Newser Story Index from May, 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.
Winehouse Documentary in the Works
People
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May 20, 2009 1:50 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Amy Winehouse's troubled life is the subject of an upcoming documentary from Israeli-American interviewer Daphne Barak, People reports. "In honest-to-goodness Amy style, the doc will be a truthful and revealing look at her complicated life," according to Winehouse's MySpace page. The documentary is being filmed at Winehouse's getaway...
US-Issued Ammo Found on Afghan Insurgents
New York Times
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May 20, 2009 1:27 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The resilience of Afghanistan's Taliban insurgency may be partly due to supplies from the US, according to a New York Times investigation. The majority of 30 rifle magazines recently found on dead insurgents were the same as those issued to the Afghan military by the US, strongly suggesting that Pentagon-supplied ammo is leaking from Afghan security...
Olympian Johnson Crowned Dancing Queen
Extra
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May 19, 2009 11:30 PM CDT
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Shawn Johnson now has a Dancing With the Stars' mirror ball trophy to put alongside her Olympic medals, Extra reports. The gymnast—at 17, the youngest star to compete on the show—took first place along with dancing partner Mark Ballas, leaving Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke in second place, and Melissa Rycroft and partner Tony Dovolani...
Indonesia Plane Crash Kills at Least 68
Associated Press
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May 19, 2009 10:38 PM CDT
(AP) -
An Indonesian military plane carrying 112 people crashed and burst into flames today, killing at least 68, officials said. Dozens of people were injured and more were feared dead, with local television flashing footage of fire engulfing the wreckage and soldiers carrying bodies on stretchers. The C-130 Hercules was on a routine training mission when...
Marshall: Back Off Plagiarism Charges
Talking Points Memo
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May 19, 2009 10:22 PM CDT
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Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo isn't joining the chorus of critics against Maureen Dowd, who admitted she inadvertently lifted one of Marshall's lines in her weekend column. "I generally think we're too quick to pull the trigger with charges of plagiarism," writes Marshall. "Whatever the mechanics of how it happened, I never thought...
US May Create Financial Watchdog for Consumers
Washington Post
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May 19, 2009 9:28 PM CDT
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The Obama administration may create a government agency with sweeping powers to protect consumers who use financial products such as mortgages, mutual funds, and credit cards, reports the Washington Post . Current protections are scattered throughout several agencies. The new plan would corral them under one regulatory commission and create tougher...
Chace Will Be Footloose — Maybe Miley, Too
People
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May 19, 2009 8:36 PM CDT
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And this generation's Kevin Bacon will be ... Chace Crawford of Gossip Girl . The 23-year-old heartthrob has been picked to star in the remake of Footloose , which launched Bacon's career 25 years ago. Crawford will portray the teenage I-just-want-to-dance rebel who shakes up a small town. So who will be his leading lady? E! Online reports that...
Zuckerberg: Facebook IPO 'a Few Years Out'
Reuters
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May 19, 2009 8:06 PM CDT
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Mark Zuckerberg tells Reuters he does indeed intend to take Facebook public—just don't hold your breath waiting for it. The company is still "a few years out from that," said the 25-year-old co-founder. He said Facebook has plenty of capital, though he didn't deny that company execs have been talking with various investors about funding.
Savage: Limbaugh 'Is the Biggest Fraud'
Media Matters
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May 19, 2009 7:18 PM CDT
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Trouble in the land of right-wing radio. Michael Savage blasted Rush Limbaugh today as "the biggest phony of them all," reports Media Matters. Savage was speaking about the people who have supported him since Britain branded him a hate-monger and told him to stay away. Limbaugh, however, did not come to Savage's side—as Savage did for...
Vick Will Work With Humane Society
CNN
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May 19, 2009 6:51 PM CDT
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Michael Vick will work with the Humane Society to spread the message against dog fighting when he gets out of prison, reports CNN. Details are still to be worked out, but Vick is expected to work on programs designed to keep youths away from the practice and to help those convicted. Vick's sentence is up in July, but he's expected to be released in...
