Newser Story Index from February, 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.
Clapton Invited to Pyongyang
E! Online
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Feb 27, 2008 11:41 AM CST
(Newser) -
Kim Jong Il is a diehard Elvis fan, but the Great Leader's son is seriously into Eric Clapton, which could be why North Korea has invited Old Slowhand to play a concert in Pyongyang. Though the New York Philharmonic performed there yesterday, a Clapton appearance would mark the first time a Western pop music star had been involved in a cultural...
Dem Debate Oddly Like 'SNL' Parody
New York Times
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Feb 27, 2008 11:28 AM CST
(Newser) -
Hillary Clinton was so taken by last week's "Saturday Night Live" sketch that had moderators fawning over Barack Obama in a debate between the two candidates that she brought it up in the real debate last night. And the debate lived up to the SNL spoof, Alessandra Stanley writes in the New York Times : the anchors needled her constantly...
Beijing Opens Giant Air Terminal
Independent (UK)
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Feb 27, 2008 11:25 AM CST
(Newser) -
Ahead of this August's Olympics, Beijing is set to open a new airport terminal that has been billed as the world's largest building. Designed by Norman Foster, who also designed Hong Kong's airport, the new Terminal 3 was built in only 4 years and, unlike many buildings in China, incorporates environmental control systems to minimize energy consumption,...
Case Against Transplant Doc Raises Concern
New York Times
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Feb 27, 2008 11:11 AM CST
(Newser) -
Charges against a California surgeon for hastening the death of a disabled man so his organs could be harvested for transplants has advocates worried, the New York Times reports. At issue is whether Dr. Hootan Roozrokh ignored protocol in pursuit of organs for transplant or if he misused, or misunderstood, a less-often-used harvesting technique.
Fannie Mae Loses Billions in Q4
Wall Street Journal
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Feb 27, 2008 10:48 AM CST
(Newser) -
Fannie Mae reported huge fourth-quarter losses today, painting an ugly picture both of the economy and the mortgage giant's own future. The company lost $3.56 billion—triple what analysts expected, Bloomberg reports. Derivatives were the big culprit, accounting for $3.33 billion in losses, but the company also reported spikes in late payments...
GOP Senators Try to Outflank Dems on Iraq Funding Bill
Associated Press
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Feb 27, 2008 10:41 AM CST
(Newser) -
After months of blocking Democrat-sponsored anti-war bills, Senate Republicans changed course sharply yesterday, agreeing to advance a bill that cuts off funding for combat in Iraq after 120 days. GOP senators made the switch on grounds that a debate over conditions in Iraq allows them time to hail progress in the war, giving them the upper hand, the...
Writers Endorse 3-Year Deal
Variety
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Feb 27, 2008 10:33 AM CST
(Newser) -
Writers Guild members have ratified the 3-year deal that ended their strike earlier this month, union leaders reported yesterday. “This contract is a new beginning for writers in the digital age,” said WGA chief Patric Verrone. The deal gives the WGA jurisdiction over writing for new-media products, and sets residual payments for...
William F. Buckley Jr. Dies at 82
New York Times
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Feb 27, 2008 10:32 AM CST
(Newser) -
Conservative columnist and editor William F. Buckley Jr. died today at age 82; he suffered from diabetes and emphysema. Buckley founded the opinion magazine National Review , hosted the show “Firing Line” and wrote 45 books. The author of God and Man at Yale and defender of Joe McCarthy was “replete with $10 words and a darting...
British Hostage Appears on Arab Television
Times (UK)
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Feb 27, 2008 10:27 AM CST
(Newser) -
One of the five British men kidnapped in Baghdad eight months ago appeared on Arab television last night, begging Prime Minister Gordon Brown to free nine Iraqi prisoners in exchange for the Britons. “Release their people so that we can go home. It’s as simple as that," Peter Moore said in remarks dubbed into Arabic. It was the first...
Paris-Berlin Relations Turn Sour
AFP
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Feb 27, 2008 10:08 AM CST
(Newser) -
Only a week after Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel called off a scheduled meeting, France and Germany's finance ministers canceled their own summit yesterday, reports AFP. While nobody wants to say that the leaders of Europe's two largest countries are getting testy with each other, disagreements over economic policy and the EU's role have led to...
