Newser Story Index from January, 2009
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.
Fall Out Boy Rocks Simpsons Theme
Access Hollywood
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Jan 22, 2009 5:35 PM CST
(Newser) -
Here's a case of life imitating art, and then art imitating life, or something. Fall Out Boy, which is named for the sidekick of Simpsons character Radioactive Man, has recorded a version of the show's theme song, and it will air during Sunday's closing credits, Access Hollywood reports. Pete Wentz and company, however, won't appear on the show as...
Cheney Says Bush Erred in Not Pardoning Libby
Weekly Standard
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Jan 22, 2009 5:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
Dick Cheney believes disgraced former chief of staff Scooter Libby, convicted in the CIA leak investigation, deserved a pardon, the Weekly Standard reports. “He was the victim of a serious miscarriage of justice,” the former vice president said. “Obviously, I disagree with President Bush.” Bush’s decision has been ascribed...
36 Years After Roe, Obama Affirms Support for Choice
CBS News
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Jan 22, 2009 4:57 PM CST
(Newser) -
President Obama acknowledged the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade today by reaffirming his support for the abortion rights that ruling secured, CBS reports. “I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose,” Obama said in a statement, adding that, regardless of political persuasion, reducing unwanted pregnancies should be...
To Challenge Wiki, Britannica Will Let Users Edit
Sydney Morning Herald
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Jan 22, 2009 4:43 PM CST
(Newser) -
The 241-year-old Encyclopedia Britannica is tired of being overshadowed on the web by Wikipedia, so it’s decided to start copying the competition’s defining feature: allowing users to edit and create content. Britannica will not be as laissez-faire as Wikipedia, the Sydney Morning Herald reports, as alterations to online entries must...
Impeachment Is 'Sham': Blago
Chicago Tribune
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Jan 22, 2009 4:30 PM CST
(Newser) -
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he is being denied due process and accused the Illinois legislature of trying to “thwart the will of the people” by impeaching him, the Chicago Tribune reports. Blagojevich added that he wants to call White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to testify on his behalf, but is unable to subpoena witnesses.
Latest on Why Caroline's Out: Nanny, Taxes, Husband
New York Daily News
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Jan 22, 2009 4:22 PM CST
(Newser) -
So what’s the real reason behind Caroline Kennedy’s withdrawal? Depends on whom you ask. An aide to New York Gov. David Paterson says she had a tax problem and a possible nanny issue that emerged in vetting, the Times reports. But a Kennedy pal says she dropped because her husband “is controlling” and thought she’d wreck...
Crocker Cautions Against Abrupt Iraq Withdrawal
CNN
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Jan 22, 2009 4:14 PM CST
(Newser) -
The US ambassador to Iraq warned today against an abrupt troop withdrawal, saying it would invite foreign fighters, CNN reports. If we “decide suddenly we’re done, they would certainly work to use space that opened up,” Ryan Crocker said of al-Qaeda. Crocker, who will step down shortly, said President Obama’s plan for withdrawal,...
Brangelina Just Happy to (Both) Be Nominated
People
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Jan 22, 2009 4:01 PM CST
(Newser) -
Oscar was kind to Brangelina today, with both halves of the power couple landing nominations, People reports. Brad Pitt received a best actor nod for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button , while Angelina Jolie is in the best actress running for Changeling . “I’m especially happy for David Fincher, for without him there would be no Ben...
Google's Profit Drops, But Still Beats Forecasts
Associated Press
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Jan 22, 2009 3:49 PM CST
(AP) -
Quarterly profit at Google fell for the first time, although the performance was better than analysts anticipated. Google made $382 million, or $1.21 per share, in the three months ending in December—a 68% drop from the same period in 2007. The results indicated the company was able to rein in its free-spending ways enough to offset a slowdown...
Pakistani Curriculum Pits Bile Vs. Nation-Building
Christian Science Monitor
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Jan 22, 2009 3:40 PM CST
(Newser) -
Critics of Pakistan’s mandatory school curriculum say it promotes fear and hatred in children, the Christian Science Monitor reports. “It sounds like the blueprint for a religious fascist state,” said one professor. “You have a country where generations have grown up believing they are surrounded on all sides by enemies, they...
