Newser Story Index from June, 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.
Collapse Looms in Zimbabwe
BBC
|
Jun 14, 2007 9:56 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Zimbabwe could suffer a full structural collapse in the next few months, the BBC reports. According to a memo distributed to aid workers, shops may resort to barter and utilities may shut down entirely in the country, on account of unbridled inflation that's already the world's highest at 3,714%.
JPMorgan Heads for Ground Zero
New York Times
|
Jun 14, 2007 9:05 AM CDT
(Newser) -
JPMorgan Chase has agreed to a $300 million dollar deal to develop and lease one of the five skyscrapers planned for the World Trade Center site, giving a big boost to the development effort at Ground Zero. The financial services giant's investment banking and trading divisions will migrate to the 50-story tower, scheduled to open its doors in 2013.
Paris' Slammer Grub Beats Its Bum Rap
San Francisco Chronicle
|
Jun 14, 2007 8:15 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Cuisine at the LA County Jail may not be fit for an heiress, but meals in the California's penitentiary system are surprisingly appetizing, the Chronicle reports. Paris Hilton has reportedly been turning up her nose at provisions in the poke, although state regulations require chow to be tasty, varied and nourishing.
Race Cases Don't Have a Prayer With Feds
New York Times
|
Jun 14, 2007 7:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Justice Department has set race discrimination cases on the back burner to pursue claims by religious groups that their rights have been violated, the Times reports. Bush administration attorneys have intervened spiritedly in protecting churches and synagogues from zoning committees, for instance, but slashed lawsuits on behalf of minority voters.
Lebanese Mourn MP Slain by Bomb
Times (UK)
|
Jun 14, 2007 7:09 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Lebanon observed a national day of mourning today as a prominent anti-Syrian MP was buried in Beirut. The assassination yesterday of Walid Eido further destabilized the shaky situation in the country. President Bush condemned the "clear pattern of assassinations" of prominent Lebanese critics of Syria; Eido was the sixth murdered in just...
Space Station Computers Fail, Air Supply Threatened
Associated Press
|
Jun 14, 2007 7:03 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Russian computers that control the international space station's air supply, water and orientation are down, the AP reports. The unprecedented failure could lengthen the current shuttle mission, or, at worst, force the crew to come home early, but there is no immediate danger. "We have plenty of resources, so we have plenty of time to sort...
FDA Advisory Panel Rejects Weight-Loss Drug
Reuters
|
Jun 14, 2007 6:41 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Accomplia, a weight-loss drug marketed in 18 other countries, failed to win approval from an FDA advisory board yesterday. The 14-member panel of outside experts ruled unanimously that manufacturer Sanofi-Aventis had not dispelled concerns about the safety of the drug, whose potential side effects include suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and depression.
Pacino, Ono Push for Dead Celeb Bill
Time
|
Jun 14, 2007 6:34 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Actor Al Pacino and Yoko Ono are lobbying the New York legislature to make it a misdemeanor to merchandise unauthorized images of dead celebrities for up to 70 years after their death. The use of sound recordings, or faces and names on anything from T-shirts to bobble heads would require approval from a celebrity's estate.
Hamas Takes Charge in Gaza
New York Times
|
Jun 14, 2007 6:28 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Hamas is in control of most of Gaza after a day of fighting in which its forces overran the headquarters of a major paramilitary force loyal to Fatah. The Times reports that Hamas militia surrounded the presidential compound in Gaza City, but president Mahmoud Abbas remains in the West Bank. Israel is likely to intervene if Hamas takes Gaza.
Police Track Grim New Clue in Maddy Search
Guardian (UK)
|
Jun 14, 2007 6:25 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Police are following a disturbing tip that may link the kidnapping of Madeleine McCann to two girls murdered last year. A Dutch newspaper has received an anonymous letter, accompanied by a map marked with crosses, claiming Madeleine is buried in a rocky area near the Portuguese resort where she disappeared from her hotel room six weeks ago during...
Repubs Desert Bush, Driving Approval Numbers Down
MSNBC
|
Jun 14, 2007 6:01 AM CDT
(Newser) -
President Bush's approval rating has dropped to 29%, plummeting 6 points in two months. It's his lowest number ever in the NBC/ Wall Street Journal poll and reflects disintegrating support within his own party. The results further reveals that only one in five Americans believe the country is on the right track—the lowest number in nearly 15...
Don't I Know You? Plants Can Tell Siblings From Strangers
Nature
|
Jun 14, 2007 5:41 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Plants are smarter than people think: New research shows flora can distinguish between members of their own family and unrelated vegetation, Nature reports. Plants tend to share resources more equitably with nearby siblings by developing smaller root systems, but compete for available nutrients when neighbors are strangers. "Plants have a secret...
