eases to first round win at Australian Open
• Federer beats Lukas Lacko of Slovakia 6-1 6-1 6-3 at Melbourne Park
• Nikolay Davydenko and Sam Querrey are early seeded casualties in first slam of 2011
• Andy Roddick of the United States powers to straight sets win; Monfils also through

(CNN) -- Roger Federer began the defense of his Australian Open crown with a straight sets victory over Slovakian Lukas Lacko at Melbourne Park on Monday.

The world number two took just an hour and 24 minutes to dispatch Lacko 6-1 6-1 6-3 in their first round match on the Rod Laver Arena.

Federer, who beat Britain's Andy Murray in last year's final, is chasing his 17th grand slam title and could not have made a more convincing start.

"I thought I played great," the Swiss maestro told the official Australian Open website.

"I was able to keep on pressing, you know, put him on the back foot ... That it worked was obviously great. But at the end, I'm obviously very happy."

Australian Open: From nomad to nouveau riche

I thought I played great. I'm obviously very happy
--Roger Federer

The unfortunate Lacko, who played world number one and then defending champion Rafael Nadal in the second round last year, was always in trouble after losing the opener 6-1 in just 22 minutes.

He trailed 3-0 in the second before daring to break Federer's service for the first and only time only to then lose the next three games.

World number 97 Lacko offered stiffer resistance in the third set, but a single break of service was enough for Federer to secure a second round match against Gilles Simon, after the Frenchman beat Yen-Hsun Lu of Chinese Tapei 6-7 6-2 6-4 6-2.

While Federer breezed through, there were opening round defeats for two seeds, Nikolay Davydenko of Russia and Sam Querrey of the United States.

Should the Australian Open be played in February?

On the comeback trail after injury 23rd seed Davydenko lost in four sets to German Florian Mayer, who won 6-3 4-6 7-6 6-4.

Querrey, ranked 18th, was involved in a thrilling five-setter against world No. 72 Lukasz Kubot from Poland.

Kubot trailed two sets to one on court two, but cheered by a big contingent from Poland, hit back to win 5-7 6-2 3-6 6-1 7-6.

Gael Monfils looked set to join the list of upsets when he trailed young Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker two sets to love.

But the popular Frenchman, who is seeded 12th, battled back on the Hisense Arena for a stunning 6-7 2-6 7-5 6-2 6-1 victory.

On the same court, eighth seed Andy Roddick of the United States, showed fine early form with a 6-1 6-2 6-2 victory over Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic.

Giffords makes progress; staffer, man who shielded wife honored

By the CNN Wire Staff

January 17, 2011 -- Updated 1051 GMT (1851 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Giffords is upgraded from critical to serious condition
• Dorwan Stoddard's widow: "He saved my life, and gave his for it."
• A memorial takes place for Giffords staffer Gabriel "Gabe" Zimmerman

For more on this article, see CNN affiliate KGUN

Tucson, Arizona (CNN) -- U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, shot in the January 8 mass shooting in Arizona, continued to make progress as mourners said goodbye to one of her staff members and a retired construction worker who died shielding his wife.

On Sunday, the funeral for Dorwan Stoddard took place in Tucson. Witnesses said when the gunfire rang out, Stoddard, 76, was trying to protect his wife, Mavy, when he was shot in the head and fell onto her.

During Stoddard's funeral, Pastor Mike Nowak of Mountain View Church of Christ wore a red shirt and cowboy boots in honor of Stoddard, according to CNN affiliate KGUN.

Nowak said Stoddard -- who took care of the church's maintenance -- was so persistent that when he fell through the church's roof while making repairs one day, he wrapped his own arm in paper towels and electrical tape and kept working, KGUN reported.

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"He didn't die a hero. He lived a hero," Nowak said, according to KGUN.

Mavy Stoddard was shot three times in her legs but is expected to recover.

"He died for me, and I have to live for him," the widow said, KGUN reported.

A memorial for Gabriel "Gabe" Zimmerman, 30, also took place Sunday. Zimmerman was director for community outreach on Giffords' staff and was engaged to be married.

In addition to Stoddard and Zimmerman, those killed included 9-year-old Christina Green; Arizona's chief federal judge, John Roll; Dorothy Morris, 76; and Phyllis Schneck, 79.

Giffords was upgraded from critical to serious condition Sunday, eight days after being shot through the brain at a public event.

"The congresswoman continues to do well," University Medical Center in Tucson said in a statement Sunday.

Giffords was among 19 people shot at the "Congress on Your Corner" event at a Tucson supermarket. Authorities believe she was the target of the mass shooting that left six dead and another 13 wounded. A 22-year-old suspect, Jared Lee Loughner, is in custody.

The contentious issue of gun control was put in the spotlight Saturday when one of the 13 wounded in the attack was involuntarily committed to a county mental services unit after he made threats against a Tea Party member at a town hall event in Tucson.

