Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Newser Story Index from December, 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.

Violence as Kenyan Vote Nears
Mail & Guardian (South Africa) | Dec 25, 2007 10:00 AM CST
(Newser) - Kenya's presidential election remains too close to call with 48 hours to go, writes the Mail and Guardian . President Mwai Kibaki is seeking a second term but facing a stiff challenge from former ally Raila Odinga for the leadership of East Africa's bellwether nation. Yesterday police fired teargas at supporters of the two camps who began hurling...
The Good Book Is Good Biz
Los Angeles Times | Dec 25, 2007 9:19 AM CST
(Newser) - In the thriving business of Bible publishing, the lone calligrapher in his scriptorium has been superseded by marketing execs armed with PowerPoint. About 25 million Bibles were sold this year in America, reports the Los Angeles Times —that's 11 million more than the latest Harry Potter installment. But since the content stays the same, the...
Smith Too Jiggy With Hitler, Say Irate Jews
TMZ | Dec 25, 2007 8:39 AM CST
(Newser) - Will Smith finds himself in some hot water with the Jewish Defense League after telling a Scottish newspaper that Hitler didn't mean to do evil, but rather, using "a twisted, backwards logic, he set out to do what he thought was 'good.'"  The JDL denounced Smith's remark as "ignorant, detestable, and offensive," while the not-so-Fresh...
Fidel's Fit to Run for Re-election
Associated Press | Dec 25, 2007 8:20 AM CST
(Newser) - Fidel Castro is gaining weight, exercising regularly, has "full use of his mental faculties," and is running for re-election, says his brother Raúl. Raúl was stumping for Fidel yesterday in his electoral district of Santiago de Cuba, where he needs to be reelected to the National Assembly Jan. 20 in order to remain president,...
Toyota Poised to Overtake GM
Reuters | Dec 25, 2007 8:00 AM CST
(Newser) - Toyota, the most profitable automaker in the world, says it will increase production by 5% to a record 9.95 million vehicles in 2008, opening up a lead over General Motors, Reuters reports. Toyota, which sold 9.36 million vehicles in 2007, also expects sales to increase 5% in 2008 to 9.85 million units.
Late Shoppers Spread Some Holiday Cheer
Los Angeles Times | Dec 25, 2007 7:30 AM CST
(Newser) - Shoppers swarmed in a last-minute buying binge that will help most, but not all, retailers make the season’s sales projections. For the week ended Saturday sales rose 33% over a year ago and for the final weekend of the season were up 18.7%, reports the Los Angeles Times . Still, “a lot of retailers are going to be disappointed,”...
Price of Gold: Alaska's Salmon
Washington Post | Dec 25, 2007 7:04 AM CST
(Newser) - The world's largest sockeye salmon fishery, located in the Bristol Bay area of Alaska, is threatened with destruction by a proposed gold mine, which could become the biggest in North America. The planned Pebble Mine has polarized the state; mining companies, on the one hand, and environmentalists and commercial fishing interests, on the other, are...
Top 10 Startups to Watch In 2008
Wired | Dec 25, 2007 6:46 AM CST
(Newser) - A web startup that checks your DNA for predisposition to a spectrum of disease - and finds you a date (23andMe); a GPS system that can thread its way around traffic (Dash);  A P2P download service that may revolutionize online video (BitTorrent); social networking designed for the workplace (LinkedIn); they're among the top ten startups worth...
Near 300,000, New Orleans Hits 65% of Its Former Size
Associated Press | Dec 25, 2007 6:21 AM CST
(Newser) - New Orleans is now at 65% of its pre-hurricane population and looks poised to pass the 300,000 mark at any day now. Although many neighborhoods are still in need of rebuilding and dotted with vacant lots, the growth represents a "significant indication of New Orleans' sustained viability as a major city," urban planners conclude. The new...
Return of the King
Associated Press | Dec 25, 2007 6:12 AM CST
(Newser) - With Pittsburgh's Willie Parker (1316 yards) sidelined with a broken wheel and Minnesota's rookie wunderkind Adrian Peterson (1305) running on fumes, the league's rushing leader has a familiar face again. Last year's titlebearer LaDainian Tomlinson (1418) reclaimed the lead with a game to go, the AP reports, as the Chargers smacked around the Broncos,...
