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.
Blue States Dominate, and Purple Gains Ground
The Hill
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Jan 29, 2009 12:49 PM CST
(Newser) -
Blue states are far bluer than red states are red, says a new Gallup poll. Party registrations favor Democrats—they lead by 10 or more percentage points in 29 states and the DC, compared to four states where Republicans dominate—suggesting that Dems can expand on ther gains they made in last year's elections, the Hill reports.
Tough Times Are Boon for Couric's Ratings
Washington Post
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Jan 29, 2009 12:38 PM CST
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Katie Couric’s comforting style is perfect for tough times, or so a 5% uptick in the ratings for CBS’ Evening News suggests. In Couric’s hands, economic catastrophe, Mideast violence and terrorism become “news you can warm up to,” Tom Shales writes in the Washington Post . After the election cycle’s most-hyped...
The Single Best Question for Job Applicants
Harvard Business Review
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Jan 29, 2009 12:28 PM CST
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Hiring tends to be a total crapshoot, Peter Bregman writes in a Harvard Business Review blog. But you'll get better results if you ask applicants one question: What do you do in your spare time? Hero pilot Chesley Sullenberger flies gliders for fun and used to build intricate models. "Perhaps that attention to detail explains why he walked through...
Mitchell Calls for Lasting Peace as New Violence Hits Gaza
AFP
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Jan 29, 2009 12:19 PM CST
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Fresh violence in Gaza today threatened the fragile ceasefire as George Mitchell called for a lasting truce between Hamas and Israel, AFP reports. An Israeli air strike wounded 18 Palestinians, including 11 children and a pregnant woman. The Israeli army said it was targeting a Hamas policeman responsible for a bombing that killed an Israeli soldier...
Don't Want to Bet on the Super Bowl? Bet on Jennifer
TMZ
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Jan 29, 2009 12:13 PM CST
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Want to gamble on the Super Bowl, but know nothing about football? No problem: You can place your bets for how long it will take Jennifer Hudson to sing the national anthem Sunday instead, TMZ reports. Sites like BetUS.com have all sorts of options that have little to do with the actual sporting event, such as how many times commentator John Madden...
Competition to Lead GOP 'Dirtiest Ever'
Washington Times
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Jan 29, 2009 12:02 PM CST
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Things have gotten ugly in the race to chair the Republican National Committee, in which a vote is due tomorrow. Anonymous e-mails have thrown some hard elbows, the Washington Times reports—one this week featured a mock-up USA Today front page reading, “RNC members choose ‘whites only’ chairman,” warning of potential...
Stork Sneaks Up on Hasselbeck
People
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Jan 29, 2009 11:51 AM CST
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Elisabeth Hasselbeck is expecting her third child in August, and the pregnancy came as a surprise, People reports. “I didn't even know for 2 months,” the co-host told her friends on The View today, noting that she and her husband “were thoroughly happy with the surprise of it.” Hasselbeck said she had chalked up her lethargy...
Democratic Petition Gains Support in China
Washington Post
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Jan 29, 2009 11:42 AM CST
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An online human-rights manifesto has been gaining support in China, the Washington Post reports. Charter 08 has gathered 8,100 signatures, from ordinary citizens as well as known advocates for democracy. The document, modeled after a document put together by intellectuals in the former Czechoslovakia, demands China’s constitution be rewritten...
Blago to Senate: Tapes Show No Criminal Behavior
CNN
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Jan 29, 2009 11:31 AM CST
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Rod Blagojevich gave a passionate defense of himself at his Illinois Senate impeachment trial today, saying he had done “absolutely nothing wrong,” and reiterating his grievances—that he wasn’t allowed to bring witnesses, and that there is no real evidence against him, save for the infamous wiretap recordings. “There was...
Arrested Development Film Is a Go
New York Daily News
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Jan 29, 2009 11:24 AM CST
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After years of rumors and crossed fingers, the Arrested Development movie is finally on, the New York Daily News reports. "The movie is going to happen this year, and Michael Cera is on board. Trust me," said Jeffrey Tambor, patriarch of the dysfunctional TV family. Cera, whose career has taken off since he played Tambor's character's...
