Newser Story Index from November, 2007
Welcome to the Newser Story Index. Here you find stories written by Newser writers and editors, assembled with supporting photos and videos from the files of the news story.
These Stars Love New York
Associated Press
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Nov 26, 2007 11:13 PM CST
(Newser) -
Mike Modano scored his second goal of the game just seconds into overtime to lift the Dallas Stars to their sixth straight win, 3-2 over the host New York Islanders. Marty Turco, fighting to win back his starting job in goal, earned the win with 23 saves. The Islanders, struggling offensively, got goals from Richard Park and Miroslav Satan. Elsewhere...
Sherman Named New Coach at A&M
Dallas Morning News
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Nov 26, 2007 11:10 PM CST
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Mike Sherman will replace Dennis Franchione as head football coach at Texas A&M. Sherman coached the Aggies offensive line during two separate stints in the 1990s. He is currently the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans and coached the Green Bay Packers from 2000 to 2005. Sherman called coaching the Aggies his “dream job,”...
Marbury Is Starbury Against Jazz
Associated Press
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Nov 26, 2007 10:52 PM CST
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The embattled Stephon Marbury continued his renaissance against the Jazz, scoring 28 (a season high) and going 3-for-3 from behind the arc. Brawny Knicks forward Zach Randolph had his eighth double-double in ten games, snagging 25 points and 14 rebounds—the last of which was a clutch offensive board with the Jazz down by two.
Wood Signs 1-year Deal to Close for Cubs
Chicago Tribune
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Nov 26, 2007 10:47 PM CST
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Nearly a decade since he burst onto the scene with a 20 strikeout game in just his fifth big league start, Kerry Wood has assumed a new role with the Chicago Cubs. The injury-plagued hurler signed a one-year, $4.2 million deal to be the club’s new closer. Wood said he is excited for the new opportunity, reports the Chicago Tribune .
Tar Heels, Bruins Top College Polls
Los Angeles Times
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Nov 26, 2007 10:42 PM CST
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UCLA, with quality wins against Maryland and Michigan State last week, grabbed the top spot in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll today, reports the Los Angeles Times , while North Carolina retained the No. 1 rank from the AP. Overall, the Top 25 saw numerous changes with 13 ranked teams losing a game last week. Injuries, though, haven't slowed...
Marriage and State Should Get a Divorce
New York Times
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Nov 26, 2007 8:44 PM CST
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Modern love has snubbed its nose at the state, writes Stephanie Coontz in an op ed piece in the New York Times , with 40% of US children now from unmarried parents. So it's time for the law to follow suit, and get out of the marrying business. Marriage licenses—a relatively recent phenomenon, historically—are about conferring "spousal"...
Kids Will Eat Healthier School Lunches
Associated Press
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Nov 26, 2007 8:32 PM CST
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Low-fat turkey hot dogs, fruits, and veggies aren't the lunchtime turn-off many assume, a study of Minnesota school districts finds. Sure, students prefer fattier lunches, but demand doesn't drop and cost doesn't rise when they're dished up healthier meals. Although labor expenses typically increase, the savings from abandoning processed foods compensates.
Cheney Home After Heart Treatment
Associated Press
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Nov 26, 2007 7:59 PM CST
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Dick Cheney returned home today after doctors shocked his heart back to a normal rhythm, the AP reports. He arrived at George Washington University Hospital at around 5 pm. and left 2 1/2 hours later. "The procedure went smoothly and without complication," a spokeswoman said. "The vice president will resume his normal schedule tomorrow...
Teacher Held for Teddy Bear Blasphemy
Telegraph (UK)
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Nov 26, 2007 7:25 PM CST
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A UK teacher in Sudan may get 40 lashes and a 6-month sentence over a teddy bear named "Mohammed," the Telegraph reports. Sudanese cops nabbed Gillian Gibbons yesterday for blasphemy after she let her elementary school kids name the bear after Islam's prophet. School director Robert Boulos, who has closed the school for fear of attacks,...
