Newser Premium News Archive Index
Newser Stories from August, 2007

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Premium news related to Craig Will Resign
Idaho Statesman | Aug 31, 07 8:03 PM CDT
(Newser) - Days after the revelation that he was caught in a police sting operation in an airport men's room, Larry Craig will resign from the US Senate, state GOP officials tell the AP and NBC News. The conservative Republican has called a news conference for tomorrow morning in Boise, where he will announce that he's stepping down Sept. 30.

Premium news related to Gay Couple Marries Before Iowa Judge Stays Ruling
Associated Press | Aug 31, 07 7:33 PM CDT
(Newser) - Two college students became Iowa's first—and, so far, only—legally married same-sex couple today before a judge stayed his own ruling that overturned a ban on gay marriage. About 20 couples completed the marriage-license application between 7:30 and 11am, when the county recorder stopped issuing them. “This might be our only chance,”...

Premium news related to Dogs Have a Nose for Pirates
Wired | Aug 31, 07 7:05 PM CDT
(Newser) - The NYPD's two cutest agents busted what cops say was a counterfeit DVD operation this week, heralding a new era in anti-piracy enforcement. Lucky and Flo, two black Labs trained to sniff out chemicals in DVDs, are just back from Malaysia, where they led authorities to 26 arrests on 35 raids. The canine cops have been called "very talented crime...

Premium news related to Petraeus Says Troop Surge Is Working
The Australian | Aug 31, 07 7:01 PM CDT
(Newser) - In a sneak peak at next month's progress report on the troop surge, David Petraeus says sectarian violence and coalition troop deaths from roadside bombs are down while seizure of insurgents' weapons is up. "We say we have achieved progress," the commander of US forces in Iraq told the Australian in an interview published today.

Premium news related to Jailbird Heads to Hooters
Munster (Ind.) Times | Aug 31, 07 6:17 PM CDT
(Newser) - A convict who managed to extract himself from the county jail in an Indiana town Sunday while taking out the trash was caught yesterday after he was unable to resist bragging about the caper to new-found friends at a nearby Hooters. Charles Smith, the 56-year-old escapee, wasn't even missed until a local citizen spotted him, garbed in his orange jail...

Premium news related to Jaguars to Lose Leftwich
Sports Illustrated | Aug 31, 07 6:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - A shocking nine days before the NFL season begins, the Jacksonville Jaguars have decided to cut ties with their presumed starting quarterback Byron Leftwich. According to Sports Illustrated , the Jaguars will be announcing that they will either release or trade the former first round pick and turn to back up David Garrard as their starter.

Premium news related to China Finds Worms, Low Standards in US Goods
Reuters | Aug 31, 07 5:35 PM CDT
(Newser) - China got off the latest shot in the war over substandard imports, reporting today it had found tiny worms in wooden packaging and substandard vitamins and children’s fish oil imported from the US. Simultaneously, China unveiled a wide-ranging recall system for its own exports that requires manufacturers to stop production and sales when defects...

Premium news related to Warner Will Retire in 2009; Dems Eye Va. Senate Seat
Washington Post | Aug 31, 07 5:20 PM CDT
(Newser) - After 28 years, John Warner will call it quits in 2009, after his fifth Senate term. The GOP stalwart who recently parted ways with President Bush on Iraq strategy announced his retirement today, sending Virginia Democrats and Republicans alike into a tizzy, the Washington Post reports. "I'm going to quietly step aside," said the 80-year-old...

Premium news related to Wall Street Up, Up, and Away for Holiday Weekend
MarketWatch | Aug 31, 07 4:42 PM CDT
(Newser) - On the eve of the holiday weekend, the major markets jumped today, riding encouraging comments by President Bush and Ben Bernanke to broad advances that pushed their monthly gains above 1%. The Dow, which saw 28 of 30 stocks rise, finished up 119.01 points, closing at 13,357.74. Citigroup and JP Morgan led a financial-sector rally.

Premium news related to Explosives Charges Raise Terrorism Fears
Tampa Tribune | Aug 31, 07 3:50 PM CDT
(Newser) - Two Florida college students who had an explosive device in the trunk of their car when they were stopped for speeding have been indicted on federal explosives charges, and one faces a charge of supporting terrorism, the Tampa Tribune reports. A legal expert called the indictment, unsealed today, "very bizarre because they almost sneak in terrorism."

