Newser Story Index from January, 2008
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.
HBO Offers Shows Online, Free to Subscribers
New York Times
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Jan 21, 2008 12:42 PM CST
(Newser) -
Time Warner’s category king, HBO, is looking for younger viewers as it launches an Internet service in partnership with several cable operators. HBO on Broadband bows tomorrow in Green Bay and Milwaukee, offering free web access to HBO programming for HBO subscribers. The company will make about 400 hours of movies and original content available...
Talk About 'Blue Monday'
Time
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Jan 21, 2008 12:25 PM CST
(Newser) -
Unless you're a Giants fan, it's likely you woke up this morning feeling a bit more than the usual Monday blahs. The third Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year, says a Cardiff University researcher. He bases his annual predictions on weather, holiday debt, and broken New Year's resolutions, Time's Bill Tancer notes. But Tancer...
Next-Generation Media Moguls Aim High
The Australian
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Jan 21, 2008 12:06 PM CST
(Newser) -
The sons of two legendary Australian media moguls are joining forces in a $2.9 billion bid to take the country’s Consolidated Media Holdings private, The Australian reports. If the deal is approved, Lachlan Murdoch and James Packer will share the diverse media conglomerate 50-50, with Murdoch as the likely executive chairman. CMH has stakes...
Now, That Was the Patriots
ESPN
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Jan 21, 2008 11:39 AM CST
(Newser) -
That’s the best team of all time? The Patriots who showed up yesterday didn’t look much like a juggernaut poised to cap off a perfect season that included scores like 52-7 (Washington) or 56-10 (Buffalo). Instead, in grinding out a 21-12 victory over the Chargers they looked like something better, ESPN’s Gene Wojciechowski writes:...
Soaring LCD Sales Have Suppliers Scrambling
Wall Street Journal
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Jan 21, 2008 11:30 AM CST
(Newser) -
Manufacturers are ramping up production of LCD TVs, which are selling so well there's a supply shortage, reports the Wall Street Journal . Profits are at their highest since 2004, but production cutbacks in 2006 left companies unprepared to meet demand. LG Philips reported record quarterly profits last week, at $806 million. Samsung made $974 million.
Serbia's Future Depends on Kosovo
Guardian (UK)
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Jan 21, 2008 11:11 AM CST
(Newser) -
On the verge of declaring independence, Kosovo is the key in this year’s Serbian election, the Guardian reports. Tomislav Nicolic, a Russian-aligned Serbian nationalist, won the first round of the presidential elections last night, defeating moderate incumbent Boris Tadic 39% to 35%. Seven other candidates, many pro-Western, are out of the...
Fla. Holds the Key for GOP
Washington Post
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Jan 21, 2008 10:43 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Republican field has made a mad dash for wide-open Florida, where Mike Huckabee prays for the Panhandle pious, John McCain hustles veterans, and Rudy Giuliani reminds ex-New Yorkers how much he did for them. The Jan. 29 primary is the first closed contest, meaning McCain can’t rely on independents to carry the state—though he edges...
Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Refund
Chicago Tribune
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Jan 21, 2008 10:13 AM CST
(Newser) -
If you bought a diamond—any diamond—between 1994 and 2006, De Beers owes you money. The jewelry behemoth recently settled a class-action lawsuit that accused it of driving up diamond prices with monopolistic practices. To compensate, it will pay consumers up to 59% of their bling’s original price. But there are catches aplenty, the...
Peyton Who?
New York Times
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Jan 21, 2008 9:41 AM CST
(Newser) -
No one expected this: the fifth-seeded Giants bound for Super Bowl XLII behind much-maligned quarterback Eli Manning, the last obstacle between the Patriots and immortality. Certainly no one expected Manning to go pick-less in three playoff road games, or to outsling Brett Favre 254 yards to 236. But here they are, and there’s no doubting them...
Caffeine May Double Miscarriage Risk: Study
New York Times
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Jan 21, 2008 9:28 AM CST
(Newser) -
Pregnant women who drink two cups of coffee a day may double their risk of miscarriage, a new study concludes. Almost one-quarter of women in the study who consumed 200 milligrams of caffeine a day—the amount in 10 ounces of coffee or 25 ounces of tea—miscarried, reports the New York Times.