A Peaceful Xmas in Bethlehem
CTV | Dec 25, 2007 6:09 AM CST
(Newser) - This Christmas a huge number of tourists and pilgrims have made their way to Bethlehem, five miles south of Jerusalem in the West Bank. The mayor of the town of Jesus' birth predicted at least 65,000 visitors this Christmas, quadruple the figure just two years ago, CTV reports. The slow peace process has revived tourism in the West Bank. "The...
Suicide Bomber Kills 22 in Northern Iraq
BBC | Dec 25, 2007 5:43 AM CST
(Newser) - At least 20 people have died and scores more are injured in northern Iraq after a suicide attacker detonated a car bomb while inside the vehicle. Police stopped the driver in the city of Baiji, about 150 miles north of Baghdad, the BBC reports. The bomb struck people lining up to buy gasoline, and several women and children are among the dead.
Old Town Resurfaces as Drought Dries Ga. Lake
Associated Press | Dec 24, 2007 10:03 PM CST
(Newser) - The brutal drought hitting Georgia is drying up an artificial lake and exposing the long-dead town that lies beneath—along with mountains of trash. "It's horrendous, it's unbelievable," said one local resident. Lake Lanier's receding shores have exposed debris of all shapes and sizes, including an old dirt racing track, foundations...
US Ignored Warnings on Security Firms
Washington Post | Dec 24, 2007 9:21 PM CST
(Newser) - The Bush administration ignored repeated warnings about using private security contractors such as Blackwater in Iraq, the Washington Post reports. Despite the warnings from legal experts and military officials over the past two years, the US did not acknowledge the need for oversight—and, in fact, expanded the presence of such firms—until...
Russia's Gas Giant Faces Big Squeeze
Newsweek | Dec 24, 2007 9:00 PM CST
(Newser) - Russia faces a threat to its international trump card as Gazprom—its powerful natural gas company—struggles to meet massive worldwide demand, Newsweek reports. The company gets much of its oil dirt cheap from former Soviet republics in Central Asia, then resells it a handsome profit to Europe. Now those Central Asian nations are beginning...
Pope Ushers in Christmas
AFP | Dec 24, 2007 8:02 PM CST
(Newser) - Pope Benedict XVI ushered in Christmas with a traditional midnight Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, using his homily to speak out against the degradation of the environment and man's selfishness, reports Agence France Presse. The leader of the world's 1 billion Catholics lamented our "polluted world whose future is at risk," in an address broadcast...
E-Cards Spread Holiday Cheer, Viruses
USA Today | Dec 24, 2007 7:44 PM CST
(Newser) - Online greeting cards are all the rage this holiday season. They're mostly free, and can feature funny, interactive subjects ranging from elf tossing to reindeer arm wrestling. E-cards are also delivered instantly, an advantage for the forgetful around Christmas. But traditional cards are still the preferred way to spread holiday cheer, with 20 paper...
Jay-Z Leaves Def Jam Post
E! Online | Dec 24, 2007 7:15 PM CST
(Newser) - Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z is stepping down as president of Def Jam Records at the end of the year. The busy rapper is leaving on good terms after two years, a span in which he signed new stars such as Ne-Yo and Rihanna, E! Online reports. Jay-Z, whose American Gangster CD currently rules the charts, will still record for Def Jam's Roc-a-Fella label.
Designer Perfume Profits Give Off Whiff of Decay
Wall Street Journal | Dec 24, 2007 6:41 PM CST
(Newser) - Perfume makers keep flooding the market with designer brands, but consumers appear to have had their fill. Global revenue from high-end perfumes—those $100 and up—increased only 3% to $18 billion in 2006 and is expected to slow even more this year, reports the Wall Street Journal. That's while sales for other luxury items are on the rise....
Former Ally Now Rivals Chavez
Wall Street Journal | Dec 24, 2007 6:05 PM CST
(Newser) - An ex-ally has become a formidable rival for Hugo Chavez after the president's defeat in a constitutional referendum that would have given him more power and the right to unlimited reelection. The Wall Street Journal explores the career of Raul Baduel, Chavez’ former friend and defense minister, who protected Chavez from a coup in 2002 but...
