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.
U.S. Raid Frees 42 Al Qaeda Captives in Iraq
Associated Press
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May 28, 2007 7:16 AM CDT
(Newser) -
U.S. troops freed 42 kidnapped Iraqis from an al Qaeda hideout in Diyala province, north of Baghdad yesterday. Some of the prisoners had been tortured for months, including some who had broken bones and had been hung from the ceiling, AP reports. One captive said he was 14 years old.
Scientists ID New Breast Cancer Genes
Guardian (UK)
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May 28, 2007 7:11 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Four newly discovered genes can increase a woman's chance of developing breast cancer by as much as 60%, say scientists who hail the isolation of the genes as the biggest advance in the field since 1994. The breakthrough raises hopes for more advanced treatment and even prevention of breast cancer and for better understanding of other cancers in the...
Moscow Gay Rights Activists Arrested After Bloody Melee
CNN
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May 28, 2007 7:06 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Gay-rights protesters petitioning the mayor of Moscow to lift the ban on gay-pride parades yesterday were punched and kicked by anti-gay extremists shouting "death to homosexuals." About 20 protesters were detained by police.
Romanian Film About Abortion Wins Palme d'Or
CNN
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May 28, 2007 6:36 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A disturbing Romanian film about two college coeds trying to get an illegal abortion in the twilight days of the communist regime won this year's Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival yesterday. The low-budget 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days was a critical favorite at the festival, known for bizarre judging.
US-Iran Talks First Since 1979
BBC
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May 28, 2007 6:15 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Ambassadors for the US and Iran met for four hours today in Baghdad, in the first bilateral talks between the countries in decades. The US's Ryan Crocker was expected to press claims that Iran is providing training and weapons to Iraqi insurgents, and his counterpart Hassan Kazemi Qomi to raise accusations of US espionage.
Contractors in Iraq Trigger Two Shootings
Washington Post
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May 27, 2007 6:52 PM CDT
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Contractors from private security firm Blackwater USA set off two firefights in Baghdad in as many days last week. On Thursday, a Blackwater guard shot and killed an Iraqi driver who trailed a convoy suspiciously, and Wednesday a Blackwater convoy escorting State Department officials was ambushed—sparking a battle between contractors, coalition...
The Queen Is Not, in the End, a Blair Fan
Telegraph (UK)
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May 27, 2007 6:13 PM CDT
(Newser) -
As Tony Blair prepares to leave office, one of those uneasy about his legacy is his queen, who the Telegraph reports is "exasperated and frustrated" at the effect of 10 years of New Labour rule. Queen Elizabeth is said to be unhappy about Blair's "overstretching" the military in Iraq and Afghanistan, and too much time...
Kevorkian Set to Leave Prison Friday
Associated Press
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May 27, 2007 12:23 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Jack Kevorkian, the champion of mercy killing, will be released from prison June 1 after doing eight years for helping a Michigan man commit suicide. The 79-year-old retired pathologist spent a decade assisting terminally ill patients end their lives, using a homemade machine to administer the fatal drugs and then dropping off the bodies at hospitals.
Singapore Blossoms into Major City
Time
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May 27, 2007 8:00 AM CDT
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Singapore is transforming itself from a dull metropolis famous for its draconian cleanliness into an exciting, vibrant, tourists' paradise, Time reports. Plans are percolating for casinos, skyscrapers, amusement parks, and a multi-billion dollar residential and commercial real estate development located downtown.
Botched Execution Takes 2 Hours
CNN
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May 26, 2007 7:14 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Prison staff at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility spent two hours administering lethal injection to condemned killer Christopher Newton—inserting needles ten times before finding a suitable vein to inject the deadly chemicals. Newton had been sentenced to die for killing his cellmate during an argument after a chess game.
Hillary Tied to Shady Donor
New York Times
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May 26, 2007 7:10 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The CEO of infoUSA, a large consumer information broker, has given Bill and Hillary Clinton almost $3 million over the past four years. But a recent legal dustup between Vinod Gupta and his company's shareholders over extravagant spending and political donations is revealing a relationship with the Clintons that, according to the Times, is worthy...
Lohan Arrested in DUI After Hitting Curb
CNN
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May 26, 2007 6:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Lindsay Lohan had a run-in with a curb on Sunset Boulevard early this morning, leading to hospitalization for apparently minor injuries and an arrest for possible DUI. Cocaine was found on one of the two passengers in her convertible, the AP reports.
PM Rides Luck of the Irish to Third Term
RTE (Ireland)
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May 25, 2007 6:43 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Incumbent Bertie Ahern is almost certainly headed for a third term as Ireland's prime minister, Ireland's RTÉ is reporting this evening. Ahern's coalition has won 41% of seats in Parliament thus far, likely enough to lead a coalition government.
