Newser Story Index from September, 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.
US Should Talk to al-Qaeda, Analysts Say
Reuters
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Sep 13, 2007 2:29 PM CDT
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Eschewing war as the only means of neutralizing militant groups, some analysts have suggested the US consider negotiating with al-Qaeda, Reuters reports. "No insurgency or terrorism has been defeated by warfare or violence," one negotiator said. Proponents see treating al-Qaeda as a legitimate power, not a loose network of militants, as necessary...
Fatah, Hamas Unite for Ramadan
Associated Press
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Sep 13, 2007 2:12 PM CDT
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Ramadan this year will mark a brief expression of unity for the rival Palestinian governments of Hamas, in Gaza, and Fatah, in the West Bank. The holy month begins today or tomorrow—and deciding the date can cause tension between factions across the Muslim world, the AP reports. And despite the agreement this year, Hamas-Fatah tension remains...
Jobless Claims Rise, but Economists See Silver Lining
Bloomberg
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Sep 13, 2007 1:45 PM CDT
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First-time applications for jobless claims rose last week, but economists are encouraged that the figures were less than expected, Bloomberg reports today. Claims grew by 4,000 to 319,000—still well short of the 325,000 applications expected. The numbers suggest that the labor market isn’t collapsing, despite slower growth and a spate of...
Boys Drool, Chicks Rule Fall TV
Salon
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Sep 13, 2007 1:32 PM CDT
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Gone are the days of Magnum PI and McGuyver. This fall's primetime lineup is dominated by female characters who are successful, tenacious, and confident—while male counterparts are almost universally sniveling in the corner. But even as she applauds the turning of TV's gender tables, Salon's Rebecca Traister questions the deeper implications...
Agreement on Key Iraq Oil Law Hits the Skids
New York Times
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Sep 13, 2007 1:30 PM CDT
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Agreements forged in February over a law regulating the distribution of revenue from Iraq's oil fields are dissolving, the New York Times reports. Hussain al-Shahristani, oil minister for the Shiite-controlled federal government, held meetings yesterday to try to save the compromise, but the northern Kurdish areas have already made deals based on...
Bank of America Ups ATM Charges
USA Today
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Sep 13, 2007 1:07 PM CDT
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Bank of America has raised its ATM surcharge to $3 for non-customers—and other banks' are likely to follow. That's the highest surcharge in America, and it affects millions, because BoA has the largest ATM network in the country, USA Today reports. Expect the hike to be contageous: "Banks often move like a school of fish on punitive charges...
45 Taliban Die in Battle on Ramadan Eve
Associated Press
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Sep 13, 2007 12:43 PM CDT
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Forty-five Taliban insurgents were killed in a clash with coalition and Afghan troops in Afghanistan today. The Taliban attacked a joint patrol; the Afghan forces responded, with help from coalition airstrikes. The skirmish comes at the beginning of Islam's holy month of Ramadan
Amish Community Heals, Slowly
Lancaster (Pa.) New Era
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Sep 13, 2007 12:12 PM CDT
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It's been almost a year since the shooting spree at an Amish schoolhouse in rural Pennsylvania in which five girls were killed and five wounded. In the Lancaster New Era, the families talk with stunning directness about the particular pain of losing a child and making peace with the "new normal." "You can wake up one day and think,...
Auto-Emission Ruling Boosts States' Rights
New York Times
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Sep 13, 2007 11:50 AM CDT
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Vermont can set its own greenhouse emissions standards to curb gases that contribute to global warming, a federal judge ruled yesterday in a decision that boosts states’ rights. Automakers sued the state after it adopted standards originally made law in California, saying the regulations were impractical and would upend the industry, the Times...
Key US Ally in Iraq Killed in Bomb Attack
Reuters
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Sep 13, 2007 11:25 AM CDT
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A key US ally in the fight against Al-Qaeda was killed in a bomb attack today in Ramadi. Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, the most influential of the Sunni leaders helping American and Iraqi forces fight the terror network, met with President Bush 2 weeks ago during his visit to Anbar province, once one of the country’s most dangerous regions.