Haitian Teens Ditch Soccer Team in NYC
Associated Press
|
Jun 14, 2007 5:37 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The bulk of a Haitian youth team en route to the under-17 World Cup in South Korea vanished during a stopover at JFK early yesterday, the AP reports. Thirteen out of 18 went missing; by the late afternoon, five or six had returned to the airport and rejoined team officials.
Top 10 Up & Coming Destinations
VirtualTourist
|
Jun 14, 2007 4:17 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Gdansk, Poland Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada Nesebar, Bulgaria San Ignacio, Belize Antananarivo, Madagascar
Thinking Green, Obama Cools Toward Coal
Los Angeles Times
|
Jun 13, 2007 4:14 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Caught between his increasingly carbon-conscious party and a major player in his home state, Barack Obama has backed off his support for converting coal into liquid vehicle fuel, the LA Times reports. Global warming is important to Democrats, but coal is important to the Illinois economy, and the senator's shift left industry leaders scratching their...
New Music Service Takes on iPhone
Financial Times (UK)
|
Jun 13, 2007 4:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Top music labels and wireless providers have launched a new service across the Atlantic, in a bid to undercut the momentously hyped iPhone, Apple's upcoming phone-cum-mp3. MusicStation will be available in Europe and Asia imminently, and lets users tap into a catalog of over a million songs from their cell phones for a weekly charge of $5.
US Attorney Firing Probe Spreads to White House
Associated Press
|
Jun 13, 2007 12:42 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The congressional investigation of the US attorney firings reached the White House today as the judiciary committee in each chamber subpoenaed a different former high-level official. Lawmakers subpoenaed documents from the White House chief of staff, the AP reports, but Karl Rove has not been served because Democrats are still building the case...
Israel's Parliament Elects Peres President
Haaretz (Israel)
|
Jun 13, 2007 12:28 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Knesset voted in Vice Premier Shimon Peres as president of Israel today, after his two rivals for the office dropped out. Peres, a former PM and Nobel laureate, says his job is to unite Israeli society and "expel despair from our midst." He follows Moshe Katsav, who stepped down from the office following rape allegations.
Google Amps Up Privacy Protections
Financial Times (UK)
|
Jun 13, 2007 11:29 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Google promised to step up its privacy protection yesterday, after European officials rebuked the search giant for storing data that could reveal political opinions, religious beliefs, and sexual preferences. Google will limit the amount of time it retains user data to 18 months and will "radically design" its cookie system, reducing their...
Women Alerted to Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
New York Times
|
Jun 13, 2007 11:09 AM CDT
(Newser) -
In an effort to dispel the belief that ovarian cancer has few early symptoms, experts are urging women to acquaint themselves with an array of common conditions associated with one of the deadliest types of cancer. The new guidelines acknowledge for the first time that late diagnosis is not a given, opening up the possibility of earlier testing and...
Investors Clash With Yahoo CEO
San Francisco Chronicle
|
Jun 13, 2007 10:34 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Investors railed yesterday against Yahoo Inc.'s management team in an unusually rowdy session of the search engine's annual shareholders' meeting. Angry investors interrogated CEO Terry Semel over his $107.5M paycheck and the company's slumping stock price, which fell 9% in the last year. A third of shareholders mutinied in protest, voting against...
International Banks Face Trial in Italian Court
Bloomberg
|
Jun 13, 2007 10:15 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Four gold-plated investment banks have been ordered to stand trial for alleged market manipulation for their roles in advising Italian dairy giant Parmalat, which declared bankruptcy in 2003. Italian prosecutors say Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, UBS, and Citigroup allowed Parmalat to manipulate its finances, helping it to defraud investors even after...
Sarko Looks Blotto at G8
Guardian (UK)
|
Jun 13, 2007 9:23 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Vladimir Putin may have tested out some liquid diplomacy at the G8 summit. After a long meeting with the Russian leader, freshly elected French president Nicolas Sarkozy showed up late to a press conference and appeared inebriated, fumbling for words, giggling, and swaying at the podium.
DC Man Dons $54M Pants Suit for Day in Court
Washington Post
|
Jun 13, 2007 8:42 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A man suing his dry cleaners for $54 million had to ask the judge for a break yesterday when he broke down crying as he testified about his loss—a pair of pants. The DC Superior Court trial has attracted international attention even though the case now technically concerns consumer protection and a "Satisfaction Guaranteed" sign, not...
Iraq Misses Mark on US Demands
New York Times
|
Jun 13, 2007 8:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Iraqi government has flubbed virtually all of the legal benchmarks proscribed by the US occupation. Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish blocs in Iraq's legislature have so far failed to agree on watershed issues like distributing oil wealth, debaathification, and curbing sectarian violence; now scorekeepers are saying no major legislation will make it through...
