US soldier sentenced to death for grenade attack on comrades
New Zealand Herald - 2 hours ago By Andrew Buncombe. An American Muslim is facing the prospect of being the first US soldier to be executed since the early 60s after a military jury sentenced him to death for an attack that killed two of his colleagues.

China Woos Taiwan's Opposition Leader
Scotsman - 30 minutes ago Taiwan�s opposition leader flew today to the hometown he hasn�t seen in six decades after a historic meeting with President Hu Jintao in Beijing, where they promised to promote an end to hostilities and combat Taiwanese pro-independence activists.

Putin starts visit to Palestine
People's Daily Online - 3 hours ago Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) talked to President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas upon his arrival in Ramallah in the West Bank April 29, 2005. Putin arrived in Ramallah that day

Bombs kill 50, hurt 121 in Iraq
Washington Times - 40 minutes ago By Thomas Wagner. BAGHDAD -- Insurgents set off at least 17 bombs in Iraq yesterday, killing at least 50 persons, including three US soldiers, in a series of attacks aimed at shaking Iraq's newly formed government.

Vital Signs for the Week of May 2
BusinessWeek - 8 hours ago Exactly where is the economy going The latest data show it cooled down in the first quarter, as prices kept creeping higher. What's more, there were some signs that businesses and consumers have gotten a little more cautious.

Unsnarling Social Security: Bush is moving from talk to action
Dallas Morning News (subscription) - 20 minutes ago Say what you will about President Bush's plan for personal Social Security accounts, the Texan has done his part to alert Americans to the fact that Social Security soon will start running out of cash to pay full benefits.

Gates Calls for End to Foreign Worker Visa Limits
PC World - Apr 27, 2005 WASHINGTON--Congress should do away with limits on how many foreign workers technology companies can bring into the United States, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates said today. Asked what he would do if he were

England to Plead Guilty in Abu Ghraib Abuse Case
Washington Post - 1 hour ago By TR Reid and Josh White. Pfc. Lynndie R. England, the woman seen holding an Iraqi prisoner on a leash in the iconic photo from the Abu Ghraib prison, will plead guilty to seven charges stemming from abuse of prisoners there, her attorney said yesterday.

Pentagon: No New North Korean Nuclear Weapon Capability
Voice of America - 5 hours ago By Al Pessin. The US Defense Department says a statement Thursday by its intelligence chief was not a new assessment indicating an increased nuclear weapons capability by North Korea. The spokesman was attempting

Microsoft Third-Quarter Profits Double
Yahoo News - 7 hours ago Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) has reported its financial results for the quarter, noting that in the period, profit has nearly doubled. Although sales were below Wall Street estimates, Microsoft expressed an upbeat outlook for the year ahead.