An old treaty for a new world
BBC News - 45 minutes ago By Jonathan Marcus. The entry into force of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT in March 1970 represented a milestone for a world living in the shadow of the nuclear bomb. Its aim was to prevent the

Two private equity firms near deal for retailer - report
MarketWatch - 18 minutes ago SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Two private equity firms are near a $5 billion agreement to buy Neiman Marcus Group in a deal that values the luxury retailer at $100 a share, according to a media report Sunday.

'Australia won't bow to Iraq kidnappers' demand'
Sify - 1 hour ago Sydney: Australia will send an emergency team to Iraq to seek the release of a kidnapped Australian contractor but will not bow to the militants' demand to withdraw its troops, Prime Minister John Howard said on Monday.

Violence surges on in Iraq
Xinhua - 2 hours ago BEIJING, May 2 --Insurgents have launched a third straight day of attacks in Iraq, killing at least ten Iraqis and wounding more than 20. A car bomb blast detonated near a US military convoy in western Baghdad

Buffett Says Chastened Insurers Are Making Changes
New York Times - 1 hour 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

Egypt Detains More Than 200 in Attacks on Tourist Industry
New York Times - 4 hours ago By MONA EL-NAGGAR. CAIRO, May 1 - Egyptian authorities swept through villages on the outskirts of Cairo on Sunday, detaining more than 200 people after attacks on Saturday that left seven people wounded and three attackers dead.

S. Korea Downplays N. Korea Missile Test
ABC News - 1 hour ago A South Korean police officer looks at North Korea's Scud-B missile, center green, and other South Korea's missiles at Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul, South Korea, in this March 10, 2003 file photo. The

Social Security plan would have big impact on most Americans
Kansas City Star - 17 hours ago BY LARRY EICHEL. PHILADELPHIA - (KRT) - On Thursday night, President Bush announced that he'd like to balance Social Security's books by having retirement benefits grow more slowly for the better-off than for people with lower incomes.

Charges not ruled out for US runaway bride
China Daily - 1 hour 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.

Laura Bush: First lady of comedy
USA Today - 30 minutes 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.