Men Smell Like Cheese, Women Like Onion
New Scientist
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Jan 29, 2009 11:13 AM CST
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Working out at the gym may stimulate your appetite—or maybe it's the enticing scent of the person next to you. Sweaty men smell of cheese, and sweaty women smell like onion or grapefruit, New Scientist reports. Body chemistry accounts for the difference, say Swiss researchers who based their conclusions on armpit sweat samples from 50 people...
Swayze Gives Up All Treatment
Daily Mirror (UK)
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Jan 29, 2009 11:03 AM CST
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Patrick Swayze has given up medical treatment after a yearlong struggle with pancreatic cancer, the Mirror reports. “There's nothing more doctors can do for him. The goal now is to keep him comfortable,” a family friend told the National Enquirer. “They have stopped the chemo. He's still losing weight and is very weak. He's taking...
GOP Proposes Alternative Stimulus
Politico
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Jan 29, 2009 10:54 AM CST
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House Republicans, fresh from unanimously opposing President Obama’s stimulus package, have proposed their own rescue bill, even as the White House promises retaliation, Politico reports. GOP leaders say their version would cost $478 billion—just over half the Obama price tag—and create 6.2 million jobs, a third more than the Democrats’...
Palin to Take Stage With Obama
Politico
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Jan 29, 2009 10:53 AM CST
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Barack Obama and Sarah Palin will butt heads once again, but this time the atmosphere will be a touch lighter. The two will appear onstage Saturday in Washington at the Alfalfa Club dinner, a 96-year-old gathering of 200 bigwigs that exists only for the event, Politico reports. The group has traditionally been dominated by white males who roast each...
No Regrets for US Iraq Deserter as Asylum Ruling Looms
Wall Street Journal
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Jan 29, 2009 10:47 AM CST
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German authorities will take up the case next week of Spec. André L. Shepherd, who deserted the US Army and sought asylum rather than face a second tour of duty in Iraq. “I’m having the time of my life,” Shepherd tells the Wall Street Journal from a refugee-processing center as he tests an EU law directing members to take...
Guys, PMS Alerts Just a Click Away
Australia's News Network
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Jan 29, 2009 10:37 AM CST
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Some 100,000 men bewildered and berated by wives and girlfriends with pre-menstrual syndrome have visited PMSbuddy.com, which sends out reminders when partners may be touchy, Australia’s News Network reports. Messages like “She’s on yellow—tread carefully, fella” keep men up to date on the cycles of the women in their...
Obama Signs Ledbetter Act as His First Bill
Associated Press
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Jan 29, 2009 10:23 AM CST
(AP) -
President Obama signed his first piece of legislation today, selecting an equal pay bill that makes it easier for women to sue for decades-old discrimination. Lilly Ledbetter—who for 19 years endured a pay discrepancy at Goodyear—stood at his side as the president signed the Fair Pay Act named after her. The law is designed to make it easier...
'Cheap' Tickets Go for $1,300
MarketWatch
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Jan 29, 2009 10:20 AM CST
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The pancaked economy and a lack of star power means Super Bowl tickets are selling a lot cheaper than in years past, Marketwatch reports. But they're not going for pennies. Resellers are offering nosebleed seats for as low as $1,300. An average seat is going for around $2,500—down more than $1,000 from the last two Super Bowls. Prices look set...
Sticks, Stones Break Bones, But Odd Names May Jail You
Telegraph (UK)
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Jan 29, 2009 10:06 AM CST
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The more unusual a teenage boy’s name is, the more likely he is to run afoul of the law, a study finds. Irrespective of race, uncommon names like Ivan, Malcolm, and Alec—as opposed to Michael or David—more often belong to kids who act up, researchers say. It’s probably not the names at fault, but connected factors like a deprived...
Joaquin's Rap Dream Is Real: Rep
MTV
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Jan 29, 2009 9:54 AM CST
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Joaquin Phoenix really is a struggling rap artist, a rep tells MTV. “The transition from one career to another is never seamless,” the actor’s publicist says. “He intends on exploring his musical interests despite speculative, negative, or positive reactions.” The statement is in direct contrast to rumors that Phoenix...
