Newser Story Index from July, 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.
Bush Commutes Libby Sentence
Washington Post
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Jul 2, 2007 5:41 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Scooter Libby won't be going to jail: President Bush commuted the former Cheney aide's 30-month sentence for perjury and obstruction of justice tonight, but stopped short of a pardon. The move came hours after a federal appeals court denied Libby's motion for bail pending his appeal.
Military Shreds Old Fighter Jets
Associated Press
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Jul 2, 2007 5:32 PM CDT
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The US military is paying a contractor to destroy its retired fleet of F-14 fighter jets, after evidence surfaced that Iran had been acquiring the old parts and was intending to rebuild the planes, reports the AP. “There were things getting to the bad guys,” the contractor says. In the 1970s, Iran--then an ally--bought the jets from the...
Injured Serena Advances
Associated Press
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Jul 2, 2007 5:18 PM CDT
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Serena Williams collapsed with a cramped calf during her fourth round match at Wimbledon Centre Court today. But the rain delays which have hobbled this year's tourney came to her rescue—officials paused the contest against Slovak Daniela Hantuchova minutes later, offering the American time to recover, and ultimately to pull off a 6-2, 6-7, 6-2...
10 Worst Hereditary Conditions
MSNBC
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Jul 2, 2007 4:44 PM CDT
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MSNBC lists the 10 lamest heredity conditions. Baldness: People usually blame mom on this one, but cue ball syndrome can come from either side of the gene pool. Lactose intolerance: Humans developed the ability to digest milk only in the past 10,000 years, and only where dairy farming is common. If you can't imbibe, your ancestors...
Is Your Sunscreen Lying to You?
MSNBC
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Jul 2, 2007 4:29 PM CDT
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A recent study involving more than 700 sunscreens found that 84% are not cutting it. Many fail to provide adequate protection from harmful rays, or break down too quickly in the sun, msnbc.com reports. What's more, consumers often rely on SPF numbers to choose a product. But SPF measures UVB rays, which cause sunburn, not UVA rays, which can...
Billionaires Flee Putin's Russia
Guardian (UK)
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Jul 2, 2007 4:08 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A cadre of 50 or so Russian businessmen struck it rich when the USSR's state-owned industries went up for grabs. But most of these billionaire oligarchs are now in prison or have fled, hounded and hectored by the KGB-style tactics of president Putin. The Guardian profiles 7 deposed plutocrats, who've made their bones in oil, aluminum and everything...
Son of Chad Prez Probable Murder Victim
Reuters
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Jul 2, 2007 3:27 PM CDT
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French police have launched an investigation into the death of Brahim Deby, whose body was recovered in the parking lot of his apartment building, Reuters reports. Once touted as a possible successor to his father, the younger Deby had become a controversial figure, doing time in France for drugs and weapons possession. An autopsy will be performed...
PR Firms Target Customers' Google Reputations
Washington Post
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Jul 2, 2007 3:00 PM CDT
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If your first hit on Google feels like a mafia hit, don't despair. Firms like ReputationDefender and Reputation Management offer clients an enhanced image on the top search engine by creating links, sites, YouTube videos, and MySpace profiles that promote positive Google results, and lower the pageranks of defamatory comments.
US Plays Down New Terror Attack Warning
Boston Herald
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Jul 2, 2007 2:33 PM CDT
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Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff has minimized reports of an al-Queda terrorism "spectacular" this summer, described in a secret US law enforcement document. There is no "specific, credible evidence" of an impending attack on the US, Chertoff says, according to the Boston Herald. But one senior official notes that the warnings...
Carlyle Bids on Faltering Virgin Media
Wall Street Journal
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Jul 2, 2007 1:37 PM CDT
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The friendly corporate raiders at the Carlyle Group have floated an offer to buy out Virgin Media, the British cable provider, with total equity in the range of $8B and $10B, the Journal reports. The besieged media company has been losing customers to rivals in the UK, and has stacked up debt nearing $12B.
10 Best Retirement Bargains
US News & World Report
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Jul 2, 2007 12:38 PM CDT
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Cost of living isn't the only important factor when deciding on a place to retire. Weather, proximity to cities, airports, entertainment and hospitals are also play a part. U.S. News considered all the angles and came out with these top picks: Boone, North Carolina Dahlonega, Georgia Fredericksburg, Texas Kennebunk, Maine...
Majority of Alcoholics Are Young Adults
CBS News
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Jul 2, 2007 12:02 PM CDT
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More than half of all alcoholics in the United States are young adults, reveals a new study that surveyed 1,484 US adults. The study, reported by CBS, divided problem drinkers into five types. Despite the stereotype of the alcoholic as middle-aged, the average age in the two largest groups—together comprising 52%—was mid-20s.