Corzine: Do As I Say, Not As I Did
Newsday
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May 25, 2007 3:21 PM CDT
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Jon Corzine dodged a bullet, and he wants to make sure he isn't alone. The New Jersey governor, gravely injured in an SUV crash last month while not wearing a seatbelt, appears in a new 30-second TV ad that makes it clear he's learned his lesson. Today he joined the secretary of transportation to drive home the message: Buckle up.
Israeli Air Strike Hits Near Palestinian PM's home
Reuters
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May 25, 2007 2:40 PM CDT
(Newser) -
An Israeli air strike hit near the Gaza home of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh today. The Israeli military said that Haniyeh was not the target, though an official said earlier this week that any Hamas leader—including Haniyeh—rmight be attacked if rocket strikes on Israel continue.
Interest Rate Cut Triggers Panic in Iran
Guardian (UK)
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May 25, 2007 2:05 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Iran's erratic president has set off a stock market scare by ordering banks to slash interest rates, despite high inflation and lots of expert advice to the contrary. The move sparked panicked selling and fears of a full-blown financial crisis, the Guardian reports. The new decreed rate is 12%, down from 14% at state banks and 17% to 28% at private...
Americans Walk Soft Line on Immigration
New York Times
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May 25, 2007 12:52 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Lou Dobbs, take note: A majority of Americans back key immigration reform proposals making their way through Congress, a new CBS News/ New York Times poll finds. Americans across the political spectrum say they support a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, and two-thirds back a guest-worker program.
In Challenge to MySpace, Facebook Opens Up
Forbes
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May 25, 2007 11:51 AM CDT
(Newser) -
In a challenge to social-networking giant MySpace, Facebook will open itself to outside software developers. With 65 partners—including Microsoft and Amazon—cleared to build web applications within the site, the scrappy No. 2 is attempting to transform itself into an all-in-one destination. The lure: Partners don't have to pay for access...
Common Chemicals Boost Disease Risk
Los Angeles Times
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May 25, 2007 10:46 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Beginning in the womb, exposure to common substances increases the likelihood of numerous health problems—including cancer, ADD, Parkinson's and obesity—years and even generations later, international environmental scientists say. Two hundred prominent experts yesterday took the unusual step of calling for intervention by governments, even...
Man Murdered Family to Inherit Grain Elevator
Associated Press
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May 25, 2007 10:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Shawn Bentley was found guilty yesterday of killing his parents and teenage sisters in order to inherit his parents' successful grain elevator and lumberyard business in Bonaparte, Iowa. The prosecution's key evidence was the recording of a 911 call by Shawn's sister, which ended with a scream of, "Shawn, no!" and a gunshot.
Phony Student Nabbed at Stanford
Stanford Daily
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May 25, 2007 10:02 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Stanford University officials evicted an 18-year old student this week after discovering she was not enrolled at the school—despite living in several dorms, buying textbooks, and appearing to study for exams, the Stanford Daily reports. Azia Kim masqueraded as a sophomore majoring in human biology for eight months before a suspicious...
US Rushes to Aid Lebanon
CNN
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May 25, 2007 9:49 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The US has rushed military aid to Beruit, as the Lebanese army continues to battle Islamist militants holed up in a Palestinian refugee camp. The first shipment arrived today. Condoleeza Rice expressed support for Lebanon's government, if not confidence: "I certainly hope that the Lebanese government will be able to deal with these extremists,"...
Coke Takes Swig of Glacéau
Bloomberg
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May 25, 2007 9:12 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Coca-Cola is adding some fizz to its line of non-soda offerings, acquiring the maker of Glacéau VitaminWater today in its biggest purchase ever. The $4.1 billion purchase of Energy Brands will give Coke a strong foothold in the market for non-carbonated products and help it close the gap with archrival Pepsi.
Nothing We Can Do About Those Prices, Says OPEC
Wall Street Journal
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May 25, 2007 8:47 AM CDT
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Gas prices are soaring, but OPEC says that there's nothing it can do. Historically, the cartel has made big efforts to increase production when prices spike, but not his time, the Wall Street Journal reports. Members of OPEC say that there's plenty of crude being pumped; instead, the price increases stem from a tight refining industry.
Al-Sadr Appears at Iraqi Mosque
Associated Press
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May 25, 2007 8:22 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr emerged from hiding today, making a surprise appearance near the Iraqi city of Najaf. Al-Sadr, who fled to Iran four months ago, gave a sermon at Kufa today, condemning the US occupation and demanding a "timetable" for withdrawal. In a shift away from sectarianism, he encouraged Sunnis to join in peaceful opposition...