Matthews Takes Record for Hot Air at Chilly Inauguration
Slate
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Jan 22, 2009 3:25 PM CST
(Newser) -
It's a good thing Chris Matthews didn't run for the Senate after all, Jack Shafer writes for Slate, after listening to the MSNBC star let his mouth run wild Inauguration Day. "Drawing from a larder filled with old anecdotes, unreliable metaphors, wacky intuition, and superficial observations, the always-animated Matthews steers whatever's handy...
Dow Falls 105 on Banks, Tech
MarketWatch
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Jan 22, 2009 3:23 PM CST
(Newser) -
Poor economic data and turmoil in the banking and tech sectors pushed stocks lower today, MarketWatch reports. Bank of America fell 13.3% after CEO Ken Lewis dismissed John Thain amid mounting losses in the wake of BoA’s merger with Merrill Lynch. The Dow closed down 105.30 at 8,122.80. The Nasdaq dropped 41.58 to close at 1,465.49, and the S&P...
Mitchell, Holbrooke Named Special Envoys
Reuters
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Jan 22, 2009 3:11 PM CST
(Newser) -
President Obama and newly minted Secretary of State Hillary Clinton moved quickly today to build the administration’s diplomatic efforts, naming George Mitchell and Richard Holbrooke special envoys, Reuters reports; both appointments were expected. Former Sen. Mitchell will focus on facilitating peace talks between Israel and Palestine, while...
Widening Peanut Recall Now Includes Pet Treats
USA Today
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Jan 22, 2009 2:58 PM CST
(Newser) -
Peanut-flavored pet treats are the latest addition to the recall list of at least 125 peanut butter products, USA Today reports. A salmonella outbreak at a Georgia peanut plant has so far sickened some 486 people and may have caused six deaths. Pets can get salmonella from the peanut treats, but the Food and Drug Administration warns that owners...
Ted Kennedy Upset Caroline Used Cancer as Excuse
Time
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Jan 22, 2009 2:47 PM CST
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Ted Kennedy and his aides are livid that his niece Caroline is citing his health problems among reasons for her withdrawing from consideration for Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat, Time reports. Associates say the Massachusetts senator is doing well and fully committed to his goal of passing universal health-care legislation—and Caroline’s...
Lesbian Fiction's Hot New Stars: Secret Service Agents
Slate
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Jan 22, 2009 2:32 PM CST
(Newser) -
Secret Service agents have become popular protagonists in lesbian romance mysteries because they embody traits readers covet, June Thomas writes for Slate. "They are the ultimate strong, silent type—they fade into the background without hiding, they keep their mouths shut, and they have your back," she observes. "Since our...
First White House Briefing Addresses Gitmo, Oath
Chicago Tribune
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Jan 22, 2009 2:20 PM CST
(Newser) -
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs met his audience for the first time, covering everything from President Obama’s oaths to the economy to torture, the Chicago Tribune reports. Gibbs faced questions about the administration’s hiring of a lobbyist, against previously stated rules—“Any standard is not perfect”—and...
McGovern to Obama: Call 'Time-Out on War'
Washington Post
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Jan 22, 2009 2:18 PM CST
(Newser) -
George McGovern would like to take the “war” out of the war on terror. The 1972 Democratic presidential nominee, writing in the Washington Post, cautions President Obama against diving headlong into Afghanistan, a battleground that has broken two empires already. “Let me suggest a truly audacious hope for your administration,”...
Obama Stokes Lefty Pride In More Ways Than You Think
MSNBC
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Jan 22, 2009 2:08 PM CST
(Newser) -
Barack Obama’s inauguration continues the lefty domination of the White House—after all, five other postwar presidents have been southpaws, too, MSNBC reports. Only about a tenth of the population is left-handed, but that includes a disproportionate number of politicians, athletes, and artists. “From a statistical standpoint, it looks...
NYC Van Crash Kills 2 Kids
Newsday
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Jan 22, 2009 1:57 PM CST
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Two preschoolers were killed and 11 other people were injured when a van jumped a curb and ran into a crowd in Manhattan’s Chinatown today, Newsday reports. The gray van went out of control after making a U-turn, witnesses said. The dead children were identified as a 4-year-old girl and a 3- or 4-year-old, the New York Times reported. One...