Rush: Give Me 46% of Stimulus
Wall Street Journal
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Jan 29, 2009 9:38 AM CST
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Rush Limbaugh doesn’t like Barack Obama’s $900 billion stimulus plan, and he’s betting the 46% of the country that voted for John McCain don’t either. But don’t worry, Rush has a plan. “Under the Obama-Limbaugh Stimulus Plan of 2009,” he writes in the Wall Street Journal , 54% “will be spent on infrastructure...
Hef Too 'Busy' to Miss Exes
E! Online
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Jan 29, 2009 9:34 AM CST
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Hugh Hefner is too busy with his replacement girlfriends to miss his three exes—and he might ask even more to join the brood, E! reports. “The best solution to lost love is new love,” the Playboy magnate said. As for rumors he’s scouting for more gal pals, “We don't have anyone in particular, but it's always possible....
UN Asks Davos for $613M in Gaza Aid
BBC
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Jan 29, 2009 9:24 AM CST
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The UN asked attendees at the Davos economic forum for $613 million to address “massive and multi-faceted” needs resulting from recent violence in Gaza, the BBC reports. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon says the funds will provide medical care and clean water for 6-9 months. As fresh violence heightened the need for relief, the agency also...
Blago's a Clown, and That's Not Funny
Washington Post
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Jan 29, 2009 9:16 AM CST
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These days, everyone seems to find Rod Blagojevich hilarious. Everyone, that is, except the state of Illinois, writes David Broder of the Washington Post . When Blagojevich went on TV instead of testifying at his impeachment hearing, there wasn’t a hint of outrage. The media “treated Blagojevich as if he were a kind of lovable rascal,...
Now Brandeis May Close Museum, Keep Art
Boston Globe
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Jan 29, 2009 9:00 AM CST
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In the face of universal shock and disapproval, Brandeis University has backpedaled on its plan to sell 6,000 works of modern art—but it will go ahead with its plan to close its museum. At a meeting with about 200 students, the university's president said that a sharp drop in Brandeis' endowment could be alleviated in the future if the economic...
Stocks Retreat After Rally
Wall Street Journal
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Jan 29, 2009 8:44 AM CST
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Stocks sank at the open today as investors cashed in after yesterday’s rally. The Dow lost 90 points, while the Nasdaq and S&P both dipped 1.4%. The day’s economic data was negative as usual: Continuing jobless claims rose 159,000, orders for durable goods dropped 2.6%, and Ford posted a $5.9 billion fourth-quarter loss.
In Obama's White House, Informality Rules
New York Times
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Jan 29, 2009 8:43 AM CST
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When George W. Bush was in charge, no one was allowed to enter the Oval Office without a suit and tie—and 43 even demanded business attire on weekends. Barack Obama's White House is a more casual place, where even the president himself works in shirtsleeves, the New York Times reports. It's only one of several changes Obama has made to daily...
Bush's Cheesy War Cuts French Farmers
Washington Post
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Jan 29, 2009 8:37 AM CST
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On its way out the door, the Bush administration essentially banned France’s prized Roquefort cheese from US shelves with a 300% tariff. The move was a tit-for-tat after the EU banned the import of US beef containing hormones, said a US trade rep. But residents of the cheese-dependent Roquefort region, where 4,500 people herd special sheep,...
Feds Bail Out Credit Union Network With $80B Guarantee
Wall Street Journal
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Jan 29, 2009 8:33 AM CST
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Federal regulators yesterday expanded their bailout of the financial sector, injecting $1 billion into one of several nonprofit companies that services credit unions nationwide and offering a guarantee of up to $80 billion for uninsured deposits at the “wholesale” credit unions, reports the Wall Street Journal . Regulators acted after...
Clarkson Soars to Top of Charts
Billboard
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Jan 29, 2009 8:22 AM CST
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Kelly Clarkson’s new single has jumped from No. 97 to No. 1 , breaking the record held by Britney Spears’ “Womanizer” for the largest leap to the top spot, Billboard reports. “My Life Would Suck Without You” sold 280,000 digital downloads in one week and is climbing radio charts. The onetime American Idol held the...