Premium news related to NBC Content Will Disappear From iTunes
New York Times | Aug 31, 07 3:23 PM CDT
(Newser) - In a move that could hurt both companies, NBC Universal has decided to pull its popular digital videos from Apple’s iTunes store. NBC, Apple’s top supplier of digital video, said it wanted more control over the pricing of its products and greater piracy protection, echoing complaints from other media companies—but Apple won’t...

Premium news related to Bush Promises Mortgage Relief
Bloomberg | Aug 31, 07 2:52 PM CDT
(Newser) - The government will roll up its sleeves and aid homeowners battered by the subprime mortgage crunch, but it will forsake “speculators” trying to exploit the crisis, President Bush said today. The FHA will step in and help delinquent borrowers avoid foreclosure by refinancing at lower rates, but experts predict more than 2 million Americans...

Premium news related to A Woman's Place Is in ... Charge
Forbes | Aug 31, 07 2:21 PM CDT
(Newser) - Forbes names the 100 most powerful women in the world, putting Oprah one spot south of Ruth Bader Ginsburg—and placing Meredith Vieira ahead of Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer. The top 10: German chancellor Angela Merkel Chinese vice premier Wu Yi Temasek Holdings chief executive Ho Ching Condoleezza Rice...

Premium news related to Snow Sets Departure Date
CNN | Aug 31, 07 2:01 PM CDT
(Newser) - After weeks of rumors about his departure, White House press secretary Tony Snow gave his two weeks' notice today. Snow, who has battled colon cancer since 2005, made it clear he was leaving for financial and not health reasons, CNN reports. "I love you," President Bush told Snow, "and I wish you all the best."

Premium news related to Bernanke Vows to Combat Mortgage Mess
Bloomberg | Aug 31, 07 1:07 PM CDT
(Newser) - In his first comments on the subprime mortgage meltdown, Ben Bernanke today vowed the Federal Reserve “will act as needed” to contain the turmoil, preventing it from weakening the broader economy. The Fed chief pledged the central bank would “take additional actions” if necessary. “It is clear now the Fed is on the ball,”...

Premium news related to Seven-Year-Old Rape Charges Yield Arrest
Associated Press | Aug 31, 07 12:37 PM CDT
(Newser) - An Illinois man appeared in court yesterday to face rape charges filed against him seven years ago—when prosecutors didn't know his name, but knew his DNA. In 2000, Milwaukee prosecutor Norm Gahn was among the first in the country to file charges based solely on a DNA profile—in this case a serial rapist identified by semen from five young...

Premium news related to Koreans Talk About Ordeal
Associated Press | Aug 31, 07 12:10 PM CDT
(Newser) - "All I could think about was staying alive," said one of the South Korean aid workers released from captivity in Afghanistan yesterday. “Now that the tension is gone my body aches all over.” The group reunited in a Kabul hotel today and spoke to the South Korean media before boarding a plane for Dubai. Two ex-hostages apologized...

Premium news related to Iraqi Police Force Should Be 'Scrapped'
New York Times | Aug 31, 07 11:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - Corruption and sectarian biases are so deeply entrenched in the Iraqi police ranks that the force's structure must be “scrapped,” an independent panel will report to Congress next week. The recommendation stems from an examination of the 26,000-member police force that concludes “we should start over,” a military official...

Premium news related to Justice Dept. Will Investigate Whether Gonzales Lied
Washington Post | Aug 31, 07 10:56 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Justice Department will investigate whether Alberto Gonzales gave misleading testimony to Congress, including whether he lied about the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program and the US attorney firings. Inspector General Glenn Fine has alerted Congress to an expanded internal probe into the actions of the lame-luck AG, the Washington Post reports.

Premium news related to Senators’ Plane Draws Iraqi Fire
CNN | Aug 31, 07 10:25 AM CDT
(Newser) - An airplane carrying three US senators and a congressman was fired upon by rockets as it left Baghdad last night, forcing the pilot to resort to evasive maneuvers to avoid being struck. Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby described the rocket attacks as “near misses,” CNN reports. “Our plane started maneuvering and changing directions and...

