Iraq hostage's family 'extremely concerned'
ABC Online - 18 minutes ago The brother of an Australian man being held hostage in Iraq says the family is extremely concerned about his situation but trusts the Government will do all that is reasonably in its power to help. Douglas

South Korea, Japan Play Down Missile Testing by North
Reuters - 1 hour ago By Jack Kim and Masayuki Kitano. SEOUL/TOKYO (Reuters) - A suspected North Korean missile test at the weekend does not appear to pose a threat to regional security but would strain efforts to restart talks

New threat to Egypt's peace
Newsday - 1 hour ago BY MOHAMAD BAZZI. BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Two attacks against tourists in Cairo on Saturday prompted fears of a renewed wave of violence by Islamic militants similar to a bloody campaign in the 1990s, which nearly

Suspects seized over UK aid worker's death
Xinhua - 23 minutes ago BEIJING, May 2 --Aminor breakthrough appears to have been made in connection with one of the most high-profile hostage cases of the past year¡¯s kidnapping and killing of Margaret Hassan in Iraq. Iraqi police

Buffett Says Chastened Insurers Are Making Changes
New York Times - 2 hours ago By TIMOTHY L. O'BRIEN. OMAHA, May 1 - Warren E. Buffett, the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said here Sunday that insurers had been "sensitized" by disclosures of unseemly practices and financial manipulation

Charges not ruled out for US runaway bride
China Daily - 2 hours ago A suburban Atlanta prosecutor said Sunday he would be less likely to bring charges against runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks if authorities determine she left spontaneously rather than planning her disappearance.

A Tonic for Bush's Ailing Second Term
BusinessWeek - 1 hour ago One hundred and one days into his second term, President George W. Bush is near the low point of his four-and-a-half-year Presidency. His party is struggling mightily, too. Despite an aggressive marketing campaign, public support for the President's No.

Laura Bush: First lady of comedy
USA Today - 1 hour ago President Bush: Thank you and good evening. I always look forward to these dinners, where I'm supposed to be funny — intentionally. I'm really looking forward to hearing Cedric the Entertainer. I kind of think of myself that way.

Iran Plans Defense of Nuclear Program
Washington Post - 2 hours ago By Dafna Linzer. Iran is planning to mount a staunch defense of its nuclear energy program at an international conference beginning today and will insist on rights to the same technology afforded to all members

Cos. negotiate $5B deal for Neiman Marcus
BusinessWeek - 1 hour ago MAY. 1 11:57 PM ET Texas Pacific Group and Warburg Pincus are negotiating to purchase the Neiman Marcus Group Inc., which includes a chain of 37 luxury department stores, for about $5 billion, according to published reports.