Newser Story Index from April, 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.
'Suicidal' Ex-NBA Star Jayson Williams Hospitalized
New York Post
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Apr 27, 2009 12:19 PM CDT
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Former NBA star Jayson Williams was hospitalized after acting "suicidal" and "violent," the New York Post reports. Police officers used "an electrical device" to subdue Williams, who had barricaded himself inside a New York hotel room. He was taken to a hospital for a psychological evaluation. The former Nets and...
After 100 Days, Does Obama Beat Bush?
Christian Science Monitor
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Apr 27, 2009 12:00 PM CDT
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After 100 days, President Obama is more divisive, more popular with moderates, and bigger with his base than George W. Bush was at this point—depending on where you look, the Christian Science Monitor finds in a look at 11 community types. Overall, Obama’s 63% Pew approval rating beats Bush’s—but unlike Obama, Dubya was rated...
Never Fear! Miley, Nick Just Friends
E! Online
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Apr 27, 2009 11:34 AM CDT
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Thanks to Twitter, fans were reassured yesterday that Miley Cyrus is not dumping boyfriend Justin Gaston, E! reports. Ex-boyfriend Nick Jonas is “so lovely,” but the two are just friends, she insists. Elsewhere: Britney Spears’ latest drug: Gardening. The pop star is reading up on the spiritual aspects of “horticulture...
Fatima Bhutto: US Should Cut Pakistan Off
Daily Beast
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Apr 27, 2009 11:28 AM CDT
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Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is going to Washington next week to seek billions more to combat terrorism and keep the troubled nation afloat—and the Obama administration should swat away his outstretched hand, says Fatima Bhutto, estranged niece of Zardari's slain wife, Benazir Bhutto. "No amount of money, especially in the hands...
Condé Nast Shutters Portfolio
New York Times
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Apr 27, 2009 11:25 AM CDT
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Condé Nast’s once-ballyhooed Portfolio magazine will cease publishing immediately, staffers were told this morning. “The five main categories of advertising a publication like ours depends on are really in trouble,” Condé Nast’s group president told the New York Times . The magazine launched in April 2007, and...
Pentagon 'Photo Op' Flyover Rattles NYC
New York Times
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Apr 27, 2009 11:22 AM CDT
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A photo op by the Defense Department caused buildings in lower Manhattan and New Jersey to be evacuated this morning, the New York Times reports. A backup for Air Force One flew low over Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty accompanied by two fighter jets. The deployment was coordinated with the city, the Pentagon said, but the low-flying plane brought...
Madonna Sticks Close to Guy and Jesus
New York Post
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Apr 27, 2009 11:00 AM CDT
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Madonna seems to be surrounded by supportive men. Fashion designers are “hiring Jesus Luz as a favor to Madonna,” a source tells the New York Post . “As long as he can legally work in the US, they can be together.” Meanwhile, ex-hubby Guy Ritchie’s new home is just 200 yards from Madonna’s London mansion—and...
Middle-of-the-Road CNN Slips Into Last Place
New York Times
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Apr 27, 2009 10:38 AM CDT
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Based on cable news ratings, CNN's "no bias" strategy seems to be backfiring. The network, which sticks to the middle in its news coverage, has had an average of 271,000 primetime viewers in April, behind both conservative Fox News (668,000) and lefty MSNBC (300,000), the New York Times reports. "All of a sudden it seems a little unfashionable...
Another Susan Boyle Tape Surfaces
Sun (UK)
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Apr 27, 2009 10:35 AM CDT
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Susan Boyle tried out for television at least once before hitting Britain’s Got Talent —and a video of the performance was recently unearthed, the Sun reports. Boyle auditioned for My Kind of People in 1995, but was mocked during her rendition of "I Don't Know How to Love Him" by host Michael Barrymore—the feisty singer...
Nerds Bet Machine Can Beat Man on Jeopardy
New York Times
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Apr 27, 2009 10:27 AM CDT
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Hal, meet Watson. IBM announced it will unleash a new supercomputer program, named after founder Thomas J. Watson, which they say could beat human competitors on Jeopardy , the New York Times reports. More advanced than the software that beat chess champion Gary Kasparov in 1997, Watson will weigh nearly infinite relationship ranges to make comparisons...
