Newser Story Index from May, 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.
Nash Gashed; Suns Eclipsed
CBC (Canada)
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May 6, 2007 11:20 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Bleeding copiously, wiry Canadian heartthrob Steve Nash was forced to the sidelines in the final minute of the semifinals opener against San Antonio, and Phoenix wilted without their go-to scorer. Nash's nose collided with the forehead of rival point guard and Frenchman Tony Parker, who scored 32 points. Tim Duncan topped with 33 and 16...
Liberal Scholars Embrace Gun Ownership
New York Times
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May 6, 2007 10:52 PM CDT
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When a federal appeals court ruled against a District of Columbia gun control law in March, it was the first time an appellate court had used the Second Amendment to restrict gun contol legislation. And it was, even more surprisingly, the result of work by a group of liberal scholars.
Why a Kiss On the Lips (or Even the Hand) Can Still Stir Controversy
New York Times
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May 6, 2007 10:44 PM CDT
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Richad Gere and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are hardly soulmates, but both got into trouble last week for kissing (not each other) in public. The actor was hanged in effigy by an angry mob for kissing a female Bollywood star during a charity event in India; the Iranian president reprimanded by religious leaders for a peck on the gloved hand of a former...
Rocket Returns to the Bronx
ESPN
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May 6, 2007 9:45 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Roger Clemens announced on Sunday to an ecstatic crowd at Yankee Stadium that he'd be joining New York this year. The news is well-timed for the best-paid team in baseball, which has suffered a catastrophic string of pitching injuries. Two of his other previous teams, Boston and Houston, had also been bidding to sign him.
Pastor: Killer Possessed by 'Demonic Power'
Washington Post
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May 6, 2007 9:44 PM CDT
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The mother of Seung Hui Cho sought spiritual healing for her angry, troubled son, the Washington Post reports in an examination of the Virginia Tech shooter's mental state. The head pastor of the One Mind Church in Woodbridge, Virginia, said his church was approached last summer to help deliver the young man from "demonic power."
Sunset for Blair’s New Dawn
New York Times
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May 6, 2007 9:07 PM CDT
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With Tony Blair about to step down, Alan Cowell considers the departing PM's most important accomplishments and failures. The former: moving Britain’s poiltical center of gravity away from Margaret Thatcher’s rugged individualism and toward a more compassionate society.
Richardson Trails Despite Better Resume
Time
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May 6, 2007 5:46 PM CDT
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Despite his considerable experience in foreign affairs and effective stewardships of one of the most diverse, though small, states in the country, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is not attracting much of a following, says Time blogger Karen Tumulty. Why? He’s not famous and doesn’t have enough famous friends.
Twister Levels Kansas Town, Leaving 9 Dead
Wichita Eagle
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May 6, 2007 5:06 PM CDT
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A wedge tornado more than a mile wide carried off the city of Greensburg, Kansas, yesterday, destroying virtually the entire town and killing at least nine residents. Some Kansans are calling it one of the worst twisters in more than a decade. "I can't believe the destruction I'm seeing," a local Fire Marshall told the Kansas City Star.
Sarko Takes French Presidency
BBC
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May 6, 2007 1:41 PM CDT
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Nicholas Sarkozy, a right-leaning Hungarian immigrant's son, will be the next president of France, according to initial results from the final round of elections there. Sarkozy's victory within an 85% turnout dashed the hopes of a galvanized Socialist Party, and its candidate Ségolène Royal, of placing the first woman in France's highest...
Toxic Cough Syrup Causes Deaths in Panama
New York Times
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May 6, 2007 8:00 AM CDT
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American drugmakers are on the lookout this week for another in the growing list of potentially deadly Chinese exports. This time, it's diethylene glycol, a sweet-but-toxic chemical that masquerades as glycerin in common medications like cough syrup and that has already killed almost 400 people—many of them children—in Panama.
Mayweather Outpoints De La Hoya
International Herald Tribune
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May 6, 2007 12:33 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Floyd Mayweather Jr. captured Oscar De La Hoya's WBC super welterweight title last night in Las Vegas, recording a 12-round split decision and running his record to 38-0. Two of the three judges gave one of the richest fights in boxing history to the 3-2 underdog, who has won a belt in five different weight classes.
Troops Bomb Ethics Test
Washington Post
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May 5, 2007 8:00 PM CDT
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U.S. troops in Iraq flunked a survey on battlefield ethics, according to a Pentagon report published yesterday. Of the 1,767 soldiers interviewed, more than one-third endorse torture, two-thirds would not turn in a team member for abusing civilians, and 10% admit to harassing civilians and vandalizing property—all policies that violate the Army's...