Dude Looks Like a Lady
Entertainment Weekly
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Sep 13, 2007 11:04 AM CDT
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Inspired by Cate Blanchett's best-actress award at the Venice Film festival for I'm Not There , in which she plays Bob Dylan, Entertainment Weekly notes other memorable big-screen cross-dressers: John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, Hairspray Divine as Babs Johnson, Pink Flamingos The Kids in the Hall Dustin Hoffman as Michael...
War Has New Symbol: Petraeus
Washington Post
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Sep 13, 2007 10:46 AM CDT
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Once untarnishable, David Petraeus is being transformed into a political figure on both sides of the aisle. Supporters of the US Iraq strategy continue to paint him as a savior, while critics compare him to Westmoreland. "Up until this week, it was Rumsfeld's war," a retired lieutenant colonel tells the Washington Post. "Now, for...
'Chessboard Killer' Goes on Trial
Time
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Sep 13, 2007 10:20 AM CDT
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A confessed serial killer goes on trial today in Moscow, charged in the murders of at least 49 people. Alexander Pichushkin wanted to kill one person for each of the 64 squares on a chessboard, and after being arrested last year, he said in a TV interview that "a life without murder is like a life without food," Time reports.
Hsu Sent Suicide Note Before Skipping Town
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 13, 2007 9:56 AM CDT
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Fugitive fundraiser Norman Hsu sent out a suicide note to acquaintances and charities he had supported before he hopped a train to Colorado last week, skipping out on a Bay Area court appearance. On the train, Hsu locked himself in a tiny cabin. When he failed to come out the next day, Amtrak workers used a crowbar to pry open the door, the ...
Public Softens Slightly on Bush
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 13, 2007 9:35 AM CDT
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President Bush inched up from record lows in one poll this week, thanks in part to buzz around David Petraeus’ report on Iraq. His overall approval rating was 33% in the latest Journal /NBC News poll, up from 31% in July. The results reveal the complexity of Americans' feelings toward the war: They want it over but can’t agree on when.
Castro: We Saved Reagan's Life
Telegraph (UK)
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Sep 13, 2007 9:06 AM CDT
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Fidel Castro says Cuba helped the US avert an assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan in 1984. An essay attributed to the ailing dictator says a Cuban posted to the UN tipped off an American official to the plot, which involved a presidential visit to North Carolina, the Telegraph reports. How Cuba got the information, which Castro called "complete,"...
Japanese PM Hospitalized as Party Scrambles for Successor
Associated Press
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Sep 13, 2007 8:37 AM CDT
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Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is in a Tokyo hospital battling stress and exhaustion a day after announcing his resignation. Abe is expected to be hospitalized for at least three or four days, while his scandal-plagued party fields a replacement and calls for a general election escalate. In his surprise announcement, Abe set no date for his departure.
New iPhone Hack Lets You Switch Carriers
MacNewsWorld
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Sep 13, 2007 8:06 AM CDT
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New software that allows iPhone users to unlock the devices for use on any network without having to disassemble them is available online. Hackers have been on the case for 2 months, MacNewsWorld reports, and this week's breakthrough means customers can buy phones directly from Apple and don't have to be tied to a 2-year contract with AT&T.
Al-Qaeda Threat Worse Than Before 9/11
Guardian (UK)
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Sep 13, 2007 7:35 AM CDT
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Al-Qaeda has revived and is capable of pulling off another 9/11, a London think tank has concluded. The US has “failed to deal a death blow to al-Qaeda,” which has extended its influence and is now stronger than it was six years ago, the British strategic institute warned at a press conference yesterday.
Bills Player Makes Promising Progress
Houston Chronicle
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Sep 13, 2007 6:59 AM CDT
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Bills tight end Kevin Everett is talking, wiggling his toes, and bending his knees, raising hopes for "community independent ambulation," the team orthopedist said yesterday. "Walking out of this hospital really is not a realistic goal," said Andrew Cappuccino. "But walking may very well be." Healing is only just beginning,...