Missile Defense Founders on Bush Missteps
Los Angeles Times
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Jul 2, 2007 11:27 AM CDT
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President Bush is looking for support for his missile shield in all the wrong places, the LA Times reports. While he dallies with president Putin, an increasingly underwhelmed Congress is readying to pull the plug. Meanwhile, Poland and the Czech Republic—the designated missile-defense bases—are increasingly skeptical of American designs.
Terror Groups Use Commodity Trades to Move Money
Wall Street Journal
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Jul 2, 2007 10:36 AM CDT
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Commodity trading is the latest avenue for terrorists and narcotics traffickers to launder large amounts of money, the Wall Street Journal reports. Basic foodstuffs, like sugar, flour and oil, are legitimately bought on the market and transferred to trade-restricted Iran or Palestine in the guise of legal aid. There they're sold, and proceeds find...
iPhones Sales May Hit 500K
CNN
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Jul 2, 2007 10:13 AM CDT
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First-weekend sales of Apple's much-anticipated iPhone may even beat the hype, reaching 500,000, according to one expert who earlier forecast sales in the 200,000 range. In some locations, 50 cashiers were processing over 1000 iPhones an hour, reports CNNMoney. Apple has set a goal of selling 10 million units by the end of 2008, with experts...
Rangers Steal Free Agents Gomez, Drury
Associated Press
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Jul 2, 2007 10:13 AM CDT
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The New York Rangers signed free-agent centers Scott Gomez and Chris Drury yesterday, stealing two powerful offensive weapons from their rivals. Gomez was pinched from the neighboring Devils, and Drury—whose play against the Rangers in last year's postseason contributed to their demise—from the Buffalo Sabres.
Haas Gives Up on Federer, Wimbledon
Telegraph (UK)
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Jul 2, 2007 9:00 AM CDT
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Germany's Tommy Haas withdrew from his match against Roger Federer yesterday, citing a torn stomach muscle. "I wonder if I am cursed," said the thirteenth seed, who has bowed out of two other Wimbledon tournaments under similar circumstances. Haas apparently sustained the injury during his defeat of Russia's Dmitry Tursunov on Friday.
Same 2 Men Suspected in Airport, Car Bombings
Guardian (UK)
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Jul 2, 2007 8:53 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The two men who rammed a flaming Jeep into a Glasgow airport terminal Saturday are suspected of being the same people who parked two explosives-packed cars in London the day before, sources tell CNN. One is a doctor who is being treated for severe burns in the hospital where he worked. Authorities were already on the trail of the suspects before the...
Cancer Patients Gain Fertility Hope
BBC
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Jul 2, 2007 8:37 AM CDT
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Prepubescent girls with cancer do not have to give up the prospect of parenthood because of the effects of chemotherapy. Cancer patients as young as 5 can have their eggs removed and frozen before treatment, preserving their fertility, according to research by Israeli scientists. With childhood cancer survival rates climbing, that's good news for a...
Iran ID’ed Working With Iraq Militants
Associated Press
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Jul 2, 2007 8:00 AM CDT
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The US military has accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guard of aiding Iraqi militants in a devastating January attack and of using Hezbollah as a go-between to arm violent Shiites in that country. In March coalition forces arrested a Hezbollah operative suspected of liaising between Iran and a group led by a former Moqtada al-Sadr deputy, the AP reports.
Nets Sign Carter to 4-Year Deal
Star-Ledger
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Jul 2, 2007 8:00 AM CDT
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The New Jersey Nets have re-signed All-Star Vince Carter to a $61.8 million, 4-year contract. The deal was anonymously reported yesterday, following an announcement that Carter had decided to opt out of his previous agreement with the organization—the new terms allow the Nets to extend by one year after the 2010-11 season.
Disney's Rat Trounces 'Die Hard'
Associated Press
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Jul 2, 2007 7:56 AM CDT
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"Ratatouille," Disney's critically hailed animated flick about a gourmet rat, dominated the box office in its opening weekend, scoring $47.2M to the latest Bruce Willis vehicle's $33.15 million. Also bested was religious-themed romp "Evan Almighty."
Universal's iTunes Deal Hits Sour Note
New York Times
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Jul 2, 2007 7:53 AM CDT
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In the latest volley in the escalating war between the music industry and Apple's iTunes, Universal Music Group will not renew its contract with the online music seller, the New York Times reports. The digital retailer will still feature artists signed by Universal, the largest music company in the world, but the label can pull out at any time.
UK Arrests 2 More in Bomb Spree
BBC
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Jul 2, 2007 6:59 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Two new arrests have been made in the failed Glasgow airport attack after houses were searched in several Scottish neighborhoods last night. The two men were 25 and 28 years old, and didn’t appear to be native to the country, the BBC reports. Seven suspects are now in custody.
