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.
Bush to Back Troop Cuts
Associated Press
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Sep 11, 2007 5:34 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Bush will back his top general by pulling 30,000 troops out of Iraq by next summer, the AP reports. But he will condition all cuts on future progress when he gives his speech to the nation this week. He will also echo cautions by Petraeus and Crocker against a quick pullout, positioning his plan as a way to reduce troops without abandoning Iraq.
Six Years Later
New York Daily News
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Sep 11, 2007 5:29 PM CDT
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Relatives gathered at a park near Ground Zero to remember the victims of the World Trade Center attacks today—the first anniversary without a clear blue sky, notes the New York Daily News. It was also the first time the memorial was moved away from the footprints of the towers. "Just so long as we continue to do something special every...
Six Arrested in Horrific W.Va. Abuse Case
Charleston Daily Mail
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Sep 11, 2007 4:58 PM CDT
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Six people were arrested in a grisly kidnapping and assault case in rural West Virginia, and two others are still wanted. Police say an internet acquaintance delivered 23-year-old Meghan Williams to her assailants, who held her captive for at least a week, while stabbing, burning, and sexually assaulting her. “It’s something you’d...
McDonalds Supersizes Indexes
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 11, 2007 4:33 PM CDT
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It was a Big Mac Attack on Wall Street today, as the fast food giant’s strong August numbers gave investors hope in consumer spending, leading a rally that left all major indexes up over 1%. GM was also a winner, rising 4% on positive labor news. Analysts say investors are looking for “high-quality household-type names” in the volatile...
Japan Fights Heat Tooth and Nail—But Not With A/C
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 11, 2007 4:08 PM CDT
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The Japanese are waging a painful war against energy consumption, meeting summer needs not with air-conditioning but with business casual clothing and a good dose of grinning and bearing it. The 2-year-old Cool Biz movement, which aims to keep office temperatures at 82 degrees, took off in earnest this summer, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Spinach, Eggs Fight Blindness
Reuters
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Sep 11, 2007 3:55 PM CDT
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Nutrients found in spinach and eggs help stave off age-related blindness, a new study shows. Macular degeneration, the most common cause of vision loss in the elderly, was 35% less likely to develop in people who consumed the most eggs, spinach, and other leafy greens, which are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, Reuters reports.
World's Smartest Parrot Is No More
Boston Globe
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Sep 11, 2007 3:27 PM CDT
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Brandeis researchers feel as though they’ve lost a colleague: Alex, the African gray parrot they studied for 30 years, died Friday. He helped them reach surprising new conclusions about the avian brain and “was extraordinary in breaking the perceptions of birds as not being intelligent,” according to scientist Irene Pepperberg, who...
US Agencies Aided German Terror Probe
Der Spiegel
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Sep 11, 2007 3:11 PM CDT
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The CIA and NSA played a marquee role in last week’s capture of three men suspected of planning major terror attacks in Germany. For several months, Angela Merkel’s chief of staff held a weekly meeting about the plotters, Der Spiegel reports, and the cooperation was so significant that the German chancellor even met with George Bush about...
WTC Victims' Families Grieve All Over Again
Boston Globe
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Sep 11, 2007 2:46 PM CDT
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Many of those affected by the 9/11 attacks are still burying loved ones as remains are found and slowly identified, making closure hard to achieve, the Boston Globe reports. "How many times are you going to bury somebody?" asks the widow of a man killed in the World Trade Center. Others have the opposite problem, struggling to accept death...
Ancient Israeli Tunnel Found
Associated Press
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Sep 11, 2007 2:37 PM CDT
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While searching for the ancient main road of Jerusalem, Israeli archaeologists stumbled upon a 2,000-year-old tunnel that residents used to escape Roman invaders destroying the Second Temple. The tunnel was originally used to drain rain water and prevent flooding, and its discovery is doubly significant, the AP reports, because it also shows how the...
