Outside Chicago, a Grim Tale of Unearthed Graves

The first report, that 50 or so graves had been disturbed at the historic Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Ill. — the final resting place of civil rights icon Emmett Till, and the singer Dinah Washington — was grotesque. But by week’s end, the macabre tally had grown: Nearly 300 graves, possibly more, were destroyed in an apparent grave-resale scheme that took in an as yet unknown amount of money.

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The HMS Victory, Famed Shipwreck, Is Found

Under swirling clouds, its four-story hull illuminated by lanterns tied to its masts, the massive warship sinks beneath the waves. For more than two centuries, Peter Monamy’s dramatic painting was one of the few images available of the tragic end of HMS Victory, which mysteriously disappeared, along with its crew of 1,100 men, one stormy night in 1744. Now, however, shipwreck salvage company Odyssey promises to fill out the picture

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UK defense chief defends Afghan fight, says more lives will be lost

Britain’s defense secretary Wednesday mourned the deaths of seven British soldiers killed over the last week in Afghanistan and defended the hard-fought mission against Taliban militants. But Bob Ainsworth, speaking at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, also said “the nature of the fight” against a “highly adaptable” enemy “means we will take more casualties before we succeed.” “It is understandable that at a time like this people ask why are the lives of these courageous people being lost Why are we in Afghanistan In these difficult times, can we afford to be there As defense secretary, I have a responsibility to answer these questions,” he said

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French Tourists: Still the World’s Worst

Given their nation’s long-reigning status as the world’s most visited country, you’d expect the French to know a thing or two about insufferable tourists. It turns out they do — and are proving it to the rest of the world. In a poll carried out by online travel site Expedia and released Thursday, French tourists were viewed as the orneriest for the third year running.

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Source: Jackson family aware probe could be criminal case

The Jackson family knows that the probe into singer Michael Jackson’s death could turn into a criminal case, a source close to the family told CNN Thursday. “The family is aware of a potential criminal prosecution,” the source, who did not want to be identified, said.

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Lawmakers, celebrities targeted in alleged phone-hacking scandal

British lawmakers demanded answers Thursday after a newspaper reported that a UK tabloid illegally hacked the phones of thousands of public figures including Gwyneth Paltrow, George Michael and Elle MacPherson. The commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police said he asked his assistant to look into the allegations and determine whether to investigate. It comes after The Guardian newspaper reported Thursday the cell phones of “several thousand public figures” were hacked into by reporters and staff of the News of the World tabloid during one month in 2006

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