UPI NewsTrack articles from July 2007

UPI NewsTrack archives from July 2007

Civil union laws don't ensure benefits.
July 1, 2007... NEWARK, N.J., June 30 (UPI) -- Issues of equality in New Jersey may signal problems nationwide for same-sex couples seeking to win equal marital rights, say some gay activists. More than four months after New Jersey approved same-sex civil...

Doctor promotes new lung surgery technique.
July 1, 2007... CINCINNATI, June 30 (UPI) -- A surgeon at the University of Cincinnati says medical schools should integrate minimally invasive lung surgery into their training programs. A report by Dr. Michael Reed, assistant professor of surgery at UC...

Queen opens Scottish Parliament.
July 1, 2007... EDINBURGH, Scotland, June 30 (UPI) -- Queen Elizabeth II presided at the opening Saturday in Edinburgh of the first Scottish Parliament in a government from the Scottish National Party. Guests at the event included actor Sean Connery,...

Floods cut off much of Pakistan.
July 1, 2007... ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 30 (UPI) -- An estimated 1 million people are stranded in Pakistan by flooding. A combination of heavy pre-monsoonal rain and Tropcal Cyclone Yemyin, which passed through the area Tuesday, has cut roads and...

U.S. importers checking Chinese goods.
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, June 30 (UPI) -- U.S. companies that import Chinese-made goods are examining the products more carefully, The New York Times reported. In recent weeks, there have been scares about hazardous ingredients in Chinese-manufactured...

MLB: San Francisco 4, Arizona 1.
July 1, 2007... SAN FRANCISCO, June 30 (UPI) -- Bengie Molina had two hits and two RBI Saturday night, as the San Francisco Giants beat Arizona, 4-1. Noah Lowry (8-6) gave up one run on five hits over 6 2/3 innings, with eight strikeouts and three walks....

MLS: CD Chivas 2, New England 0.
July 1, 2007... CARSON, Calif., July 1 (UPI) -- Maykel Galindo had a goal and an assist Saturday night as CD Chivas USA beat New England, 2-0. Jesse Marsch scored the first goal of the game on a feed from Ante Razov in the 60th minute, to put Chivas up,...

Man cheated by fellow patient in rehab.
July 1, 2007... CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y., July 1 (UPI) -- A New York state man says a fellow patient at a physical rehabilitation center pretended to be his brother and cheated him of thousands of dollars. Geoffrey MacMurdo only realized he was a theft victim...

MLB: Seattle 8, Toronto 3.
July 1, 2007... SEATTLE, July 1 (UPI) -- Ben Broussard had four hits and two RBI Saturday night, as the Seattle Mariners beat Toronto, 8-3. Broussard also scored a run, and Yuniesky Betancourt had two hits, two RBI and one run scored. Miguel Batista (8-6)...

4 friends to cross Scotland by pedal boat.
July 1, 2007... EDINBURGH, Scotland, July 1 (UPI) -- Four young Scotsmen plan to pedal a boat across their country on the Caledonian Canal for charity. The trip will be made in a 17-foot pedal boat. The intrepid foursome are committed to making the 60-mile...

Appeals court finds sign protected speech.
July 1, 2007... CINCINNATI, July 1 (UPI) -- A federal appeals court has ruled in a closely contested case that an Ohio town's ban on placing "For Sale" signs on cars violates the First Amendment. The full panel of Sixth Circuit judges ruled 8-7 in favor of...

MLB: San Diego 3, LA Dodgers 1 (12 inn.).
July 1, 2007... LOS ANGELES, July 1 (UPI) -- Jake Peavy checked Los Angeles on one run and five hits in seven innings Saturday night, as the San Diego Padres beat the Dodgers, 3-1, in 12 innings. Peavy struck out six and walked one. Royce Ring (1-0) got...

Report: Israel, Gaza, violate war laws.
July 1, 2007... JERUSALEM, July 1 (UPI) -- Palestinian and Israeli attacks on each other show a disregard for civilian life, Human Rights Watch said Sunday. Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli towns and Israeli strikes in Gaza have caused hundreds of...