Premium news related to Berlin Synagogue Reopens
BBC | Aug 31, 07 10:10 AM CDT
(Newser) - Germany’s largest synagogue has re-opened its doors after a major restoration, welcoming political leaders and Holocaust survivors to its unveiling. Built over 100 years ago, the Berlin temple was burned on Kristallnacht but the structure survived Nazism, Communism and decades of neglect. Architects re-created the original appearance with the...

Premium news related to Catch the Brain Wave of the Future
Popular Science | Aug 31, 07 9:34 AM CDT
(Newser) - With more and more online courses available, it's possible to learn anything, anywhere. Popular Science digs up the best continuing-ed choices : University extension programs: MIT OpenCourseWare Harvard Extension School Stanford Center for Professional Development

Premium news related to Craig May Resign Today
CNN | Aug 31, 07 9:02 AM CDT
(Newser) - Larry Craig will resign his Senate seat as soon as today, in an effort to pre-empt an official GOP call for him to step down, party sources tell CNN. Following the Idaho conservative’s guilty plea in a bathroom-stall sex sting, the Republican National Committee was preparing to call for his exit, CNN reports, but will hold off pending his decision...

Premium news related to Judge Strikes Down Iowa Gay Marriage Ban
Associated Press | Aug 31, 07 9:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -  A county  judge in Iowa has struck down the state's gay marriage ban as unconstitutional, and has ordered local officials to start issuing marriage licenses for gay couples. The county attorney says he will appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court. "I can't believe this is happening in Iowa," says state Minority Leader Christopher Rants.

Premium news related to Tests Will Tell if Big Stone Is Indeed Gem
BBC | Aug 31, 07 8:23 AM CDT
(Newser) - A South African mining company will know soon if they’ve found the world’s largest diamond, with tests scheduled for next week. The light-green stone was found several days ago; experts say it may turn out to only a fluorite crystal, the BBC reports. A spokesman for De Beers, the world' s biggest diamond miner, said a positive result on...

Premium news related to World Markets Rise Before Bush Speech
Bloomberg | Aug 31, 07 7:34 AM CDT
(Newser) - European and Asian markets rose today, in anticipation of a plan President Bush is expected to announce to bail out subprime lenders. Bush is expected to allow the FHA to guarantee loans for delinquent borrowers, allowing them to avoid foreclosure. "The news on Bush is going to be positive. It will hopefully help keep consumer confidence intact,"...

Premium news related to Princes Host Diana Memorial
Guardian (UK) | Aug 31, 07 7:17 AM CDT
(Newser) - Princes William and Harry held a memorial service today for their mother on the 10th anniversary of her death, with Harry leading off the honors, calling Diana "quite simply the best mother in the world"  and recalling the pain of her sudden death. The bishop of London urged people to stop rehashing conspiracy theories about the crash...

Premium news related to Probe to Study Asteroid Too Close to Earth
BBC | Aug 31, 07 6:27 AM CDT
(Newser) - Astronomers are preparing to send a probe to investigate an asteroid that in 2029 will pass closer to Earth than communications satellites do. The mission would gather information on the 1,000-foot-wide rock to figure out whether it poses a serious danger the next time it passes Earth in 2036.

Premium news related to Gibbs Eyes Switch to Toyota
ESPN | Aug 31, 07 6:25 AM CDT
(Newser) - Joe Gibbs Racing is in talks to move to Toyota Motorsports after 16 years and three series championships with General Motors, ESPN reports. The announcement is expected to come Wednesday morning at a press conference that could include Gibbs team drivers Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. Neither Toyota nor GM would comment yesterday.

Premium news related to LSU Shuts Down Miss. State
Associated Press | Aug 31, 07 6:18 AM CDT
(Newser) - In spite of a shaky start, the LSU Tigers tore through Mississippi State's offense to rack up their eighth straight victory last night, reports the AP. New quarterback Matt Flynn found his rhythm in the second quarter, ending with 128 yards and two touchdowns. His Bulldog counterpart Michael Henig struggled with a fumble, four sacks, and a record six...