China Agrees to End Lead Toy Imports
CNN
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Sep 11, 2007 2:10 PM CDT
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After three recalls by Mattel and growing nail-biting among parents, Chinese officials have signed an agreement with Washington to stop using lead paint in imported toys, CNNMoney reports. Although the US outlawed sales of lead-painted toys in 1978, Chinese-made products containing the hazardous metal continue to seep into the market. Today's announcement...
McCain Hitches Hopes to Petraeus' Star
Politico
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Sep 11, 2007 1:35 PM CDT
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John McCain’s presidential prospects may rest on his criticism of the Bush administration and his support for David Petraeus, and if the situation allows, the Arizona senator will be rewarded for his support of an unpopular war, the Politico's Roger Simon contends . McCain bemoans the “many mistakes” made in Iraq but applauds the...
Employees Go Lean for Green
USA Today
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Sep 11, 2007 12:48 PM CDT
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A new study shows that paying people to lose weight works, a possible boon to employers and employees beset by the high costs of obesity. Researchers separated participants, who weren’t given a specific weight loss program, into three groups—two of which would be paid either $7 or $14 for weight loss and the third would receive nothing.
Are We Finally Ready for 'Smellovision'?
Associated Press
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Sep 11, 2007 12:19 PM CDT
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An olfactory entrepreneur is trying to revive "Smellovision"—the Edsel-era technology that pipes appropriate scents to movie audiences. Megan Dickerson has been showing "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" in an open-air theater outside the Boston Children's Museum, complete with the odors of blueberries and banana taffy....
Sarkozy-Merkel, Les Meilleurs Ennemis
Der Spiegel
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Sep 11, 2007 11:53 AM CDT
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Nicolas Sarkozy traveled to Berlin yesterday, but Der Spiegel reports that the famed Franco-German alliance at the heart of Europe is under strain. Sarkozy has annoyed Angela Merkel with everything from the EU Reform Treaty to his wife's Libyan exploits. But Merkel is hardly an amie : from energy to finance, the German leader is getting on his nerves.
Subprime Crisis Sparks a Spate of Legal Battles
Washington Post
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Sep 11, 2007 11:24 AM CDT
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The troubles plaguing Countrywide and Bear Stearns’ hedge funds will move from the boardroom to the courtroom. Homeowners and banks are suing mortgage lenders, shareholders are suing funds, the SEC is investigating executives, and Congress may conduct hearings into credit agencies' practices. The current mess ensnares “an incredible range...
With No New Government, Belgium Edges Towards Split
Independent (UK)
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Sep 11, 2007 11:00 AM CDT
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It's been 3 months since Belgians went to the polls, and their binational kingdom still has no government. Yves Leterme, the winner of June's elections, has been unable to form a coalition in parliament. Now the king has been forced to step in, and the perennial question of whether Belgium will at last break up holds new urgency.
American Kids' Blood Pressure Creeps Up
Washington Post
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Sep 11, 2007 10:37 AM CDT
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The ranks of US children with dangerously high blood pressure and hypertension have been growing for 20 years, reversing a decades-long trend, says a new study that tracks the effects of youth obesity. Hypertension, which usually doesn't develop until patients are in their 30s or 40s, is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke, the Washington Post...
10 Cheapest Rides to Own
Forbes
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Sep 11, 2007 10:15 AM CDT
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Affordable cars start at the sticker price—the lower the better. But over time, insurance payments and gas costs add up. Forbes searches out the 10 vehicles that will leave the smallest footprint on your wallet. Toyota Yaris Honda Fit Toyota Corolla
Ravens Turn Over Win to Bengals
Washington Post
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Sep 11, 2007 10:11 AM CDT
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Six turnovers by the much-hyped Baltimore Ravens confirmed Chad Johnson's promise that last night's season opener would be "ridiculous," the Washington Post reports. Quarterback Steve McNair, who had four turnovers, hurt his groin in the first quarter, and three other valuable Ravens starters also left the field with injuries.