Argentina Baby Snatch Witness Dies in Trial
BBC
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Feb 27, 2008 9:46 AM CST
(Newser) -
Days before he was to testify about the Dirty War disappearance of twins born to a political prisoner, a former Argentine army officer has been found dead of a gunshot wound to the head, the BBC reports. Police don't know if Paul Navone committed suicide but human rights groups think he might have been murdered to stop him from talking.
Bernanke Signals New Rate Cuts
Wall Street Journal
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Feb 27, 2008 9:15 AM CST
(Newser) -
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke today said that the board stands ready to cut interest rates again to give the economy "adequate insurance against downside risks," reports the Wall Street Journal. The move, which follows 2.25% in cuts to the key rate since September, is widely expected at the Fed's March 18 meeting.
Nawaz Sharif Says He'll Run for Parliament
Telegraph (UK)
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Feb 27, 2008 9:03 AM CST
(Newser) -
Nawaz Sharif will stand in a special election for a vacant seat in Pakistan's parliament, he said yesterday, opening the way for his return to political power. The two-time prime minister, whose Muslim League is set to form a coalition government with Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party after last week's election victory, says he will push parliament...
Asia May Be Yahoo's Trump Card
Wall Street Journal
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Feb 27, 2008 8:37 AM CST
(Newser) -
A revised Microsoft bid for Yahoo may be heavily influenced by Yahoo’s Asian interests, reports the Wall Street Journal. Microsoft execs toured Asia in December and concluded that they needed a local partner there. Yahoo holds large stakes in a Korean auction site, a major Chinese search engine, and Yahoo Japan. These footholds, while passive...
Rivals Earn as Starbucks Learns
Associated Press
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Feb 27, 2008 8:10 AM CST
(Newser) -
Starbucks customers and competition alike got to know each other yesterday as the java giant closed for a 3-hour training break for all employee, reports the AP. "Free-market economy, baby! You've got to take advantage of what the competition throws at you," said one former Starbucks devotee swilling a competitor's discounted joe.
Diabetic Dieters Take Big Risks
USA Today
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Feb 27, 2008 8:10 AM CST
(Newser) -
Psychologists studying eating habits in type 1 diabetics have found that women who cut back on their insulin as a weight management tactic—and 30% do—triple their chances of dying young. Women who restrict their insulin use have higher rates of kidney disease and foot problems, and die on average at 45, compared to 58 for other type 1 diabetics,...
Army to Shorten Combat Tours
Reuters
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Feb 27, 2008 7:40 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Pentagon aims to trim tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan from 15 months to a year with an eventual three years between deployments, the Army's top general told the Senate Committee on Armed Services yesterday. The change will be made after the military reduces troop levels this summer, Reuters reports, and commanders believe it possible even...
Google Not Clicking with Investors
New York Times
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Feb 27, 2008 7:12 AM CST
(Newser) -
Google, flying high in November when its stock hit a record $747.24, is falling back to Earth as investors worry that the slowing economy is discouraging web surfers from clicking on the search giant’s ads, reports the Wall Street Journal. A comScore report yesterday said Google’s January US click-throughs were flat compared to a year...
Protest on Roof of Parliament
Guardian (UK)
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Feb 27, 2008 6:53 AM CST
(Newser) -
Environmental protesters broke onto the roof of London's Houses of Parliament this morning and unfurled giant banners decrying the government's plans to build a new runway at Heathrow airport. Five activists, representing a group called Plane Stupid, eluded security to hang banners reading "No third runway" and "BAA headquarters,"...
Dollar Slides to Record Low; Oil Tops $102
Bloomberg
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Feb 27, 2008 6:27 AM CST
(Newser) -
The dollar declined against most major currencies and fell to its lowest level ever against the euro today as markets anticipated another rate cut from the Fed when it meets March 18, increasing the value of assets outside the US, Bloomberg reports. The dollar’s erosion pushed commodity prices up, with oil topping $102 a barrel for the first...