Moose Shuts Out Jays as Yanks Take 7th Straight
New York Times
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Sep 13, 2007 6:40 AM CDT
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After a wretched August when three losses and a 17.69 ERA sent veteran Mike Mussina to the bullpen, the Yankees finally got to see Moose dominate again last night. Filling in for an injured Roger Clemens, Mussina kept the Blue Jays scoreless for 5 2/3 innings and paved the way for the team's seventh consecutive victory.
Pirates Raid MLB Offices for New Prez
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Sep 13, 2007 6:32 AM CDT
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The Pirates have selected Frank Coonelly as their new president, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. The chief labor counsel for Major League Baseball will replace CEO Kevin McClatchy when he steps down at the end of this season. With the Pirates just one loss away from their 15th straight losing season, Coonelly has his work cut out for him.
Humberto Hits Texas Coast
CNN
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Sep 13, 2007 6:27 AM CDT
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Humberto, newly-christened as a Category 1 hurricane, made landfall in southeastern Texas early this morning, bringing 85mph winds and as much as a foot of rain to already sodden areas in Texas and Louisiana, CNN reports. Galveston was drenched, with streets flooded and power lines down.
Reid Vows to Block Olson as AG Pick
Reuters
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Sep 13, 2007 5:46 AM CDT
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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pledged to stop conservative attorney Ted Olson from becoming attorney general if he's nominated, Reuters reports. The former solicitor general is thought to be President Bush's first choice, but faces stiff opposition from Dems who are pushing for a less partisan figure after Alberto Gonzales' stormy term. "Ted...
When the Sun Dies, Earth Might Not
New York Times
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Sep 13, 2007 3:32 AM CDT
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When the Sun begins to kick out in some 5 billion years, it might not take Earth with it, reports the New York Times. Scientists are more optimistic since discovering a planet that survived a similar situation. A lack of hydrogen fuel is expected to cause the Sun to expand 100-fold into a "red giant," enveloping Mercury and Venus and wiping...
Same Party, New Face: Aso Likely to Step in as Japanese PM
Bloomberg
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Sep 13, 2007 3:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Fellow party member and Foreign Minister Taro Aso is emerging as the favored successor of resigned Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. If elected, Aso would face an economy saddled with the world's largest public debt, the stagnation of his own Liberal Democratic Party and the enmity of the main opposition party.
Anguished Pats Nation: Say It Ain't So, Bill
Boston Herald
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Sep 13, 2007 3:31 AM CDT
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After a Patriots employee was caught videotaping the Jets coaches signaling during Sunday's blowout in the Meadowlands, commissioner Roger Goodell is weighing the punishment for football's most stacked team. Patriots Coach Bill Belichick said he was sorry about the incident. "I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership,...
Hysterical 'Leave Brit Alone!' Rocks YouTube
ABC News
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Sep 13, 2007 3:22 AM CDT
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If it's a performance, it's better than Britney's. More than 2.8 million viewers have pored over an out-of-control rant by YouTuber "Chris Crocker" who smears his eyeliner as he sobs and screams at the "bastards" who aren't cutting Spears slack for the "hard time" she's going through, especially since critics slammed her...
2 Soldiers Who Questioned War in Times Killed
New York Times
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Sep 13, 2007 3:19 AM CDT
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Two of the seven soldiers who wrote last month's influential New York Times op-ed criticizing the Iraq war died Monday when their truck veered off an elevated highway and flipped over. Seven GIs and two detainees were killed when the 5-ton cargo truck crashed. The military made no mention of hostile fire in the accident.
Global Infant Mortality Rate Lowest in Years
Reuters
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Sep 13, 2007 3:10 AM CDT
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Infant mortality rates have dropped to new lows worldwide, according to UNICEF. Vaccination drives, education supporting breastfeeding, and anti-malarial measures helped drive last year's death rate of children under 5 down to 72 per 1,000. It stood at 93 per 1,000 in 1993. "It could be that this is the tipping point when we now see a dramatic...