Kenya Airways Flight Crashes in Cameroon
The Standard
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May 5, 2007 7:00 PM CDT
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A Kenya Airways plane with 114 aboard has disappeared and is believed to have crashed in southern Cameroon. The Kenyan Standard reports that the plane sent out an automated distress signal five minutes after takeoff, and villagers near the suspected crash site say they heard an explosion.
Street Sense Wins Derby
Lexington Herald-Leader
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May 5, 2007 6:44 PM CDT
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Street Sense surged from 19th in a field of 20 to win today's 133rd Kentucky Derby, returning $11.80 as the tepid favorite and ending two long-standing jinxes. The dark bay colt was the first-ever Breeder's Cup Juvenile winner and the first 2-year-old champion since Spectacular Bid in 1979 to triumph in the Derby.
Qantas Deal Crashes
Age (Aust.)
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May 5, 2007 8:00 AM CDT
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Qantas Airlines will keep flying solo, after what would have been the biggest airline takeover in history fell through yesterday evening. Airline Partners Australia, the private equity consortium that offered $11.1 billion for the company, failed to secure the 50% of stock it needed to move the deal to its next stage.
Reuters Takeover Rumors Fly
Wall Street Journal
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May 5, 2007 8:00 AM CDT
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Reuters is being wooed by a buyer, though the British information service is steadfastly mum on its suitor's identity. The WSJ predicts one of two outcomes: an intra-industry move from Canadian publishing powerhouse Thomson, or a swoop in by private equity, aimed at profiting off the company's steady cash flow.
NRA Backs Gun Sales To Terror Suspects
Associated Press
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May 4, 2007 10:53 PM CDT
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The NRA is urging the Bush administration to oppose a bill that bans suspected terrorists from buying guns. In a letter to AG Alberto Gonzales, the group's executive director objects that the bill, introduced in the Senate last week, "would allow arbitrary denial of Second Amendment rights based on mere 'suspicions' of a terrorist threat."
Hilton Headed To Hoosegow
Reuters
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May 4, 2007 10:34 PM CDT
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Supply your own "simple life" joke: Paris Hilton is going to jail. After finding that the famous-for-being-famous socialite violated her probation, Los Angeles Superior Court judge Michael Sauer today sentenced her to 45 days. The sometime reality-TV star wept as she learned she has until June 5 to find a dog-sitter.
Pitcher Was Drunk at Wheel
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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May 4, 2007 4:11 PM CDT
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Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock was drunk, speeding, talking on the phone and not wearing a seatbelt when he died in a traffic accident, officials announced today. The St. Louis medical examiner said the 29-year-old right-hander's blood-alcohol level was 0.157, nearly twice the legal limit, when he crashed his SUV early Sunday morning.
Labour Party Escapes Election Catastrophe
Guardian (UK)
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May 4, 2007 3:42 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Tony Blair's Labour Party took a beating in yesterday's local elections, winning just 27 percent of the vote. But both the party—wildly unpopular because of Blair's Iraq war stance and several recent scandals—and pundits scored the result a minor victory because Labour lost only 410 local council seats rather than the predicted 600.
Marquette Snags $51 Mil Gift
Associated Press
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May 4, 2007 3:00 PM CDT
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Raymond and Kathryn Eckstein donated $51 million to build Marquette University a new law school. The gift is the single largest gift to a Wisconsin educational institution, topping the $50 million John Morgridge and his wife gave to the University of Wisconsin.
Iranian, U.S. Diplomats Meet Briefly
International Herald Tribune
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May 4, 2007 2:49 PM CDT
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It didn't involve the American Secretary of State or the Iranian foreign minister, but a brief meeting of high-level diplomats today in Egypt signals a thaw in relations between the countries, the International Herald Tribune reports. U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said the three-minute conversation concerned the situation in Iraq.
Buffett Holdings Tie Gates To Darfur Crisis
Los Angeles Times
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May 4, 2007 1:57 PM CDT
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A Berkshire Hathaway investment in a Sudanese oil company is posing thorny problems for the Gates Foundation, the Los Angeles Times reports. Warren Buffet's investment outfit is the largest independent shareholder in PetroChina, whose parent company the U.N. and U.S. say funds Sudan's janjaweed militia—a stark contrast to the foundation's mission.
Melamine Death Toll Passes 8,000 Pets
Los Angeles Times
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May 4, 2007 12:17 PM CDT
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More than 8,000 deaths of cats and dogs that may be linked to melamine-tainted food have been reported to the FDA in the two months since the pet food recall. The statistics come as the FDA tries to assure Americans that the tainted protein concentrates, also fed to hogs and chickens, aren't a human health threat.
Derby Bettors Use Their Heads
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
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May 4, 2007 11:41 AM CDT
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Curlin is the early favorite for tomorrow's Kentucky Derby, but another thoroughbred—a human—is also the focus of some hot wagering. She's a well-known horse breeder and owner, with an inherited affinity for the sport of kings. Place your bets: What color hat will Queen Elizabeth II wear? And will it have a feather?