Britons Quaking After Midnight Tremors
Guardian (UK)
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Feb 27, 2008 6:12 AM CST
(Newser) -
Britons are calming down with a cuppa this morning after an earthquake rattled much of the island at 12:56am. The biggest quake here since 1984, the tremor was reported to be between 4.7 and 5.3 on the Richter scale and centered 127 miles north of London. Bricks tumbled and power went out in some places and one injury was reported, according to the...
Comcast Stooges Pack FCC Hearing
Portfolio
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Feb 27, 2008 6:00 AM CST
(Newser) -
The future direction of the Internet could be at stake in the FCC's decisions on net neutrality, but one of the ISPs concerned did its best to keep opponents out of a hearing on it, Portfolio.com reports. Advocacy group and fierce Comcast critic Free Press says the firm hired people off the street to fill seats at a Cambridge, Mass., hearing into the...
Power Back On in South Florida
Miami Herald
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Feb 27, 2008 5:15 AM CST
(Newser) -
Floridians saw the light again last evening when power was restored after equipment failure at a single Miami substation caused a blackout which dominoed across South Florida, leaving millions without power for several hours. Most homes were back on the grid before nightfall, but why a single substation's failure could have such a devastating impact...
Poll: McCain Would Beat Either Dem
Los Angeles Times
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Feb 27, 2008 5:11 AM CST
(Newser) -
Likely GOP nominee John McCain would give either Democratic rival a tough fight, according to the latest Bloomberg/ Los Angeles Times poll . The poll puts McCain ahead of Hillary Clinton 46% to 40%, and leading Barack Obama 44% to 42%. Voters give the Vietnam vet far higher marks in experience and ability to handle Iraq and terrorism. The only issue...
EU Fines Microsoft Record $1.3B
Wall Street Journal
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Feb 27, 2008 5:01 AM CST
(Newser) -
The European Commission fined Microsoft today a record $1.35 billion for failing to comply with its 2004 antitrust ruling. The EU's executive branch said that the company continued to charge "unreasonable prices" to developers building programs for Windows despite both the earlier ruling and a court verdict last September. The fine is the...
GOP Hinders Search for Missing White House Emails
Washington Post
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Feb 27, 2008 4:44 AM CST
(Newser) -
The GOP National Committee is now refusing to search for and turn over backup tapes of thousands of missing White House emails, reports the Washington Post . The move is a reversal of a previous commitment to retrieve thousands of up to a million messages that vanished in a 1000-day period. A tech manager told a House committee yesterday that the...
Rice 'Deeply Regrets' Okinawa Rape Case
Reuters
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Feb 27, 2008 4:22 AM CST
(Newser) -
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met today in Japan with the prime minister and other top officials and expressed regret for the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl by a US Marine stationed on Okinawa. "We just regret deeply that it happened," said Rice, who added that she hopes the "long-standing and strong alliance" between...
Wings Tap Soaring Rally, Crashing Defeat
Detroit News
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Feb 27, 2008 4:06 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Red Wings' downward spiral almost looked as though it had reversed itself last night, when the team managed three unanswered third-period goals to take the lead over the Oilers. But Edmonton's tying goal with 29 seconds left, followed by a scoreless overtime period, put the advantage squarely with the Oilers, who won 4-3, Detroit News reports.
With Foote on Hand, Avalanche Beat Flames
Rocky Mountain News
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Feb 27, 2008 3:57 AM CST
(Newser) -
Adam Foote didn't get any points in last night's 3-2 defeat of the Flames, but the former and once again current Avalanche boosted team spirits just by taking the ice, reports the Rocky Mountain News . "You could see the smiles on everyone's faces," said coach Joel Quenneville. They may have been happier about Paul Stastny's game-winning...
Ariel Sharon Turns 80 in Coma
Jerusalem Post (Israel)
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Feb 27, 2008 3:55 AM CST
(Newser) -
Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon turned 80 yesterday, still in a coma from a massive stroke in January 2006. Family members gathered at the hospital to mark the occasion, the Jerusalem Post reports. Among them was his eldest son, Omri, due to start a seven-month jail sentence today for illegally raising funds for one of his dad's campaigns.