British attack links are 'ever clearer'.
July 1, 2007... EDINBURGH, Scotland, July 1 (UPI) -- Links connecting three attempted car bombings in London and Glasgow, Scotland, are becoming "ever clearer," Britain's top counter-terrorism official said. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke said...

Six wounded in Afghanistan.
July 1, 2007... KABUL, Afghanistan, July 1 (UPI) -- Three British soldiers were wounded Sunday in an attack against NATO-led troops in the Gereshk district of Afghanistan, it was reported. The attack by a suicide bomber also wounded three Afghani civilians...

Bombs kill three in Iraq.
July 1, 2007... BAGHDAD, July 1 (UPI) -- Bombs killed three people, including two police officers, Sunday in Iraq, it was reported. One civilian was killed and four others wounded when a suicide bomber detonated the booby-trapped car he was driving in...

GOP may lose Hispanic votes.
July 1, 2007... LOS ANGELES, July 1 (UPI) -- The defeat of a U.S. immigration bill may have greatly damaged Republican chances of attracting Hispanic voters, it was reported Sunday. Many Republican lawmakers and their constituents denounced the...

Independent voters powerful in 2008.
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- The large segment of independent voters may play the role of political power broker in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, a survey says. About three in 10 voters call themselves independent, says the joint...

Private firms handle more security in Iraq.
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- Intelligence information in Iraq increasingly is handled by a network of private firms that work in the shadows of the U.S. military, it was reported. The most visible example is the sprawling presence of Aegis...

Putin to overnight at Bush compound.
July 1, 2007... KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine, July 1 (UPI) -- U.S. President George W. Bush is looking to reestablish some rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin during an overnight stay Sunday in Maine. Putin was to arrive Sunday afternoon in...

Former Israeli president may avoid jail.
July 1, 2007... JERUSALEM, July 1 (UPI) -- Women's groups in Israel plan to protest a plea bargain in the sex abuse case against former President Moshe Katsav, it was reported Sunday. Israel's High Court postponed an indictment hearing for Katsav until at...

Israel to transfer funds to Palestinians.
July 1, 2007... JERUSALEM, July 1 (UPI) -- The Israeli Cabinet voted Sunday to begin transferring about $400 million in tax funds to the Palestinian Authority. The transfer is part of Israel's efforts to bolster Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud...

Poll: Happy marriage doesn't require kids.
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- A new poll conducted by a Washington non-profit group indicates children are not seen as a prerequisite for a happy marriage. While most respondents in the Pew Research Center's study agreed children are the top...

Wikipedia poster questioned in Benoit case.
July 1, 2007... STAMFORD, Conn., July 1 (UPI) -- A Connecticut man is being questioned for allegedly posting a notice about wrestler Chris Benoit's wife's death on Wikipedia hours before her body was found. Authorities say the unidentified man posted...

African Union leaders meeting in Ghana.
July 1, 2007... ACCRA, Ghana, July 1 (UPI) -- Leaders of the African Union focused Sunday on how to help the world's poorest continent gain greater clout on the global stage. The AU summit being held in the Ghanaian capital is the ninth since the...

Israel to return four terrorists to Jordan.
July 1, 2007... JERUSALEM, July 1 (UPI) -- Israeli Cabinet ministers have approved the transfer of four Jordanian terrorists back to their native land, despite concerns they may be pardoned there. While some Israeli officials have expressed concern that...

Gypsy moth caterpillars attack.
July 1, 2007... PHILADELPHIA, July 1 (UPI) -- New Jersey and Pennsylvania are seeing their worst invasion of damaging Gypsy moth caterpillars in nearly two decades, it was reported Sunday. The caterpillars have stripped nearly 1.6 million acres in the two...