Thompson Lays Into Fox News
Politico
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Nov 26, 2007 6:56 PM CST
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Fred Thompson isn’t buying “We Report, You Decide.” The Republican White House hopeful yesterday blasted Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday," accusing Rupert Murdoch’s network of skewing its election coverage against him. Thompson said belittling his campaign and calling it troubled has become “a constant mantra"...
It's Good to Be the King
Time
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Nov 26, 2007 6:31 PM CST
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Stephen King nearly hijacked an interview with Time , bashing the media and peppering the interviewer with questions about the mag's Person of the Year. "I think it should be Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan," he says. He also said he's resigned to the fact that some movies based on his work will be a "train wreck like Dreamcatcher....
Protesters Fail to Stop Debate
BBC
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Nov 26, 2007 6:08 PM CST
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An Oxford Union debate is underway despite 30 students who rushed inside and delayed proceedings with a sit-down protest, BBC reports. Five hundred more are picketing outside and blocked about half of attendees from entering. Students chanted "Keep Oxford fascist-free! Shame on you!” in opposition to right-wing leader Nick Griffin and holocaust...
Gore Finally Reaches Oval Office
Chicago Tribune
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Nov 26, 2007 5:42 PM CST
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Al Gore met with President Bush in the Oval Office today, the first private meeting between the two since the 2000 election. The environmental activist called the meeting "very cordial" but then gave reporters the slip, the Chicago Tribune reports. "I'm not going to do an interview here,'' he said on the street outside the White House.
Brothel Owner Backs Paul
Reno Gazette-Journal
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Nov 26, 2007 5:16 PM CST
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Ron Paul found himself on the respectable side of a brothel last week, when the Republican presidential hopeful earned the endorsement of the owner of Reno's Moonlite BunnyRanch. MSNBC anchor Tucker Carlson surprised Paul by engineering the nod, arriving in a limousine with Dennis Hof and two “celebrity prostitutes,” the Reno Gazette-Journal...
Pavarotti Widow Sues 2 Friends
Associated Press
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Nov 26, 2007 5:00 PM CST
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Luciano Pavarotti's widow is suing two of her late husband's close friends for $44 million over what she terms defamatory remarks about her marriage and character. Nicoletta Mantovani claims they began "feeding the media with rumors" after the maestro died of cancer in September. The duo publicly claimed Pavarotti complained of his wife's...
Citigroup Faces Pressure to Help Troubled Borrowers
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 26, 2007 4:55 PM CST
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The subprime collapse has Citigroup beset on two sides: Besides dealing with a $45 billion portfolio of 280,000 subprime mortgages it acquired in September, Citi is facing pressure from influential consumer advocacy groups to provide relief to troubled borrowers, the Journal reports. Activists are calling for the lender to fix adjustable-rate mortgages...
Dubai Ruler's Fund Invests in Sony
Financial Times (UK)
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Nov 26, 2007 4:53 PM CST
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The fund owned by the ruler of Dubai has bought what it calls "a significant stake" in Sony, Dubai International Capital announced today. DIC hasn't let on to how large the investment is, reports the Financial Times, but said today, "we typically take positions of $500m-$1bn." Any investment larger than 5% would have to be reported...
Authors List Literary Faves of '07
Guardian (UK)
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Nov 26, 2007 4:38 PM CST
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Read the books writers are raving about with the help of this list from the Guardian : David Hare: Five Germanys I Have Known , Fritz Stern Nicola Barker: Teenage , Jon Savage Margaret Drabble: Edith Wharton , Hermione Lee
Cheney Will Have Heart Procedure
Reuters
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Nov 26, 2007 4:17 PM CST
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Dick Cheney has an irregular heartbeat and may need to have an electrical impulse delivered to his heart. The VP visited his doctor this morning complaining of a lingering cough, Reuters reports, and was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, which a Cheney spokeswoman described as "an abnormal rhythm involving the upper chambers of the heart."
Bush Meets With Olmert, Abbas
Washington Post
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Nov 26, 2007 4:01 PM CST
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On the eve of the Mideast peace summit, which begins tomorrow in Annapolis, President Bush held separate talks with Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas today in the Oval Office, reports the Washington Post. Between meetings, Bush thanked both leaders for participating in the talks and said he was “optimistic” that a peace agreement could be...