Vet Warriors Top Rookie Sonics
San Francisco Chronicle
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Feb 27, 2008 3:39 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Seattle SuperSonics, though one of the NBA's worst teams, played competitive basketball in the first half of their game against Golden State last night. But the Warriors surged in the third quarter to leave the Sonics behind 105-99, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Baron Davis (20 points) and Monta Ellis (30 points) had help from an unlikely...
Jackson's Neverland Foreclosed
Fox News
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Feb 27, 2008 3:25 AM CST
(Newser) -
Creditors have foreclosed on Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, which will be auctioned March 19 if the King of Pop doesn't pony up $24.5 million by that date, Fox News reports. If the sale goes through, Jackson would lose everything in the California house, including furniture and relics of its amusement park. He may let it go, Fox says: he...
Transgender Con Upset Over Fading Femininity
Associated Press
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Feb 27, 2008 3:21 AM CST
(Newser) -
A prisoner who has sued for a sex-change operation has complained that treatments to feminize her body have stopped, the AP reports. “My breasts have shrunk, genitals have regained previous size, facial hair is thicker,” Michelle Kosilek, formerly Robert, wrote in a letter to the court considering the request for sex-reassignment surgery....
Northwest's Merger Offers Won't Fly: Delta
Wall Street Journal
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Feb 27, 2008 3:13 AM CST
(Newser) -
An airline merger isn't going to take off until Northwest comes up with a proposal that addresses Delta's concerns, according to Delta executives. So far, offers haven't jelled with Delta priorities, including maintaining employee seniority rankings, according to a Delta memo obtained by the Wall Street Journal . Delta plans to continue with its "stand-alone"...
Kobe, Lakers Fky Over Trail Blazers
Associated Press
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Feb 27, 2008 3:05 AM CST
(Newser) -
Kobe Bryant's injured pinkie finger looked just fine last night as the Los Angeles Lakers superstar scored 30 points to lead the Lakers to a 96-83 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, reports AP. The win is the ninth in a row for LA, which at 40-17 is tops in the tough Western Conference. The Blazers have lost eight of nine.
Game Nudges NIU Toward Normalcy After Shootings
Associated Press
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Feb 27, 2008 2:45 AM CST
(Newser) -
Western Michigan needed to beat Northern Illinois last night to keep its hopes alive for the Mid-America Conference championship, but the game itself was much more important for the Huskies and their fans, reports the Associated Press. Western Michigan won the contest 56-49, the first athletic event on the NIU campus since a gunman killed five students...
UCLA Looks to Pretty Up Pauley
Los Angeles Times
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Feb 27, 2008 2:37 AM CST
(Newser) -
There is no question UCLA's Pauley Pavilion needs a makeover, but Bruin Nation is in an all-out debate as to whether it just needs some Botox or whether the old girl needs a complete facelift, reports the Los Angeles Times . Changes on the table for the famed Westwood Arena range from a corporate name change, to upgraded locker rooms and fan areas,...
Vandy Makes Sure UT's Stay at No. 1 is Short
Associated Press
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Feb 27, 2008 1:52 AM CST
(Newser) -
If your program has never been No. 1 before, the last thing you want to do is travel to a school that is 5-3 all-time at home against top-ranked teams. Tennessee got to do just that last night, and No. 18 Vanderbilt's 72-69 victory will likely knock the Vols from the top spot, reports the Associated Press. "I want to be ranked No. 1 at the end...
Rocket Avoids 'Roid Q's at Camp
Houston Chronicle
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Feb 26, 2008 11:43 PM CST
(Newser) -
Roger Clemens arrived at the Houston Astros’ training camp determined to avoid questions about his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs. “Everything’s been said that needs to be said on that. We’re moving forward. It’s baseball time. We’re going to enjoy that,” the hurler said. It was the first time Clemens...
Thomas, Bruins Shutout Senators
Associated Press
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Feb 26, 2008 11:04 PM CST
(Newser) -
Tim Thomas stopped 22 shots to earn his second shutout of the season and led the Boston Bruins to a 4-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Zdeno Chara had two of the Boston goals; David Krejci also scored his first NHL goal. Ottawa, who leads the league in scoring, has now been shut out on two consecutive nights, reports the Associated Press. Elsewhere...