Huckabee Sets Sights on Texas, Newly Relevant
Houston Chronicle
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Jan 21, 2008 8:48 AM CST
(Newser) -
The odds are increasingly good that despite Super Tuesday's upgrade to "Duper," no obvious winner in either party will emerge by February 5. That means the March 4 Texas primary, largely written off earlier, may play a critical role in deciding nominees for both parties. Huckabee hosted the first primary event of the year there last night...
Gaza, Israel Spar Over Power Outage, Embargo
Associated Press
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Jan 21, 2008 8:16 AM CST
(Newser) -
Gazans awoke to a second day without its main power plant or fuel as international leaders condemned the “collective punishment of the people of Gaza,” and Israeli PM Ehud Olmert resolutely said Gazans "will walk, without gas for their cars" until their "murderous regime's" rocket attacks cease. World leaders, meanwhile,...
2 More Busted in Bhutto Slaying
Los Angeles Times
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Jan 21, 2008 7:58 AM CST
(Newser) -
Two more men suspected of involvement in former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination were arrested yesterday, the Los Angeles Times reports, based on information from an investigator. One of the men appears to be visible in video footage of the attack, standing in front of Bhutto’s vehicle. On Saturday police arrested a teen...
Petraeus Could Be Tapped to Head NATO
New York Times
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Jan 21, 2008 7:30 AM CST
(Newser) -
Iraq’s top commander could be at the helm of NATO by the start of next year, the New York Times reports. While no final decisions have been made, the Pentagon is considering nominating Gen. Petraeus in September, installing him before the election dust settles in a new, highly prestigious, but less politically treacherous position. But some...
Obama: The Gloves Come Off
Politico
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Jan 21, 2008 6:42 AM CST
(Newser) -
Barack Obama is ratcheting up the aggression in his campaign, lashing Bill and Hillary Clinton both for “unbelievable falsehoods” about his stance on Iraq and his praise for Ronald Reagan. The new tone was evident in appearances yesterday and in an interview aired this morning on "Good Morning America" in which he said the former...
Aussie Open Quarterfinals: Federer v. Blake
Associated Press
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Jan 21, 2008 6:40 AM CST
(Newser) -
The day after playing a five-set marathon, Roger Federer dispatched his latest opponent, Tomas Berdych, 6-4, 7-6, 6-3 to move to the Australian Open's quarterfinals. Federer will go up against American James Blake, who defeated Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, AP reports. In other fourth-round action:
US Recession Fears Pummel World Markets
Bloomberg
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Jan 21, 2008 6:09 AM CST
(Newser) -
Markets across Asia and Europe fell sharply today on fears of a looming US recession and a lack of confidence in Bush’s $145 billion economic rescue plan, reports Bloomberg. Japan's Nikkei was off 3.9% and the Hong Kong Seng Index fell 3.5%, the most since Sept. 11, 2001. In Europe, the Dow Jones Stoxx 600 slid 5.6% by midday.
Kenyan Killings 'Planned'
New York Times
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Jan 21, 2008 5:38 AM CST
(Newser) -
As the death toll in Kenya's ongoing ethnic violence continued to mount yesterday, evidence indicates that some of the horrific bloodshed was carefully planned, the New York Times reports. Flyers warned of ethnic killings—now responsible for at least 650 deaths in the past month—even before December's controversial presidential election....
Dutch Brace for Terror Before Koran Shredding
Guardian (UK)
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Jan 21, 2008 5:02 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Dutch government expects violent protests in response to an anti-Muslim film—said to include images of the Koran being shredded—that a right-wing lawmaker has vowed to make public this month. Geert Wilders, one of nine members of an extremist party in the Dutch lower house, aims to expose the Koran as a “source of inspiration...
LA Times Loses 3rd Editor to Budget Disputes
Associated Press
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Jan 21, 2008 4:32 AM CST
(Newser) -
The top editor of the Los Angeles Times has been fired after a confrontation with publisher David Hiller over $4 million in planned newsroom cutbacks, reports AP. James O'Shea's departure after just 14 months marks the third time in less than three years that the paper's top editor has left over budget issues. Hiller denies that he fired O'Shea and...