'I Don't Have Cancer,' Giuliani Reiterates
Newsday | Dec 24, 2007 5:24 PM CST
(Newser) - Rudy Giuliani sought to allay renewed concerns about his health today following his brief hospitalization last week. "I'm perfectly healthy. I don't have cancer," he said during a stop in Harlem. Giuliani, who checked into a St. Louis hospital because of a severe headache and flu symptoms, said doctors found no signs of a recurrence of the...
Scientists Try to Save Bluefin
Washington Post | Dec 24, 2007 4:50 PM CST
(Newser) - Bluefin tuna can grow to three-quarters of a ton, traverse the Atlantic in less than a month, and are growing rapidly extinct—thanks to fishing practices that are "totally out of control," one US official said. Marine biologists who track Bluefin populations are finding their suggestions rejected by world governments. “We know...
Nokia Wins Big on Luxe Phones
Der Spiegel | Dec 24, 2007 4:25 PM CST
(Newser) - Nokia is enjoying increasing success with its Vertu subsidiary, a maker of luxury cellphones, as a super expensive phone becomes a status symbol for the mega-rich . Der Spiegel reports that Vertu phones, which come diamond- or gold-encrusted, make the iPhone look absolutely pedestrian with a price range from $6,500 to $72,500. Sales of the deluxe...
Traveling Green? US Cities Getting Better
Travel Leisure | Dec 24, 2007 4:15 PM CST
(Newser) - Traveling green still ain't easy States-side. US hotels lag behind Europe in water waste, car rentals, and chemical-free eateries. Quick fixes don't help either—recycling programs and low-flow showers may just be "greenwashing." Real green starts with original design. But some US lodges are stepping up to impress green ratings groups.
Blizzard Death Toll Hits 22
Associated Press | Dec 24, 2007 3:38 PM CST
(Newser) - The death toll from a winter storm that pummeled the upper Midwest rose to 22 today, the AP reports. The worst of the storm is over for the region, but it left behind icy highways and downed power lines, especially in Wisconsin, Illinois, and upper Michigan. Remnants of the storm system could dump heavy snow snow on western New York tonight, forecasters...
Online Buyers Want Blenders, Not Diamonds
New York Times | Dec 24, 2007 3:03 PM CST
(Newser) - With a shaky economy causing consumers angst this holiday season, online e-tailers say shoppers are opting for functional over frivolous. E-sales of furniture and appliances have spiked more than 70%, while sales of jewelry, watches, and flowers have dropped, reports the New York Times . “It’s certainly counter to our expectations,”...
Losing Bulls Sack Coach
Chicago Tribune | Dec 24, 2007 2:27 PM CST
(Newser) - The 9-16 Chicago Bulls turned their disappointing start on Scott Skiles today, firing the 5-year coach after crushing defeats in the past two games, the Chicago Tribune reports. “This was a difficult decision to make, but one that is necessary at this time,” said GM John Paxson, who expressed his appreciation for Skiles’ “hard...
2007: Asia's Banner Year
Bloomberg | Dec 24, 2007 2:19 PM CST
(Newser) - Asia's economies are soaring so mightily that Bloomberg columnist William Pesek is passing out awards for Asia's big players in 2007. They range from a “Money Talks” prize, for Arab and Asian leaders who bailed out Wall Street banks, to the “Howard's End” trophy, for Australian PM Kevin Rudd's brave embrace of the Kyoto Protocol....
Oscar Peterson Dies at 82
CBC (Canada) | Dec 24, 2007 2:10 PM CST
(Newser) - Legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson died last night at his home near Toronto from kidney failure, CBC News reports. He was 82. The Canadian musician made hundreds of recordings, won seven Grammys, and played alongside greats like Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, and Ella Fitzgerald. "The world has lost the world's greatest jazz player,"...
Dallas Dilemma: Where to Reshoot JR
Chicago Tribune | Dec 24, 2007 1:51 PM CST
(Newser) - Dallas has tried for years to disassociate itself from 'Dallas,' the cheesy '80s soap opera that's so iconic that the fictional scheming oil baron JR Ewing is still the city's biggest celebrity—16 years after the show was canceled. So it's with considerable cringing that officials find themselves wooing the producers of the upcoming movie version...