Aussie Dad Hurls Girl to Her Death
BBC
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Jan 29, 2009 8:04 AM CST
(Newser) -
An Australian man has been charged with fatally throwing his 4-year-old daughter off a bridge during Melbourne's rush hour, the BBC reports. Arthur Freeman, 35, tossed the girl 190 feet into a river this morning as hundreds of cars passed. Freeman, said to be suicidal, is believed to be in a custody battle with his wife.
Big Biz Slams 'Buy American' Stimulus Clause
Washington Post
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Jan 29, 2009 8:00 AM CST
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American exporters are fighting to ditch "Buy American" provisions from the economic stimulus package, the Washington Post reports. The House version bars most foreign iron and steel from stimulus projects, while a Senate version calls for only American-made equipment and goods to be used in nearly all projects to be funded by the stimulus...
Somali Pirates Hijack Another Tanker, Crew of 13
Associated Press
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Jan 29, 2009 7:49 AM CST
(AP) -
Somali pirates have hijacked a tanker and its crew of 12 Filipinos and one Indonesian. The cargo the Longchamp is carrying is unknown. Though the Gulf of Aden is now patrolled by more than a dozen warships from countries including Britain, France, Germany, Iran, and the US, they were not involved in the incident. Pirates, an increasing problem for...
New Credit Scores in Play Today
Wall Street Journal
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Jan 29, 2009 7:42 AM CST
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New credit scores intended to make identifying bad risks easier make their debut today, with TransUnion taking the lead in offering “FICO 08” metrics, reports the Wall Street Journal. The new formula is more forgiving of one-time lapses than its predecessors, but popularizing it may take years, according to developer Fair Isaac Corp.
Alba to O'Reilly: No, You're a Pinhead!
MSNBC
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Jan 29, 2009 7:24 AM CST
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History is on Jessica Alba's side in her ongoing feud with Bill O'Reilly, MSNBC reports. After the Fox anchor ridiculed Alba and called her a "pinhead" for apparently confusing Sweden with Switzerland by telling a reporter to "be neutral, be Sweden about it," Alba fired back with a blog post pointing out that Sweden is also...
Federer Tops Roddick on Way to Finals
Associated Press
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Jan 29, 2009 7:20 AM CST
(AP) -
Roger Federer moved within one victory of his 14th Grand Slam title, blasting Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 today to reach the Australian Open final. The second-ranked Federer outplayed Roddick—who’d trained specifically to play him and top seed Rafael Nadal—in every phase of the game, ripping winners from all over the court and even...
Ford Reports Record $14.6B Loss for 2008
Bloomberg
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Jan 29, 2009 7:17 AM CST
(Newser) -
Ford Motor Co. today reported its worst year in its 105-year history, driving through more than $5.9 billion in cash in the fourth quarter on its way to a $14.6 billion loss for the year, reports Bloomberg. The company said it had enough cash reserves and credit available to survive without tapping into any government bailout money.
Serena and Safina Reach Aussie Final
Telegraph (UK)
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Jan 29, 2009 7:14 AM CST
(Newser) -
Serena Williams steamrolled into her fourth Australian Open final today with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Elena Dementieva. The No. 2 seed hit 10 aces while Dementieva stumbled with strings of double faults. Williams will face Dinara Safina, who won her semifinal in straight sets over Vera Zvonareva. The matches took place indoors as Melbourne continued to...
Afghan Elections Delayed; Opponents Call Move Illegal
New York Times
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Jan 29, 2009 7:03 AM CST
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Afghanistan’s May presidential election will be delayed until August, officials said today, in a decision that appears to contradict the country's constitution. The Afghan election commission said it needed more time to register candidates, set up voting machinery, and ensure security, the New York Times reports, but that didn’t appease...
Iraq Denies Blackwater Contract
New York Times
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Jan 29, 2009 7:00 AM CST
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The Iraqi government has refused to grant Blackwater a license to continue its security work in the country, the New York Times reports. The controversial firm probably won’t exit the country at least until spring, as the US and Iraq work on rules for private contractors. “There are many marks against this company,” said an Iraqi...