Bush, Putin Get Off to Chummy Start
Associated Press
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Jul 2, 2007 6:44 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The US-Russia mini-summit kicked off with flowers and kisses, but the subtext was less collegial. Vladimir Putin presented bouquets to the current and ex-First Ladies, then joined the Bush family for a lobster and swordfish dinner last night in an atmosphere that exceeded his expectations. "We could not have predicted the warmness and hospitality...
Portugal May Break Ban, Invite Mugabe
Guardian (UK)
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Jul 2, 2007 5:58 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Portugal has provoked a firestorm by proposing to invite Robert Mugabe to an upcoming summit of European and African nations, despite an EU ban prohibiting the Zimbabwean dictator from traveling on the Continent. The African Union insists all its members be treated equally, and EU refusal to invite Mugabe at the last such summit in 2003 torpedoed the...
Uninsured Ignore New Health-Care Law
Christian Science Monitor
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Jul 2, 2007 5:36 AM CDT
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A law requiring Massachusetts residents to have health insurance kicked in yesterday, but two-thirds of the 372,000 residents who need coverage haven't signed up, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Massachusetts is a pioneer in universal health care, and most people eligible for subsidized care have insurance, but some 6% of the state's population...
Senate Post Won Thompson Sons Top Lobby Job$
New York Times
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Jul 2, 2007 5:22 AM CDT
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Fred Thompson's two sons won lucrative jobs as lobbyists after their father became a Senator, despite having next to no qualifications for the work, the New York Times reports. The information could prove embarrassing to the Thompson campaign as the GOP presidential candidate strives to present himself as a reformer challenging Washington politics-as-usual.
London Security Crackdown Targets Transit
Reuters
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Jul 2, 2007 4:55 AM CDT
(Newser) -
British police are cracking down on security at rail services and airports to thwart terror attacks in the wake of a trio of car bomb attempts over the weekend. No specific intelligence warns of an attack on the subway system or the rail network, but the increased patrols and security checks are a precaution, according to a transport police boss.
Mariners Manager Burns Out
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
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Jul 2, 2007 4:54 AM CDT
(Newser) -
With his team on a seven-game streak, 11 games above .500, Seattle manager Mike Hargrove quit today, explaining that 35 years in the business had simply left him too depleted to continue. Bench coach John McLaren will take over. GM Bill Bavasi, while supportive, acknowledged that Hargrove's departure left the team in a state of uncertainty.
Princess Di Tribute Rocks On
Guardian (UK)
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Jul 2, 2007 4:50 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Nostalgic performances by Elton John and Duran Duran highlighted a concert packed with 68,000 fans yesterday to honor Princess Diana on what would have been her 46th birthday. The spectacle, which flashed giant-screen archival footage of the much-loved "People's Princess," was organized at Wembley stadium amid tight security by her sons,...
Weight a Minute! Stress Triggers Fat in Study
Washington Post
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Jul 2, 2007 4:49 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A newly discovered chemical connection between chronic stress and fat could help curb obesity— or grow fat in places like breasts for cosmetic purposes, the Washington Post reports. Scientists found that stressed-out mice on a rodent junk-food diet grew the fattest, and that injecting or blocking a stress neurotransmitter can induce,...
Brit Police Raid Al-Qaeda Cells
Guardian (UK)
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Jul 2, 2007 4:22 AM CDT
(Newser) -
British police raided homes and sealed roads in a nationwide hunt for al-Qaeda terrorists linked to botched car bomb attacks aimed at key London landmarks and the Glasgow Airport, the Guardian reports. Four men and one woman, including a physician, are in custody, but detectives continue to search for others, including one suspect in...
Bonds Pulls Off All-Star Voting Comeback
San Francisco Chronicle
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Jul 2, 2007 4:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Barry Bonds will start in his fourteenth All-Star Game after a surprise eleventh-hour flurry of votes. The 42-year-old slugger beat out Alfonso Soriano for a slot in the NL lineup, after some highly publicized championing by San Francisco's clubhouse.
Obama Draws $32.5M in Campaign Cash
Washington Post
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Jul 2, 2007 3:47 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama raised $32.5 million in total campaign contributions in the second quarter of 2007, handily beating Hillary Clinton's powerhouse fundraising machine to lead the Democratic pack, the Washington Post reports. Some 154,000 contributors, most giving relatively moderate amounts, ponied up for the campaign while Clinton raised an estimated...
Is America Rome?