Premium news related to D'backs Back on Top in NL West
Arizona Republic (Phoenix) | Aug 31, 07 6:14 AM CDT
(Newser) - After chalking up an eight-run lead and then watching it dwindle, the Diamondbacks held on to win 8-7 and move back ahead of San Diego in the NL West. D'backs closer Jose Valverde gave up a solo homer to Milton Bradley in the ninth before striking out two Padres to end the game and earn his 41st save of the season, reports the Arizona Republic.

Premium news related to Bush to Unveil Bailout Plan in Mortgage Crisis
Reuters | Aug 31, 07 5:42 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Bush will announce a rescue package for homeowners with subprime mortgages faced with foreclosure. The package will include a call for Congress to give the Federal Housing Administration more power to help borrowers keep their homes—and stricter enforcement of laws against predatory lending, Reuters reports.

Premium news related to US Firm Paid Bribes for Iraq Contracts: Army
New York Times | Aug 31, 07 4:51 AM CDT
(Newser) - An American company paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to secure some $12 million in contracts in Iraq and Kuwait, despite poor performance on earlier work, according to court documents obtained by the New York Times . Lee Dynamics International was suspended from seeking government work after an Army officer admitted to taking $225,000...

Premium news related to Cop Accuses Craig of Lying
Associated Press | Aug 31, 07 4:49 AM CDT
(Newser) - Disgraced Senator Larry Craig can be heard on audiotape arguing vehemently with a police officer about what happened in an airport men's room after he allegedly solicited sex from the undercover cop. The arresting officer can also be heard accusing Craig of lying on the tape, which was released by Minneapolis Airport police, AP reports.

Premium news related to Birthday Boy Roddick Served Victory Gift
New York Times | Aug 31, 07 4:48 AM CDT
(Newser) - Jose Acasuso had a 25th birthday present for Andy Roddick last night: the Argentine bowed out of the pair's second-round US Open match last night, citing an injured left knee. No. 5 Roddick, who was leading Acasuso 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, had started to dominate the service game. "I don't like winning like that, but your goal is to get through," said...

Premium news related to Critics Paddle Balls of Fury
Rotten Tomatoes | Aug 31, 07 4:47 AM CDT
(Newser) - Balls of Fury is barely getting it over the net, according to most critics, who find the ping-pong-meets-martial-arts comedy lifeless and unfunny. “It's the kind of comedy that finds Asian people hi- lar -ious because they're...Asian. (Are you laughing yet?)," writes  Entertainment Weekly ’s Owen Gleiberman.

Premium news related to Next AG Will Inherit Justice Budget Crunch
Wall Street Journal | Aug 31, 07 4:46 AM CDT
(Newser) - Alberto Gonzales' successor at Justice will find a department seriously weakened by budget cuts that have reduced prosecutions in all types of crimes, the Wall Street Journal reports. As funds have been redirected to fighting terrorism, positions in US attorneys offices remain unfilled, and investigations have languished for months. 

Premium news related to Injury Decks Becks for Most of Season
Associated Press | Aug 31, 07 4:19 AM CDT
(Newser) - LA Galaxy superstar David Beckham will likely miss most of his widely anticipated American soccer debut season after spraining his right knee in a match on Wednesday. Beckham went down on a tackle by Pachuca's Fernando Salazar during a SuperLiga title match. Trainers say he'll be out at least until October.

Premium news related to Yanks Sweep Sox In The Bronx
New York Times | Aug 31, 07 4:17 AM CDT
(Newser) - Pitcher Chien-Ming Wang's one-hit outing handed the Yankees a 5-0 win over Boston last night, the final installment of a crucial three-game sweep in the Bronx. Though the Sox busted Wang's no-hitter in the seventh, the righty blanked their All-Star lineup to give New York a half-game lead over Seattle in the American League wild card race.

Premium news related to Louisville Decimates Murray State
Associated Press | Aug 31, 07 4:12 AM CDT
(Newser) - Quarterback Brian Brohm and his Louisville Cardinals impressed their new coach last night, scoring touchdowns on their first eight drives and totaling 655 offensive yards in a landslide 73-10 victory against Murry State. The No. 10 team found its stride with coach Steve Kragthorpe's new game plan, scoring on all but one possession, the AP reports.