Busta's Back, in Fine Form
Rolling Stone
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May 19, 2009 6:29 PM CDT
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Busta Rhymes is back with his first album in three years, and if his record release party last night is any indication, he's barely missed a beat, writes Jayson Rodriguez in Rolling Stone . Rhymes—whose Back On My B.S. is out today—"has long been recognized as one of hip-hop’s premiere live performers and just doesn’t...
Microsoft May Unveil Wii-Like Remote in June
BBC
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May 19, 2009 5:55 PM CDT
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Just-released patent applications suggest Microsoft has indeed created a so-called “Magic Wand” to rival the Wii remote, the BBC reports. It could come out at next month's industry expo in Los Angeles. The applications say the wand has "biometric sensors" that would detect "fingerprint, hand geometry, hand vein pattern, palm...
Reid's Approval Sinks in Nevada
Las Vegas Review-Journal
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May 19, 2009 5:42 PM CDT
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Harry Reid may have a tough time getting Nevadans to re-elect him in 2010, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. If the election were today, 45% would definitely vote against him and another 17% would consider it, a new poll shows. About a third of voters would keep the Senate majority leader in office. The GOP's main problem? It still doesn't have...
Spielberg Snags MLK Movie Rights
NPR
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May 19, 2009 5:23 PM CDT
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The first authorized biopic of Martin Luther King Jr. will be a Steven Spielberg production. The filmmaker's DreamWorks studio has obtained the rights from King's family, NPR reports. No word yet on whether Spielberg himself will direct or who will play the main role (Denzel? Jamie Foxx?). King’s children are notoriously protective of his legacy,...
New Orleans Will Host 2013 Super Bowl
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
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May 19, 2009 5:03 PM CDT
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The NFL gave New Orleans a little post-Katrina love today, announcing that the city will host the Super Bowl in 2013, the Times-Picayune reports. "From every perspective, this shows that our city is on the rise, viable and thriving," said Saints owner Tom Benson. "Maybe we don't need to talk about New Orleans being on the way back...
Time to Go After Obama Directly, Says Steele
Washington Post
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May 19, 2009 4:43 PM CDT
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Michael Steele told fellow Republicans to go after President Obama himself instead of lesser Democrats, the Washington Post reports. "If we have the courage of our convictions, and we do, then we will and we must stand up against disastrous policies, regardless of the president's popularity," the RNC chairman said in a speech. He called...
47M-Year-Old Fossil Evolutionary 'Aunt' to Humans
ABC News
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May 19, 2009 4:00 PM CDT
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Scientists have discovered the oldest intact primate fossil on record, ABC News reports. Nicknamed “Ida,” the 47-million-year-old lemur-like creature had opposable thumbs, fingernails instead of claws, and legs that could have evolved to walk upright. Scientists don’t think Ida is a direct ancestor of humans, though. “We are...
New Punch-Out!! Is Classic Fun
Wired
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May 19, 2009 3:50 PM CDT
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Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! , on the original Nintendo Entertainment System, was a “perfect combination of addictive gameplay and technological impressiveness,” Chris Kohler writes in Wired . In a new version for Wii, happily, the company has figured out "what made the original so compelling” and recreated it “in spades.”...
Judge Orders Arrest of Anti- Chemo Mom
Associated Press
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May 19, 2009 3:36 PM CDT
(AP) -
A Minnesota judge issued an arrest warrant today for the mother of a 13-year-old boy resisting chemotherapy after the pair missed a court hearing on his welfare. Brown County District Judge John Rodenberg is also ordering that Daniel Hauser be placed in protective custody so he can get proper medical treatment for Hodgkins lymphoma.
Palin Shopping Spree OK: Feds
Anchorage Daily News
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May 19, 2009 3:24 PM CDT
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The Federal Election Commission dismissed today a complaint that the Republican National Committee broke the law when it bought $150,000 in clothes for then-vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, the Anchorage Daily News reports. The FEC said purchases were “coordinated party expenditures” for campaign purposes, and did not violate...
