Hostage reliant on persuasion
NEWS.com.au - 57 minutes ago THE Federal Government had no new information on the kidnapping of an Australian man held hostage by insurgents in Iraq, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today. Mr Downer was speaking from New York after

Vice president touts Social Security plan to supporters
Access North Georgia - 2 hours ago At a ticket-only town hall meeting, Vice President Dick Cheney rallied the party faithful Monday to support President Bush's plan for Social Security reform. After emerging to cheers and applause from the

Groom Gives Ring Back to Runaway Bride
FOX News - 2 hours ago DULUTH, Ga. — When runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks (search) made her way home after running away last week, John Mason was waiting to give something to his fiancée. "The first thing I gave to her when I saw her was her diamond back.

Iraq death toll climbs relentlessly as insurgents step up attacks
Telegraph.co.uk - 16 minutes ago By Oliver Poole in Baghdad. The violence in Iraq that has left at least 127 people dead since a new government was formed last week continued unabated yesterday. Four bombs exploded in Baghdad, one outside a busy shopping centre.

Stand up. Tongue update. Time travelers.
Houston Chronicle - 2 hours ago By KYRIE O'CONNOR. 1. I was, I confess, slightly disconcerted by Laura Bush's stand-up act at the White House Correspondents Dinner Saturday night. Now, I'm thrilled she'd have the gumption to take on that

Iran, North Korea dominate nuclear conference
Reuters - 41 minutes ago By Louis Charbonneau and Carol Giacomo. UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Controversy over the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea dominated a global disarmament conference on Monday, with the United States

UPDATE 6-Verizon wins MCI with $8.5 billion offer
Reuters - 1 hour ago By Justin Hyde. WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) won its 10-week battle for MCI Inc. (MCIP.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday, as Qwest Communications International Inc.

Sharansky quits Israel cabinet in Gaza row
Telegraph.co.uk - 16 minutes ago By Tim Butcher in Jerusalem. Natan Sharansky, the former Soviet dissident, resigned from the Israeli government yesterday in protest at the plan to hand Gaza back to the Palestinians. Mr Sharansky became the

Purcell Must Mend Morgan Stanley's Wounds
ABC News - 2 hours ago The Morgan Stanley building in New York's Times Square is seen, Thursday, April 14, 2005 in New York. Morgan Stanley Chief Executive Phil Purcell survived a challenge to his position over the weekend after

Italy criticizes US over its Iraqi checkpoints
Reuters - 20 minutes ago By Crispian Balmer. ROME (Reuters) - Italy criticized the US military on Monday for failing to establish rules for checkpoints in Iraq, saying nervous US troops manning a haphazard road block were to blame for the killing of an Italian agent near Baghdad.