Minarets Hit at Sacred Shrine
Associated Press
|
Jun 13, 2007 7:49 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Askariya mosque, a Shiite shrine whose bombing ignited sectarian violence last year, was attacked again this morning, destroying the minarets left standing after its Golden Dome was shattered earlier. Iraq now braces for a bloody response; US troops rushed to Samarra, and a curfew was called on group gatherings and auto traffic, the AP reports.
Paulson Resists Labeling China a 'Manipulator'
Wall Street Journal
|
Jun 13, 2007 7:23 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has denied congressional requests for a formal accusation of currency manipulation against China, the Wall Street Journal reports. China's tight restrictions have kept the yuan artificially low against the dollar for decades, but recent record highs, combined with signs that Beijing may plan to let up on currency...
Dow Falls as Bond Yields Soar
Wall Street Journal
|
Jun 13, 2007 7:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
US bond yields have hit a five year high—bringing the threat of higher interest rates, costlier home mortgages and a slowing economy, the Wall Street Journal reports. The benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 5.25 per cent yesterday. Rising bond yields echo throughout the economy, making stocks less attractive to investors.
Achebe Wins Booker Prize
BBC
|
Jun 13, 2007 7:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Chinua Achebe, author of Things Fall Apart , won the Booker International prize, an award given out every two years to recognize a living writer's body of work. The 76-year-old Nigerian is credited with the creation of the modern African novel and is the most translated African author.
San Antonio Goes Broom Shopping
Akron Beacon Journal
|
Jun 13, 2007 6:34 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Cavaliers have a great angle on the NBA Finals: courtside seats for an overwhelming performance by the Spurs. San Antonio staked out a historically insurmountable 3-0 series lead with a 75-72 victory last night as LeBron James scored 25 points but couldn't quite make it 28, missing a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the buzzer.
Tiger, Phil Brace for Tough US Open
BBC
|
Jun 13, 2007 6:16 AM CDT
(Newser) -
This year's US Open, at Oakmont, PA, is likely to be an exceptionally difficult one, continuing a year of high scores and sloppy wins. Tiger Woods, who has won two of his last three majors, rated the first hole as one of golf's most difficult, and cites the lack of flat shelves in the course's relentless sloping.
Romney Takes Lead in New Hampshire Poll
CNN
|
Jun 13, 2007 6:10 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The latest CNN poll in New Hampshire shows Mitt Romney leading the GOP primary pack after last week's debate, leaping from 17% to 28% of the vote. In early April, John McCain and Rudy Giuliani were tied in the lead; they're still tied, but now at 20%. The rest of the pack are all in the single digits.
LA Mayor's Wife Calls it Quits (Again)
Los Angeles Times
|
Jun 13, 2007 6:08 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The wife of LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa filed for divorce yesterday after nearly 20 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences, the Los Angeles Times reports. The mayor blamed himself for the breakup, but is mum on whether the split was caused by a romantic relationship.
Police Nab 'Ninja' in Italy
BBC
|
Jun 13, 2007 5:42 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A weeks-long manhunt in northern Italy for an elusive "ninja"-styled thief ended yesterday after cops pursued the robber as he fled through cornfields on a bicycle, the BBC reports. The culprit, his head wrapped in a black bandanna, had stolen onto several isolated farms at night and robbed victims with his bow and arrow.
UN Memo Rips US on Mideast
Guardian (UK)
|
Jun 13, 2007 5:36 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The UN's former Mideast envoy condemns US policy toward Israel in a secret report that rips America for having "pummeled the UN into submission," rendering it powerless as a negotiator on Mideast matters. The report, leaked to the Guardian , also labels the boycott of the Palestinian government a mistake, and blasts Israel as "rejectionist."
Sarkozy Says 'Non' to Turkey's Euro Hopes
Financial Times (UK)
|
Jun 13, 2007 5:11 AM CDT
(Newser) -
France is threatening to block Turkey's full membership in the European Union this month and hopes to push the nation into a "privileged partnership" short of complete participation, the Financial Times reports. It's the first time new French President Nicolas Sarkozy will flex his political muscle in an EU controversy.
Israeli Labor Party Picks Barak to Lead
Guardian (UK)
|
Jun 13, 2007 5:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Ehud Barak won a runoff election yesterday making him head of Israel's Labor Party once again. Barak, who edged out former Shin Bet boss Ari Ayalon, will join PM Ehud Olmert's coalition cabinet, probably as defense minister. But the Guardian reports that the serial party chief is widely expected to make a run for his old job in the next general election.
Verlander No-Hits Brewers
MLB.com
|
Jun 13, 2007 12:24 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Tigers fireballer Justin Verlander scored a spectacular no-hitter at home against the Brewers, the team with the NL's two leading home-run artists. The right-hander used his changeup and curve to devastating effect, chalking 12 Ks and allowing only three balls to reach the outfield in the 4-0 interleague victory.