Housing Data Put Dow Off 29
Wall Street Journal
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May 19, 2009 3:12 PM CDT
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Yesterday’s housing-fueled rally didn’t carry over into today’s session, the Wall Street Journal reports, in part because of poor indicators from that same industry. April saw a 12.8% reduction in buildings starting construction; Home Depot dropped 5%. Still, a metric of investor anxiety today fell to its lowest point since September....
White Rabbits Make 'Punk Nihilism Sound Manageable'
Pitchfork
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May 19, 2009 3:10 PM CDT
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White Rabbits’ 2007 effort, Fort Nightly , was an “occasionally very good debut,” but follow-up It’s Frightening , released today, packs a true punch, writes Eric Harvey in Pitchfork . Producer Britt Daniel of Spoon gave the band a leg up, serving as the record’s “songwriting Svengali” to infuse its “urbane...
The Most Creative Minds in Business
Fast Company
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May 19, 2009 3:00 PM CDT
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Creativity is a tough thing to put your finger on, but Fast Company takes a shot at picking world’s top 100 business innovators. The first five: Jonathan Ive : Apple’s design chief—responsible for the iPhone, iPod, MacBook, and iMac—ushered in an era of “design perfection” that became “the benchmark...
Cancer in Remission, Kennedy Set for June Return
The Hill
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May 19, 2009 2:46 PM CDT
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Sen. Ted Kennedy should be back at work after the body’s Memorial Day recess, Majority Leader Harry Reid said today after hearing from Kennedy’s wife that the 77-year-old’s brain cancer is in remission. Kennedy has spent much time at home in Massachusetts since the diagnosis last May, the Hill notes; his return should coincide with...
'Hardware Hackers' Get Handy
Boston Globe
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May 19, 2009 2:37 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Seeking an escape from the confined world of their computer screens, programmers are applying their technological know-how to the physical world, building and tweaking an array of devices with their hands, the Boston Globe reports. “My normal job is way up in the clouds,” said a programmer at a soldering workshop. “This is so much...
Next for Richie: 'World Beat' Disc, Commodores Reunion
Billboard
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May 19, 2009 2:35 PM CDT
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Not yet done touring to promote his new album, Lionel Richie is already talking up his next effort, Billboard reports. “I’ve plugged into a world beat somewhere,” Richie said of the upcoming disc, which he will produce himself with collaborators. “I can always tell when I’m going in the right direction—I scare...
Palm's Launch of 'Pre' Thumbs Nose at Apple
TechCrunch
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May 19, 2009 2:23 PM CDT
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Sprint will launch the much-ballyhooed Palm Pre smartphone June 6, two days before the annual Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. Though this year’s WWDC isn’t expected to produce any new hardware, John Biggs writes for TechCrunch, the scheduling of the Pre launch is connected … probably. Though unlikely, Biggs writes, it’s...
Found: Good, Cheap US Wines
New York Times
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May 19, 2009 2:17 PM CDT
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It’s not easy, but it is possible to find inexpensive American wine that “will fascinate and intrigue,” Eric Asimov writes in the New York Times . Whereas European vintners grow a diverse range of regional grapes, Americans generally stick to classics like cabernet sauvignon, resulting in “a small amount of top-flight wine...
Backward 'Brain Drain' Calls Indians Home From US
NPR
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May 19, 2009 2:10 PM CDT
(Newser) -
While much of the world suffers economic meltdown, India’s economy is comparatively healthy—and that may be reversing a longstanding “brain drain” of Indians to American shores, Sandip Roy reports for NPR. “It’s the hottest topic at potluck dinners all over Silicon Valley—which friend or colleague has decided...
Prodigal Dubya, Texas Slowly Get Reacquainted
Newsweek
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May 19, 2009 1:56 PM CDT
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Former President Bush is gradually reentering life as a private citizen in Texas, Newsweek reports, but he's doing it gingerly and on his own terms. While many Texans agree that Dubya's still the friendly, aw-shucks guy they sent to Washington eight years ago, he's definitely keeping clear of dissent. “He is in home territory for sure,”...