Ancient Antarctic Volcano May Be Linked to Warming
BBC
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Jan 21, 2008 4:03 AM CST
(Newser) -
The discovery of what scientists are hailing as the first evidence of a volcanic eruption under Antarctica’s massive ice sheet may be linked to climate change, the BBC reports. British researchers, who discovered evidence of a volcano by analyzing radar data from an air survey, believe the eruption likely happened some 2,000 years ago and ripped...
Careful Avalanche Bury the Blue Jackets 3-1
Rocky Mountain News
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Jan 21, 2008 3:53 AM CST
(Newser) -
The cautious and solid play that has kept the Avalanche from being swept away after the loss of three key forwards paid off again, this time with a 3-1 victory over Columbus. Jose Theodore kept the Blue Jackets scoreless through two periods, giving his offense plenty of time to rack up their goals, says the Rocky Mountain News.
Young & Reckless: AP Brit Obit Sparks Macabre Debate
Associated Press
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Jan 21, 2008 3:30 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Associated Press decision to prepare an obituary for 26-year-old troubled pop star Britney Spears has triggered a debate about the extent the news media should anticipate the early deaths of celebrities like Spears, actress Lindsay Lohan and singer Amy Winehouse, who are clearly living risky lives. The AP had no obituary ready when actor Brad Renfro,...
Suns Dominate Nets 116-92
Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
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Jan 21, 2008 3:11 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Phoenix Suns' 116-92 dispatching of New Jersey marked the fourth straight time they have held an opponent to under 100 points—their best such streak this season. This win came off a balanced and solid effort from the Suns' starting six, who all scored at least 12 points and combined for 11 three-pointers, the Arizona Republic reports.
Analog Service Hanging Up on Customers
Washington Post
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Jan 21, 2008 3:01 AM CST
(Newser) -
Phone customers still dialing up using old analog networks will be out of luck—and service—beginning Feb. 18 when the nation’s wireless companies shut down the outdated technology and switch to digital. Of the quarter-billion American cell phone users, the vast majority use digital networks, but some 1 million people still phone the...
Philly Flyin' High, Whips Ottawa
Philadelphia Inquirer
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Jan 21, 2008 12:39 AM CST
(Newser) -
Philadelphia continued its stellar play last night, blasting Ottawa, the top team in the Eastern Conference, 6-1, at Wachovia Center. The Flyers got two goals and an assist from Scottie Upshall and single tallies from four others in pasting the injury-riddled Senators, who were missing captain Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley. The Flyers' No. 1 power...
Streaky Ducks Can't Dance With Stars
Associated Press
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Jan 20, 2008 9:52 PM CST
(Newser) -
Anaheim had their six-game win streak snapped by equally hot Dallas, who have now won five of eight. Brendan Morrow and Niklas Hagman both found the net twice in the 5-2 win, in which Marty Turco faced only 20 shots. The first Stars goal, however, belonged to Stephan Robidas, his 20th in 233 career games. Also in hockey:
Witness Says 'Creepy Man' Kidnapped Maddy
Daily Mail (UK)
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Jan 20, 2008 9:19 PM CST
(Newser) -
A second sketch of Madeline McCann's alleged kidnapper sparked a worldwide manhunt yesterday, the Daily Mail reports. Maddy's parents revealed the drawing, based on a UK witness' account of a "creepy man" she saw after Maddy vanished in Portugal last May. She reported him to Portuguese police, but the sketch was only made months later by...
Giants Stun Packers in OT
New York Times
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Jan 20, 2008 9:03 PM CST
(Newser) -
The New York Giants tonight became just the second NFC wild-card team to make the Super Bowl, stunning the favored Packers, 23-20, in the arctic cold at Lambeau Field. Kicker Lawrence Tynes atoned for two missed field goals—including one at the end of regulation—with his 47-yard game-winner.
Michigan State Wins as Neitzel Busts Slump
Associated Press
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Jan 20, 2008 9:00 PM CST
(Newser) -
Minnesota hoped to make a move in the Big 10 with consecutive home games against Indiana and Michigan State. That didn't quite work out as the Gophers dropped both, including today, 78-73, to the Spartans, writes AP. Drew Neitzel broke out of a shooting slump and lived up to his preseason billing, making five three-pointers in the second half.