Premium news related to FBI Spied on Coretta Scott King
Associated Press | Aug 31, 07 3:52 AM CDT
(Newser) - FBI agents mounted a four-year spying operation to scrutinize Martin Luther King's widow, Coretta Scott King, following the assassination of the civil rights leader. The newly released documents reveal that the Nixon administration feared Mrs. King, who died last year, might unite the civil rights movement and anti-war protesters into a single movement.

Premium news related to Exiled Pakistan Leader Vows Return to Battle Musharraf
BBC | Aug 31, 07 3:36 AM CDT
(Newser) - Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif has announced he will return from exile next month to challenge General Musharraf in upcoming elections. The development comes as Musharraf is negotiating a power-sharing deal with another political rival, Benazir Bhutto. Some observers fear the army could replace Musharraf with another military figure to...

Premium news related to Wrestling Stars Smacked Down for Steroid Use
New York Daily News | Aug 31, 07 3:20 AM CDT
(Newser) - Some top stars of World Wrestling Entertainment are being taken to the mat after a New York district attorney uncovered steroid use by over a dozen wrestlers. The list of athletes, obtained by the New York Daily News , includes big names like Randy Orton, Robert “Booker T” Huffman and Adam “Edge” Copeland. The league is suspending...

Premium news related to Phillies Trounce Mets as Wagner Melts Down
New York Times | Aug 31, 07 3:18 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Mets counted on closer Billy Wagner to pull off a crucial two-inning save last night, and he blew it. Wagner surrendered one run in the eighth inning and two in the ninth, the last on a Chase Utley single that won the game 11-0 for Philadelphia. The Phillies' key four-game sweep cut New York's lead to two games in the National League East.

Premium news related to Nearly Official: Thompson Set for GOP Run
Washington Post | Aug 30, 07 7:04 PM CDT
(Newser) - After months of speculation, Fred Thompson is finally set to join the crowded field of GOP presidential hopefuls, the Washington Post reports. Aides confirm that the former Tennessee senator and "Law & Order" actor will make his bid for the White House official Sept. 6 on his campaign website. A whirlwind tour of early primary states...

Premium news related to Online Daters Get Hotter on First Night
Houston Chronicle | Aug 30, 07 6:37 PM CDT
(Newser) - A third of women have sex on the first date with men they've previously met online, and 77% of those don't use condoms, a new study reports. "They may not think of it as being risky sex," the survey's author tells the Houston Chronicle, citing "virtual intimacy" as a factor in unsafe behavior.

Premium news related to 2 Politkovskaya Suspects Freed
Associated Press | Aug 30, 07 6:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - Two of the 10 suspects arrested Monday in the death of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya were released today, the AP reports, a move that could indicate the prosecution's case is tenuous. A third person taken into custody in the October murder of Politkovskaya—a sharp critic of the government of Vladimir Putin—was said no longer to...

Premium news related to Texas Gov. Spares Prisoner Hours Before Execution
Houston Chronicle | Aug 30, 07 5:50 PM CDT
(Newser) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry commuted a death-row prisoner's sentence to life imprisonment today, six hours before he was to die for his role in a 1996 murder. Kenneth Foster drove the getaway car in a robbery gone awry, and under Texas law was eligible for the death penalty. Perry, in granting the reprieve, followed the advice of a state board.

Premium news related to How Hillary Can Shave Those Negatives
New Republic | Aug 30, 07 5:28 PM CDT
(Newser) - After Karl Rove’s parting shot at Hillary Clinton’s negative ratings, political consultants weigh in on the hurdle—and conclude that her highest-ever figures aren't fatal. One consultant tells the New Republic the numbers aren’t locked in, and voters who once disliked the First Lady don’t yet know the presidential front-runner.

Premium news related to Popcorn Company Bans Butter Powder
Indianapolis Star | Aug 30, 07 4:57 PM CDT
(Newser) - Weaver Popcorn has stopped using diacetyl, the powder that gives microwave popcorn its buttery flavor, after allegations that the chemical causes lung disease in workers who inhale it at factories, the Indianapolis Star reports. "We want to take our brand out of any potential controversy," says Michael Weaver, president of one of the largest...