Michigan Fans Aren't Pulling Punches
USA Today
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Sep 11, 2007 10:06 AM CDT
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Michigan started the college football season ranked fifth. Now, after embarrassing losses to unranked Appalachian State and Oregon, the Wolverines have plummeted out of the polls, and fans are reacting, USA Today reports. Home-crowd fans booed the Wolverines last weekend, and Detroit columnists are calling for coach Lloyd Carr to resign.
Niners Battle Back in Nail-Biter
San Francisco Chronicle
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Sep 11, 2007 9:56 AM CDT
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The 49ers beat the Arizona Cardinals last night for the first time since 2004, successfully converting a last-minute fumble by (their own) wide receiver Arnaz Battle . Battle recovered the fumble and zig-zagged it into the end zone with 22 seconds on the clock to cap a riveting final drive and pull of a 20-17 upset.
In Pa. Field, 9/11 Memorial Takes Shape
Philadelphia Inquirer
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Sep 11, 2007 9:53 AM CDT
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New York isn't the only city with a stalled, controversial 9/11 memorial. In Shanksville, Pa., site of the crash of Flight 93, the new memorial park's architect has proposed an arc of red maple trees around the crater formed by the plane. But, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, some conservative columnists and even one presidential candidate have...
Pirates Raid Brewers, 9-0
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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Sep 11, 2007 9:45 AM CDT
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Tony Armas pitched a career-maker for Pittsburgh last night, shutting out the Brewers over six innings and helping the Pirates ferment the tight NL Central division race. Nate McLouth started things big for the Pirates, hitting the 1000th home run at PNC Park into the river, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports.
Trade Gap Dips to Lowest Level in 3 Years
Bloomberg
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Sep 11, 2007 9:25 AM CDT
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The US trade gap—the difference in total value between imports and exports—dropped to a 3-year low in July as exports jumped on a weak dollar and growing overseas demand. The figure fell 0.3% to $59.2 billion, roughly on par with the estimate economists surveyed by Bloomberg foresaw. Said one analyst, “the broad outlook for trade...
Ex-PM Battles Expulsion From Pakistan
Associated Press
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Sep 11, 2007 9:02 AM CDT
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Ex-Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif is taking Pervez Musharraf to court, hours after Musharraf ordered the deportation of his longtime political rival. In a move that casts further doubt on Musharraf's already shaky authority, Sharif—re-exiled to Saudi Arabia just 4 hours after his plane landed in Pakistan yesterday—filed suit in the supreme court...
KKR Prepares for Test of Credit Markets
Washington Post
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Sep 11, 2007 8:17 AM CDT
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Kolhberg Kravis Roberts is pushing forward with some of the biggest deals in US history, but the iconic buyout firm finds itself under unprecedented scrutiny. Analysts say the huge deals KKR has pending will be a test of the struggling credit markets, the Washington Post reports: If they don't go through, the age of private equity may be over.
Wall Street Funds Chinese Spy Upgrade
New York Times
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Sep 11, 2007 7:46 AM CDT
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Wall Street money is fueling the high-tech upgrade of China's police state, the New York Times reports. US hedge funds have poured $150 million into Chinese surveillance companies that are developing the latest in government spookware, from face-recognition technology to behavior-recognition software that can spot a disturbance before it begins.
Bomb Threat Leaves US Air Base on Alert
Reuters
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Sep 11, 2007 7:13 AM CDT
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The US air base in Spangdahlem, Germany, received a phoned-in bomb threat last night, and German police and the American military personnel have secured the facility. Although officials say they doubt the threat is credible, they're taking no chances. "It is being taken very seriously given the current situation and because of the date,"...
Dreamgirls Star Joins Sex and the City Cast
Variety
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Sep 11, 2007 6:43 AM CDT
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Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson is joining the cast of Sex and the City: The Movie as Carrie Bradshaw's assistant, reports Variety. The Oscar-winning actress and former "American Idol" contestant is set to begin filming this month in New York with the stars of the TV series, which ended in 2004.