Top Executive Salaries Soar
New York Times
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May 25, 2007 8:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The top bananas of the corporate world are taking in more income in relation to their immediate subordinates than ever before, the Times reports. Wealth is concentrating among the business elite but staying somewhat stagnant among more middling execs—the average gap between #1 and #3 has more than tripled over the last 30 years.
Men No Longer Doing Better Than Their Fathers
Wall Street Journal
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May 25, 2007 7:03 AM CDT
(Newser) -
American men in their 30s are doing worse than their fathers did financially, a change from just 10 years ago and a reversal of the expectation that each generation will exceed the success of their parents. In 2004, the median income for a man in his 30s, adjusted for inflation, was 12% less than for men in their 30s in 1974, the Wall Street Journal...
NIH Won't Breed Chimps for Research
Reuters
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May 25, 2007 6:21 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The National Institutes of Health will stop breeding chimpanzees for use in medical testing, the agency announced yesterday. The practice is being abandoned for financial reasons, NIH says; because chimpanzees live upwards of 50 years in captivity, their lifelong upkeep costs $500,000.
New Books Probe Hillary's Dark Side
Washington Post
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May 25, 2007 5:54 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Washington Post gets a sneak peek at two upcoming books about Hillary Clinton, illuminating her turbulent marriage to Bill and voracious political ambition, just in time for 2008. A Woman in Charge, by Watergate star Carl Bernstein, details Hillary's terror of Whitewater prosecution and her annoyance at her husband's philandering, as well as...
Bush Cozies Up to China
Wall Street Journal
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May 25, 2007 5:38 AM CDT
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President Bush struck a conciliatory tone in yesterday's congress with Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi, despite thickening indignation over Chinese policies. The Journal reports that the White House meeting tiptoed around China's tolerance of copyright piracy, the export of tainted food products, and Beijing's increasingly worrisome nuclear program.
Lazy Gamblers Rent Scooters in Vegas
CNN
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May 25, 2007 5:34 AM CDT
(Newser) -
In Las Vegas, motorized scooters offer access to expansive casino floors to the elderly, the disabled—and now the lazy. For 40 chips a day, a growing number of young, healthy tourists are renting the scooters so they can hop from the slot machine to the craps table at up to 5 miles per hour, wasting as little energy as possible.
Congress OKs New Iraq Bill
Washington Post
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May 25, 2007 5:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Congress approved $95 billion to pay for the war in Iraq—without a timetable for troop withdrawal. The bill, which Bush says he'll sign, passed both houses last night, ending a long and bitter struggle between Democrats and a veto-ready White House over bringing the troops home. Aspiring presidents Clinton and Obama voted against the bill.
German Firm Buys Tuscan Hamlet
Guardian (UK)
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May 25, 2007 5:21 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A German company has bought up an entire town in Northern Italy, with plans to convert it into a giant "holiday world" resort. The Guardian reports that Hanover-based tour giant TUI payed upwards of $340 million for the 13th-century Tuscan village of Tenuta di Castelfalfi, whose crumbling ramparts, squares and villas now house just five...
Congress Hikes Minimum Wage
New York Times
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May 25, 2007 5:08 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Congress has raised the national minimum wage for the first time in 10 years, from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour. The hike, part of a compromise between the White House and Congress over Iraq funding, will take effect in three stages over the next two years. It will mean bigger paychecks for an estimated 5.6 million American workers.
More Violence Looms in Lebanon
Guardian (UK)
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May 25, 2007 5:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Clashes between the Lebanese Army and a Palestinian militant group could spread throughout Lebanon, politicians, diplomats and refugees tell the Guardian . Anger is building among Palestinians over civilian casualties from shelling of the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp during clashes with Fatah al-Islam militants last week.
Smoltz Stones Mets for Milestone
Sports Illustrated
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May 25, 2007 4:53 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Facing off against former teammate Tom Glavine, do-it-all Braves righty John Smoltz prevailed again for his 200th win—the most for any player with 150 saves or more. Smoltz was converted to a closer in 2001 and back to a starter in 2005, and his 154 saves are an Atlanta team record.
Nashville Doesn't Take to the Ice
Globe and Mail
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May 25, 2007 4:49 AM CDT
(Newser) -
BlackBerry magnate Jim Balsillie will pay $220 million for the Nashville Predators, one of the NHL's best and lowest-revenue teams, and likely move them out of Tennessee. Possible new homes include Kansas City, which is courting teams for its new arena, and Kitchener-Waterloo and Hamilton in Ontario, threatening the theft of fans of nearby Toronto...