Microsoft Opens Window To Yahoo! Deal
New York Post
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May 4, 2007 11:17 AM CDT
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Could a Microsoft-Yahoo! merger be in the works? The New York Post reports that Microsoft has quietly approached the Internet giant about opening merger negotiations, after informal talks fell apart several months ago. Insiders say Microsoft is looking to fight back against Google after the search-engine leader bested it in a spate of recent deals.
Florida Moves Primary To January 29
Miami Herald
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May 4, 2007 10:34 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The state's historic election difficulties notwithstanding, Florida's presidential primaries will be among the earliest in the nation. Yesterday's legislative approval of the January 29 date is already provoking other states into maneuvering for the first spot. Said the Massachusetts secretary of state: "The idea that this election could begin...
Hill Calls For Repeal Of War Powers
New York Times
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May 4, 2007 10:10 AM CDT
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Hillary wants a do-over on Iraq, calling on Congress to withdraw the war powers they gave Bush in 2002. In a clear bid to stake out her own hard-line anti-war territory, Clinton says Congress should repeal the authority granted Bush as of Oct. 11, the fifth anniversary of the vote.
UN's Take On Climate Change Grows Sunnier
BBC
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May 4, 2007 10:05 AM CDT
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Policy and behavior changes can help limit greenhouse-gas emissions and slow climate change, say experts at a UN conference in Bangkok—and at a reasonable price. Some curbs on emissions may even enhance global GDP, but time is short. Within 10 to 20 years, global emissions should begin dropping to avoid serious impact on the climate.
Comey Defends Fired Attorneys
The Hill
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May 4, 2007 8:52 AM CDT
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Most of the U.S. attorneys axed en masse by the Justice Department last year weren't underperforming, former Deputy Attorney General James Comey told a House panel yesterday. Comey, who left Justice over a year before the firings, said he'd rated the attorneys' performance for Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson in 2005.
Murdoch Muses On Plans for The Journal
New York Times
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May 4, 2007 8:39 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Rubert Murdoch sometimes finds Wall Street Journal stories a little long. He'd like to see more politics on the editorial page, and to launch a glossy magazine for the Saturday edition . The Aussie tycoon wasn't shy about sharing plans for the paper, should he succeed in buying parent company Dow Jones, in a lengthy sit-down with the Times.
GOP Debate Pivots on Abortion
Associated Press
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May 4, 2007 8:05 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Republicans went straight into the breech during their first debate at the Reagan Library last night, tackling the hot-button issue of abortion. All 10 aspirants supported overturning Roe v. Wade, including Romney and Giuliani, who struggled to distance themselves from embarrassing previous endorsement of abortion rights.
Researchers Link Gene, Heart Disease
New York Times
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May 4, 2007 7:50 AM CDT
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A gene that can more than double the risk of heart disease, especially in relatively young people, is present in about half of those of European descent, researchers say. The discovery, reported this week, raises hopes of more accurate genetic testing for heart disease—the world's leading cause of death—but not for prevention or treatment.
Israelis Rally for Olmert Ouster
Guardian (UK)
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May 4, 2007 7:45 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A massive demonstration in Tel Aviv yesterday amplified the cry for Israel's PM Ehud Olmert to resign. Tens of thousands of Israelis packed into Rabin Square to denounce Olmert's handling of last year's Lebanon War, in the wake of the highly critical Winograd Commission report. Polls are showing three quarters of Israelis want their PM out.
China Detains Pet Food Contaminator
International Herald Tribune
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May 4, 2007 6:35 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Chinese authorities have jailed the head of a company accused of selling pet food makers the melamine-contaminated gluten that's killed thousands of cats and dogs. The detention of Mao Lijun suggests Beijing is eager to cooperate with the FDA investigators currently on its turf, after initially disavowing any gluten sales to the U.S. at all.
Condi Sits Down With Syria
New York Times
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May 4, 2007 5:56 AM CDT
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Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice conferred with her Syrian counterpart Thursday in an unexpected half hour sit-down that ended a two-year cold-shoulder between the Bush administration and a state it considers a sponsor of terrorism. Rice asked asked Sryia's help in restricting the flow of foreign fighters across the Syrian border into Iraq.
Dice-K Underwhelms In Sox Win
MLB.com
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May 4, 2007 5:20 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Red Sox's $103.1 million hurler, gave up seven runs in five frames in another poor outing that only incidentally ended up in a Boston win. Matsuzaka walked Seattle's first three batters in a five-run first inning, but Manny Ramirez's second homer put Boston ahead for good in the eighth, 8-7.