Conklin Has 50 Saves as Pens Beat Isles
Associated Press
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Feb 26, 2008 11:01 PM CST
(Newser) -
Ty Conklin had a career-best 50 saves in the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders. Jeff Taffe had a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who were short several men because of blockbuster trade. Pittsburgh made the biggest move at the deadline by acquiring star forward Marian Hossa from Atlanta, according to the Associated Press....
Resilient Rockets Rout Wiz Sans Yao
Associated Press
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Feb 26, 2008 10:50 PM CST
(Newser) -
No Yao, no problem. After learning they'd lost 7'6" franchise center Yao Ming for the season with a stress fracture, the scrappy Rockets dominated the Wizards defensively, coasting 94-69 for their 13th straight win. Platooning at the five-spot were 41-year-old Dikembe Mutombo, who had four blocks, and promising rookie Carl Landry. Also in pro...
No. 12 Hoosiers Clip Ohio State 72-69 in Indiana
Associated Press
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Feb 26, 2008 10:46 PM CST
(Newser) -
Kelvin Sampson’s replacement, Dan Dakich, won his first game as coach at Assembly Hall, as the No. 12 Hoosiers bested Ohio State 72-69. Armon Bassett led the Hoosiers with 23 points and freshman Eric Gordon chipped in 17. Kosta Koufos had 21 points to lead the Buckeyes, who have lost three in a row and five of their last seven, reports the Associated...
Redd's Buzzer- Beater Stuns Cavs 105-102
Associated Press
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Feb 26, 2008 10:25 PM CST
(Newser) -
LeBron James had a customarily monster 35-point game—but Milwaukee's Mo Williams topped him with 37, setting up a wild finish for sharpshooting lefty Michael Redd, who in a tie game had five seconds to race upcourt and launch the game-winning three-pointer. The Bucks were also aided by a 27-14 free-throw advantage. Elsewhere in the NBA:
Houston's Yao Out for Season
Houston Chronicle
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Feb 26, 2008 10:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
The Houston Rockets were dealt a crushing blow when it was revealed today that Yao Ming will miss the rest of the season and post-season with a stress fracture in his left foot. The 7-foot-6-inch, Chinese center’s foot had been sore for several weeks before the diagnosis. This is now the third straight season that Yao hasn’t completed...
Dems Wrangle Over Health, Iraq
MSNBC
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Feb 26, 2008 8:32 PM CST
(Newser) -
A week before the make-or-break primaries in Texas and Ohio, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama sparred wearily, sometimes testily, in their 20th and perhaps last debate, on issues from health care to Iraq to who is more committed to Israel, MSNBC reports. Clinton blasted a recent Obama mailer that said her health plan would force lower-income...
Greenies Blast Plan to Flood Colorado River
Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
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Feb 26, 2008 8:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
A plan to flood the Colorado River is a token move that leaves fish endangered, green advocates say. Federal officials retort that scientists will probe whether the controlled flood—the third so far—helps species threatened by the Glen Canyon Dam. But "doing one of these every five or six years won't get the job done in the long run,"...
B&N Chief Gives $20M for Katrina Relief
Associated Press
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Feb 26, 2008 8:01 PM CST
(Newser) -
The chair of Barnes & Noble and his wife are donating $20 million to New Orleans in what may be the biggest Katrina relief project yet, the AP reports. Leonard Riggio said today that the funds will build 20 new houses in a racially mixed neighborhood for lower-income families. Those who win a lottery can trade in a storm-damaged home for a new...
Only Italians Can Call It Parmesan
Bloomberg
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Feb 26, 2008 7:36 PM CST
(Newser) -
Europe's high court ruled today that only Italians can call their cheese Parmesan, Bloomberg reports. The judges shot down an argument by German cheese-makers that the term is generic. "This is absolutely wonderful news," said the author of an Italian cheese guide. "There is no more risk in Europe of finding Parmesan that isn't Parmesan."
Don't Know Much About History...
USA Today
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Feb 26, 2008 7:00 PM CST
(Newser) -
US teens know little history and less literature, says a study out today. Only 52% of 17-year-olds could name the theme of George Orwell's 1984, and 43% knew when the Civil War was fought. Students faired far better on topics that schools cover, however, such as Pearl Harbor and Martin Luther King Jr., USA Today reports.