Premium news related to Stocks Shake Before Fed Speech
Wall Street Journal | Aug 30, 07 4:31 PM CDT
(Newser) - Technology shares are still on the rebound, but the credit market continues to shake other stocks as traders await Ben Bernanke's speech on Friday. The tech-heavy NASDAQ gained 2.14 today, to close at 2565.30. But the Dow slipped 50.56 to 13238.73, and the S&P 500 fell 6.12 to 1457.64.

Premium news related to Life Without Chrysler Suits Daimler Fine
BusinessWeek | Aug 30, 07 4:31 PM CDT
(Newser) - Rid of the Chrysler albatross since its May sale, German automaker DaimlerChrysler says its profits are taking off, Business Week reports. CEO Dieter Zetsche said yesterday the company—which aims to strip "Chrysler" from its name this fall—is likely to beat his estimates of 7% profit this year, and hit 10% by 2010, which would...

Premium news related to Producer Recalls 68K Pounds of Calif. Spinach
San Jose Mercury News | Aug 30, 07 4:07 PM CDT
(Newser) - A California produce company is recalling over 68K pounds of bagged spinach after a sample taken from one of the company's packing plants tested positive for salmonella, the San Jose Mercury News reports. But Metz Fresh has likely averted a repeat of last year's contaminated spinach mess, corralling 90% of the potentially contaminated produce before...

Premium news related to Hackers Target Bloggers in Cyber-Faceoff
BBC | Aug 30, 07 3:54 PM CDT
(Newser) - Hackers are attacking Google’s Blogger site and planting links to downloads potentially laden with viruses, the BBC reports. Some blogs have been updated with innocent-looking links promising news or digital greeting cards. But clicking on the links could give away users' private data or invite harmful spam messages. Google hasn't commented on...

Premium news related to Record Heat Fries Phoenix
Associated Press | Aug 30, 07 3:44 PM CDT
(Newser) - Phoenix citizens can’t blunt this hot spell with claims of “dry heat”: The city’s just marked its 29th day in a year of 110-degree temperatures. Urbanization and global warming are likely factors in the chart-topping season, though Phoenicians have been spared a highest-ever figure, the AP reports—they survived a 122-degree...

Premium news related to UN Finds Iran Nuke Progress Slow
Reuters | Aug 30, 07 3:12 PM CDT
(Newser) - The UN's nuclear watchdog says Iran’s uranium enrichment is progressing slowly, Reuters reports, a finding that will likely dim American efforts to impose new sanctions. “Iran made a fast start but then there was a leveling off,” said an official of the IAEA, whose report debunked Iran's claims that it has "industrial capacity"...

Premium news related to See Jane Realize She Can Run Circles Around You
New York Times | Aug 30, 07 2:50 PM CDT
(Newser) - When it comes to men, most women just don’t try—try, that is, to be as good as them in sports. After examining several running competitions, the New York Times discovered that while men slow as they age, older women were seemingly doing laps around their younger counterparts. One expert says younger women can be embarrassed to act like...

Premium news related to Starbucks to Get First Sip of Russian Market
Seattle Times | Aug 30, 07 2:34 PM CDT
(Newser) - Starbucks will finally open its first Russian store next month, the Seattle Times reports, but the coffee giant will need a jolt of caffeine to achieve the brand recognition of Western rivals who've been in the market for years. Traditionally tea drinkers, Russians have warmed up to domestic coffee purveyors, and few expect Starbucks' latest expansion...

Premium news related to Five Common Mistakes About Cancer
Time | Aug 30, 07 1:54 PM CDT
(Newser) - An American Cancer Society survey of 1,000 adults, as reported in Time, determined five major misconceptions about the disease. The risk of dying from cancer in the United States is increasing. Living in a polluted city is a greater risk for lung cancer than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.

Premium news related to Beckham Injury Overshadows On-Field Loss
Los Angeles Times | Aug 30, 07 1:54 PM CDT
(Newser) - Already nursing a sore left ankle, David Beckham sprained his right knee last night 30 minutes into the SuperLiga final in LA. The pricey superstar returned to the field to watch the penalty kicks that ended the overtime thriller—another loss for the Galaxy—and may not be ready for next month's critical Euro 2008 qualifying, reports the...