US to Discourage Travel to Mexico
Reuters
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Apr 27, 2009 10:24 AM CDT
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The State Department is set to issue a swine flu travel warning, telling Americans to “avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico,” a US official tells Reuters. But at the same time, President Obama urged calm. “This is obviously a cause for concern,” he said. “But it is not a cause for alarm.” He said yesterday’s...
Iraq PM Vows to Prosecute US Troops After Fatal Raid
Washington Post
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Apr 27, 2009 10:18 AM CDT
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Iraq’s prime minister is threatening the country’s first prosecution of US troops after two Iraqis were killed yesterday morning in a US raid, the Washington Post reports. Nouri al-Maliki said the raid violated a security agreement that bans unilateral American action; the US says Iraq’s military had approved the move. The case...
US Atheists Step 'Out of Closet'
New York Times
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Apr 27, 2009 10:14 AM CDT
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Atheists across the country are turning up the volume, gathering openly and advertising their lack of faith, the New York Times reports. Their goal isn’t to win others over—“The most important thing is coming out of the closet,” said one activist—and win acceptance for their beliefs. And their numbers may be growing:...
White House Holds Door Open for Celebs
Politico
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Apr 27, 2009 10:06 AM CDT
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Tiger Woods, Toby Keith, Usher, and Forest Whitaker have all visited the White House—in the past week, reports Politico, noting that Barack Obama hasn’t hesitated to pal around with celebrities at a pace unmatched by even Bill Clinton. And whereas Clinton’s celebrity calls were mostly fundraising efforts, Obama seems to be consulting...
Jamie Lynn's Baby Daddy in Car Crash
People
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Apr 27, 2009 9:56 AM CDT
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Casey Aldridge, father of Jamie Lynn Spears’ daughter, was hospitalized following a car crash early yesterday, People reports. The 19-year-old was charged with careless driving after flipping his truck during a Louisiana bachelor party. Police found no evidence of drugs or alcohol, TMZ notes, adding that three of the five passengers—including...
Mustachioed Horse Bridles at Shaving
Telegraph (UK)
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Apr 27, 2009 9:50 AM CDT
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When his groom tries to shave Alfie's bushy blond mustache, the proud British horse says "neigh" and runs away, reports the Independent . "He's obviously rather proud of his facial hair," said the groom. "He runs a mile if he thinks we're going to trim it." Horse mustaches are rare. The black-and-white Shire-cross apparently...
Miss Cali Really, Really Not Sorry on Gay Marriage
Associated Press
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Apr 27, 2009 9:42 AM CDT
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Carrie Prejean, the controversial Miss California, defied state sponsors who asked her to apologize for her remarks about gay marriage, the AP reports. On the contrary, Prejean—coached by her San Diego megachurch’s founder, a former NFL player—has become more resolute in her beliefs. “I learned that God has a bigger crown than...
1976 Swine Flu Scare Taught What Not to Do
Los Angeles Times
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Apr 27, 2009 9:36 AM CDT
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No matter how health officials handle the possible swine flu outbreak, it's likely to go better than it did in 1976. Back then, the government ordered a mass inoculation after one man in New Jersey died of the flu and others were sickened, the Los Angeles Times reports. Within 10 weeks, 40 million Americans were vaccinated—and 500 got Guillain-Barre...
Recession-Wary Teens Cut Back on Spending
Advertising Age
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Apr 27, 2009 9:31 AM CDT
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The downturn is causing teens, who usually spend through recessions while parents absorb the pinch, to cut back, Advertising Age reports. Teenagers are spending about 14% less this spring than last, a “dramatic impact” from a demographic that spends an average of $125 billion each year. Unemployment is also cramping spending; the teen...
RI to Charge Markoff With Robbing Stripper
CBS News
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Apr 27, 2009 9:11 AM CDT
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Authorities in Rhode Island plan to charge murder suspect Philip Markoff with a third Craigslist-related crime, CBS News reports. Markoff, 23, is expected to be charged in the robbery of a stripper who was held at gunpoint in a RI hotel room; police say his fingerprints match those found at the scene. Charges and the start of extradition proceedings...