Bjork Banks on Girl Power to Save Iceland
Christian Science Monitor
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Jan 22, 2009 1:45 PM CST
(Newser) -
Quirky Icelandic singer Bjork is promoting a venture-capital fund run by women that will invest in socially and environmentally sustainable companies and, she hopes, help rebuild her economically stricken country. "Instead of talking about the problems we have, she is on a mission to build a sustainable Iceland that's not going to leave ...
Franken, Coleman Meet With Senate Leaders
Minneapolis Star Tribune
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Jan 22, 2009 1:34 PM CST
(Newser) -
As Al Franken’s lawyers asked a Minnesota court to dismiss Norm Coleman’s challenge to election results there, both Senate hopefuls traveled to Washington today meet with party leaders, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. “The race in Minnesota is over with,” Harry Reid said after conferring with Democrat Franken about committee...
Eye Trouble May Have Affected Galileo's Observations
Reuters
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Jan 22, 2009 1:24 PM CST
(Newser) -
Galileo’s vision problems may have distorted some of his findings, Reuters reports. Scientists want to exhume the scientist’s body to determine, through DNA tests, the exact nature of his eye condition. “If we knew exactly what was wrong with his eyes we could use computer models to recreate what he saw in his telescope,” said...
Closing Gitmo Will Be Tough
Christian Science Monitor
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Jan 22, 2009 1:16 PM CST
(Newser) -
Barack Obama’s pledge to close Guantanamo Bay has been widely hailed, but it’s not going to be easy, the Christian Science Monitor reports. There’s broad agreement that many detainees can be tried in federal or military courts, while others can be released. But some are deemed too dangerous to release, but can’t be tried because...
10 Democrats Obama Must Watch Out For
Politico
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Jan 22, 2009 1:05 PM CST
(Newser) -
The good vibrations can’t last forever. Sooner or later, President Obama is bound to run afoul of members of his own party. Glenn Thrush, in Politico, scopes out the suspects: John Conyers: The irrepressible House Judiciary chairman wants to investigate the US attorneys scandal and other potential Bush-era malfeasance, despite...
Slum Dwellers Protest Slumdog
Associated Press
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Jan 22, 2009 12:56 PM CST
(Newser) -
Slumdog Millionaire has drawn widespread critical praise and earned 10 Oscar nominations today, but some residents of Mumbai slums find the title insulting, the AP reports. Protesters demonstrated outside the office of Bollywood star Anil Kapoor, who appears in the film, holding signs saying "Poverty For Sale" and "I am not a dog."...
Obama's Staff Finds High Office Means Low Tech
Washington Post
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Jan 22, 2009 12:47 PM CST
(Newser) -
Tech-savvy Obama staffers had a rude awakening on their first day at the White House, saddled with disconnected phone lines, limited Internet access, and 6-year-old PCs, the Washington Post reports. “It is kind of like going from an Xbox to an Atari,” a spokesman said of the disconnect between the wired transition and the low-tech federal...
Bill Could Kill Doc-Owned Hospitals
Wall Street Journal
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Jan 22, 2009 12:36 PM CST
(Newser) -
A clause in a child-health bill just passed by the House would restrict Medicare payouts for, and the expansion of, doctor-owned hospitals, the specialized-care units blamed for hurting income at nonprofit facilities, the Wall Street Journal reports. There are 200 such facilities nationwide, touted for their efficiency but criticized for giving physicians...
Ex-Child Star Fanning Weighs Villainous Twilight Role
E! Online
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Jan 22, 2009 12:25 PM CST
(Newser) -
Dakota Fanning: adorable child star or sadistic teen vampire? The actress, 15 next month, is in talks to star as vamp villain Jane in Twilight sequel New Moon , scheduled for a Nov. 20 release, E! reports. “There were no auditions. They just offered it to her outright, and now they’re in negotiations,” a source says. Maybe execs...
After Day of Rest, First Daughters Back to School
Associated Press
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Jan 22, 2009 12:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
Sasha and Malia Obama are back in school today, after taking yesterday off to recover from inauguration fever, the AP reports. The First Daughters spent Tuesday smiling and waving, and were up late with surprise visitors the Jonas Brothers while their parents were out at the balls. The girls are in second and fifth grade, respectively, at the prestigious...