Baseball at heart of Fla. smuggling ring.
July 1, 2007... MIAMI, July 1 (UPI) -- Florida authorities are struggling to stem an influx of Cuban-born baseball prospects who are being smuggled into the United States for a possible MLB career. While Cuba has instituted restrictions aimed at limiting...

UPI NewsTrack TopNews.
July 1, 2007... African Union leaders meeting in Ghana ACCRA, Ghana, July 1 (UPI) -- Leaders of the African Union focused Sunday on how to help the world's poorest continent can gain greater clout on the global stage. The AU summit being held in the...

'Ratatouille,' 'Die Hard' take over 1-2.
July 1, 2007... LOS ANGELES, July 1 (UPI) -- The animated kids' flick "Ratatouille" and the adult action film "Live Free or Die Hard" cut in at the front of the U.S. theater line this weekend. Buena Vista's "Ratatouille" raked in $47.23 million in its...

Copacabana closes in New York.
July 1, 2007... NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- The once-glamorous Copacabana club closed its doors Sunday in New York. The Copa had repeatedly restyled itself -- and may do so again -- since 1940 when sharp dressers shimmied alongside celebrities such as Frank...

Princess Diana memorial concert kicks off.
July 1, 2007... LONDON, July 1 (UPI) -- Elton John and Duran Duran were a smash hit at Princes William's and Harry's tribute to their late mother at London's Wembley Stadium. The tribute to Diana, princess of Wales, was kicked off by Elton John with a...

Michael apted head director once again.
July 1, 2007... LOS ANGELES, July 1 (UPI) -- Director Michael Apted was re-elected president of the Directors Guild of America at the group's national biennial convention in Los Angeles. New officers and members of the guild's National Board of Directors...

UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News.
July 1, 2007... 'Ratatouille,' 'Die Hard' take over 1-2 LOS ANGELES, July 1 (UPI) -- The animated kids' flick "Ratatouille" and the adult action film "Live Free or Die Hard" cut in at the front of the U.S. theater line this weekend. Buena Vista's...

Israel to continue strikes in Gaza.
July 1, 2007... JERUSALEM, July 1 (UPI) -- Israel vowed Sunday to continue pressuring Palestinian militants following a series of deadly air strikes over Hamas-held Gaza. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told his Cabinet the Israeli army would launch "pinpoint"...

Chertoff: U.S. taking precautions.
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Sunday precautions are being taken in the United States following the terrorist bomb plots in Britain. Britain was on its highest level of terror alert Sunday...

Leahy: Surveillance needed within limits.
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- A key U.S. senator says lawmakers want surveillance capabilities in place to investigate potential terrorists but with limits so the system isn't abused. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said on NBC's "Meet the Press"...

UFO author battles woman for X files.
July 1, 2007... NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- A UFO expert says a New York woman is holding his X files hostage for $100,000 ransom. Antonio Huneeus claims Esther Carroll of Staten Island reneged on a deal to sell back to him 160 boxes of his alien research...

Raikkonen wins the French Grand Prix.
July 1, 2007... MAGNY-COURS, France, July 1 (UPI) -- Kimi Raikkonen Sunday captured the Formula One French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours, France. Raikkonen ended the two-race winning streak of rookie Lewis Hamilton, whose McLaren finished more than half a...

Graeme Storm wins French Open.
July 1, 2007... PARIS, July 1 (UPI) -- Graeme Storm shot 5-under-par 66 Sunday to win the European Tour's French Open Golf Tournament in Paris. Storm began the round tied for eighth place, but overtook third-round co-leader Soren Hansen by playing...

Free agency starts in NBA.
July 1, 2007... NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- The NBA's free agency period began at midnight Sunday, and this year's list includes marquee names such as Rashard Lewis, Pao Gasol and Vince Carter. The Bergen Record reported this weekend that Carter's team, the...

Haas withdraws at Wimbledon.
July 1, 2007... LONDON, July 1 (UPI) -- Tommy Haas withdrew from the Wimbledon Championships Sunday because of a torn abdominal muscle. The 13th-seeded German suffered the injury in his third-round victory Friday against Russia's Dmitry Tursunov. He was...