Hillary to Repay $850K From Hsu
Associated Press
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Sep 11, 2007 6:10 AM CDT
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Hillary Clinton's campaign will return $850,000 raised by Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu, a fugitive from a 1991 fraud conviction who turned himself in and then skipped out on a Bay Area court hearing last week. Clinton had planned to give $23,000 from Hsu to charity, but has since decided to return all funds raised by Hsu from 260 donors.
'Catastrophic' Injury Leaves Bills Tight End in Grave Condition
Associated Press
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Sep 11, 2007 4:34 AM CDT
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Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett may never walk again and faces a fight for his life after suffering serious injuries in Sunday's game, doctors said yesterday. Everett , 25, suffered a fractured spine and damage to his spinal cord on a helmet-to-helmet hit during the second-half kickoff of a loss to the visiting Broncos.
General Walks the Party Line
Washington Post
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Sep 11, 2007 4:17 AM CDT
(Newser) -
General Petraeus appeared to be a mouthpiece for the White House in testimony that had no surprises and left many questions unanswered when he recommended no significant troop draw down from Iraq at least until summer, several analysts agree. Though he presented himself as just a soldier presenting facts, Petraeus is a politician as concerned with...
Giants, Manning Nurse Bruises
New York Times
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Sep 11, 2007 4:16 AM CDT
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The Giants denied that quarterback Eli Manning would miss a month because of a sore shoulder, but acknowledged that he might not play against the Packers Sunday. The sprain occurred when Dallas linebacker Anthony Spencer sacked Manning, mashing his shoulder against the turf, during the Cowboys' 45-35 win. Running back Brandon Jacobs and defensive end...
Oil, Steel Fuel Surge in Asian Markets
Bloomberg
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Sep 11, 2007 4:14 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Crude climbed within 50 cents of a record today, and that meant Asian stock indexes were climbing as well with the Nikkei rising 0.3% and the Asia-Pacific index up 0.1% after big losses Friday. Steel joined oil as a big mover when South Korean producers announced a price increase. Those prices, coupled with demand from China, are outweighing fears...
Second Bin Laden Tape Surfaces
Associated Press
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Sep 11, 2007 4:12 AM CDT
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A new videotape today from Osama Bin Laden on the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attack features one of the hijackers reading his will over an image of the burning World Trade Center, AP reports. The videotape hasn't been posted on web sites, but frames have been released by a US monitoring organization, IntelCenter, which has obtained a copy.
Rocket Attack Wounds Scores of Israeli Troops
Haaretz (Israel)
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Sep 11, 2007 4:11 AM CDT
(Newser) -
At least 66 Israeli soldiers were wounded by a Qassam rocket fired into Israeli territory from inside the Gaza strip early today. The missile struck a tent in an Israeli basic training camp in the northern Negev desert near the community of Kibbutz Zikkim, reports Ha'aretz. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
Videotaping Patriots Accused of Stealing Signals
ESPN
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Sep 11, 2007 4:10 AM CDT
(Newser) -
In a move recalling previous incidents, the New England Patriots are facing allegations that they stole signals from the competition by illegal videotaping the Jets en route to Sunday's 38-14 rout, ESPN reports. "It's not their first time," said a source. NFL officials confiscated a camera after it was allegedly pointed at the Jets' defensive...
Soaring Inflation Rocks China
Bloomberg
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Sep 11, 2007 3:36 AM CDT
(Newser) -
China's soaring inflation rate is the highest in a decade, putting pressure on the central bank to hike interest rates for the fifth time in six months to cool China's superheated economy. Food prices have jumped 18%, raising fears of public unrest., Bloomberg reports. Consumer prices rose across the board 5.6% in July from a year ago, and 6.5% in...
US Soccer Team Keeps up with the Big Boys
Chicago Tribune
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Sep 11, 2007 3:20 AM CDT
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Despite a lopsided 4-2 score, the American men's soccer team played Brazil hard in an exhibition match at Chicago's Soldier Field. Carlos Bocanegra struck first in the 23rd minute, and Clint Dempsey's opposite-post goal tied the score 2-2 in the 73rd. Brazilian phenom Ronaldinho gave Brazil the go-ahead score two minutes later on a free kick.