McGwire's One-Eyed Brother Plugs Tell-All Book
Deadspin
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Jan 22, 2009 12:06 PM CST
(Newser) -
Mark McGwire’s less-successful, one-eyed, bodybuilding brother Jay has written a tell-all book claiming he introduced the slugger to steroids. There’s just one problem: so far, no one’s willing to publish it. But Deadspin got its hands on the manuscript, and can share its juiciest tidbits (no pun intended). It all began when Jay shot...
Thain to Leave BofA After Record Losses
CNBC
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Jan 22, 2009 11:55 AM CST
(Newser) -
Former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain, who became a top exec at Bank of America when the firms merged last year, will resign from his position, CNBC reports. The move comes a week after Bank of America posted its first quarterly loss in 17 years, widely attributed to poor information about Merrill’s financials at the time of acquisition. To cover...
TomKat Plot London Move
Daily Mirror (UK)
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Jan 22, 2009 11:52 AM CST
(Newser) -
Europe is fast becoming the new Beverly Hills, with Tom Cruise saying last night he may move back to London. The Valkyrie star lived there for 2 years with ex Nicole Kidman, and it seems he still remembers the lingo: “Katie was absolutely brilliant on Broadway,” Cruise tells the Mirror of wife Holmes, “and to work in the West...
Sundance Stunner Sheds Light on Dolphin Slaughter
Salon
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Jan 22, 2009 11:41 AM CST
(Newser) -
Planning a trip to Sea World? You might want to go before you see The Cove —because you sure won’t want to after. The documentary, made by a National Geographic photographer and Flipper’s former trainer, takes viewers inside a secret cove in Japan, Andrew O’Hehir, from Sundance, writes in Salon. Fishermen herd thousands of...
Time to Retire the Crotch Shots, Madge
Daily Mail (UK)
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Jan 22, 2009 11:31 AM CST
(Newser) -
More than gloves came off for Madonna during her divorce, and it seems no amount of pleading can stop the 50-year-old’s “forced erotica,” Jan Moir writes in the Daily Mail . Madge’s crotch shots for her new Hard Candy album are “the death rattle of a freshly divorced diva desperately seeking assurance that she can still...
After Historic Day, Historic Cleanup
Washington Post
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Jan 22, 2009 11:21 AM CST
(Newser) -
Crews working into the wee hours hauled away at least 130 tons of garbage after America’s largest, and messiest, outdoor bash Tuesday, the Washington Post reports. With trashcans removed for security precautions, inauguration attendees littered the National Mall, leaving it looking like a rendition of Disney's Wall-E . Obama gear, American...
Sex and the City Sequel Is On
Us Weekly
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Jan 22, 2009 11:14 AM CST
(Newser) -
Hang on to your Manolos, ladies: All four stars of Sex and the City have agreed to appear in a second movie, Us Weekly reports. “Not all the contracts are signed, but everyone is on board,” a source said. Why the quick decision after the first film—which made $150 million—was delayed for so long? Possibly because all four...
Sasha, Malia Dolls Not Modeled on Obamas: Maker
Associated Press
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Jan 22, 2009 11:05 AM CST
(Newser) -
It’s just coincidence that new dolls released by the makers of Beanie Babies are named Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia, and “there’s nothing on the dolls that refers to the Obama girls,” a company spokeswoman insists. Still, fascination with the real-life First Daughters will surely fuel a craze for the bronze-skinned miniatures,...
This Time, Iraq Gets Politics With Its Elections
Washington Post
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Jan 22, 2009 10:55 AM CST
(Newser) -
If Iraq’s tumultuous 2005 elections were a trial run at democracy, the current provincial race has main-event flavor, the Washington Post reports. Greater stability has allowed town-hall gatherings, where voters grill some 14,000 candidates running for 440 seats on everything from housing to militarization. And campaign posters, T-shirts and...
Obama Signs Order to Close Gitmo
Associated Press
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Jan 22, 2009 10:51 AM CST
(Newser) -
President Obama today signed orders to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center within a year, review the military terror trials, and ban the harshest interrogation techniques, the AP reports. “There we go,” the president said with satisfaction after signing the orders, which promise to fundamentally reshape the country's approach towards...