Rather's 'Tart' Comment makes CBS Chief Sour
Breitbart
|
Jun 12, 2007 10:10 PM CDT
(Newser) -
CBS chief Leslie Moonves returned fire on Dan Rather today, calling his criticism of Katie Couric "sexist." In a telephone interview with MSNBC Monday, Rather had accused his unsuccessful successor of taking the nightly news and "dumbing it down, tarting it up." Rather cited Couric for playing up celebrities at the cost of...
Hamas Takes Fatah Outposts in Gaza
Associated Press
|
Jun 12, 2007 9:59 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hamas fighters overpowered Fatah security forces to capture their headquarters in northern Gaza today, as battles raging across the strip for the second day left at least 37 dead, the AP reports. Pro-Fatah soldiers then attacked the main Hamas-run television station, but they were repelled.
Pakistan Cricket Coach Wasn't Murdered
Guardian (UK)
|
Jun 12, 2007 9:21 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Police in Jamaica ruled today that Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer died of natural causes, reversing their previous stance that he had been murdered. Found dead in a Jamaican hotel room the day after Pakistan lost to Ireland in March's World Cup, the 58-year-old coach was originally said to have been strangled.
Duke DA Faces Ethics Charges
ABC News
|
Jun 12, 2007 9:04 PM CDT
(Newser) -
North Carolina DA Mike Nifong, who spearheaded the rape and kidnapping case against three Duke lacrosse players, now faces his own set of charges for withholding evidence, making inappropriate public comments about the case, and lying to a judge and state bar investigators. His trial in front of a disciplinary commission starts this morning and could...
Democrats Don't Live Up to Hype
Economist
|
Jun 12, 2007 4:36 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Seven months after wresting control of Congress from Republicans, Democrats have failed to make good on their promises, writes the Economist . Almost none of the bills introduced in the first "100 hours" has become law, AG Alberto Gonzalez still has a job, and an Iraq pullout is nowhere in sight.
KKR Buyout Spree Hits a Snag
Wall Street Journal
|
Jun 12, 2007 4:31 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Buyout giant KKR's $26B acquisition of electronic payment processor First Data Corp is not going smoothly, reports the Wall Street Journal . Once enthusiastic investors are shying away from private equity deals as interest rates steepen. "We have enough exposure to KKR already," said one major financier.
Bush Lobbies for Immigration Bill
CNN
|
Jun 12, 2007 3:28 PM CDT
(Newser) -
President Bush took the unusual step of climbing Capitol Hill today to pressure members of his own party on the stalled immigration bill. After a lunch meeting with GOP senators, CNN reports, the president warned that passing the signature legislation of his second term will take "a lot of effort"—as will persuading 15 senators to change...
Egypt Suffers From a Fatwa Free-for-All
New York Times
|
Jun 12, 2007 3:08 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The credibility of fatwas, the religious rulings that guide daily life for Muslims, is being strained in Egypt, the New York Times reports. A flap ensued recently when one authority ruled in favor of drinking the Prophet Mohammed’s urine and another approved co-ed workplaces if the women breast-fed male colleagues to make them "family."
Prosecutor Pushes for Quick Action on Libby
MSNBC
|
Jun 12, 2007 2:28 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The prosecutor in the Scooter Libby case wants the judge to send the vice president's ex-chief of staff to prison sooner rather than later. Arguing that the chance of an appeals court overturning the conviction is "at best, remote," Patrick Fitzgerald filed documents today calling for Libby's 30-month sentence to begin no more than 60 days...
Face It: Court Approves Full Veil at Cairo U
BBC
|
Jun 12, 2007 12:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Women at the American University in Cairo cannot be barred from wearing the traditional Islamic veil covering the entire face, or niqab, a court has ruled after a lengthy battle, reports the BBC. While some hailed the ruling as a blow for religious freedom, others blasted it as a dangerous drift toward Islamic extremism.
Thompson Gains on Giuliani
Los Angeles Times
|
Jun 12, 2007 11:16 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Fred Thompson hasn't even declared his candidacy, but he's already gaining support in the race for the Republican nomination. Rudy Giuliani has the backing of 27% of likely voters in an LA Times /Bloomberg poll reported today, with Thompson just behind at 21%. The poll's director cautions that Thompson "has this allure, but he hasn't been tested...
US Troops Kill Seven Afghan Police
Associated Press
|
Jun 12, 2007 10:55 AM CDT
(Newser) -
U.S. troops mistakenly killed seven Afghan police during a nighttime mission yesterday. The police originally fired on the Americans, thinking they were Taliban fighters; in response, the soldiers opened fire and called in attack aircraft. A spokesman for President Hamid Karzai called the shooting "a tragic incident" sparked by miscommunication.