Small Businesses Targeted for Software Violations
Associated Press
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Nov 26, 2007 4:00 PM CST
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A group representing major software companies in copyright enforcement actions has been targeting small businesses for violating software licenses, reports the AP. Almost 90% of the Business Software Alliance's $13 million in settlements with North American companies last year came from small companies. Some owners say they were punished for accidentally...
Boom in CT Scans Alarms Docs
Boston Globe
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Nov 26, 2007 4:00 PM CST
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Advances in CT scans may help doctors diagnose patients quickly effectively, but also expose them to dangerous levels of radiation, the Boston Globe reports. The number of CT scans in the US climbed from 20 million in 1995 to 63 million in 2005, but many aren't actually necessary—and pose cancer risks. Some doctors are recommending cutting...
Credit Woes Wipe Out Bounce
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 26, 2007 3:44 PM CST
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Credit worries wiped out the market's bounce from Black Friday today as the Dow plunged well over 200 points. The financial sector led the dive. "Until the financials bounce back the market's not going to be in a great place," one trader tells the Wall Street Journal . The Dow was down 237.44 to 12,743.44, the Nasdaq 55.61 to 2,540.99, and...
Panicked Pedophile Killed Maddy: Cops
Telegraph (UK)
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Nov 26, 2007 3:44 PM CST
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Madeleine McCann was killed by a panicked pedophile who suffocated the 4-year-old when she screamed, then escaped with the body, Portuguese police now theorize. The U-turn in the case came after a senior detective took over the investigation, according to the Portuguese newspaper Publico, and it would exonerate Maddy's parents, the Telegraph...
Small Hedge Fund Scores 1,000% Return
Financial Times (UK)
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Nov 26, 2007 3:17 PM CST
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A small Californian hedge fund bet against subprime-linked securities and earned its investors a cool 1,000% profit this year, making Lahde Capital one of the world's best-performing funds of all times, the Financial Times reports. In all, hedge funds that shorted subprime loans appear to have made the single most profitable trade of all time, reaping...
Windows XP Update Adds Speed
ComputerWorld
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Nov 26, 2007 3:04 PM CST
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Windows XP Service Pack 3, due out next year, runs Microsoft Office 10% faster than XP SP2, said a performance testing software developer. "Since SP3 was supposed to be mostly a bug-fix ... the unexpected speed boost comes as a nice bonus," said the company's technology chief, who called it a "'must-have' update," reports Computerworld...
Bush Agrees to Long-Term US Presence in Iraq
Associated Press
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Nov 26, 2007 2:58 PM CST
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President Bush today agreed to an "enduring" economic, political, and military relationship with Iraq, laying the foundation for a long-term US presence. The deal replaces the UN mandate currently governing US troops, restoring some measure of Iraqi sovereignty. Iraqis envision 50,000 US troops providing security in exchange for preferential...
Rudd Inherits Red-Hot Economy
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 26, 2007 2:57 PM CST
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New Aussie PM Kevin Rudd inherits a booming economy, but that doesn't mean it's going to be an easy ride for his center-left government, the Wall Street Journal warns. Demand for Australia's natural resources is feverish and inflation is already uncomfortably high. Rudd has vowed to pump about $48 billion into benefits and tax cuts for Australians,...
An Earth-Friendly Plot Twist
Chicago Tribune
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Nov 26, 2007 2:41 PM CST
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US funeral homes each year put nearly 1 million gallons of embalming fluid into the ground along with the departed, wrap them in tons of metal and concrete—and charge a fortune for it. All of which makes “green burial” a sensible and fast-growing alternative, the Chicago Tribune reports. Green burial sites replace tree-cleared cemeteries...
Rare Disorder May Have Afflicted Lincoln
Washington Post
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Nov 26, 2007 2:20 PM CST
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Abraham Lincoln may have been the first known victim of an exceedingly rare genetic disorder, and the 16th President was probably dying of cancer when he was assassinated, an expert says. The cancer-causing syndrome would account for his height, bumpy lips, and other conditions—but corroborating the theory with DNA testing is another story, the...
