Question: Question: The White House rejected criticism Sunday that President Obama has not delivered on his promise of "change" during his first year in office. White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said the president has brought about "enormous change." "I think what we've seen is a dramatic difference in terms of how the United States is perceived around the world," Jarrett told NBC's "Meet the Press," on the final Sunday before the president's State of the Union address. Obama's travels have established relationships with world leaders that "lay a foundation for keeping America safe and making us a partner around the world," she added. Jarrett also credited the president with having "pulled back the economy from the brink of disaster." "That's an enormous amount of change when you consider where we were a year ago right on the brink," she said. "And he's adding discipline in government to try to get control over our fiscal house. So I think that we've seen enormous change." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, on the same program, countered that "if you look at the first year of this administration, we haven't made much progress." He complained about the deficit in the president's budget and the health care reform package that Republicans oppose. But McConnell, R-Kentucky, was also on the defensive about the GOP, which critics have been calling "the party of no." Asked to characterize the performance of his own party this year, McConnell said, "What we did is try to operate on principle. The president decided to go hard left. That's why he doesn't have many of my members [supporting his agenda]. If he chooses to govern in the middle, he will have broader support." Jarrett insisted the president never wavered from his promised bipartisan approach. Discussing his health care initiative, Jarrett said Obama "has sat down with the leadership and members of the Republican Party, both the House and the Senate. In fact, bills in both the House and the Senate contain provisions that were suggested by the Republican Party -- so nothing's changed about the president's approach."
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Important parts: Valerie Jarrett: Obama has made "dramatic difference" in U.S. image around the world. White House senior adviser also credits Obama with pulling back economy from disaster. Republican leader says Obama went "hard left" and lost bipartisan support. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticizes deficit, health care reform.

Question: Seven years after politicians were accused in a vote-buying scheme, Brazil's Supreme Court on Thursday started the trial of 38 people suspected of involvement in the scandal. Eleven Supreme Court justices started the hearings in the capital city of Brasilia. The defendants are accused of using public funds to pay lawmakers monthly bribes for their support during the first government of President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in 2005. Lula's former chief of staff, Jose Dirceu, is among the defendants, along with other top members of his Worker's Party, bankers and businessmen. The main accusation in what is known as the Mensalao scandal, which means "big monthly allowance," is that the Worker's Party diverted funds from advertising budgets -- not for personal enrichment, but to ensure lawmakers passed Lula's initiatives through Congress. Defendants have been charged with money-laundering, corruption and accepting bribes. They deny the allegations. Brazilian media is calling it "the trial of the century." The trial is expected to last a month and could tarnish the Workers Party and Lula's legacy ahead of municipal elections. But current President Dilma Rousseff, also of the Workers Party, has never been connected to the scandal. In fact, Rousseff enjoys a strong approval rating of 77%. Many Brazilians' view is that she has taken a tough stand on corruption, tossing out six ministers who were suspected of misdeeds. Brazilians have seen their share of scandals. They impeached President Fernando Collor in 1992 for corruption, but he is now an active senator. Brazil to shed light on 'dirty war' abuse.
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Important parts: 38 defendants are accused of using public money to pay bribes to lawmakers. The first government of President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva was in place at the time. Brazilian media is calling it "the trial of the century"

Question: Duchess signed his birthday card and told him he was 'very, very brave' and 'very handsome' By. Bianca London. PUBLISHED:. 05:59 EST, 1 October 2012. |. UPDATED:. 07:44 EST, 1 October 2012. The Duchess of Cambridge has been left saddened by the death of a teenage cancer patient she met on her recent tour of Malaysia. Zakwan. Anuar, who suffered with acute leukaemia, postponed a. badly needed blood transfusion for 24 hours and put himself through. extra pain so he would not miss her visit. He was expected to die within 48 hours of meeting the duchess, who paid special attention to him during her tour of the Far East, but the 15-year-old battled on for two more weeks after his special encounter with her. Scroll down for video. Zakwan Anuar, who had leukaemia, was so determined to meet the Duchess that he postponed a badly-needed blood transfusion for 24 hours. Kate’s trip with William to the Kuala Lumpur hospice where the schoolboy was receiving care transformed his demeanour and brought a rare smile to the face of the teenager, who is believed to have died last Thursday. His mother, Norizan Sulong, a lecturer in business studies, told the Sun newspaper: 'We were next to him when he had his last moment. Kate told Zakwan that he was very brave and very handsome. 'He was surrounded by his brother, sister, father, grandfather, grandmothers and schoolmates. I miss him terribly.' Zakwan celebrated his birthday a few days before the royal visit last month and summoned the strength to chat to the Duchess for around 15 minutes, telling her she was 'very pretty' as she signed a birthday card for him. In reply she said he was 'very, very brave' and 'very handsome'. His mother said after the meeting that her son was normally very sleepy and in pain, crying, but during the visit it was if 'the leukaemia had gone'. Kate found out the sad news after his mother contacted The Sun. Kate, who is patron of a children’s hospice charity in the UK, had specifically asked to visit the institution as part of the royal couple’s nine-day Diamond Jubilee tour of the Far East and South Pacific, and chose the visit to make her first official speech on foreign soil. A St James’s Palace spokesman said: 'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are saddened to hear of Zakwan’s death. Their thoughts are with his family at this time.' Message of hope: The birthday greeting written by the Duchess to 15-year-old leukaemia patient Zakwan Anuar.
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Important parts:
Answer: Malaysian Zakwan Anuar passed away last Thursday. Zakwan Anuar was expected to die within 48 hours of meeting the Duchess but her kindness gave him the strength to battle for two more weeks. Duchess signed his birthday card and told him he was 'very, very brave' and 'very handsome'