Committee Approves Geithner
Associated Press
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Jan 22, 2009 10:47 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Senate Finance Committee has approved the nomination of Timothy Geithner as treasury secretary despite his tax mistakes, the AP reports. This morning's 18-5 vote sends Geithner's confirmation to the full Senate. President Obama is hoping for quick approval so the point man for the administration's economic rescue effort can begin work.
Depressed Pet Mauls Former French Prez
Daily Mail (UK)
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Jan 22, 2009 10:39 AM CST
(Newser) -
Former French President Jacques Chirac is recovering after his depressed poodle mauled him, the Daily Mail reports. Sumo, a white Maltese, takes anti-depressants and is prone to making “vicious, unprovoked attacks,” said Bernadette Chirac, who wouldn’t say where her 76-year-old husband had been bitten. “The dog went for him...
Simon to Hopeful: Try Hooking Instead
Sun (UK)
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Jan 22, 2009 10:30 AM CST
(Newser) -
Simon Cowell is well-known for his zingers on American Idol , but now he’s getting personal. The acerbic judge told one hopeful, clad in what looked to be short-short drapes, "You should be a hooker," the Sun reports, and complained to another, “I hate what you’re wearing.” Another, warbling contestant was told,...
Absence at Oath Re-Do Not Matter of Biblical Proportion
Salon
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Jan 22, 2009 10:20 AM CST
(Newser) -
Huge news out of Washington: Barack Obama didn’t use a Bible when he re-took the oath of office! Is he really the president? Well, yes, says Alex Koppelman of Salon. “Legally, the president can be sworn in on a copy of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish , and the oath would count.” Will that stop Matt Drudge from complaining?...
Clinton Takes Over at State
New York Times
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Jan 22, 2009 10:08 AM CST
(Newser) -
Hillary Clinton began her first day as secretary of state with a message for her new employees, the New York Times reports. “This is a new era,” she said as State Department workers applauded her arrival this morning. “We will make clear as we go forward that diplomacy and development are essential tools in achieving the long-term...
SEC Charges 'Mini-Madoff' With Fraud
Reuters
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Jan 22, 2009 9:55 AM CST
(Newser) -
A Florida hedge fund manager who's been on the run for more than a week will find federal fraud charges waiting for him if and when he resurfaces, Reuters reports. Arthur Nadel transferred more than $1 million of clients' money into secret accounts before disappearing, the SEC alleges in a complaint filed yesterday, and the hedge funds he controlled,...
Windows 7: Finally, an End to Vista Misery
New York Times
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Jan 22, 2009 9:53 AM CST
(Newser) -
Microsoft is rolling out a successor to Vista, its universally reviled operating system, with Windows 7 now available in a relatively bug-free beta download. Early users report that the new edition is a marked improvement. David Pogue, in the New York Times , says Windows 7 ends “a big part of the Vista misery,” and Walt Mossberg, in the...
Palin Hires Superagent for Book, TV Deal
Hollywood Reporter
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Jan 22, 2009 9:41 AM CST
(Newser) -
Sarah Palin was notably absent from the capital during the inauguration but she's been busy hiring high-profile DC attorney Robert Barnett to help her score a book deal. Barnett is known for brokering a book for Barack Obama, as well as both Bill and Hillary Clinton, and he is now shopping one on the 2008 campaign by Obama campaign manager David Plouffe,...
'Choose-a-Charter' System Lets Banks Dodge Regulation
Washington Post
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Jan 22, 2009 9:25 AM CST
(Newser) -
A loophole in the nation’s banking regulations allows institutions to switch their charters from federal to state, effectively allowing them to decide which regulatory agencies supervise them, reports the Washington Post . Regulatory reform is at the top of Treasury Secretary-designate Tim Geithner's agenda. Of the 200-plus banks that have converted...
Microsoft to Ax 5K Jobs
All Things Digital
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Jan 22, 2009 9:20 AM CST
(Newser) -
Microsoft surprised the street today by releasing its earnings early, and they weren’t pretty. The software giant’s revenues inched up only 2%, below earlier guidance, and its net income dropped 11%. More alarming, the company said it was slashing 5,000 jobs, starting with 1,400 today, which amounts to 5.5% of its workforce. “We are...
