Sharansky quits government over Gaza withdrawal
Independent - 2 hours ago By Eric Silver in Jerusalem. A senior minister in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's cabinet has resigned in protest at the plan to evacuate all 21 Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip and four from the northern West Bank this summer.

Qwest Withdraws Bid After MCI Accepts Verizon Offer
New York Times - 1 hour ago A fierce takeover battle ended yesterday when Qwest Communications said it would no longer pursue buying MCI Inc., leaving the once-bankrupt long distance carrier to be acquired by Verizon Communications.

US satellite sees N.Korea test preparations-paper
Wired News - 37 minutes ago SEOUL (Reuters) - US intelligence has captured the movement of heavy equipment in North Korea that points to possible preparations for an underground nuclear test, a South Korean newspaper said on Tuesday.

City may seek costs from runaway bride
CNN - 50 minutes ago DULUTH, Georgia (CNN) -- The city of Duluth may take civil action to recoup about $40,000 to $60,000 from runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks for costs incurred in her hometown's search for her, Police Chief Randy Belcher said late Monday.

US Demand Deepens Gulf With Iran Over Nuclear Facilities
New York Times - 48 minutes ago UNITED NATIONS, May 2 - The gulf between Iran and the United States deepened Monday when the Bush administration, at the opening of a conference on the future of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, demanded that Iran dismantle all the "equipment and

US and UN join Australian efforts to free hostage
ABC Online - 40 minutes ago TONY EASTLEY: The Australian Government, the armed forces, the US Government, the UN, Iraqi clerics and non-government organisations are all now involved in trying to secure the release of Australian hostage, Douglas Wood.

Bush faces Republican resistance on Social Security
Reuters - 40 minutes ago By Adam Entous. WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's plan to shore up Social Security by reducing promised benefits for all but low-income retirees is meeting resistance from some Senate

Morgan board backs Purcell
Guardian Unlimited - 2 hours ago The board of Morgan Stanley has again given its backing to embattled chairman and chief executive Philip Purcell, but detailed a series of governance changes aimed at easing criticism of the Wall Street firm.

Rice: US Can Deter North Korean Nuclear Ambitions
Voice of America - 3 hours ago By Meredith Buel. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in a tough statement aimed at North Korea, says the United States has significant deterrent capability to thwart Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. Secretary

Italy Rebuts US Report That Cleared GI's in Killing
New York Times - 38 minutes ago ROME, May 2 - Italy on Monday issued a strongly worded rebuttal to an American report clearing United States soldiers of responsibility for the shooting death of an Italian intelligence agent at a roadblock in Iraq, saying "inexperience and stress" on the