Sony's Profit Off 95% in Q4
CNN
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Jan 29, 2009 6:46 AM CST
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Slumping demand, a strong yen, and increased competition knocked Sony’s third-quarter profits off 95% from a year ago, reports CNN. Sony reported profits of $110 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, down from $2.2 billion a year ago. Sony’s gaming segment was hit especially hard, with its popular Playstation logging a 32% decline. Overall,...
Snarling Putin Smacks Down Dell's Net Offer
CNN
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Jan 29, 2009 6:29 AM CST
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Russian leader Vladimir Putin fired a withering public broadside at computer tycoon Michael Dell at the World Economic Forum. When Dell offered to help expand the Internet in Russia, Putin snapped: "We don't need help. We are not invalids. We don't have limited mental capacity."
Bank Dumped Madoff Funds— but Didn't Tell Its Clients
New York Times
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Jan 29, 2009 6:00 AM CST
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JPMorgan Chase emerged from Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme unscathed, but some of the bank's clients weren't so lucky. For years the bank offered its clients derivatives that were ultimately linked to Madoff, and also put $250 million in those funds. But a joint investigation by the New York Times and the Italian newspaper Il Sole found that JPMorgan...
'Black Thursday' Strike Staggers France
Associated Press
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Jan 29, 2009 5:48 AM CST
(Newser) -
More than a million protesters in France are taking to the streets today in the country's biggest general strike in decades, reports the Times of London. The so-called "Black Thursday" job action is bringing together public and private sector workers, along with students, who are angered by President Nicolas Sarkozy's handling of the...
Coverup Probe Launched in LA Archdiocese Abuse Cases
Los Angeles Times
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Jan 29, 2009 5:07 AM CST
(Newser) -
Federal authorities are investigating whether top officials of the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese conspired to cover up the sexual abuse of minors by priests, sources tell the Los Angeles Times . Cardinal Roger Mahony and other leaders may face fraud charges for failing to keep children safe by improperly dealing with abusive priests, the sources...
Potter Stunt Double Feared Paralyzed In Set Blast
Daily Mirror (UK)
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Jan 29, 2009 4:43 AM CST
(Newser) -
Daniel Radcliffe's Harry Potter stunt double has been seriously injured in an accident during the filming of the final boy-wizard movie, the Daily Mirror reports. The 25-year-old man was rehearsing a flying sequence using a harness when an explosion sent him plummeting to the ground. He told colleagues he couldn't feel his legs and was rushed...
Murdered Baby Was Knick Star's Daughter
Chicago Sun-Times
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Jan 29, 2009 4:17 AM CST
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The baby murdered in a grisly attack witnessed by the son of New York Knicks player Eddy Curry turns out to be Curry's daughter, reports the Chicago Sun-Times . Curry and his former girlfriend, who was also murdered, had long argued about the paternity of the baby, which was finally determined by DNA tests last year. Curry's son, 3, was found near...
NASA Rover on Strike
Space.com
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Jan 29, 2009 3:49 AM CST
(Newser) -
NASA engineers are perplexed by a rebellious streak that has developed in its Martian roving robot, Spirit. It was expected to last just 90 days when it landed on Mars five years ago, but the robot has continued to send back data. This past weekend, however, Spirit failed to report for work and recorded no new data, reports Space.com.
French Model, 50, Rocks Runway in Gaultier Show
AFP
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Jan 29, 2009 3:16 AM CST
(Newser) -
French supermodel Inès de Fressange stole the show as Jean Paul Gaultier showed off his couture collection in Paris yesterday, AFP reports. The 50-year-old Fressange, an iconic model of the '80s but long absent from the catwalk, drew applause from the crowd as she appeared in a body-hugging black gown.
Feds Order Massive Recall of All Peanut Plant Foods
Washington Post
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Jan 29, 2009 2:53 AM CST
(Newser) -
The FDA has ordered a massive recall of every single product from ice cream to snack crackers and dog biscuits made over the last two years with peanuts processed at the Peanut Corporation of America plant in Georgia. The recall, aimed at stemming a deadly outbreak of salmonella, is one of the largest ever in US history. Most of the products have likely...