At NY Fed, Geithner Got Cozy With Wall Street
New York Times
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Apr 27, 2009 9:10 AM CDT
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While some feel Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has been an aggressive steward of the public trust, some critics point to his days as New York Fed president as proof he’s too cozy with the very banks that crippled the financial system. The New York Times investigates his tenure there, when he dined regularly with senior execs from Citigroup,...
Fear of Feds Censors Corporate Tweets
Wall Street Journal
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Apr 27, 2009 9:02 AM CDT
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More big firms are using blogs and Twitter to keep the world up-to-date on company matters—but personal styles are colliding with federal corporate-communications rules, the Wall Street Journal reports. Firms like eBay are now adding disclaimers to once-casual tweets, leaving some readers cold. “There’s much more of a microscope...
US Wants Informal Chat on Cuba Ties
New York Times
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Apr 27, 2009 8:58 AM CDT
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The US is inching toward loosening relations with Cuba on the heels of President Obama’s Latin American trip, the New York Times reports. Cuban diplomats are set to meet informally with US officials to “test the waters,” an administration official said, mulling future talks over migration, drug trafficking, and other issues in efforts...
GM to Cut 21K US Factory Jobs
Associated Press
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Apr 27, 2009 8:53 AM CDT
(AP) -
General Motors will cut 21,000 US factory jobs by next year, phase out its Pontiac brand, and ask the government to take company stock in exchange for half of GM's government debt as part of a major restructuring effort needed to get more government aid, the firm said today. GM will also offer 225 shares of common stock for every $1,000 in notes held...
Stocks Sink on Swine Flu Panic
Wall Street Journal
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Apr 27, 2009 8:44 AM CDT
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Swine flu panic swept across markets today, sending stocks lower around the world. In the US, the Dow sank 80 points at the open, while the S&P and Nasdaq fell 1.1% and 1.2% respectively. In Asia, the Hang Seng tumbled 2.7%, while many major European indexes were down more than 1%. Commodities sank, with oil down almost $3 a barrel, as did transportation...
Yemeni Forces Free Tanker, Nab 11 Pirates
Associated Press
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Apr 27, 2009 8:33 AM CDT
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Yemeni forces freed a hijacked Yemeni oil tanker and arrested 11 Somali pirates yesterday, the AP reports, with the country's coast guard exchanging gunfire with the pirates and taking control of the vessel Qana. Three marines were wounded, CNN adds. The tanker had been hijacked earlier in the day while traveling between two southern Yemeni ports.
Iowa Marries Gays but Licenses Won't Cross Border
Des Moines Register
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Apr 27, 2009 8:29 AM CDT
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As of today, gay couples will be welcome to wed in Iowa, regardless of whether they live there. If judges waive the three-day waiting period, some could be married by sundown. But for out-of-staters who are already chartering buses, the legally recognized bliss will be short-lived, the Des Moines Register reports. Iowa has no residency requirement...
Mad Men Snags BAFTA
Hollywood Reporter
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Apr 27, 2009 8:22 AM CDT
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Mad Men was the big US winner at last night’s BAFTA television awards, beating The Wire and The Daily Show to win best international show, notes the Hollywood Reporter . X Factor , another Simon Cowell-produced talent competition, won best entertainment show, while Kenneth Branagh picked up best drama series for his Scandinavian detective...
Thain Accuses BofA of Lying About Bonuses
Wall Street Journal
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Apr 27, 2009 8:21 AM CDT
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In his first lengthy interview since being pushed out as CEO of Merrill Lynch, John Thain tells the Wall Street Journal that Bank of America—which acquired Merrill in September—is lying about its involvement in the $3.6 billion in bonus payouts that made Thain the poster boy for corporate greed. “Getting fired is one thing,”...
Swine Flu Hits Hardest Among Young Adults
Washington Post
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Apr 27, 2009 8:05 AM CDT
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The swine flu sweeping through Mexico is wreaking havoc among young adults in particular, reports the Washington Post, with the entire death toll as of yesterday comprised of those between 25 and 50. Some believe the trouble for young adults is an overpowering immune reaction that ravages throat and lung tissue, but epidemiologists speculate that...