Premium news related to Final Korean Hostages Walk Free
CNN | Aug 30, 07 1:34 PM CDT
(Newser) - Taliban militants in Afghanistan freed the remaining seven South Korean hostages today, CNN reports, ending an episode that began July 19 with the abduction of 23 Christian aid workers. After two were executed, the remaining hostages were gradually released as the South Korean government negotiated with the captors, promising to halt missionary work...

Premium news related to Circus Elephant Elopes With Wild Suitor
Guardian (UK) | Aug 30, 07 1:14 PM CDT
(Newser) - In perhaps the heaviest love story ever told, a wild bull elephant broke into a traveling circus in India and snatched away a tame but captivated female. Wildlife experts say the male was probably in must when he broke a gate to free his beloved; three other elephants also escaped, the Guardian reports, then returned when circus officials came calling.

Premium news related to Nifong Pleads Not Guilty to Contempt
News & Observer (Raleigh) | Aug 30, 07 12:53 PM CDT
(Newser) - In the same Durham courtroom where he once prosecuted accused criminals, Mike Nifong pleaded not guilty today to contempt charges stemming from his handling of the Duke rape case. Nifong’s judge accused the disgraced DA of lying to him last September about a DNA report that could have benefited the accused Duke lacrosse players, the News and...

Premium news related to Nerve Gas Found at UN Building
Associated Press | Aug 30, 07 12:46 PM CDT
(Newser) - Weapons inspectors cleaning out an office in a United Nations building near its Manhattan headquarters found six to eight vials of a nerve gas believed to have been recovered from Iraq in 1996, the AP reports. A UN spokeswoman said there was no immediate danger from the substance, identified as phosgene, an older chemical warfare agent.

Premium news related to Tucker Carlson Claims Gay Bashed Him
New York Daily News | Aug 30, 07 12:33 PM CDT
(Newser) - After bragging on the air that he hit a gay man who “bothered” him in a mall bathroom, Tucker Carlson is angrily denying he’s a hate criminal. “It infuriates me to be called a gay-basher, since he was the predator, not me,” the conservative MSNBC host pled to the New York Daily News . Blog bedlam ensued after the broadcast...

Premium news related to Apple, VW Steer Toward iCar
Associated Press | Aug 30, 07 11:37 AM CDT
(Newser) - Apple and Volkswagen are cruising toward a new partnership to develop a car loaded with gizmos from the digital maverick. Steve Jobs met with VW chief Martin Winterkorn in California this week to discuss plans for an “iCar,” the AP reports. Negotiations have just begun, but a VW spokesman says there are “scores of ideas.”

Premium news related to Dunne Wanted Daughter's Murderer Killed
Slate | Aug 30, 07 11:00 AM CDT
(Newser) - Crime writer Dominick Dunne asked Anthony Pellicano to put out a contract on his daughter’s killer’s life—and relented only when the private investigator talked him down. Dunne hired the now-incarcerated Pellicano to follow John Thomas Sweeney in the mid-1980s; the Vanity Fair writer now tells Slate he wanted the murderer murdered....

Premium news related to Kickoff Brings High Hopes, Big Hype at Rutgers
Associated Press | Aug 30, 07 10:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - Expectations are outpacing tickets sales as Rutgers, coming off perhaps its best season, kicks off its 2007 college football season tonight by hosting Buffalo. The Scarlet Knights enter the season as a ranked team—they're 16th—for the first time ever after going 11-2 and barely missing a major bowl. They even boast a Heisman Trophy candidate...

Premium news related to Taliban Frees 4 More Captives
Associated Press | Aug 30, 07 10:17 AM CDT
(Newser) - Taliban militants released four of their remaining seven South Korean hostages today. The two men and two women were released to Red Cross officials on a road in central Afghanistan, the AP reports. The Red Cross is on its way to pick up the three remaining hostages from the original 23. None of the freed hostages, held for six weeks, has talked to...

Premium news related to Clinton Will Regift Fugitive Fundraiser's Donation
Los Angeles Times | Aug 30, 07 10:13 AM CDT
(Newser) - Hillary Clinton will give away $23,000 she received from a major Democratic fundraiser who has turned out to be a wanted fugitive. Norman Hsu has raised or donated more than $1 million in recent years, but California prosecutors says he disappeared in 1992 after pleading no contest to a charge of defrauding investors, the LA Times reports.