Ocean Mapping Key to Survival
Telegraph (UK)
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Nov 26, 2007 2:01 PM CST
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A $3 billion monitoring system for the world's oceans is vital to their survival—and to that of mankind, scientists say. A group of experts is proposing an elaborate system using satellites, stations on the sea floor, drifting robots, and electronic tags on marine life, reports the Telegraph . One benefit, the scientists say, would be better...
Late-Night Comedy Scribes Find New Outlet
Los Angeles Times
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Nov 26, 2007 1:44 PM CST
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Striking late-night comedy writers have some serious issues—no jobs and, worse, no creative outlet. When the jokes went from "60 to zero," in the words of a "Colbert Report" staffer, many aimed new blogs and videos squarely at the studios on the other side of the picket line. The result? A platform and a growing audience,...
Toyota Unveils Driving Simulator
Associated Press
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Nov 26, 2007 1:34 PM CST
(Newser) -
Toyota today unveiled its new driving simulator, a 7-meter-across dome with 360-degree imaging that mimics the experience of real driving by rocking on a rail. Toyota will use the simulator to test safety features without endangering drivers, see how tiredness and intoxication affect driving, and develop safety features for specific groups such as...
Musharraf Sets Date for Leaving Military
BBC
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Nov 26, 2007 1:27 PM CST
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Pervez Musharraf will prepare to be sworn in for a new term as Pakistan’s president by relinquishing his military post, a spokesman said today. The general has pledged to resign as head of the military before Thursday’s ceremony, the BBC reports. Musharraf has vowed to leave the military before; this is the first time he's specified a timetable.
FCC Chief May Not Have Votes to Curb Cable
New York Times
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Nov 26, 2007 12:53 PM CST
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FCC chief Kevin Martin may not have the votes he needs to initiate regulation of the cable industry, reports the New York Times . Martin has scheduled a vote for tomorrow to approve a formal finding that the cable industry has grown too big, which would give the commission power to step in. Democrat Jonathan Adelstein, one of the commission's five...
TV Babe Helps Sarko Rebound
Daily Mail (UK)
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Nov 26, 2007 12:48 PM CST
(Newser) -
It didn’t take Nicolas Sarkozy long to get over his recent divorce—the French president is already in a “close and loving relationship” with star journalist Laurence Ferrari, according to the Daily Mail . It began when Ferrari interviewed Sarkozy on the campaign trail, creating visible chemistry. “They were both flirting...
Oprah Secretly Visits South African School
People
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Nov 26, 2007 12:20 PM CST
(Newser) -
Oprah Winfrey yesterday secretly visited the South African school she founded, People reports, to meet with a girl who said she was abused by the staff. The media titan also met with the girl's parents for the first time. "The meeting went well," said the girl's father. "I appreciate that Oprah took time to listen."
Cash-Poor GOP Taps Rich Candidates
New York Times
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Nov 26, 2007 11:55 AM CST
(Newser) -
Suddenly losing the fundraising race, House Republicans are recruiting wealthy candidates to run for vulnerable seats next year, the Times reports. With $2.5 million on hand—compared to $29.2 in Dem coffers—the GOP is grooming candidates in competitive districts. Fourteen Republicans have already invested over $100,000 in their own campaigns,...
Holocaust Denier Roils Oxford Union
Telegraph (UK)
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Nov 26, 2007 11:46 AM CST
(Newser) -
A British MP tendered his resignation to the Oxford Union yesterday in protest of the debating society’s invitation to Holocaust denier David Irving and anti-immigration leader Nick Griffin to speak tonight, reports the Telegraph . Julian Lewis, the Conservative Party’s shadow defense minister, said he was “ashamed” of the...
Beauty Pageant Turns Ugly
Associated Press
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Nov 26, 2007 11:35 AM CST
(Newser) -
Ingrid Marie Rivera looked hot at the Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant—but not in the good way. Pageant officials are investigating who doused the eventual winner's gowns and makeup with pepper spray, the AP reports. Rivera kept her composure before the judges, but once backstage she ripped off her clothes and applied ice packs to her face and...