New Tech Sinks or Swims Based on Whims
New York Times
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Jan 20, 2008 8:09 PM CST
(Newser) -
Innovations like the iPod and Prius usually require new user skills, and acceptance can depend on one's willingness to adapt, writes G. Pascal Zachary in the New York Times. “You throw technologies into the market and see what sticks,” he quotes one analyst as saying. Revolutionary stuff can sink, while tough-to-master can swim.
Hoosiers Beat PSU, Extend Streak to 12
Associated Press
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Jan 20, 2008 7:51 PM CST
(Newser) -
Penn State pushed Indiana as best it could, leading 52-51 at one point in the second half, but the stronger Hoosiers compiled a 27-6 run to put away the Nittany Lions 81-65. Ninth-ranked Indiana, now 16-1, won its 12th consecutive game for the first time since the well-chronicled Bobby Knight era. Eric Gordon led the Hoosiers with 25 points.
Obama Visits MLK's Church
Chicago Tribune
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Jan 20, 2008 7:50 PM CST
(Newser) -
On the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr. day, Barack Obama visited the civil rights leader’s old church and repeated his mantra of unity, the Chicago Tribune reports. “If enough Americans were awakened to the injustice,” Obama said, “if they joined together, then perhaps that wall would come tumbling down." Atlanta's mayor...
Partisan Rift Stalls Health Reform, for Now
Associated Press
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Jan 20, 2008 7:29 PM CST
(Newser) -
A partisan split over health care will likely stall all attempts at reform, at least until a new president takes office next year, the AP reports. Bush's health secretary, Mike Leavitt, opposes Dem ideas about negotiating drug prices and boosting dollars for children's care. “I’m not expecting too much cooperation or bipartisanship,”...
Girl Power Hits Smurfland
Der Spiegel
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Jan 20, 2008 7:11 PM CST
(Newser) -
The Smurfs have turned 50 and made it to century 21, but some say the lack of girl Smurfs makes it old-fashioned. An upcoming Smurfs movie plans to fix the gender imbalance in Smurf society, Der Speigel reports: "There have been dramatic changes in socio-cultural values in the past 20 to 25 years," said Hendrik Coysman, who heads the company...
Bruins Steal One From Rangers
New York Times
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Jan 20, 2008 7:07 PM CST
(Newser) -
Boston finished off a home-and-home sweep of New York with a 3-1 victory at Madison Square Garden today. The Bruins cashed in on their limited number of scoring chances despite being outshot 31-20. Goalie Tim Thomas was solid while moving his team into seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Chuck Kobasew, Glen Metropolit and Phil Kessel tallied for...
SF Ship Pilot May Have Had Sleep Disorder
San Francisco Chronicle
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Jan 20, 2008 6:46 PM CST
(Newser) -
The ship pilot who hit a San Francisco bridge and unleashed the bay's worst oil spill in nearly 20 years may have been on drugs for a sleep disorder, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Captain John Cota was reportedly taking two kinds of prescription medication to prevent drowsiness and treat anxiety. Feds are now probing whether a Coast Guard...
UConn Blows Out Suddenly Cold Marquette
Associated Press
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Jan 20, 2008 6:30 PM CST
(Newser) -
UConn bounced back from two straight losses with its first win over a Top 25 opponent in nearly two years, 89-73, over No. 13 Marquette (13-4). Sophomore Hasheem Thabeet had 15 points, seven boards and six blocked shots, saying "we had poise today." The Huskies shot 56% from the field and were lights out on free-throws, converting 33 of 39.
Cloverfield Crushes Box Office
Los Angeles Times
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Jan 20, 2008 6:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
Cloverfield stomped box-office records by banking an anticipated $50 million through the holiday weekend, the Los Angeles Times reports. Shining reviews and an online viral campaign drew more older fans than expected—45% were over age 25—as the low-budget monster pic smashed January and MLK holiday debuts.
GOP Hopefuls Face Post-Bush Quandary
Newsweek
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Jan 20, 2008 5:39 PM CST
(Newser) -
Amid debate jabs and funding worries, GOP presidential hopefuls have a bigger problem: what kind of Republican to be in the impending post-Bush era. Newsweek’s Evan Thomas explores their recent mis-steps, and urges them to be humble and open to diverging views—the opposite of Bush's "yes man" approach to picking advisers.