Brits Missed Chances to Nab Leader of London Attacks
Guardian (UK)
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May 19, 2009 1:40 PM CDT
(Newser) -
UK authorities crossed paths with the top planner of the 2005 London bombings six times, but never labeled him a threat, a parliamentary report out today concludes. Almost every time Mohammad Sidique Khan appeared on police and MI5 records, it was in connection with possible extremists, the Guardian reports. But investigators said they couldn’t...
Top Traits That Mean You're a Sucker
Telegraph (UK)
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May 19, 2009 1:31 PM CDT
(Newser) -
British researchers have identified several traits that make a person more likely to be sucked in by a scam, the Daily Telegraph reports. The country's fraud watchdog warns that while nobody is immune to being conned, the following traits make around a fifth of the population most vulnerable: An inability to control certain emotions, including...
Chicago to Springer: Good Riddance
Chicago Tribune
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May 19, 2009 1:22 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Jerry Springer tapes his last show in Chicago today, before heading for the pastures of Connecticut, made greener by a bunch of tax breaks. Well, Steve Johnson of the Chicago Tribune would like to wish him this fond adieu: “Don’t let the chair flying toward the door hit you on the way out.” The city will scarcely miss him or his...
Swayze's Not Dead: Rep
E! Online
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May 19, 2009 1:07 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Rumors flooding the Internet today of Patrick Swayze’s death are exaggerated, his publicist says. A Florida radio station announced this morning that Swayze had lost his battle with pancreatic cancer, setting the web abuzz. “Patrick is alive, well, and is enjoying life,” his publicist told E! “He continues to respond well to...
Senate Passes Credit-Card Bill
Associated Press
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May 19, 2009 12:54 PM CDT
(AP) -
The Senate voted today to prohibit credit-card companies from arbitrarily raising an individual's interest rate and charging many of the exorbitant fees. The vote was 90-5. With the House on track to endorse the measure by week's end, President Obama could see a bill on his desk by the end of the week. He's expected to sign.
iPods Give War a Soundtrack
New York Post
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May 19, 2009 12:50 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Thanks to iPods, the Iraq war has a soundtrack—and it’s different for each soldier, writes Jonathan Pieslak in his new book, Sound Targets . “People can put nanos in their flak jackets and they are ready to go,” Pieslak tells the New York Post , and CDs are popular in care packages or on the black market. And though soldiers...
Swine Flu Suspected in Death of NYC Toddler
New York Times
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May 19, 2009 12:39 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Swine flu may be responsible for the death of a 16-month-old boy from Queens, the New York Times reports. Jonathan Zamora Castillo died at 10:20 last night, just hours after being admitted with a high fever, Mayor Bloomberg said this morning. He also said that four cases have been confirmed at the Rikers Island jail complex, with another four probable.
Dems Won't Fund Gitmo Closing
Associated Press
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May 19, 2009 12:33 PM CDT
(AP) -
President Obama's allies in the Senate will not provide funds to close the Guantanamo Bay prison by January, a top Democratic official said today. With debate looming on Obama's spending request to cover military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the official says Democrats will deny the Pentagon and Justice Department $80 million...
Dolla Shooting Suspect Held on $1M Bail
E! Online
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May 19, 2009 12:25 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Los Angeles police have charged 23-year-old Aubrey Louis Berry with the murder of Roderick Anthony Burton II, better known as up-and-coming rapper Dolla, E! reports. Berry is being held on $1 million bail. Police have questioned two other persons of interest as well, a man and a woman, but neither has been charged.
Victim in Harvard Shooting Dies
Boston Globe
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May 19, 2009 12:22 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The man shot at Harvard University yesterday has died, the Boston Globe reports. The still-unidentified victim was shot in the entrance of a residence hall, and taken to a hospital in what police described at the time as stable condition. The university says the suspect has likely fled the area. It’s unclear how the victim got inside the building;...