Redskins Star Critical After Shooting
Miami Herald
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Nov 26, 2007 11:21 AM CST
(Newser) -
Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor is in critical condition after being shot by an intruder at his Miami home and airlifted to the hospital early today, the Miami Herald reports. Taylor, 24, a 2004 first-round draft pick from the University of Miami, has been out of commission with a sprained right knee for the past 2 weeks.
Citigroup Readies Layoffs, Round Two
CNBC
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Nov 26, 2007 11:01 AM CST
(Newser) -
Citigroup is planning "massive" new layoffs, CNBC reports, less than a year after the financial giant cut 17,000 jobs. After announcing that it may have to write down as much as $11 billion more in mortgage losses, Citigroup has been looking for ways to cut costs, as well as searching for a new CEO and considering a breakup. Company...
Panda Couple a Model of Fertility
Associated Press
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Nov 26, 2007 10:35 AM CST
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Suggesting that quality does best quantity, two of the most reproductively successful pandas in captivity meet—and mate—but once a year, the AP reveals. Since 2003 the San Diego Zoo's Bai Yun and Gao Gao have produced three cubs, a great feat for the endangered species. The youngest is to be named today, when she reaches 100 days old,...
US Places Diplomat in N. Korea
Chosun Ilbo (South Korea)
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Nov 26, 2007 10:05 AM CST
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Washington has had a "permanent" diplomat stationed in Pyongyang since mid-month, a source tells the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, marking the first time a US official has been assigned full-time to North Korea. The move is seen as a precursor to possible normalization of relations between the US and North Korea.
Russian Crackdown Draws Fire
Washington Post
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Nov 26, 2007 9:40 AM CST
(Newser) -
Authorities detained Russian opposition leaders yesterday and broke up a St. Petersburg rally and march in the second day of aggressive crackdowns on dissent, the Washington Post reports. Several candidates in Sunday's parliamentary elections were among the 200 held. "They have forbidden us from discussing Putin," one candidate told demonstrators...
Ahmadinejad Gets a Blog, Hilarity Ensues
Guardian (UK)
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Nov 26, 2007 9:10 AM CST
(Newser) -
When Mahmoud Ahmadinejad started his blog, he thought circumventing the media would let him present his message unadulterated to fawning supporters, free from opposition catcalls. What he found instead was a hypercritical audience typical of the online realm, the Guardian reports. Iranians, among others, are mercilessly flaming their president, criticizing...
Indonesia Quakes Kill at Least 3
Bangkok Post (Thailand)
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Nov 26, 2007 8:44 AM CST
(Newser) -
A series of powerful earthquakes struck in Indonesia early this morning, killing at least 3 and causing brief tsunami warnings. Some 70 others were injured, and several buildings destroyed, including a health clinic. The first quake hit off the coast of Sumbawa just after midnight, registering 6.7 on the Richter scale, and spawned aftershocks of 6.8...
Trent Lott to Resign
Associated Press
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Nov 26, 2007 8:17 AM CST
(Newser) -
Trent Lott, the Senate's second-highest-ranking Republican, is resigning before the end of the year, the AP has learned. He will announce the decision later today in his home state of Mississippi. The reason for the resignation is unknown. There is nothing wrong with Lott’s health, a congressional official confirmed, saying the Republican whip...
Northern Rock Looks to Virgin as Savior
Bloomberg
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Nov 26, 2007 8:00 AM CST
(Newser) -
A consortium led by billionaire Richard Branson is the government’s “preferred bidder” in an effort to rescue embattled UK mortgage lender Northern Rock, Bloomberg reports. Virgin Group says it will immediately pay back $22.5 billion of the $50 billion the Bank of England loaned Northern Rock to keep it afloat, and would inject cash...
Airbus Lands $17B in Chinese Orders on Sarkozy Visit
Bloomberg
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Nov 26, 2007 7:46 AM CST
(Newser) -
French companies, led by Airbus, have landed $30 billion in deals during President Nicolas Sarkozy’s first visit to Beijing, where he urged the Chinese to accelerate appreciation of the yuan. The aerospace giant’s $17-billion order put Airbus back in the lead over competitor Boeing for orders this year, Bloomberg reports, and Areva’s...