Papi Puts Away the D-Rays With Just 2 Swings
Associated Press
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Sep 13, 2007 3:02 AM CDT
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Jonathan Papelbon got the win, but it was David Ortiz who had all the RBIs in Boston's 5-4 defeat of the Devil Rays last night at Fenway, AP reports . Ortiz went deep in the third inning to narrow Tampa Bay's 4-0 lead to 4-3, and came through again in the ninth for the walk-off runs.
Italy Says Ciao to Pasta for a Day
Associated Press
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Sep 13, 2007 2:56 AM CDT
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Mama mia! Italians fed up with rising pasta prices will do the unthinkable today—ditch their beloved starches for a day. Consumers are being urged to boycott the nation's signature dish for a day because prices have risen 20 percent in recent months. Pasta makers say they're at the mercy of rising wheat prices and predict the action will have...
Fake Memoir Author Pens Debut Novel
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 13, 2007 2:51 AM CDT
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Disgraced author James Frey, whose memoir "A Million Little Pieces" was revealed as fiction last year, will publish a debut novel, "Bright Shiny Morning," with HarperCollins, the Wall Street Journal reports. Frey's fabricated memoir about losing his life to drug addiction sold some 3 million copies and nabbed a coveted spot on...
Tiger to Skip PGA in Bermuda
Associated Press
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Sep 13, 2007 2:43 AM CDT
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Tiger Woods will not be playing in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda this October, citing a desire to spend more time with his family, AP reports. The seven-time PGA Grand Slam champion will be focusing on his new daughter, Sam Alexis, and wife Elin Nordegren. Alternate Jim Furyk will take Woods' place in Bermuda.
Popular Ex Gov Will Run for Va. Senate Seat
Washington Post
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Sep 13, 2007 2:34 AM CDT
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Instead of running for the presidency, popular former Virginia governor Mark Warner will run for Senate, according to sources. He hopes to succeed Republican John W. Warner (no relation) and convert a formerly reliable Republican Senate seat. It would be the first time Virginia had two Democratic senators in 38 years.
Obama Finds Advice Can Carry a Price
Politico
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Sep 12, 2007 11:43 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama may get foreign policy credit for traveling with Zbigniew Brzezinski, but having the Carter-era hand to hold won’t help with Israel boosters. The former national security adviser’s in the doghouse after defending the authors of an article that claimed the “Israel Lobby” has outsize influence in the US, Politico...
Canada Tells Google to Back Off
Canadian Press
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Sep 12, 2007 11:14 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Canada's privacy czar isn’t as thrilled as your average techie with Google’s Street View feature, the Canadian Press reports: She wants to put the kibosh on the photo archive before it moves north of the border. Jennifer Stoddart has sent Google a letter saying the application “might not comply with our federal privacy legislation"...
60 Bombardier Aircraft Grounded After Accidents
New York Times
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Sep 12, 2007 11:07 PM CDT
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Aircraft maker Bombardier recommended grounding 60 of its turboprop planes after one skidded off a runway in Lithuania during an emergency landing today, just days after similar landing gear malfunctions forced a crash landing in Denmark. No one was seriously injured in either crash, but airlines took no chances and canceled hundreds of flights, the...
7.5 Tremor Hits Indonesia
Associated Press
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Sep 12, 2007 9:11 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A 7.5-magnitude aftershock has rocked Indonesia, sparking a new tsunami alert and making buildings sway in nearby Singapore. This morning's 8.4 quake killed at least 5, injured dozens and sent people fleeing inland for safety. Governments issued alerts as far as Kenya and Tanzania warning people to abandon the beaches, the AP reports.
New Tech Toys Boost Laptop, iPhone
CNN
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Sep 12, 2007 8:25 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Jetsons -style briefcases may not be folding into cars just yet, but today's go-getters need more than just an ol' laptop and iphone. CNNMoney picks out tools for the entrepreneurs of today: iMuffs Bluetooth Headset: Elegant cordless headphones that work with your ipod and cell phone to deliver topnotch sonics. ...