Doctor Shortage Could Hurt Obama Health Care Plans
New York Times
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Apr 27, 2009 8:00 AM CDT
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President Obama's ambitious plants to expand health care for millions of currently uninsured Americans while simultaneously meeting the needs of aging boomers, may be stymied not only by politics-as-usual but a shortage of primary care physicians, the New York Times reports. Officials are weighing several options, including increasing Medicare payments...
Obama Thrives On Disintegrating Media
Washington Times
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Apr 27, 2009 7:39 AM CDT
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The White House is watching the old media paradigm disintegrate with just a touch of opportunistic glee, reports Jon Ward of the Washington Times. “There are so many places that are driving the news that, in the end, nothing gets driven,” says press secretary Robert Gibbs. That makes it harder for Obama to form a “central narrative,”...
Ecuador's Lefty President Nabs Landslide Win
CNN
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Apr 27, 2009 7:38 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Voters reelected Rafael Correa as president of Ecuador yesterday, making the US-educated leftist the first incumbent to win reelection since 1972. "We have made history," said Correa at his victory rally. After his three predecessors were all thrown out of office amid anti-government protests, Correa has brought a sea change to the South...
Heart Pills Curb Risk of Prostate Cancer: Study
Bloomberg
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Apr 27, 2009 7:16 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Men taking cholesterol drugs to avert heart attacks may also be protecting themselves against prostate cancer and impotency, Bloomberg reports. A 15-year study by the Mayo Clinic tracked 2,440 white Minnesotans and found that those who took statins lowered their cancer risk threefold. The findings are challenged by another study of 1 million people,...
US Swine Flu Cases Hit 40; Mexican Death Toll 149
Wall Street Journal
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Apr 27, 2009 7:10 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The US is now confirming 40 cases of swine flu, while the death toll in Mexico is thought to have risen to 149, the Wall Street Journal reports. Of more than a thousand suspected cases in Mexico, only 26 have been confirmed, along with six in Canada and one in Spain, the WHO reports. The European Union's health commissioner warned today against traveling...
At 89, Influential Justice Stevens Isn't Budging
Los Angeles Times
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Apr 27, 2009 6:50 AM CDT
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John Paul Stevens turned 89 last week, and the senior associate justice of the Supreme Court has lived to see many of his dissenting opinions eventually become the majority during his 33 years on the court. Stevens—who has given no indications of impending retirement—has led a number of slow-burning liberal victories on a right-leaning...
Swine Flu Sends Travel Stocks Falling
Financial Times (UK)
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Apr 27, 2009 6:39 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Stocks declined worldwide today, with travel companies leading losses as investors gave their first reaction to the outbreak of swine flu. Airlines took a pummeling—Lufthansa fell more than 12%, British Airways 8.7%—and tour operators like Carnival also suffered sharp drops. But pharmaceutical companies did well: drugmaker Roche, which...
Holder Visits Another Famous Torture Facility
Associated Press
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Apr 27, 2009 6:19 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Eric Holder arrived in London yesterday and paid a visit to a prison as notorious in its time as Guantanamo Bay, the AP reports. The attorney general listened quietly as his guide at the infamous Tower of London described scenes of torture—such as the interrogation of Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up Parliament in 1605 and was stretched on the...
Barbaro Statue Awaits Ky. Derby Fans
Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.)
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Apr 27, 2009 6:06 AM CDT
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A bronze statue of the late Barbaro charging mid-air toward his 2006 Kentucky Derby victory has been completed in advance of next week's 135th Derby, the Courier-Journal reports. Buried below the sculpture are the ashes of the beloved colt, who was euthanized two years ago after struggling to recover from a leg that all but shattered in the Preakness....
Moscow Police Chief Kills 3 in Gun Rampage
Times (UK)
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Apr 27, 2009 5:38 AM CDT
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A Moscow police chief went on a gun rampage in a supermarket last night, killing three people and wounding seven others. The chief, whose wife had recently left him, had finished a late shift and hitched a ride to the supermarket. He then shot the driver dead before entering the store and opening fire, reports the Times of London.