Hargrove resigns as Seattle manager.
July 1, 2007... SEATTLE, July 1 (UPI) -- Mike Hargrove resigned Sunday as manager of the Seattle Mariners. The unexpected decision was announced as Seattle prepared for its game against Toronto at Safeco Field, and came with the Mariners in the middle of...

Iran denies intervening in Iraq.
July 1, 2007... TEHRAN, July 1 (UPI) -- Iran Sunday rejected U.S. contentions it supports terrorist groups in Iraq. "These allegations are mere lies," said Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar. Iran is committed to restoring calm in Iraq...

Widow loses out on payout from plane crash.
July 1, 2007... NAGUA, Dominican Republic, July 1 (UPI) -- A 24-year-old Dominican Republic woman who husband died in a 2001 plane crash has lost out on the airline's financial payout thanks to a court ruling. While Yanet Dishmey Rosario de George may have...

Obama tops $30 million in second quarter.
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- Barack Obama's presidential campaign raised more than $30 million during the second quarter of the year, it was reported Sunday. The amount raised by Obama follows the $25.8 million the Democratic senator from...

Teen sought for brutal attack on peacock.
July 1, 2007... NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- Authorities in New York are searching for a teenager seen repeatedly stomping on a peacock last week, causing irreparable harm to the wild bird. The significant injuries inflicted by the unidentified teenager...

China eyeing new holiday system.
July 1, 2007... BEIJING, July 1 (UPI) -- Chinese officials are considering doing away with the nation's current "golden week" holiday system in favor of a more traditional set of holidays. China's official Xinhua news agency said Sunday the Asian nation...

New York to turn down the volume.
July 1, 2007... NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- New York City primed itself Sunday to begin quieting noisemakers from jackhammers and nightclubs to boom boxes and even ice cream trucks. Revised for the first time in three decades, the city's new noise code...

Man arrested for preaching free speech.
July 1, 2007... NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- A man dressed as a preacher was arrested last week in New York's Union Square after allegedly harassing police officers about his free speech rights. Authorities said the Reverend Billy, whose real name is Bill...

Ashes lay unclaimed in mental hospitals.
July 1, 2007... SALEM, Ore., July 1 (UPI) -- Several mental hospitals across the United States are struggling to identify the ashes of former patients that have gone unclaimed for years. With patient records at facilities such as the Oregon State Hospital...

Portugal assumes EU presidency.
July 1, 2007... LISBON, Portugal, July 1 (UPI) -- Portugal has assumed the rotating European Union presidency in a tenure likely to involve talks of Turkey becoming a member. Incoming EU President Jose Socrates, the prime minister of Portugal, said one of...

Hong Kong marks handover to China.
July 1, 2007... HONG KONG, July 1 (UPI) -- Fireworks, parties and protests marked Sunday's 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China. Chinese President Hu Jintao administered the oath of office to Chief Executive Donald Tsang, who vowed to reside...

Arrest of militants may endanger Johnston.
July 1, 2007... GAZA, July 1 (UPI) -- Kidnapped BBC reporter Alan Johnston may be in further peril, Gaza sources said, after the recent arrest of two militants from the region's Dogmas clan. While Hamas security forces arrested the two militants with plans...

Supermodel Carol Alt files lawsuit.
July 1, 2007... NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- Supermodel Carol Alt has filed suit in New York against ex-husband Ron Greschner on grounds he has failed to uphold their divorce agreement. Alt claims the former New York Rangers captain, who divorced her in...

MLB: Washington 3, Pittsburgh 2.
July 1, 2007... PITTSBURGH, July 1 (UPI) -- Jesus Flores hit a key two-run homer Sunday as Washington edged Pittsburgh 3-2. His first major league round-tripper provided the eventual winning runs in the top of the sixth, and extended Washington's lead to...

Lieberman: More security work to do.
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- The lone independent in the U.S. Senate Sunday says he believes the Department of Homeland Security has done well, but there's "a lot more to do." Speaking on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos," Sen....

MLB: Cleveland 3, Tampa Bay 2.
July 1, 2007... CLEVELAND, July 1 (UPI) -- Cliff Lee yielded an earned run and just four hits in eight innings Sunday as Cleveland edged Tampa Bay 3-2 for its fourth straight victory. Cleveland's Jhonny Peralta hit a solo home run in the bottom of the...

MLB: Oakland 11, N.Y. Yankees 5.
July 1, 2007... NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- Jack Cust hit a three-run homer and knocked in four altogether Sunday as Oakland beat the New York Yankees 11-5. Oakland secured its victory early with a seven-run second inning. Eric Chavez had one run, two...

UPI NewsTrack TopNews.
July 1, 2007... Lieberman: More security work to do WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- The lone independent in the U.S. Senate Sunday says he believes the Department of Homeland Security has done well, but there's "a lot more to do." Speaking on ABC's This...

Bishops blame floods on immorality.
July 1, 2007... LIVERPOOL, England, July 1 (UPI) -- Senior bishops at the Church of England are claiming the country's recent floods are God's way of punishing society for its increasing greed and immorality. One diocesan bishop is citing the relaxation of...

'Transformers' come to life thanks to ILM.
July 1, 2007... NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- "Transformers" movie robot Optimus Prime was made up of 10,108 parts that had to be rendered and painted separately, its creators say. Optimus and numerous other robots come to life in the about-to-be-released...

Photos of abducted girl returned to family.
July 1, 2007... LONDON, July 1 (UPI) -- The family of Madeline McCann recently received a pair of photographs of the abducted girl that were stolen by a London pickpocket nearly two weeks ago. McCann's father Gerry had lost the photos when his wallet was...

MLB: Philadelphia 5, N.Y. Mets 3.
July 1, 2007... PHILADELPHIA, July 1 (UPI) -- Jimmy Rollins hit a key two-run homer Sunday, helping Philadelphia down the New York Mets 5-3. His 14th homer of the season snapped a 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning. Shane Victorino had three hits...

Mrs. Edwards seen as influential force.
July 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- Elizabeth Edwards, whose husband is running for U.S. president, is a strong aide who brings sympathetic publicity onto the campaign trail. Three months after Edwards announced her cancer had returned in an...

Gas tank prompts military action in Japan.
July 1, 2007... KITSUKI, Japan, July 1 (UPI) -- A gas tank forced members of the Japanese Coast Guard and the Maritime Self-Defense Force into action last week after a fisherman mistook it for a torpedo. The Mainichi Shimbun reported Saturday that when...

FARC hostages may have died accidentally.
July 1, 2007... BOGOTA, Colombia, July 1 (UPI) -- Officials in Colombia are investigating whether 11 lawmakers held hostage by FARC rebels were killed by stray gunfire during a rescue attempt last month. The politicians had been held hostage since 2002 by...

MLB: St. Louis 11, Cincinnati 7.
July 1, 2007... CINCINNATI, July 1 (UPI) -- Ryan Ludwick hit two homers, driving in four runs Sunday, as St. Louis whipped Cincinnati 11-7. His heroics put a damper on the day for Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr., who hit his 585th career home run, a three-run...

Elephant killed at Romanian zoo.
July 1, 2007... BUCHAREST, Romania, July 1 (UPI) -- An elephant at a zoo in Romania was killed after police set their dogs on it when it refused to enter its winter enclosure. Staff at the Bucharest zoo originally had claimed the pachyderm Gaya, 48, had...

Prince album will not release in Britain.
July 1, 2007... LONDON, July 1 (UPI) -- Sony BMG has announced that because of a giveaway by The Mail on Sunday, Prince's new album will not release in Britain. The company decided the free disc offer by the Mail, which has a circulation of about 2...

Sean Garrett praises Britney Spears album.
July 1, 2007... NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- Producer Sean "The Pen" Garrett's collaboration with Britney Spears is "wowzers" and "out of control" -- just ask him. The producer -- who is also working on songs for Usher, the Pussycat Dolls' Nicole...

Earthquake hits Malaysian island.
July 1, 2007... KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 1 (UPI) -- A strong earthquake hit the island of Manado in southeast Malaysia over the weekend. The quake reportedly measured 6.0 on the Richter scale, Malaysia's Bernama News Agency reported. The quake occurred...

Filmmaker Edward Yang dies at 59.
July 1, 2007... BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., July 1 (UPI) -- Filmmaker Edward Yang has died in Beverly Hills, Calif., at 59, after a long battle with colon cancer. Yang, who died Friday, was best known as the figurehead of the new-wave Taiwanese cinema,...

Man hawking cheap gas sparks fire.
July 1, 2007... NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- A man hawking cheap gasoline from New Jersey to New York in his minivan sparked a small fire as he funneled the fuel into a livery car in Brooklyn. Police said the 35-year old gasoline seller, whose name was not...

N.Y. monastery founder Mancuso dead at 72.
July 1, 2007... CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 1 (UPI) -- Rev. Laurence Mancuso, who founded New York's Monks of New Skete four decades ago, has died at the age of 72 from injuries he sustained in a fall. The New York Times said Sunday that Mancuso, who acted as a...

India, Pakistan set to discuss detainees.
July 1, 2007... NEW DELHI, July 1 (UPI) -- India and Pakistan will begin talks at the home secretary level this week, a meeting sources say will focus on nearly 500 Indians being held in Pakistan. Sources said Indian officials are expected to ask their...

MLB: Florida 6, Atlanta 5 (10 inn.).
July 1, 2007... MIAMI, July 1 (UPI) -- Josh Willingham hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning Sunday as the Florida Marlins beat Atlanta, 6-5. There was one out when Willingham recorded his second RBI and fifth hit of the contest. Miguel...

Putin promises professional 2014 Olympics.
July 1, 2007... MOSCOW, Rwanda, July 1 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that if his nation's bid for the 2014 Olympics is chosen, Russia would make sure it is a well-run event. Meeting with Russian Olympic champions, Putin said Russia...

Crew rescued from sinking Albanian ship.
July 1, 2007... KOCHI, India, July 1 (UPI) -- Port officials in the Indian city of Kochi have rescued the 15 crewmembers of an Albanian ship that sank off the city's coast Sunday. The Albanian cargo ship M V Maria had signaled for help Saturday night...

Friends take eating event home with them.
July 1, 2007... NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- Two New York roommates are such fans of a local eatery's annual eating contest they have made over their home into an exact copy of it. Identified as "Crazy Legs" Conti and Timothy "Eater X" Janus, the two friends...

Christie Kerr wins U.S. Women's Open.
July 1, 2007... SOUTHERN PINES, N.C., July 1 (UPI) -- Cristie Kerr shot a 1-under 70 Sunday to win the U.S. Women's Open at Southern Pines, N.C., her first title at a LPGA major. Kerr finished at 5-under 279 to win her 10th tour championship. World...

Man sues wife's lover after approving sex.
July 1, 2007... CHICAGO, July 1 (UPI) -- An Illinois man who convinced his wife to take other lovers recently won a lawsuit against his competition after learning she had fallen for a new partner. After urging his wife of 10 years to agree to an open...

Warm spring brings questionable harvest.
July 1, 2007... LONDON, July 1 (UPI) -- A warm spring in France has Champagne producers worried, as an early harvest could mean lower acidity, causing the drink to lose its crisp, fresh quality. This year's Champagne harvest has been the earliest since...

Man rescued from fiery Ferrari after crash.
July 1, 2007... MIAMI, July 1 (UPI) -- The driver of a red 2000 Ferrari was rescued Sunday from his vehicle after it burst into flames following a multi-vehicle crash on a Miami interstate. An anonymous passerby managed to reach into the expensive...