World News

Italy's culture minister is calling an accord reached with the J. Paul Getty Museum for the return of 40 ancient artifacts "historic" and a victory for artistic ethics. Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome that Francesco Rutelli also says it is a blow to looters and art traffickers worldwide.

A bridge spanning the Mississippi River in the Midwestern city of Minneapolis collapsed Wednesday, during the evening rush hour, dumping scores of vehicles into the river. At least four people died and local hospitals have treated dozens of people for injuries.

Researchers aboard two small Russian submarines have planted the country's flag nearly 4,300 meters below the North Pole. The mission was aimed at laying claim to vast mineral riches below the polar ice cap.

US secretary of state says multi-billion-dollar plans will not upset regional arms balance or halt American democracy agenda among Arab states.

A group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced legislation aimed at blocking President Bush's plan to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States, arguing that the proposal would be destabilizing to the region.

Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns says sales of mainly defense systems reflect importance US attaches to role of those countries in broader Middle East.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made announcement in Washington before leaving Monday with Defense Secretary on trip to Middle East to seek support for stabilizing Iraq.

Israel's Prime Minister on Sunday said he has no objections to a proposed massive U.S. arms sale to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States.

U.S. officials say the Bush administration is expected to ask Congress to approve a major arms sale package for Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf nations, partly to counter Iran's rising influence in the region.

Two weeks before the US space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to lift-off, the US space agency NASA says a piece of equipment that was to fly on the mission was deliberately sabotaged. And as if that weren't enough, there were reports Thursday that astronauts flew while drunk.

A total of 17 contenders, nine Republicans and eight Democrats, are running for president in 2008. The bulk of media attention has focused on the better-known candidates with names like Clinton, Obama, Giuliani and McCain. Jim Malone reports on some of the other contenders clamoring for attention in a crowded field of White House hopefuls.

While Hillary Clinton remains the favorite for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination next year, Republicans are still searching for a frontrunner at this early stage in the 2008 election process.

The House of Representatives Financial Services Committee Tuesday heard from economists who agreed the weakening dollar is likely to decline further.

In several weeks there will be a Presidential election in France which will end the 12 year reign of Jacques Chirac. It looks to be a close and interesting race, and the first round of voting is on April 22. Here is a brief look at the top four candidates in the polls.

Last week, the Bush administration announced a plan to send U.S. inspectors to check trucks in Mexico that would then be allowed to cross over the border and deliver loads anywhere in the United States. This would be a pilot program, but the eventual goal is to open the border to more such traffic as called for by the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. The Teamsters Union and highway safety groups in the United States are among those opposing the plan.