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November 21, 2008 8:58:48 PM CST

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Easter

Easter news stories

12 Stories

 March Retail Sales Fall Flat 

Easter partly to blame as chains fall short of expectations

Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal Apr 10, 08 11:29 AM CDT
(Newser) - Retailers’ same-store sales were flat in March, due in part to an early Easter, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Thomson Financial Same Store Sales Index, projected to sink 0.1%, fell 1.1%, excluding Wal-Mart. Shoppers weren’t ready to buy for spring on the heels of winter, store closings for the holiday reduced sales, and consumer sentiment his a five-year low amid still-rising fuel prices. More »

 UN Pleads for $500M in Food Aid 

May cut food shipments to 73M hungry

Financial Times (UK) Financial Times (UK) Mar 24, 08 4:59 AM CDT
(Newser) - A United Nations food program has issued an extraordinary emergency plea for an extra $500 million in aid, warning that shipments to the world's hungry may be rationed if the money can't be raised over the next month, reports the Financial Times . The World Food Program feeds some 73 million people in 80 countries. More »

More about:  United Nations • European Union • oil price • Canada • hunger • USA • Easter • World Food Program

 Pope Hails Easter Conversions 

Benedict XVI demands end to conflicts in Tibet, Middle East

BBC BBC Mar 23, 08 1:27 PM CDT
(Newser) - Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Easter Mass today, hailing the miracle of conversion, "which renews itself even today" before a rain-soaked crowd in St. Peter's Square and calling for an end to hostilities in "Darfur and Somalia, the tormented Middle East, especially the Holy Land, Iraq, Lebanon, and Tibet." His address followed the controversial baptism of a high-profile Muslim journalist, BBC reports. More »

Holy Week
With the
Homeless

7 well-off Austin men prepare for Easter with a sojourn on the streets

Austin American-Statesman Mar 23, 08 12:52 PM CDT
(Newser) - In an effort to follow in the steps of Jesus, seven prosperous Austin men spent part of Holy Week this year living in a park in downtown Austin, Texas, with the homeless. The "street retreat' is led by Alan Graham, co-founder of a national organization that ministers to the homeless called Mobile Loaves & Fishes. More »

More about:  homeless • Austin • Easter • Holy Week

Cheney, Peres Warn
of Iran's Reach

Veep on 10-day swing through the Middle East

Associated Press Associated Press Mar 23, 08 10:41 AM CDT
(Newser) - Following an early Easter prayer service in Jerusalem, Dick Cheney continued his 10-day trip focused on the Mideast peace process by meeting with Israel President Shimon Peres this morning. Both men warned of Iran’s rising influence in the region, reports the AP. "We have this problem of the Iranians who want to build two satellites, the Hezbollah (in Lebanon), and the Hamas in Gaza,” Peres says. More »

More about:  Iran • Israel • Palestine • Dick Cheney • Israel and Palestinians • peace • Mideast peace talks • Easter

Obama Speech
Injects Race
Into Easter
Sermons
 

Many ministers preach anew about ending racial acrimony

New York Times New York Times Mar 23, 08 9:06 AM CDT
(Newser) - Barack Obama altered the agenda for many Easter sermons with his risky speech last week on racial acrimony, the New York Times reports. Ministers of a variety of faiths say they will use Obama’s words—framed to explain the incendiary statements of his former minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright—when speaking to congregations on Christianity’s most holy day. More »

More about:  Barack Obama • Election 2008 • race relations • Easter • sermon

 Easter Defies Madison Avenue 

Religious holiday's originis too wild to tame into commercialism

Slate Slate Mar 23, 08 8:00 AM CDT
(Newser) - Christmas’ religious meaning is lost in a sea of advertising, parties, and major retail dollars, but Easter has resisted becoming a “consumerist nightmare”—and that’s because its Christian origins demand serious thought, writes James Martin in Slate . While “the Christmas story is easily reduced to pablum,” Easter’s story of crucifixion and resurrection is “relentlessly disconcerting,” Martin observes. More »

More about:  religion • advertising • Christianity • Christmas • holiday • Jesus Christ • Easter • consumerism • resurrection • commercialism

 Peeps Fans Sweet on Easter 

Devoted fans hatch odd films, microwave jousting, and diorama contests

Palm Beach Post Palm Beach Post Mar 23, 08 7:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - Brightly colored, sticky-sweet marshmallow Peeps have spawned a cult following unparalleled in the candy world. Aficionados of the line of Easter treats—ranging from sun-yellow chicks to bunnies and tulips—have created bizarre videos, Internet fan sites, diorama contests, and a microwave jousting game, the Palm Beach Post reports. More »

More about:  cult • Easter • candy • microwave ovens

 Prominent Italian Muslim Baptized by Pope

Convert Takes Big Step at Vatican During Easter Vigil

Associated Press Associated Press Mar 23, 08 6:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - Italy's best-known commentator on Islam converted to Catholicism yesterday at the Vatican, during Easter vigil, and was baptized by the Pope himself, the AP reports. Though Magdi Allam was born a Muslim, he said he "never" practiced his native religion, and made his name criticizing Islamic fanaticism, receiving death threats in the process. More »

More about:  Hamas • Italy • Islam • Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Church • Vatican • Egypt • Catholicism • Easter • Magdi Allam

Easter Bunny's Budget Strained
as Egg Prices Skyrocket

But 29% jump is windfall for farmers

Chicago Tribune Chicago Tribune Mar 22, 08 6:19 PM CDT
(Newser) - As far as the egg industry is concerned, Easter might as well have been Christmas. Prices skyrocketed 29% over the last year, and show no sign of slowing, as eggs are such a staple that demand hasn’t slowed a bit. “We’ve never seen profits like this,” said one egg farmer. Consumers shelling out over $2 a dozen are less thrilled, the Chicago Tribune reports. More »

More about:  food prices • agriculture • farmer • Easter • eggs • chickens

 Pope Knocks China 
 on Good Friday  

Catholic leader reflects on Church's 'dark hour of persecution'

Reuters Reuters Mar 21, 08 8:35 PM CDT
(Newser) - Pope Benedict took aim at China's lack of religious freedom at a Good Friday procession in Rome today, Reuters reports. "In many parts of the world, (the Church) is undergoing the dark hour of persecution," the Pope said, using words penned by a cardinal who has blasted China's policies. A Chinese woman shouldered the cross for part of the procession, which was broadcast to 39 countries. More »

Chavez Decrees Dry Holy Week

Ban on booze aimed
at drink-fueled accidents, inspires secret imbibing

Guardian (UK) Guardian (UK) Apr 4, 07 9:48 AM CDT
(Newser) - No Easter imbibing, decrees Venezuelan president and socialist icon Hugo Chavez. Chavez has instituted a Holy Week liquor ban in restaurants to combat the hundreds of drunk driving deaths that occur during holidays in Venezuala. While some citizens applaud his boldness, others say they cannot follow their fearless leader quite this far. More »

More about:  alcohol • Venezuela • Hugo Chávez • drunk driving • socialism • Easter • Holy Week • prohibition

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