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1: Leaders from 190 countries are currently meeting to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty, but divisions are between nuclear and non-nuclear states, including between the United States and Iran, have prevented an agreement to be reached before the start of the one-month conference in New York. Despite pressure from Japan, Pakistan will only sign the deal if it is recognised as a nuclear state.
2: A car bomb in Iraq has killed 30 and wounded over 50 people. The attack is the worst of the anti-government insurgent attacks that have been going since last week.
3: Australian Prime Minister John Howard says he will not give in to the demands of Iraqi terrorists holding an Australian hostage to remove Australian troops from the country. The brother of hostage Douglas Wood says he is worried but is sure the government will do all they can do to save him.
4: South Korea and Japan have denied that an apparent nuclear bomb test by North Korea could have been dangerous. The United States claims a 60-mile-range missile was released into the Sea of Japan.
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1: United Nations leader Kofi Annan has spoken to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in New York, reminding the leaders of 190 countries of the horror and destruction of nuclear bombs."I firmly believe," said Mr Annan, "that our generation can build a world of ever-expanding development, security and human rights – a world in larger freedom."
2: Natan Sharansky has resigned from his position as an Israeli cabinet minister as a sign of protest against Israeli plans to remove troops from the Gaza Strip. Sharansky, who is considered a major supporter of democracy, says making no demands of the Palestinian government "will weaken the chances to build a free Palestinian society."
3: Italy has been critical of the United States for not punishing the U.S. soldiers who killed an Italian intelligence officer in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. However, an investigation into the shooting of Nicola Calipari by the Italian government suggests the shooting was not a deliberate assination, but was instead due to negligence.
4: The Chinese government will lift entry restrictions for Chinese citizens visiting Taiwan and will lift trade restrictions as a sign of strengthening relations between the two countries. The actions, which Xinhua describes as "clear gestures of affinity", follows a visit by Lien Chan, Taiwan's opposition leader. However, the reaction of President Chen Shui-bian, who is keen for national independence, is being awaited.
5: Microsoft Chairman Bill Gate believes a new upcoming version of Xbox may lead Microsoft to the top of the video gaming industry. "Our goal in the last generation was to be in the game," Mr Gates told the Society of American Business Editors and Writers. "We came out of this round a strong number two."
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1: The new democratically-elected Iraqi government has been sworn in within the Baghdad Green Zone as a day of fighting continued around the Zone. Two deputy prime minister positions and five minister positions have yet to be filled as tension rises between Shi'ites, Sunnis and Kurds.
2: Switzerland has told world leaders that nuclear developments are concerning in a sign of support for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
3: French president Jacques Chirac has asked the French to accept the new terms of the EU constitution.
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1: “For three long years, the Soviet army in fact almost single-handedly battled against fascism,” President Vladimir Putin reminded world leaders and vetarans at a Red Square military parade in Moscow, as Europe commemorated VE Day.
2: Iraq's new Parliament has decided on six Cabinet Ministers, but Sunni Arab Hashim Al-Shible has declined his appointment as Human Rights Minister in protest at the appointment process being based on faith. "Concentrating on sectarian identities leads to divisions in the society and state, and for that reason I respectfully decline the post," Al-Shible explained.
3: The Palestinian Authority's failure to meet the terms of an agreement with the Israeli government is the explanation for another Palestinian prisoner not being released, Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni announced tonight.
4: Senior Australian Muslim leader Sheikh Taj al-Din al-Hilali has appealed for the release of Australian hostage Douglas Wood and will now travel to Iraq to attempt to secure the man's release of Islamic fundamentalists. He says that he considers Wood to be a "brother, a fellow Australian and an innocent man."
5: As Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, which opens in London on May 16 and is released in the United States on May 19, is getting good reviews from several publications, including Variety Magazine, Hollywood Reporter and Time Magazine. "The final episode of George Lucas' cinematic epic 'Star Wars' ends the six-movie series on such a high note that one feels like yelling out, 'Rewind!'," claims Kirk Honeycutt in the Hollywood Reporter preview.
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1: Leaders from Arab and South American nations meeting in Brazil to discuss economic issues have been critical of wealth countries and have shown support for the Palestinians. Jalal Talabani, the new President of Iraq, used the two-day summit to ask for aid to help stop insurgency attacks.
2: After 17 years of controversy, a memorial remembering the Jewish victims of the Holocaust has been opened in Berlin. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is a large concrete structure which German President Wolfgang Thierse said should "somehow explain the incomprehensible."
3: President Bush has praised the new Georgian democracy in Europe as a "beacon of liberty" that must be respected as a sovereignty by Russia. Although he spoke to a cheering crowd at Tbilisi's Freedom Square, the U.S. Secret Service reported that a possible hand grenade was found within 100 feet.
4: Popstar Michael Jackson continues to plead his innocence, despite facing up to 46 years in jail if found guilty. As his child molestation trial continues, ranch worker Joseph Marcus has claimed he often saw Jackson sharing the bed with children and his previous statement was a lie. Marcus has joined a host of witnesses to contradict their original statements.
5: Although American Idol judge Paula Abdul laughed off allegations on Saturday Night Live, former Idol contestant Corey Clark is standing by claims that Abdul had an affair with him during the competition. He claims he has "explicit" and "incriminating" evidence of the affair.
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1: Two pilots have been arrested after refusing to move from a no-fly zone over the White House in an incident which lead to a 'red alert' and the evacuation of the Executive Mansion and the Capitol. The pair, who were travelling to the Mid-Atlantic Fly-In air show, faced several hours of questioning from the Secret Service.
2: East Asian countries are concerned about North Korea's announcement that it will continue to extend it's stock of nuclear weapons, pressuring North Korea to return to negotiations. South Korea is expressing "serious concern."
3: At least 72 are dead from terror attacks, including four car bombs in Baghdad and a car bomb in Tikrit targeting workers. Nearly 400 have died in the past two weeks, as the appointment of the new government provokes insurgent attacks.
4: Macaulay Culkin, most well-known as the lead actor of Home Alone, says Michael Jackson's child molestation charges are "absolutely ridiculous." He says he had a good friendship with Jackson because both had been child stars, but claims that Jackson never abused him.
5: On May 10 Yahoo! introduced Yahoo! Music Unlimited, a new internet music service offering access to 1 million songs for $5 a month. The introduction hasn't affected iPod maker Apple as expected, but has instead affected RealNetworks, which had a 20% drop in stock price, and Napster, which had a 27% share price drop and is likely to suffer worst as a result of Unlimited's introduction.
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