Wealthy Hollywood producer paid for NKorea flight

Wed Aug 5: By PAMELA HESS and SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press Writers

Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and Deborah Jian Lee in New York contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON – A wealthy Hollywood producer and a major corporation were instrumental in bringing former President Bill Clinton and two American journalists home from North Korea, prompting words of thanks Wednesday from former Vice President Al Gore and the freed reporters during an emotional airport reunion.

AP INVESTIGATION: Border police being busted more

Mon Aug 10:  By MARTHA MENDOZA and CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN, Associated Press Writers

McALLEN, Texas – Corruption along the U.S.-Mexican border takes many forms.

It can start as simply as a smuggler’s $50 gift to the child of a reluctant federal agent, quickly escalating to out-and-out bribes. “Everyone does it,” the agent, now in prison, recalls telling himself. Other times, county sheriffs greedily …

U.S. banks to make $38 billion from overdraft fees: report

Mon Aug 10: by Ajay Kamalakaran in Bangalore; Editing by Greg Mahlich

(Reuters) – Banks in the United States are poised to make $38.5 billion in customer overdraft fees this year, the Financial Times said, citing research by Moebs Services.

A large portion of the revenue is likely to come from the most financially stretched consumers, according to the paper.

It said the research showed that many banks have increased charges on overdrafts and credit cards in order to boost profits.

The median bank overdraft fee rose  …