Creationists Open History Museum
New York Times
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May 24, 2007 5:40 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A $27 million museum opening in Kentucky next week promises a different kind of take on natural history: a biblical one. At the Creation Museum, the Earth is 6,000 years old, evolution is a yarn, and dinosaurs were booked on Noah's Ark.
Bush Urges Stiffer Sanctions on Iran
Washington Post
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May 24, 2007 5:26 PM CDT
(Newser) -
President Bush called for tougher sanctions against Iran today, a day after a new report showed the country is continuing its nuclear enrichment programs. Bush vowed to form a multinational bloc with Russia, China, and European allies to pressure Iran into ceasing its nuclear aspirations, reports the Washington Post .
Scrapped TVs Spell Disaster for Environment
Los Angeles Times
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May 24, 2007 4:54 PM CDT
(Newser) -
In 2009 a federal law will convert all TV stations to digital, sending most of the US's 268 million analog TVs into the trash. As consumers snatch up plasmas and HDTVs, the old sets—made of lead, cadmium, and mercury will be thrown into garbage dumps, where they may contaminate underground water supplies, reports the LA Times .
Dem Congress Still Dishing Out Pork
Washington Post
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May 24, 2007 4:42 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Democrats in Congress pledged to cut the pork out of appropriations bills, but the new majority is already cheating on the diet, reports the Washington Post. Using a technique called "phonemarking," congressmen are contacting federal agencies directly and asking them to fund their pet projects, all while boasting that their bills contain...
Support for War Drops to Record Low
CBS News
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May 24, 2007 3:51 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Six out of 10 Americans say the US should have stayed out of Iraq, a new CBS News/ New York Times poll reports. And an all-time high of 76%—including a majority of Republicans—say the war is going badly. Americans support get-tough measures tying funding to progress, including a timetable for withdrawal, but don't believe funding should...
Conservatives Wield FDA Data on HPV Vaccine
Wall Street Journal
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May 24, 2007 3:31 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A group of religious conservatives has marshalled unreleased FDA data as a weapon in the battle against Gardasil, the new cervical cancer vaccine. The data indicates health problems in women taking the vaccine, but drugmaker Merck and the FDA both insist that the negative effects are probably unrelated to the vaccine. Critics oppose legislation...
Morgue Stats Show Surge in Iraqi Killings
Washington Post
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May 24, 2007 3:04 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Statistics from Iraqi morgues show that three months into the surge, sectarian killings are rising, the Washington Post reports. In the first three weeks of May, 321 unidentified corpses, many showing signs of exectution and torture, were found in Baghdad. The number equals those found in all of January, the month before the new security plan was...
Hillary Sticks With Iowa Strategy
New York Times
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May 24, 2007 2:29 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hillary Clinton rejected a top adviser's plan to bypass the Iowa caucuses, the New York Times reports, and she'll visit the state this weekend. An internal memo suggested focusing money and time on February 5's 20-state Super Tuesday instead of the January 14 caucuses. All but one of the last 14 nominees have won Iowa, New Hampshire, or both.
Monthly Housing Sales Jump
International Business Times
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May 24, 2007 2:15 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The real estate market had a volatile April, with home sales rising at their fastest rate in 14 years. But the 16% spike in sales over the previous month hid a more complicated reality: New home prices dropped by a record 11%, according to Commerce Department figures released today, and builder confidence remains low.
FDA Warned of Avandia Risks Years Ago
New York Times
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May 24, 2007 1:56 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A diabetes doctor warned the FDA of heart risks posed by the diabetes drug Avandia seven years ago, the New York Times reports. The same concerns raised by Dr. John Buse in a 2000 letter were reiterated in a study published by cardiologist Steven Nissen this week.
Wal-Mart, You're Getting a Dell
InfoWorld
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May 24, 2007 1:10 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Dell is about to expand beyond its traditional direct-to-consumer sales channels in a big way: by making a deal with Wal-Mart. The struggling computer maker and the world's largest retailer announced today that Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores will start carrying Dell Dimensions next month. The two exclusive models will be part of bundles that sell for...
Israel Detains Senior Hamas Officials
CNN
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May 24, 2007 12:16 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Israeli troops arrested 33 Hamas leaders—including several moderate politicians—in the West Bank overnight, as part of a continuing crackdown on the group following a deadly barrage of rocket attacks. The move suggests Israel is stepping up pressure on Hamas' political arm as it seeks to prevent the group's military wing from launching...
Biofuels Bump Pump Prices
New York Times
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May 24, 2007 11:51 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Four-dollar gas? Blame biofuels, the oil industry says. Construction of new refinery capacity is on hold thanks to government regulations that will soon require oil companies to produce biofuels such as ethanol. Uncertain standards for biofuels, which may render new refineries useless, have led oil companies to rethink expansion plans—and that's...
