Jessica Chasmar

New Zealand may deport South African man for being too fat

A 50-year-old South African chef faces deportation from New Zealand because he's too fat. Published July 29, 2013

Woman arrested in connection with National Cathedral vandalism

A woman was arrested Monday in connection with vandalism at the Washington National Cathedral after green paint was found splattered inside two of the cathedral's chapels. Published July 29, 2013

Hudson’s Bay Co. buys Saks for $2.4 billion

Luxury retailer Saks is being purchased by Hudson's Bay Co., the parent of Lord & Taylor, for approximately $2.4 billion. Published July 29, 2013

Republican National Committee names Chuck DeFeo as chief digital officer

The Republican National Committee has hired digital media strategist Chuck DeFeo to be its chief digital officer, Politico first reported Monday.The Republican National Committee has hired digital media strategist Chuck DeFeo to be its chief digital officer, Politico first reported Monday. Published July 29, 2013

War on texting: N.Y. police modify SUVs to allows cops to peer into other vehicles

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has launched a $1 million initiative to dissuade texting and driving, including purchasing specially modified Chevy Tahoes that sit higher so officers can easily peer into other vehicles. Published July 29, 2013

Indian woman is forcibly married, gang-raped in brutal ‘honor’ punishment

A 24-year-old Indian woman was forcibly married and gang-raped on her wedding day as a brutal "honor" punishment after her brother eloped with a married woman, the Daily Mail reported Monday. Published July 29, 2013

‘Terrible day’ in France: Unpredictable currents kill 7 swimmers

Gusts reaching 80 mph and unpredictable currents are to blame for killing seven swimmers in the south of France on Sunday. Published July 29, 2013

World’s first test-tube ‘Frankenburger’ to be served in London

The world's first laboratory-grown beef burger will be served in London at an exclusive location next week, costing its developer more than $250,000 to produce. Published July 29, 2013

Bill and Hillary Clinton angered by Anthony Weiner comparisons: report

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reportedly are angry over efforts by Anthony Weiner's New York mayoral campaign to compare Mr. Weiner's Internet affairs and his wife, Huma Abedin, to the Clintons' White House scandal in 1998. Published July 29, 2013

Anthony Weiner spent $43K in campaign funds to probe bogus 2011 Twitter hacking: report

Former Rep. Anthony Weiner spent more than $43,000 in congressional campaign funds to investigate his own bogus claims that his Twitter account was hacked two years ago, a New York Daily News report found Sunday. Published July 28, 2013

‘This is for Trayvon Martin’: 3 black men beat, rob white man in D.C.

"This is for Trayvon Martin." That's what one of three black men told a white man as they approached him early Saturday in Washington before committing what police are saying may be a hate crime, according to Metropolitan Police Officer Anthony Clay. Published July 28, 2013

‘Lunacy’: Israel agrees to release 104 Palestinian prisoners

The Israeli Cabinet approved the release of 104 Palestinian prisoners, paving the way toward resuming peace talks after five years of paralysis, an official confirmed. Published July 28, 2013

Turkey clears bird accused of being ‘Israeli spy’

Turkish authorities detained a bird on suspicion it was spying for Israel, but authorities released it after X-rays showed it was not embedded with bugging devices, local media reported Friday. Published July 28, 2013

Fort Hood shooting suspect Maj. Nidal Hasan: America is at war with Islam

Without specifically mentioning the November 2009 Fort Hood attack, accused shooter Maj. Nidal Hasan released a six-page statement to Fox News this weekend claiming that America is at war with Islam. Published July 28, 2013

Sarah Palin: McCain campaign ‘elitists’ banned me from telling the truth

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate, said Friday on Fox News that "attempts to destroy the whistleblowers" within the John McCain campaign meant that she was banned from talking about Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright during the 2008 presidential election campaign. Published July 28, 2013

NBC announces Hillary Clinton miniseries starring Diane Lane

NBC's entertainment chief has announced several new high-profile projects in the works, including a four-hour miniseries about Hillary Rodham Clinton to star Diane Lane. Published July 28, 2013

Outrage as bananas thrown at Italy’s first black government minister

Italy's first black government minister, an avid supporter of immigration reform and a target of racial slurs since her appointment in April, was giving a speech Friday when a member of the audience began to chuck bananas at her. Published July 28, 2013

CAIR calls on Obama to condemn attacks against Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest Muslim advocacy organization, on Saturday called on the Obama administration to condemn the killing of pro-Mohammed Morsi protesters in Egypt and "use the leverage of taxpayer funds being sent to that nation's military to push for a return to democracy." Published July 28, 2013

Man armed with baseball bat tries to rob gun store

A 22-year-old Oregon man learned the hard way last week that a baseball bat isn't the best weapon to wield while robbing a store loaded with firearms. Published July 28, 2013

Benghazi hero David Ubben still recovering at Walter Reed

Diplomatic Security agent David Ubben, who risked his life to help save his fellow Americans in last year's terror attack in Benghazi, is still recovering at Walter Reed medical center. Published July 25, 2013