Patriots Stay Perfect
Associated Press
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Jan 20, 2008 5:39 PM CST
(Newser) -
The '72 Dolphins must be nervous after New England stayed perfect today by defeating an injured Chargers crew, 21-12, and advancing to a fourth Super Bowl in seven years. The Patriots had to work for it, suffering a lackluster effort from Tom Brady, and riding rusher Lawrence Maroney for 122 yards and a touchdown.
Bionic Vision Pioneers Unveil New Lenses
LiveScience
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Jan 20, 2008 4:46 PM CST
(Newser) -
Bionic vision may cost less than $6 million after all: Scientists unveiled a new electronic contact lens this week that is already sparking ideas for future technology. Endowed with a circuit and lights, the gadget isn't ready yet, but makers say it is built with safe, organic materials. It even boasts an electronic circuit a few nanometers wide—about...
Homeless Vets Spark Outcry: Haven't We Learned?
Associated Press
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Jan 20, 2008 4:22 PM CST
(Newser) -
Iraq war veterans are suffering from stress, turning to alcohol, and falling into poverty—a fate that prompts some to ask whether the US has learned from tragedies of veterans past. Washington has identified 1,500 Iraq vets as homeless and helped about a third, but echoes of Vietnam persist among activists. "I'm like, wait, wait, hold it,...
Cell Phone Novels Take Japan by Storm
New York Times
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Jan 20, 2008 3:51 PM CST
(Newser) -
Japan’s literary world has been rocked by the ascendancy of cell phone novels: serial works written mainly by young women on their phone keypads. The New York Times reports five of 2007’s 10 bestsellers were cell phone novels reprinted as conventional books—despite the fact that the country’s cultural establishment has yet...
'Porn' Gym Vids Alarm Utahans
Deseret News (Salt Lake)
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Jan 20, 2008 3:34 PM CST
(Newser) -
Everyone's gotten an unwelcome eyeful at the gym, but protesters want Gold's Gym to make sure members aren't getting it from music videos on TVs at two Utah locations, the Deseret Morning News reports. Calling rap videos like Ludacris' "Money Maker" pornographic, student and community groups say they'll picket gyms in Provo and Orem until...
Gaza City Shuts Off Power Amid Claimed Fuel Shortage
BBC
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Jan 20, 2008 3:17 PM CST
(Newser) -
Gaza City’s sole power plant has shut down due to what Palestinian officials claim are insufficient fuel supplies, the BBC reports. Israel—which provides 60% of Gaza’s electricity—closed its border last week with the Gaza Strip, preventing the import of virtually all supplies. The move followed a barrage of rocket and mortar...
Di's Guard: Inquest a 'Spectacle'
Guardian (UK)
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Jan 20, 2008 3:00 PM CST
(Newser) -
The "latest" developments in the Princess Diana inquest are the same old news, and the monthslong proceeding has "degenerated" into a "theatrical, occasionally tawdry, spectacle," writes her former bodyguard in the Guardian . Most of the recent testimonies—including his own—were first made public years ago,...
Polls Close in Tight Serbian Election
BBC
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Jan 20, 2008 2:44 PM CST
(Newser) -
Polls have closed in Serbia in a tight presidential race between a Euro-friendly incumbent and a pro-Russian nationalist, the BBC reports. Neither pro-Western Boris Tadic nor rival Tomislav Nikolic—or any of seven other hopefuls—is expected to win a first-round majority. The election, which has sparked debates about Kosovo independence...
UK Veal Now Cool, Not Cruel
Guardian (UK)
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Jan 20, 2008 2:21 PM CST
(Newser) -
Veal is the new guilt-free meat in Britain, and everyone from top chefs to farmers and animal activists is pushing consumers to eat up . Anti-cruelty groups largely eliminated veal from the UK diet in the '90s, and as a result, dairy farmers slaughter half a million male calves and export the rest to veal farms. But with new standards in place, eating...
Canadian FM Apologizes for Torture List
BBC
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Jan 20, 2008 2:00 PM CST
(Newser) -
Canadian foreign minister Maxime Bernier has apologized for the inclusion of the US and Israel on a list of countries in which prisoners risk being subjected to torture, the BBC reports. The list, part of a torture awareness guide for diplomats, cited US interrogation techniques and referred to its Guantanamo Bay facility. Both countries denounced...