Live on the California Air: Upstart Afghans
San Jose Mercury News
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Sep 12, 2007 7:54 PM CDT
(Newser) -
An estimated half a million Americans have tuned into Afghan-only Noor TV since its launch about a month ago. That it was started by three 20-something brothers who shrugged off market research and dodged politics hasn’t killed the buzz yet, they claim. But it is running in the red and hasn’t snagged any blue chip advertisers, the Mercury...
Ad Hoc Security Doesn't Cut it at Home
Slate
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Sep 12, 2007 7:16 PM CDT
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America’s ad hoc security is still off the mark, says Slate’s Daniel Byman: It fosters fears, ignores US Muslims and never plans from a terrorist’s point of view. “The very concept of homeland security is new for Americans,” Byman writes, “and the department was thrown together quickly and involved many already-dysfunctional...
Boomers Get TheirSpace
New York Times
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Sep 12, 2007 6:45 PM CDT
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Entrepreneurs are rolling out social networking websites aimed at those old enough to have spawned the devotees of Facebook and MySpace, the NY Times reports. Investors say it's good business—older surfers are more likely to stick with a site they like, and there are a lot of tech-savvy boomers. “I’ve discussed my divorce...
Tapes May Play at First 9/11 Damages Trial
Reuters
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Sep 12, 2007 6:37 PM CDT
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The dramatic last minutes recorded on Flight 93 may be heard at a wrongful death case filed by a victim’s wife, Reuters reports. In the first 9/11 damages case to reach trial, the black box recordings would play sounds of passengers breaking into the cockpit and retaking the airplane from hijackers. The tapes have not yet been released publicly,...
Putin Picks Unknown as New PM
BBC
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Sep 12, 2007 6:21 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Russian president Vladimir Putin shocked observers today by nominating a relative unknown to be the country's next prime minister, the BBC reports. After Mikhail Fradkov resigned earlier, Putin turned to Viktor Zubkov, head of the federal financial monitoring service. Putin had been expected to name first deputy PM Sergei Ivanov, a close ally and possible...
J.Lo, Beyonce Top 'Best Dressed' List
Associated Press
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Sep 12, 2007 6:00 PM CDT
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Beyonce, Gwen and J.Lo took top honors among the most chic stars in People magazine’s "Best & Worst Dressed" double issue this year. Stefani earned high marks for having a stylish hubby, ranking alongside Halle Berry and Eva Longoria as women in the most fashionable couples. Brad and Angelina are also among the best-dressed pairs...
Taliban Told Hostages to Convert or Die
BBC
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Sep 12, 2007 5:46 PM CDT
(Newser) -
South Korean aid workers held captive by Taliban militants in Afghanistan recounted being urged at gunpoint to convert to Islam during at a news conference in Seoul today, the BBC reports. They were often beaten and forced to work "like slaves" during a six-week ordeal, which ended last month and left two of the 23 hostages dead.
US Life Expectancy Hits Record
Reuters
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Sep 12, 2007 4:58 PM CDT
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Americans can expect to live longer than ever before, according to figures out today, thanks to falling rates of deaths from heart disease, cancer, and stroke. In 2005, US life expectancy increased to almost 78 years, the country’s highest number ever—but only 42nd in the world. The news wasn't all good: Infant mortality increased from...
Obama: Bring Troops Home by End of '08
Reuters
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Sep 12, 2007 4:44 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Iraq troop withdrawals should be completed by the end of next year, Barack Obama says in a speech obtained by Reuters that was to be delivered in Iowa tonight. “We have to begin to end this war now,” the Democratic presidential candidate demands; his plan calls for one or two US combat brigades to leave Iraq each month, with all troops...
Jitters Drive Most Stocks Downward
MarketWatch
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Sep 12, 2007 4:20 PM CDT
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Stocks fell today, with investors shying away from tech after Texas Instruments slashed its sales forecast. NYSE losers outpaced winners 9 to 7, the Dow dropped 16.74 to 13,291.65, the Nasdaq fell 5.40 to 2,592.07, and the S&P held steady. “We had a pretty explosive rally yesterday,” said one strategist, “and the day after we...