Mel's Lover Still Pregnant: Sources
New York Post
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May 19, 2009 12:12 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Mel Gibson’s lover is pregnant—yes, the National Enquirer said so two weeks ago, reports the New York Post , but now sources close to Gibson have confirmed Oksana Grigorieva is expecting. Elsewhere: Also from the Post , Alex Rodriguez has moved on from Madonna to Kate Hudson. The two have been spotted together numerous times,...
Cheap Deals Bring Back the Vacation
Wall Street Journal
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May 19, 2009 11:53 AM CDT
(Newser) -
When it comes to vacationing this summer, “the power is with the consumer,” says a consultant: The troubled economy has airlines, hotels, and cruises dropping prices dramatically. International airfares are down 14%, domestic fares 17%, Travelocity says; and for the first time since 2005, AAA predicts an uptick in Memorial Day travel, thanks...
Google Turns to Algorithm to Retain Employees
Wall Street Journal
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May 19, 2009 11:52 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Google is dealing with the departures of several prized employees the way it deals with nearly everything: with an algorithm. The search giant has a mathematical formula it says will identify which employees are at risk of jumping ship, the Wall Street Journal reports. The formula has already spotted employees who feel underused, a key complaint.
I'm Too Hot to Get Good Roles: Biel
Us Weekly
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May 19, 2009 11:43 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Jessica Biel, whose latest film is going straight to DVD, wants a career like Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman. What’s holding her back? Her looks, she tells Allure . Being so hot “really is a problem” when it comes to getting good roles, she says, adding, “I have to be blunt.” She also discusses her high-profile...
Hsu Guilty of Squeezing Donors for Campaign Cash
Wall Street Journal
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May 19, 2009 11:28 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Ponzi schemer and Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu has been convicted of campaign finance fraud after two days of jury deliberations, the Wall Street Journal reports. Prosecutors said Hsu had pushed his investors to donate tens of thousands to his chosen political candidates, including Hillary Clinton, between 2004 and 2007. Hsu pleaded guilty to...
Clinton to Announce Aid for Pakistan Refugees
Associated Press
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May 19, 2009 11:16 AM CDT
(AP) -
Hillary Clinton will detail plans for US humanitarian aid to Pakistan later today, as part of the administration's new strategy for countering the appeal of Taliban militants in the nuclear-armed country. An administration official said the aid package would amount to about $100 million to help Pakistani refugees who have fled fighting in the Swat...
Words Failed Kennedy on Chappaquiddick
New York Daily News
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May 19, 2009 11:06 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Though he longed to tell Mary Jo Kopechne’s parents about the 1969 accident that killed their daughter, Ted Kennedy couldn’t find the words on two occasions when he invited them into his home, a new book on the senator says. “When the time came, after plenty of small talk, he said he just couldn’t talk about it,” Gwen...
Terminator Director Excuses Bale Rant
MTV
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May 19, 2009 11:04 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Terminator Salvation director McG joined the Christian Bale Rant Apology Tour yesterday, telling MTV he takes responsibility. “I lead the way by having a big personality, having a strong opinion, and being very vocal on the set. I’m trying to wind everybody up to a level of adrenaline that would correspond to a war situation,” he...
Banks Lowball Taxpayers on TARP Payback
New York Times
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May 19, 2009 10:55 AM CDT
(Newser) -
US banks are eager to repay their TARP money, but doing so might rob taxpayers of the upside they were originally promised, the New York Times reports. In exchange for emergency loans, the government got 10-year warrants to buy stock in the banks. If repaid, it must sell those warrants. But at what price? Should it try to maximize taxpayer profit,...
Madoff Money Man Steps Down
Wall Street Journal
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May 19, 2009 10:45 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Thanks to some strong arming from Andrew Cuomo, financier J. Ezra Merkin is stepping down as manager of his hedge fund and placing it into receivership, the Wall Street Journal reports. Cuomo charged Merkin in a civil fraud complaint last month, saying he “betrayed hundreds of investors,” by pumping $2.4 billion into Bernie Madoff’s...