Stocks Rise on Credit Optimism
MarketWatch | Dec 24, 2007 1:27 PM CST
(Newser) - Stocks were buoyant today in an abbreviated Christmas Eve session, rising on falling interest rates and optimism that financial institutions would find new sources of capital from abroad. The Dow got a boost from a big cash infusion for Merrill Lynch and aluminum giant Alcoa’s sale of a major division, jumping 98.68 points to 13,549.33. The S&P...
Merrill Deal Yields $6.2B in Capital
Wall Street Journal | Dec 24, 2007 1:07 PM CST
(Newser) - With another quarter of massive writedowns looming, Merrill Lynch today announced a deal to raise up to $6.2 billion by selling discounted stock to two investors. Up to $5 billion will come from Temasek Holdings, Singapore's state-owned investment company. The other $1.2 billion comes from money managers Davis Selected Advisors, the Wall Street Journal...
Dating Site Blasts Rival in Ads
New York Times | Dec 24, 2007 12:46 PM CST
(Newser) - Dating site Chemistry.com is again blasting rival eHarmony in an ad campaign, this time for its lack of gay matching services and links to evangelical Christian values, the New York Times reports. The ads show “eHarmony is out of sync with what is happening in America,” Chemistry.com’s GM said. Chemistry.com wants to catch up to...
Ads Spoof Terror Videos; Not All Are Amused
Guardian (UK) | Dec 24, 2007 12:28 PM CST
(Newser) - Dutch fireworks-safety ads spoofing Islamic terrorists have drawn criticism for their light take on suicide bombings and portrayal of negative Muslim stereotypes, the Guardian reports. The group depicted in the government-sponsored ads—LAAF, or the “Liberation Army Against Freedom”—is seen getting fireworks delivered as illicit...
Airplane WiFi Poses Sticky Situation
Associated Press | Dec 24, 2007 12:26 PM CST
(Newser) - Airlines getting ready to offer Internet access are grappling with how to enforce netiquette at 33K feet. "We think decency and good sense and normal behavior will prevail," said the CEO of one service. If it's not porn or violent images, its annoying ringtones and loud conversations that can get in the way of a polite flying experience.
Katrina Spreads Cajun Cookin'
Associated Press | Dec 24, 2007 12:14 PM CST
(Newser) - Until recently many residents of Monett, Mo., couldn’t even pronounce muffaletta. “They’d say, ‘I want that big sandwich with the big name,’” says chef Darren Indovina. Thanks to the Gulf's post-Katrina diaspora, small towns like Monett are getting their first taste of real Cajun cooking, the AP reports. Displaced...
Huckabee Woos Voters With 23% Sales Tax
Los Angeles Times | Dec 24, 2007 12:00 PM CST
(Newser) - Supporting a 23% sales tax ought to be political suicide, but Mike Huckabee is making it work, the Los Angeles Times reports. Huckabee has championed the so-called “fair tax,” a radical proposal that would abolish the federal income tax and tax spending instead. The plan favors the rich, but by tapping into America’s hatred for...
Iran Plans 19 Nuke Plants
Reuters | Dec 24, 2007 11:47 AM CST
(Newser) - Iran has dismissed calls to drop uranium enrichment and plans 19 new nuclear power plants, Reuters reports. "US officials have talked of negotiations" on the condition that Iran stop the enrichment, "but we do not accept any preconditions for talks," Iran's Foreign Minister said today. The UN Security Council is debating another...
Bangladesh in Frenzied Search for Stolen Art
Reuters | Dec 24, 2007 11:34 AM CST
(Newser) - Bangladesh has mounted a massive hunt for two priceless artifacts that went missing yesterday at the Dhaka airport, Reuters reports. The statues of the Hindu god Vishnu, sculpted 1,500 years ago, were on their way to an exhibition at a Paris museum. Bangladeshi authorities have detained 12 suspects and stopped the shipment to France while the investigation...
Wild Boars Run Amok in France
Independent (UK) | Dec 24, 2007 11:31 AM CST
(Newser) - Shoppers weren't the only thing going hog-wild over the weekend, reports the Independent. One wild boar rampaged amid last-minute gift-buyers in a clothing store in France, while another stepped in front of a high-speed train, delaying trains for hours. 