De La Hoya's The Pretty, Pretty Favorite
Times (UK)
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May 3, 2007 10:40 PM CDT
(Newser) -
In the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jr. title fight, the defending champion with the winning smile is the overwhelming people's favorite. And the bout is for more than just the WBC light middleweight crown. It's projected to shatter pay-per-view records and perhaps even rejuvenate boxing—a notion De La Hoya rejects.
Banker Busted For Insider Trading
Wall Street Journal
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May 3, 2007 10:32 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Federal prosecutors and the SEC are charging a Credit Suisse banker with relaying insider information to an unnamed Pakistani banker who made more than $7 million on illegal trades. Hafiz Nasseem, who started at the bulge-bracket bank last year, is said to have immediately started sharing tips on upcoming deals—using company phones to call the...
LA Wants Paris Behind Bars
Associated Press
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May 3, 2007 9:07 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Los Angeles prosecutors want to show Paris Hilton the real simple life: jail. The city's lawyers are pushing for the itinerant blonde heiress to spend 45 days in the slammer for repeatedly violating her parole on a reckless driving conviction after a tad too much clubbing last fall. Hilton got three years probation and alcohol education, but hasn't...
Steep GM Drop Puts Heat on Labor Talks
Wall Street Journal
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May 3, 2007 8:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
General Motors, swimming in losses despite major cuts in spending, saw its bottom line plunge a staggering 90% in the first quarter. Somewhat improved automotive profits, especially in emerging markets, were undercut by heavy losses from defaults on high-risk home loans at lending unit GMAC.
US Opposes Taiwan's Missiles
Reuters
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May 3, 2007 6:43 PM CDT
(Newser) -
As Taiwan threatens to go on the offense against China, the U.S. is wincing at the island's growing arsenal. Last month Taipei announced a missile program to hit Chinese sites, to the candid disapproval of Steven Young, the top American diplomat there. "The focus should be on defensive weapons, not on offensive weapons," he says.
Safer Farms Sting Chinese Beekeepers
Los Angeles Times
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May 3, 2007 5:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Stung by recent scandals over tainted food exports, a small group of Chinese beekeepers is trying to sweeten up local honey production. They're throwing out standard practices, like using antibiotics to treat their colonies, and pushing natural options. But the old guard is using violence in its attempts to prevent change and has even physically attacked...
The Class System at Dow Jones
MarketWatch
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May 3, 2007 4:30 PM CDT
(Newser) -
In rejecting Rupert Murdoch's offer for Dow Jones, the Bancroft family provides a textbook example of the case for—and against—dual class shares for media companies. With their shares carrying ten times the voting power of publicly traded shares, the family has the power to spurn a suitor it deems a poor match for the country's premiere...
Secret Service Guards Obama
CNN
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May 3, 2007 3:58 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff has authorized Secret Service protection for presidential candidate Barack Obama, CNN reports. A spokesman would not explain the reason for the assignment but said the secretary acted at the campaign's request. The Secret Service said the coverage is not in response to a specific threat, although New York's...
Combat Soldiers' Blogs Make Brass Queasy
Washington Post
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May 3, 2007 3:57 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Some of the most riveting reporting about the war in Iraq is coming from the soldiers fighting it. As blogs from deployed soldiers proliferate, higher-ups are biting their nails over the ensuing transparency. Bloggers like Capt. Danjel Bout say posting provides "online therapy" and helps keep friends and the public apprised of developments.
Afghan Prison Is as Bad as Gitmo
New Republic
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May 3, 2007 3:15 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The U.S. prison at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan is as bad as Guantanamo, reports Eliza Griswold in the New Republic . Prisoners are kept in barbed-wire cages, beaten, tortured, raped, and held without promise of trial. But unlike Gitmo, Bagram has no visiting congressional delegations.
Astronaut Wally Schirra Dies at 84
Associated Press
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May 3, 2007 2:14 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Astronaut Wally Schirra, a reporter once said, geared up for space flight with "the ease of preparing for a family picnic." The third American to orbit the earth and the fifth ever to fly into space, Shirra died today. He was 84.
Obama Talks Tough to Blacks
Washington Post
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May 3, 2007 2:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama has been bringing up issues in front of black audiences that he plays down with more diverse crowds—namely, pointed criticism of the black community. In pull-no-punches speeches, Obama slams low African-American voter turnout, worries that children who do well in school are scorned as "acting white," and decries violent...
Dutch Court Blocks Bank Merger
Bloomberg
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May 3, 2007 1:47 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A Dutch court has blocked the sale of ABN Amro's LaSalle Bank, throwing Amro's proposed merger with Barclays into jeopardy. The move—which the court says is intended to protect shareholder interests—could spark a new bidding war over the Dutch bank, whose $87.5 billion proposed merger with Barclays has been slammed by shareholders as a...