Mexico's Ailing Tourism Hit by Swine Flu
New York Times
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Apr 27, 2009 5:09 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The swine flu outbreak is wreaking havoc on Mexico's tourism industry, already severely weakened by a worsening drug war. Tourism dropped 20% over the weekend, the head of a hotel association tells the New York Times . With most attractions closed, tourists already in the capital were seen in masks as they rode double-decker buses. Death toll...
Prof Wanted in Triple Murder Branded 'Weird'
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Apr 27, 2009 4:44 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The University of Georgia professor wanted for the triple murder of his wife and two other adults is still hiding out and likely in a state of "desperation," police tell the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . A nationwide manhunt is on for marketing prof George Zinkhan, who eyewitnesses say shot his victims at close range Saturday—while...
Sri Lanka Army Ends Combat, Begins Rescue
CNN
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Apr 27, 2009 4:23 AM CDT
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The Sri Lankan army has announced an end to shelling in the tiny coastal strip where the Tamil Tigers mounted their last stand in the 26-year civil war, CNN reports. The army is set to move in and rescue trapped civilians whose situation the UN has called catastrophic; many were killed and more than 100,000 displaced as the war drew to a close. Officials...
Obama Exposed to Possible Swine Flu Case
Independent (UK)
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Apr 27, 2009 4:02 AM CDT
(Newser) -
President Barack Obama was exposed this month in Mexico to a potential case of swine flu the day before the ailing Mexican official died, reports the Independent . Distinguished archeologist Felipe Solis, who met Obama at a state dinner, showed the president around Mexico's anthropology museum 11 days ago during Obama's visit to Mexico. Solis died...
Talks Begin on Keeping US Troops in Mosul, Baghdad
New York Times
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Apr 27, 2009 3:40 AM CDT
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The US and Iraq are negotiating exceptions to the June 30 deadline for withdrawing combat troops from Iraqi cities, reports the New York Times . While the US military will leave most cities and towns by the deadlines, troops may remain in Mosul, the northern city critical to al-Qaeda in Iraq, as well as in some parts of Baghdad.
$250 Google Netbook Debuts This Summer
ComputerWorld
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Apr 27, 2009 3:15 AM CDT
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The first netbook running the Google-backed Android mobile operating system could be available within 3 months for $250, ComputerWorld reports. The petite, no-frills Alpha 680 with a 7-inch wide screen will be the smallest netbook yet, weighing a dainty 1.5 pounds and meansuring 8.5 by 6 inches. It's made by a small, obscure Chinese company and uses...
Immigrant Busted Clinging to 186 mph Eurostar
Independent (UK)
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Apr 27, 2009 2:55 AM CDT
(Newser) -
An illegal immigrant was nabbed in England clinging to the outside of a Eurostar rail car, reports the Independent . The trains reach speeds of 186 mph. The train originated in Brussels and traveled through France. Police provided no details on how the man survived the risky journey. Immigrants sneaking into England are a continuing problem. Last...
What the Well-Dressed 'Craigslist Killer' Wears
Gawker
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Apr 27, 2009 2:19 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Ever since he apparently tried to hang himself last week with his shoelaces, accused Craigslist killer Philip Markoff has been strapped into a padded restraint suit in jail designed to stop further attempts, reports Gawker. The "Ferguson Safety Smock" is aimed at keeping "problem inmates from hurting themselves and creating more...
Obama Lacks Health Team as Swine Flu Spreads
Politico
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Apr 27, 2009 1:53 AM CDT
(Newser) -
With key health posts in the Obama administration still vacant, the swine flu outbreak is being handled by a counter-terrorism specialist and a former governor, Politico reports. The administration still lacks a surgeon general and chiefs for the Food and Drug Administraion and Centers for Disease Control, and needs to fill 20 crucial positions—including...
US 'Close' on Fate of Gitmo Prisoners
Associated Press
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Apr 27, 2009 1:27 AM CDT
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The US is close to deciding whether to free an initial group of Guantanamo detainees, AP reports. Attorney General Eric Holder didn't specify how long it would be before Gitmo closes, but said he must first determine how many prisoners will be released or tried. "We're doing these all on a rolling basis," he said. "We're relatively close...