Surfers Scour Google Earth for Signs of Aviator
Guardian (UK)
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Sep 11, 2007 3:20 AM CDT
(Newser) -
An army of web surfers—even the guy in the next cubicle—has joined the search for missing aviator Steve Fossett. Google Earth has released fresh images of the Nevada desert, and surfers can scour chunks of wilderness for aircraft wreckage. One problem: "We're finding them left and right—Nevada is a graveyard" for downed...
Caught My Yawn? Aren't You Sweet
BBC
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Sep 11, 2007 3:19 AM CDT
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If you yawn when someone nearby does, it may mean you're an empathetic person, a new study has found. Research shows that infectious yawning is a psychological phenomenon, limited to humans and some of their ape relatives, and that those more likely to "catch" yawns appear to be more tuned in to the emotions of others.
Quinn Could Take the Snap For Browns
Associated Press
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Sep 11, 2007 3:18 AM CDT
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After seeing their experienced quarterbacks pounded by Pittsburgh in the season opener, it's looking more and more likely hat Cleveland will start rookie Brady Quinn—possibly as early as this week, reports AP. Browns coach Romeo Crennel wouldn't comment on what he called a "personnel decision," but also wouldn't rule Quinn out as a...
Electric Car Nails 0 to 60 in 0:04
CNET
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Sep 10, 2007 8:21 PM CDT
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The Lightning GTS—a new all-electric sports car—will go from 0 to 60 in four seconds, the car's British manufacturer claims. Part of a coming boom in electric cars (in Europe anyway), the GTS will travel 250 miles on a 10-minute charge and max out at 130 mph. But save up—it should go for about $300,000.
Net Anonymizer Unlocked, Emails Revealed
Wired
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Sep 10, 2007 8:05 PM CDT
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A security expert turned net privacy service Tor into a listening post, and intercepted thousands of private emails, Wired reports. Human rights groups and foreign embassies alike depend on Tor to send what were thought to be untraceable messages. Dan Egerstad hosted his own Tor node, letting him read all correspondence that passed through.
'Time' Loses Suharto Lawsuit
Associated Press
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Sep 10, 2007 7:57 PM CDT
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Time must pay former Indonesian dictator Suharto $106 million over a 1999 article that defamed him, that country's highest court ruled today. The ruling, over a story that claimed Suharto stole some $73 billion during his bloody rule that spanned four decades, comes after lower courts twice ruled in Time's favor, the AP reports.
Rumsfeld Says He Has No Regrets
GQ
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Sep 10, 2007 7:50 PM CDT
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Ever unflappable, Donald Rumsfeld praises progress in Afghanistan, backs his old boss, and tells GQ he has nothing to apologize for in his first interview since his ouster in December. Rummy still exudes the confidence he was known for in office, dismissing questions of guilt in Iraq, saying, "I am not a person who looks back."
Aldrin Likes Nowak's Grit, Bladder Control
Associated Press
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Sep 10, 2007 7:31 PM CDT
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Second man on the moon Buzz Aldrin salutes lovesick astronaut Lisa Nowak's gritty restroom-less cross-country drive, telling Time: "I think Nowak should be admired for traveling across the country at night and not getting out of her car to put in gas or go to the restroom," he says.
Japanese PM Backtracks From Hints He'll Quit
BBC
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Sep 10, 2007 7:14 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Shinzo Abe has backed off his threat to quit if Japan yanks aid to US-led troops in Afghanistan. Many clamored for the beleaguered PM to step down after his party’s defeat in July elections, and Abe hinted yesterday that he'd walk away—a possible indication that he was looking for a respectable out, the BBC reports.
Body Shop's Roddick Dies
Reuters
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Sep 10, 2007 6:28 PM CDT
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Dame Anita Roddick, who as founder of the Body Shop championed socially and environmentally responsible business practices, died tonight of a massive brain hemorrhage at age 64. The plucky Brit saw her lone natural-ingredient shop grow into more than 2,000 stores worldwide, and she sold her share of the company to L'Oreal last year.