Weaker Dollar Revamps World Economy
Washington Post | Dec 24, 2007 11:04 AM CST
(Newser) - A declining US dollar is sparking changes worldwide, drawing jobs to the States and spurring sales of US goods, but also ending an age of rich Americans abroad and hurting economies that are pegged to the note. Its 7-year, 40% drop against the Euro is no short-term slide either, experts say. Even Jay-Z is touting Euros in his new video, "Black...
Scientists Inscribe Tiny Bible
Associated Press | Dec 24, 2007 10:35 AM CST
(Newser) - Israeli scientists have crammed the entire Hebrew Bible onto a chip that is half the size of a grain of sugar, the AP reports. They used a particle beam to etch it onto the 0.01-square inch surface “like a hammer and chisel," one scientist said. The new Bible appears to be the world’s smallest; the previous record holder, reportedly...
Campaign for Young Voters: Vote 4 Me! Pls?
McClatchy Newspapers | Dec 24, 2007 10:17 AM CST
(Newser) - New technology has given presidential hopefuls a host of new ways to transmit the "Vote For Me" message, McClatchy reports. Campaigners are using social networking sites, YouTube videos, instant messaging, and even text messaging in a bid to gain an edge with young voters. But their target audience seems more bemused by it all than fired...
TV Run for Web-Dud 'Quarterlife'
New York Times | Dec 24, 2007 9:47 AM CST
(Newser) - YouTube buzz is tough to manufacture, and so far NBC’s “Quarterlife,” the network's experiment in TV-quality production for the web, hasn’t managed. The last dozen episodes have each drawn around 100,000 views between MySpace and YouTube combined, which isn’t many eyeballs in the TV world. Regardless, NBC will complete...
Retailers Await Last-Minute Gift From Shoppers
Wall Street Journal | Dec 24, 2007 9:17 AM CST
(Newser) - Last-minute shoppers navigated long lines over the final pre-Christmas weekend, nudging retailers toward the modest growth in sales they’d expected. Deep discounts cut into profits, but retailers like Macy's and Kmart stayed open around the clock to accommodate shoppers, the Wall Street Journal reports. “The procrastinators finally got...
Army Rescinds Leave for Ill Newborn's Dad
Chicago Tribune | Dec 24, 2007 9:06 AM CST
(Newser) - The US Army has canceled the leave extension of an Indiana soldier whose newborn son is in critical condition and ordered him to return to duty on the next possible flight. The Chicago Tribune reports on the case of Chris Williams, a veteran of two tours in Iraq, who asked for an extension of a few days on his 18-month leave, to see his son safely...
Santa Claus Nailed to Cross
Seattle Times | Dec 24, 2007 8:52 AM CST
(Newser) - A Washington state man's personal protest against the commercialism of Christmas is upsetting his new neighbors, and it's not too hard to understand why. A headless Santa Claus sings Christmas carols on Art Conrad's front porch, and another life-size Santa hangs crucified on a 15-foot cross in his yard.
UK Students Choosing Ivies Over Oxbridge
Times (UK) | Dec 24, 2007 8:15 AM CST
(Newser) - A record number of British students are forsaking Oxford and Cambridge to apply to elite American schools, the Times of London reports. Lured by more generous financial aid packages and less restrictive curricula, students are crossing the pond to the Ivy League. Yale's applications from Britain, for one, have tripled in 10 years.
White Wedding for Heigl and Josh Kelley
People | Dec 24, 2007 7:43 AM CST
(Newser) - Actress Katherine Heigl has married musician Josh Kelley in a small private wedding in Utah, People reports. The half-hour ceremony took place in a tent decked out with white candles and white flowers as snow fell outside. The Emmy-winning actress who plays a ditzy doc on TV's "Grey's Anatomy" met Kelley when she appeared in the video for...
Gaza's Few Christians Are Fleeing
Associated Press | Dec 24, 2007 7:16 AM CST
(Newser) - It's a grim Christmas for Gaza's tiny Christian population of about 3,000, with celebrations muted in the Hamas-controlled territory, the AP says. Instead of decorating trees, many of the faithful are packing to leave the strip for good. After the murder of a prominent Baptist activist, many Christians say the area has become hostile to their faith.
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne