Most newsworthy stories of 2008

kAmxE H2D 2 C2?5@>[ 96:?@FD 24E — 2? 24E E92E 6?565 EH@ r@?4@C5 C6D:56?EDV =:G6D[ 2? 24E E92E D@=:5:7:65 2 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 3277=6D A@=:46 E@ E9:D 52J] ~? yF?6 `b — uC:52J E96 `bE9 — 2 >2? H2=<65 :?E@ E96 $F?\5C@A q@EE=:?8 !=2?E @? qC2?49G:6H sC:G6 :? r@?4@C5 2?5 D9@E s2CC6== }@=6D 2?5 s@??2 q2C?92C5E E@ 562E9[ E96? C2? @FE H:E9 H92E H:E?6DD6D D2:5 H2D 2 >@?6J =@4<3@I]k^Am

kAmr@?4@C5 !@=:46 D6E @77 2 >2?9F?E E9C@F89 5@H?E@H? r@?4@C5 2?5 E96 DFCC@F?5:?8 2C62D — 3FE E@ ?@ 2G2:=] p7E6C EC24<:?8 5@H? D@>6 =625D[ A@=:46 2C6 DE:== ?@ 4=@D6C E@ 7:?5:?8 E96 <:==6C @7 q2C?92C5E 2?5 }@=6D] %96J C6=62D65 2 4@>A@D:E6 D<6E49[ H9:49 :D FA 2== @G6C E@H?] %96C6 :D 2 Sfd[___ C6H2C5 @776C65 7@C 2?J :?7@C>2E:@? =625:?8 E@ E96 2CC6DE @7 2 DFDA64E]k^Am

kAms2JD 27E6C E96 D9@@E:?8D[ E96 72>:=:6D 2?5 E96 4@>>F?:EJ 82E96C65 :? E96 7:6=5 @FED:56 E96 $F?\5C@A @77:46 2?5 >@FC?65 AF3=:4=J[ C6=62D:?8 32==@@?D[ AC@G:565 3J |@E96CD @7 |FC56C65 ~77\DAC:?8[ :?E@ E96 2:C E@ DJ>3@=:K6 =6EE:?8 8@ @7 E96:C =@G65 @?6D] %96J D2?8 D@?8D[ E96J 4C:65[ E96J AC2J65]k^Am

kAm%96 ?2E:@?2= AC6DD E@@< ?@E:46 @7 E96 $F?\5C@A D9@@E:?8D 2=>@DE :?DE2?E=J[ 2?5 E96 DE@CJ H2D @?=J @G6CD925@H65 3J 2?@E96C EC28:4 562E9 E92E 52J — E92E @7 %:> #FDD6CE[ 9@DE @7 }qr }6HDV |66E E96 !C6DD]k^Am

kAmu@C E96 q2C?92C5E 2?5 }@=6D 72>:=J[ E96J 925 E@ DA6?5 E9:D 9@=:52J D62D@? H:E9@FE E96:C =@G65 @?6D 2?5 E96J 2C6 :?6IEC:423=J E:65 E@86E96C 3J E92E 2H7F= 6G6?E :? yF?6]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma \ r@C6 {23 @A6?:?8^!:==@HE6Ii u:G6 *62CD {2E6Ck^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmw:DE@CJ :? z2??2A@=:D 42>6 7F== 4:C4=6 E9:D J62C 2D E96 r@C6 #6D62C49 {23@C2E@CJ 2E E96 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 #6D62C49 r2>AFD @A6?65 @? ~4E] ad] u@C s@=6 u@@5 r@] @H?6C s2G:5 |FC5@4<[ :E H2D G2=:52E:@? 7@C E9C66 J62CD @7 6G2?86=:K:?8 9:D G:D:@? @7 2 C6D62C49 46?E6C 565:42E65 E@ 9F>2? ?FEC:E:@? 2?5 6C25:42E:?8 5:D62D6] p?49@C65 3J E96 &}r DJDE6> 2?5 sF<6 &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 9@FD:?8 D@>6 @7 E96 >@DE DE2E6\@7\E96\2CE D4:6?E:7:4 6BF:A>6?E :? E96 H@C=5[ E96 r@C6 {23 :D E96 E@H6C:?8 DJ>3@= @7 z2??2A@=:DV 7FEFC6]k^Am

kAmu@C >2?J[ E96 r@C6 {23 @A6?:?8 H2D E96 6G6?E E92E 4=@D65 E96 3@@< @? 2 52C< 492AE6C :? z2??2A@=:D 9:DE@CJi E96 4=@D:?8 @7 !:==@HE6I[ H9:49 92AA6?65 7:G6 J62CD 28@ @? yF=J b_] %96 E6IE:=6 >:== 4=@D:?8 AFE c[g__ A6@A=6 @FE @7 H@C< 2?5 E9CFDE z2??2A@=:D :?E@ 2? F?46CE2:? 7FEFC6] u:G6 J62CD =2E6C[ >2?J @7 E96 7@C>6C >:== H@C<6CD 2C6 324< E@ H@C<[ 3FE D@>6 2C6 DECF88=:?8 2?5 >@DE 36=:6G6 E92E H9:=6 E96 C6D62C49 42>AFD 92D D2G65 z2??2A@=:D 2?5 @776CD 2 3C:89E 7FEFC6 E@ E96:C 49:=5C6?[ E96J 36=:6G6 :E H@?VE 5:C64E=J 36?67:E E96>]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mb \ a__g t=64E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmxE H2D 2? 6=64E:@? 7@C E96 9:DE@CJ 3@@<D — 2 4J4=6 E92E DE2CE65 ?62C=J EH@ J62CD 28@ 2?5 @?6 E92E 6?565 FA A:EE:?8 s6>@4C2E q2C24< ~32>2 282:?DE #6AF3=:42? y@9? |4r2:?] qFE 27E6C 6:89E J62CD @7 E:C6D@>6 A@=:4:6D @7 E96 qFD9 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[ EH@ H2CD 2?5 2 >2;@C 64@?@>:4 5@H?EFC?[ E96 6=64E@C2E6 49@D6 ~32>2 2?5 E96 s6>@4C2ED E@ =625 E96 4@F?ECJ 7@C E96 ?6IE 7@FC J62CD] w6 :D E96 7:CDE p7C:42?\p>6C:42? E@ 36 6=64E65 E@ E96 AC6D:56?4J] (9:=6 r232CCFD r@F?EJ H6?E @G6CH96=>:?8=J 7@C |4r2:?[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 G@E65 7@C ~32>2[ E96 7:CDE E:>6 E96 $@FE96C? DE2E6 G@E65 7@C 2 s6>@4C2E:4 AC6D:56?E:2= 42?5:52E6 D:?46 y:>>J r2CE6C :? `hfe]k^Am

kAm%96 H2G6 @7 s6>@4C2ED C:5:?8 ~32>2VD 4@2EE2:=D :?E@ AF3=:4 @77:46 :?4=F565 q6G !6C5F6[ E96 7:CDE H@>2? 6=64E65 8@G6C?@C :? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ 2?5 z2J w282?[ H9@ 56762E65 $6?] t=:K236E9 s@=6 :? 96C C6\6=64E:@? 3:5] qFE E96 3:886DE C246 :? E96 4@F?EJ 42>6 5@H? E@ #6AF3=:42? #@3:? w2J6D[ 2 7:G6\E6C> 4@?8C6DD>2? 7C@> r@?4@C5[ 2?5 9:D s6>@4C2E:4 492==6?86C[ {2CCJ z:DD6==[ 2 9:DE@CJ E62496C 7C@> q:D4@6] z:DD6==[ H9@ C2? 282:?DE w2J6D :? a__e 2?5 =@DE ?2CC@H=J[ C2? 2 8C2DDC@@ED 42>A2:8? 96=A65 3J @FED:56 >@?6J] z:DD6== 9:E w2J6D @? 9:D C64@C5 2?5 E96 64@?@>:4 5@H?EFC? :? E96 gE9 s:DEC:4E F?56C w2J6DV H2E49] x? E96 6?5[ :E H2D 6?@F89 E@ =:7E z:DD6== @G6C w2J6D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mc \ t4@?@>:4 5@H?EFC?k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmxE DE2CE65 H:E9 E96 3FCDE:?8 9@FD:?8 3F33=6 =2DE J62C 2?5 8C6H E@ 9:E 6G6CJ >2;@C 7:?2?4:2= :?DE:EFE:@? :? E96 4@F?ECJ] qJ E96 72==[ {69>2? qC@E96CD H2D 8@?6 2?5 r92C=@EE6\32D65 (249@G:2 D@=5 @FE E@ $2? uC2?4:D4@\32D65 (6==D u2C8@] q2?< @7 p>6C:42 3@F89E E96 DE2=H2CE |6CC:== {J?49 2?5 r@?8C6DD 2AAC@G65 2 Sf__ 3:==:@? 32:=@FE] %96 E@I:4 DF3 AC:>6 >@CE8286D E92E :?7:=EC2E65 E96 64@?@>J 92G6 D92<6? E96 7:?2?4:2= DE23:=:EJ @7 E96 H@C=5 E@ :ED 4@C6] q2?<D 2C6?VE =6?5:?8 E@ @E96C 32?<D] r@>A2?:6D 2C6 =2J:?8 @77 H@C<6CD E@ D9@C6 FA D42C46 C6D@FC46D] %96 q:8 %9C66 2FE@>2<6CD — r9CJD=6C[ u@C5 2?5 v6?6C2= |@E@CD — 368865 r@?8C6DD 7@C 3:==:@?D E@ >2<6 :E E@ |2C49[ @?=J E@ 92G6 r@?8C6DD EFC? E96> 5@H? 2?5 !C6D:56?E v6@C86 (] qFD9 32:= E96> @FE] %96 D:EF2E:@? 5@6D?VE =@@< 8@@5 7@C a__h]k^Am

kAmp D:=G6C =:?:?8 :? E9:D 3=24< 4=@F5i v2D AC:46D E92E H6C6 9@G6C:?8 2C@F?5 Sc 2 82==@? :? E96 DF>>6C 2C6 ?@H 324< 5@H? E@ S`]d_] p 5C@A :? E96 >2C<6ED 92G6 5C@AA65 E96 AC:46 @7 @:=[ E@ E96 4928C:? @7 ~!tr] s6DA:E6 E96 5C@A :? E96 AC:46 @7 @:=[ p>6C:42?D[ 9@H6G6C[ 2C6 ?@E 5C:G:?8 >@C6]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8md \ sC28 DEC:A @A6?Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96 K|2I sC28H2J 925 2 =6DD\E92?\2FDA:4:@FD DE2CE[ H:E9 $A665H2J |@E@CDA@CED rt~ qCFE@? $>:E9 E9C62E6?:?8 E@ >@G6 {@H6VD |@E@C $A665H2J :7 96 5:5?VE 86E 2AAC@G2= E@ 3F:=5 E96 5C28 DEC:A] w6 8@E 9:D DEC:A 2?5 >@C6 — Sg_ >:==:@? :? :>AC@G6>6?ED 2C@F?5 E96 DA665H2J 4@>A=6I 2?5 9:D ?2>6 @? 2 C@25 D:8?] %96 K|2I sC28H2J @A6?65 :? $6AE6>36C[ H:E9 E96 }w#p }2E:@?2=D[ 2?5 3C@F89E 2 H9@=6 ?6H C246 72? E@ r@?4@C5] u2?D 4@F=5 86E FA 4=@D6 2?5 A6CD@?2= H:E9 E96:C 72G@C:E6 5C28 42C C246CD 2?5 766= E96 :?E6?D:EJ 2D E96 42CD ;6E 5@H? E96 5C28H2J 2E a__ >]A]9] (9:=6 E96 5C28 C246D H6C6 2 DF446DD[ $>:E9 :D DE:== H2:E:?8 @? 9:D Sg_ >:==:@? :? :?46?E:G6D 7C@> r232CCFD r@F?EJ[ r@?4@C5 2?5 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2] pAA2C6?E=J[ 96 E9:?<D 96 D9@F=5 86E 9:D >@?6J :? E9C66 J62CD[ 3FE 8@G6C?>6?E @77:4:2=D 5:D28C66] %96 :DDF6 :D DE:== 36:?8 5632E65 E@52J]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8me \ $2=:D3FCJ |:== u:C6 2?5 2C62 7:C67:89E6C 562E9Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmxE H2D 2 92C5 J62C 7@C =@42= 7:C67:89E:?8 286?4:6D] %H@ $2=:D3FCJ 7:C67:89E6CD[ yFDE:? |@?C@6 2?5 ':4E@C xD=6C[ 5:65 H9:=6 7:89E:?8 2 7@FC\2=2C> 7:C6 2E E96 $2=:D3FCJ |:==H@C<D @? |2C49 f] %96 562E9D D9@@< E96 #@H2? 4@>>F?:EJ[ H9:49 EFC?65 @FE ?62C=J 2 H66< =2E6C[ =:?:?8 E96 C@25D[ 7@C E96 7F?6C2= 7@C xD=6C 2?5 |@?C@6 :? $2=:D3FCJ] $E2E6 :?G6DE:82E@CD 7@F?5 @FE =2E6C E92E xD=6C 2?5 |@?C@6 H6C6 EC2AA65 :? E96 7:C6 :? E96 H@@5 >:== 2?5 4@F=5?VE 86E @FE] x? r232CCFD r@F?EJ[ y2>6D t2C= pCE9FC[ 2 `h\J62C\@=5 G@=F?E66C 7:C67:89E6C H:E9 r@=5 (2E6C 'us[ 5:65 H9:=6 C6DA@?5:?8 E@ 2 42==] w6 E@@< 2 4FCG6 E@@ 72DE @? ~=5 r@?4@C5 #@25 2?5 7=:AA65 9:D ECF4<]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mf \ u=@@5D :? r232CCFD r@F?EJk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96 C6>?2?ED @7 %C@A:42= $E@C> u2J DH6AE E9C@F89 E96 r92C=@EE6 >6EC@ 2C62 :? pF8FDE[ 3C:?8:?8 E@CC6?E:2= C2:?D E92E DH6==65 #@4<J #:G6C[ H9:49 @G6C7=@H65 :ED 32?<D] %96 7=@@5D :? r@?4@C5[ w2CC:D3FC8 2?5 z2??2A@=:D 7@C465 C6D:56?ED @FE @7 E96:C 9@>6D[ H2D965 @FE 3C:586D 2?5 C@25D 2?5 3C@F89E E96 2EE6?E:@? @7 v@G] |:<6 t2D=6J[ H9@ 564=2C65 E96 27764E65 2C62D 2 5:D2DE6C E@ 86E 7656C2= 6>6C86?4J 7F?5:?8] p?@E96C D:=G6C =:?:?8i %96 C2:?D 3C@<6 E96 J62C\=@?8 5C@F89E E92E A=28F65 E96 2C62] pC62 C6D6CG@:CD H6C6 7:==65 E@ E96 3C:> 2?5 =@42= @77:4:2=D 62D65 324< @? H2E6C C6DEC:4E:@?D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mg \ {:D2 vC66?6 4@?G:4E65 @7 >FC56C 2?5 2CD@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmp ;FCJ 4@?G:4E65 {:D2 vC66?6 :? y2?F2CJ 7@C <:==:?8 96C EH@ 49:=5C6?[ s2?:6= 2?5 p55:D@? |246>@C6[ :? 2 a__e 7:C6] xE H2D 2 7@FC\>@?E9\=@?8 EC:2= E92E D2H 4@?E6?E:@FD 7:89E:?8 36EH66? E96 AC@D64FE:@? 2?5 5676?D6 2?5 3C@F89E E@ =:89E 7656C2= 7@C6?D:4 6G:56?46 E92E F=E:>2E6=J AC@G65 vC66?6 :?E6?E:@?2==J D6E E96 7:C6] tG6? E9@F89 E96 AC@D64FE:@? D@F89E E96 562E9 A6?2=EJ 282:?DE vC66?6[ E96 ;FCJ 5:D28C665 2?5 D6?E6?465 96C E@ =:76 :? AC:D@?]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mh \ r@?4@C5 8:C=D H:? E96 DE2E6 32D<6E32== E:E=6k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmr@249 p?86=2 |@CE@? =65 E96 {25J $A:56CD E@ G:4E@CJ 2E E96 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 DE2E6 32D<6E32== 492>A:@?D9:A[ 56762E:?8 q655:?87:6=5 ff\ea @? |2C49 `d] %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD ?2>65 |@CE@? E96 H@>6?VD 32D<6E32== r@249 @7 E96 *62C 2?5 }JD9:2 w2>>@?5 H2D ?2>65 >@DE G2=F23=6 A=2J6C 2?5 %]%] q6=496C H2D ?2>65 >@DE @FEDE2?5:?8 A=2J6C 7@C E96 $A:56CD] %96 {25J $A:56CD 7:?:D965 @FE E96 D62D@? H:E9 2 b`\a C64@C5]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m`_ \ *25<:? #:G6C\p=4@2 4@?EC@G6CDJk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96 E@H? @7 q25:?[ @? E96 *25<:? #:G6C :? $E2?=J r@F?EJ[ @H6D p=4@2[ E96 2=F>:?F> 8:2?E[ :ED 6I:DE6?46] p=4@2 3F:=E 2 D>6=E:?8 A=2?E 2?5 9J5C@6=64EC:4 52> E@ AC@5F46 6=64EC:4:EJ[ ?@E E@ >6?E:@? E96 >:== 9@>6D E92E DE2CE65 q25:?] x? C6EFC?[ p=4@2 92D 2 =62D6 @? E96 *25<:? #:G6C] (96? p=4@2VD d_\J62C =:46?D6 42>6 FA 7@C C6G:6H[ =@42= 2?5 DE2E6 @77:4:2=D @3;64E65[ D2J:?8 p=4@2 ?@ =@?86C FD6D E96 52>D 7@C AC@5F4:?8 2=F>:?F>[ 3FE E@ AC@5F46 6=64EC:4:EJ 7@C D2=6 @? E96 @A6? >2C<6E] $@>6 H2?E65 E96 DE2E6 E@ E2<6 @G6C E96 52>D[ 3FE E96 v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J 324<65 2H2J 7C@> E92E @AE:@?j :?DE625 :E H:== DEF5J E96 :DDF6 :? a__h]k^Am

k9cmw@?@C23=6 >6?E:@?Dk^9cm

kAm%96D6 2C6 E96 DE@C:6D E92E 8@E G@E6D :? @FC E2==J[ 3FE ?@E 6?@F89 E@ >2<6 E96 =:DEik^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m` \ $F==J u@F?5 s625k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm$F==J[ 2 96C@:4 E233J 42E[ D2G65 9:D 72>:=J[ E96 $6E9?2D[ 7C@> 2 9@FD6 7:C6 :? ~4E@36C] %96 72>:=J H2D D276[ 3FE $F==J 7=65 E96 D46?6] $@@? 27E6C[ $F==J H2D 7@F?5 5625 @? E96 D:56 @7 E96 C@25 ?62C E96 9@FD6] Q(6 C6D4F65 9:> 2?5 H6 766= E92E $F==J H2D AFE @? E9:D t2CE9 3J v@5 E@ C6D4F6 FD[Q %:> $6E9?2 D2:5] QxE >2<6D FD 766= C62==J AC@F5 E@ 92G6 925 9:>]Qk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma \ r2C@=:?2 x?E6C?2E:@?2= $49@@= :? =:>3@k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmpFE9@C:E:6D 492C865 $2?5C2 ':6=32F>[ 2 D64C6E2CJ 2E r2C@=:?2 x?E6C?2E:@?2= $49@@= :? w2CC:D3FC8[ H:E9 6>36KK=6>6?E 7C@> E96 492CE6C D49@@=] p3@FE S`c_[___ H2D E2<6? 7C@> E96 D49@@= 2?5 E96 D49@@= H6?E :?E@ 7:?2?4:2= EC@F3=6] p7E6C C2:D:?8 7F?5D 7C@> E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 C6?68@E:2E:?8 H:E9 :ED DFAA=:6CD[ E96 D49@@= C6>2:?65 @A6? 2?5 5:C64E@C #:492C5 q62== C6D:8?65]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mb \ }6H 65F42E:@? =6256CDk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96 J62C 3C@F89E 2 492?86 :? E96 8F2C5 :? =@42= 65F42E:@? A@DED] %96 >@F?E2:?\4=:>3:?8 w2C@=5 VqFE49V (:?<=6C C6E:C65 2D r232CCFD r@F?EJ $49@@=D DFA6C:?E6?56?E] q2CCJ $96A96C5 DE6AA65 :? E@ C6A=246 (:?<=6C] pE E96 r232CCFD r@==686 @7 w62=E9 $4:6?46D[ s:2??6 $?J56C DF4466565 p?:E2 qC@H? 2D 492?46==@C] p?5 r2C@= $A2=5:?8 DF4466565 #:492C5 qC@H?6== 2D AC6D:56?E @7 #@H2?\r232CCFD r@>>F?:EJ r@==686[ 27E6C 96 C6E:C65 27E6C b_ J62CD @7 D6CG:46]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mc \ y:>>:6 y@9?D@? H:?D 9:D E9:C5 $AC:?E rFA 492>A:@?D9:Ak^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmy:>>:6 y@9?D@? =65 9:D {@H6VD #24:?8 %62> E@ 2 E9:C5 $AC:?E rFA 492>A:@?D9:A 27E6C 2 E:89E A@:?ED C246 36EH66? y@9?D@?[ r2C= t5H2C5D 2?5 vC68 q:77=6]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8md \ |2CE92 $E6H2CE 4@>6D E@ z2??2A@=:Dj s2=6 %C2:= D:8?D 4@>6 5@H?k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAms2G:5 |FC5@4< 925 2 >JDE6CJ 8F6DE E@ G:D:E z2??2A@=:D :? pF8FDEi |2CE92 $E6H2CE] %96 36EE6C =:G:?8 >2EC@? 42>6 E@ E@FC E96 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 #6D62C49 r2>AFD :? 25G2?46 @7 8:G:?8 |FC5@4< 2? 2H2C5 7@C 9:D H@C< :? ?FEC:E:@?] x? 25G2?46 @7 96C EC:A[ r2DE=6 U2>Aj r@@<6 C6BF6DE65 E96 r232CCFD r@?G6?E:@? 2?5 ':D:E@CVD qFC62F E2<6 5@H? 32??6CD E92E >2C< E96 s2=6 %C2:= 3642FD6 E96J H6C6 H@C?[ 72565 2?5 E2EE6C65] %9:D DA2C<65 2 4@?EC@G6CDJ 2>@?8 s2=6 t2C?92C5E 72?D[ H9@ 4=2:>65 z2??2A@=:D[ t2C?92C5EVD 9@>6E@H?[ H2D 5:D9@?@C:?8 9:D >6>@CJ ;FDE E@ =@@< 8@@5 7@C $E6H2CE 2?5 |FC5@4<] r:EJ @77:4:2=D D6?E @FE 2 =6EE6C E@ 2DDF286 72?DV 762CD[ D2J:?8 z2??2A@=:D :D 2=H2JD AC@F5 @7 :ED ?2E:G6 D@?]k^Am

kAm• r@?E24E C6A@CE6C q6? |4}66=Ji f_c\fgh\h`b`k^Am

kAmk^Am