New York Times
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Jul 1, 2007 9:28 PM CDT
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The Roman Emperor Valerian was taken captive by the Persian king, who is reputed to have used him as a footstool for mounting his horse, notes Adam Goodheart in his essay on the similarities of Rome and America. This happened in Mesopotamia, now known as Iraq. Could that part of the world also be America's undoing, wonders Goodheart.
Kerr Captures US Open
Associated Press
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Jul 1, 2007 8:30 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Cristie Kerr, who helped pioneer the trend of women golfers turning pro right out of high school, won her first major title at the U.S. Open. Kerr edged frontrunner Lorena Ochoa by making par as the 25-year-old Mexican self-destructed, missing left on critical shots.
Putin Puts in at Kennebunkport
BBC
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Jul 1, 2007 7:23 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Russian president Vladimir Putin touched down in New Hampshire this afternoon for what the US and Russia are both calling a social visit to President Bush's summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine. But the BBC reports both sides hope to use the meeting as an opportunity to warm their countries' recently glacial relationship.
Atlantis Hitches Ride to Florida
Associated Press
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Jul 1, 2007 5:36 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The space shuttle Atlantis set off to return to Florida from its emergency landing site in California today—strapped to a jumbo jet. The Boeing 747 carrying Atlantis departed from the Mojave Desert Air Base and will stop to refuel along its trip at undisclosed locations. It's expected to arrive at the Kennedy Space Center on Monday, said a NASA...
England Douses Public Smoking
Reuters
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Jul 1, 2007 2:55 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The English ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces, including bars, workplaces, and public buildings, went into effect at 6am today. The effort to improve indoor air quality and inconvenience some smokers into quitting will cause grumbling, says the country's chief medical officer, but "on the whole, the majority of smokers and non-smokers wanted...
Leahy Ready to Take White House to Court
Associated Press
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Jul 1, 2007 1:48 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Patrick Leahy has a message for White House officials who object to subpoenas issued in the US attorney firing investigation: See you in court. The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman took the dispute over executive privilege to the airwaves today, saying, "If they don't cooperate, yes, I'll go that far" when asked about a congressional vote...
Thousands March for Democracy in Hong Kong
Times (UK)
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Jul 1, 2007 1:03 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hong Kong observed the 10th anniversary of the handover to China today as tens of thousands took to the streets for the now-traditional annual pro-democracy rally. Beijing appears no more amenable to universal suffrage, however—Hu Jintao was in town to swear in the territory's new chief executive and his government, but the Chinese president...
'Music and Passion' Yield to Subway
New York Daily News
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Jul 1, 2007 11:57 AM CDT
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After nearly seven decades, three locations, and an unforgettable hit song, the Copacabana nightclub closed its doors early this morning to make way for the extension of a subway line. In its latest incarnation, the onetime hangout of the Rat Pack and the Mickey Mantle-led New York Yankees bowed out to a soundtrack of reggaeton, not Barry Manilow's...
Wikipedia: Encyclopedia, Newspaper, or Cult?
New York Times
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Jul 1, 2007 10:51 AM CDT
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Novelist Jonathan Dee plumbs the phenomenon that is Wikipedia: First it was a populist encyclopedia, increasingly it's populist journalism, and all along it's been a religious cult, populated by cybermonks working in isolation, often putting in long hours in their bedrooms on school nights. The amazing twist, he notes, is how well it works, getting...
BCE Agrees to Landmark LBO
Globe and Mail
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Jul 1, 2007 10:24 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Canada's dominant telecom company will go private in the country's biggest takeover ever, and one of the largest LBOs in the world. A powerful teachers' retirement fund and two American private-equity firms made a deal yesterday for CBE, also known as Bell Canada. The $48.5 billion (C$51.7 billion) bid must still clear regulators and shareholders.
iPhone Calling! But Not for You, or You ...
San Jose Mercury News
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Jul 1, 2007 9:07 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The iPhone became available Friday, and the grousing started minutes later. Customers around the country reported long delays in activating service, and when they weren't able to use their new gadgets to call their friends to complain, they took their frustrations to the Internet, the Mercury News reports. "I have the latest and greatest in...
5 Arrests in Glasgow Attack
BBC
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Jul 1, 2007 8:26 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The UK is on highest terror alert and five suspects are in custody in the aftermath of yesterday's attempted attack on the Glasgow airport. Two were the drivers of the flaming car driven into the main terminal building; two were picked up in home searches nearby in Glasgow, and one in Liverpool. Security barriers stopped the car from injuring...
Captain America Dead at 66
Associated Press
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Jul 1, 2007 7:42 AM CDT
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In an issue of its comic book coming out July 5, Marvel Comics kills off superhero Captain America. In "Fallen Son" Captain America is killed by an assassin on the steps of the federal courthouse in New York. He was there after refusing to register his true identity (Steve Rogers for you non-fans) with the government.