James Eric Fuller, 63, photographed Trent Humphries and said, "You are dead," when Humphries began speaking at the event, according to Pima County Sheriff's Department spokesman Jason Ogan.

Humphries told CNN that Fuller's comment came when the town hall discussion turned toward the issue of gun control.

"I was asked to give my thoughts on gun control laws and perhaps the passage of new laws," Humphries said of the incident. "I said something to the effect that although gun rights and laws are not necessarily the primary focus of the Tucson Tea Party, our community needs to be given the opportunity to allow some time to pass and people to heal before we start this type of political dialogue."

Yemeni court sentences al-Awlaki

By the CNN Wire Staff

January 17, 2011 -- Updated 1124 GMT (1924 HKT)

The U.S.-born Al-Awlaki, who once preached at a mosque in Virginia, is believed to be a senior Al Qaeda leader in Yemen.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: Last year YouTube removed video clips it found to be inciting violence featuring the cleric
• Intelligence officials believe al-Awlaki is a senior leader of al Qaeda's branch in Yemen
• He is sentenced in absentia by a Yemeni court
• Authorities have said they are stepping up efforts to find him in Yemen

(CNN) -- A Yemeni court sentenced in absentia U.S.-born militant cleric Anwar al-Awlaki to 10 years in prison Monday for charges of inciting to kill foreigners, the state-run SABA news agency reported.

Prosecutors charged al-Awlaki and two others with "forming an armed gang" to target foreign officers and law enforcement in November, as authorities said they were stepping up efforts to locate him in Yemen.

Western intelligence officials believe al-Awlaki is a senior leader of al Qaeda's branch in Yemen, which claimed responsibility for the attempt to ship explosives into the United States via cargo planes late last year.

The Yemeni court also issued a death sentence Monday for Hisham Asim, a 19-year-old that prosecutors said al-Awlaki incited to kill a Frenchman in an October shooting rampage, Saba reported.

Anwar al-Awlaki's cousin, Othman al-Awlaki, was sentenced to eight years in prison -- also in absentia on charges of inciting to kill foreigners, SABA said.

U.S. officials say Anwar al-Awlaki helped recruit Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, the Nigerian man charged with trying to blow up a transatlantic flight as it landed in Detroit, Michigan, on December 25, 2009. The militant cleric is also said to have exchanged e-mails with accused Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Hassan.

Born in the state of New Mexico, Anwar al-Awlaki preached at a mosque in Virginia before leaving the United States.

In November a senior Yemeni government official said Yemeni authorities were intensifying operations to capture Anwar al-Awlaki. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said security forces and local tribesmen had embarked on counterterrorism operations in Shabwa Province, the homeland of the Awalik -- Anwar al-Awlaki's tribe.

Last year YouTube removed "a significant number" of video clips it found to be inciting violence, many featuring al-Awlaki.

Attorneys for al-Awlaki's father, Dr. Nasser al-Awlaki, tried to persuade U.S. District Court Judge John Bates in Washington to issue an injunction last year preventing the government from the targeted killing of al-Awlaki in Yemen.

But Bates dismissed the case in December, ruling that Nasser al-Awlaki did not have standing to sue.

In a November hearing, lawyers for the U.S. government refused to confirm that the cleric was on a secret "kill list" or that such a list even exists.

Risk of disease grows as flooding deaths increase in Brazil

From Helena de Moura, CNN

January 17, 2011 -- Updated 1049 GMT (1849 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: Forecasters say more flooding and landslides could hit Sao Paulo state
• At least 631 deaths are reported in Rio de Janeiro state
• Officials warn of the risk of waterborne diseases
• Troops arrive to help rescue those who are trapped

Nova Friburgo, Brazil (CNN) -- The death toll from devastating flooding in Brazil continued to rise Sunday, surpassing 600, the government said.

At least 631 deaths were reported in a mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state, northeast of the city of Rio.

Other states in the South American country have also seen heavy rainfall.

Last week, authorities in neighboring Sao Paulo state said 24 people had been killed by flooding. Forecasters there said late Sunday that an approaching cold front could bring more flooding and landslides.

Most of the deaths in Rio de Janeiro state were reported in the cities of Nova Friburgo and Teresopolis, with 287 and 269 fatalities, respectively. The state's health and civil defense department reported 56 fatalities in the town of Petropolis and 19 in Sumidouro.

Officials in that office also warned residents of the risk of waterborne diseases. Several thousand vaccines against tetanus and diphtheria have been distributed, they said.

Too early to place blame in Brazil

Rescuers have not been able to reach some hard-hit areas, and many more people are feared dead. The rain is predicted to continue for several days in areas already submerged in water or slathered with mud.

Members of the army entered parts of Teresopolis and were able to rescue 110 families.

Thousands of families are still living on mountain slopes or on riverbanks and face extreme risk of being washed away. One resident described the disaster as a tsunami that fell from the sky.

In a statement, Rio Gov. Sergio Cabral said he had a panic attack when he was traveling to Nova Friburgo and saw a devastated mountainside.

Outside a makeshift morgue in Teresopolis, a crowd of people waited for their turn to identify loved ones.

Marco Antonio Siqueira Costa said the last time he saw his brother, sister-in-law and niece was a few days ago, before mud buried their house.

"I think that last meeting was God's way of granting us a farewell," he said.

Residents in the city donned masks and helped clean streets or deliver first aid. Others combed the city, searching desperately for missing loved ones.

Red Cross volunteer Maria Helena de Jesus was helping with first aid.

"You have to almost have a heart of stone," she said. "It was very difficult."

Teresopolis Mayor Jorge Mario Sedlacek declared his city a natural disaster area.

President Dilma Rousseff flew over flood-affected areas last week and landed in Friburgo, the agency said. The floods are her first test as president.

She trudged through mud to talk to residents in a neighborhood where four of seven firefighters trying to rescue people had been buried under mud. The other three were pulled out alive.

"We are going to take firm action" to help the devastated areas, said Rousseff.

Brazilian authorities have been criticized for a lack of disaster planning and allowing people to build homes in areas known to become treacherous in the rainy season.

They are under increasing pressure to show a strong response. Brazil is scheduled to host the World Cup in 2014 and the 2016 Olympics.

Police: Flood toll climbs in Australia as search continues for missing

By the CNN Wire Staff

January 17, 2011 -- Updated 0923 GMT (1723 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• The Queensland premier says an investigation will look at the state's dams
• Police say 12 people are missing in the northeastern state
• "We have homes and lives torn apart," Premier Anna Bligh told reporters

(CNN) -- The death toll from flooding in the northeastern Australian state of Queensland has risen to 20, police said Monday.

The Queensland Police Service said authorities were still searching for 12 people missing in the flood-ravaged state.

In a televised interview four weeks after the state's flood crisis began, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said Monday that an investigation would analyze whether river dams "work as they're supposed to and are operated as well as they technically can be," according to a transcript of the interview published on the government's website.

On Sunday, Bligh told reporters that recovering from flooding would be a "reconstruction task of post-war proportions."

"We have homes and lives torn apart," she said.

Police said Monday that 15 evacuation centers housed 1,300 people overnight across Queensland.

Since January 10, police have located 410 people who were reported as missing, the police service said in a statement.

Lebanese officials postpone meetings to appoint new prime minister

By Ivan Watson and Nada Husseini, CNN

January 17, 2011 -- Updated 1220 GMT (2020 HKT)

Lebanese PM Saad Hariri's Western-backed consensus government collapsed last week.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: Indictment expected this week in probe into Rafik Hariri assassination
• NEW: Leaders of Turkey, Syria and Qatar to meet
• The Lebanon decision is announced moments before a meeting was scheduled to start
• The small country has plunged into another period of political uncertainty

Beirut, Lebanon (CNN) -- Lebanon's president has postponed consultations with parliament members to appoint a new prime minister, the presidential palace announced Monday.

The decision to delay talks by a week was announced moments before President Michel Suleiman was to begin meeting with lawmakers.

This small country by the sea has been plunged into another period of political uncertainty, since a political bloc led by the Shiite militant movement Hezbollah withdrew its representatives from the Cabinet last week.

The move prompted the collapse of the government of the Western-backed leader Saad Hariri, who has stayed on as caretaker prime minister.

In a televised address Sunday night, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah made it clear he would oppose appointing Hariri for another term as prime minister.

"It's clear to me that the opposition is unanimous in not naming Prime Minister Hariri to form the new government," Nasrallah said.

He also repeated his objections to an international investigation into the 2005 assassination of Hariri's father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Nasrallah had been pressuring the Lebanese government to withdraw its financial and political support from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which he claimed was an American-Israeli conspiracy designed to weaken Hezbollah.

A spokesman for the tribunal, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that a long-awaited and highly-contentious indictment is expected to be handed over to a pretrial judge at the Hague by Wednesday.

"It's destabilizing, of course, that the country is approaching this date without a government," warned Paul Salem, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, which describes itself as a public policy think tank and research center. "That makes the risks higher that the indictments when they come out might lead to events that are dangerous, destabilizing and unmanageable."

The collapse of Lebanon's government has triggered a flurry of diplomatic activity throughout the region.

The leaders of Turkey, Syria and Qatar were scheduled to meet in Damascus, Syria, on Monday to discuss the Lebanese crisis. Before departing for emergency talks in the Syrian capital, Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul he had also spoken to the president of Iran about Lebanon in a phone call. Iran and Syria are Hezbollah's most powerful foreign patrons.