Iran train blast kills more than 200\nNEYSHABUR, Iran -- Runaway train cars carrying a lethal mix of fuel and chemicals derailed, caught fire and then exploded hours later Wednesday in northeast Iran, killing more than 200 people, injuring at least 400 and leaving dozens trapped beneath crumbled mud homes. Most of those reported dead were firefighters and rescue workers who had extinguished most of the blaze outside Neyshabur, an ancient city of 170,000 people in a farming region 400 miles east of the capital, Tehran.
White House backs off job-growth forecast\nWASHINGTON D.C. -- The White House backed away Wednesday from its own prediction that the economy will add 2.6 million new jobs before the end of this year, saying the forecast was the work of number-crunchers and President Bush was not a statistician. Bush, himself, stopped short of echoing the prediction.
Annan expected to back U.S. plan in Iraq\nWASHINGTON D.C. -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to support the Bush administration and advise against direct elections for an interim government in Iraq, but will delay further recommendations until he consults with other governments, a U.S. official said Wednesday. Annan has decided to restrict his immediate conclusions to agreeing with the administration that the direct elections proposed by Shiite clerics are not feasible before July 1, said the official on condition of anonymity.
Bush 'troubled' by gay marriage issue\nWASHINGTON D.C. -- President Bush said Wednesday he was troubled by gay weddings in San Francisco and by legal decisions in Massachusetts that could clear the way for same-sex marriages. He declined to say whether he was close to backing a constitutional ban. "I have watched carefully what's happening in San Francisco, where licenses were being issued, even though the law states otherwise," Bush said. "I have consistently stated that I'll support law to protect marriage between a man and a woman. Obviously these events are influencing my decision."
Rebel uprising threatens Haiti city \nCAP-HAITIEN, Haiti -- Frightened police barricaded themselves inside their station Wednesday and said they could not repel a threatened rebel attack on Haiti's second-largest city, the last major government bastion in the north. Officers in other towns deserted their posts with no guerrillas in sight.
Russian missiles thwarted by glitch\nMOSCOW -- A technical glitch thwarted the launch of Russian ballistic missiles in the Barents Sea on Tuesday during naval maneuvers overseen by President Vladimir Putin, who watched the massive exercise while decked out in naval officer's garb aboard a nuclear submarine.
Gambian president announces oil find \nDAKAR, Senegal -- The Gambian president announced the discovery of "large quantities" of oil in his tiny West African nation, saying the offshore find would eliminate poverty and hunger, Gambian media reported.\nAn unnamed Western company made the find while studying 200 square miles of Atlantic seabed off Gambia's coast, the Gambian newspaper The Independent reported Monday.
Israel approves $20 million for settlements\nJERUSALEM -- A parliamentary committee has approved more than $20 million in new funding for Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, despite Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's recent calls to evacuate parts of these areas.\nThe decision Monday by the Finance Committee outraged the Palestinians as well as opposition legislators. It also threatened to complicate a visit this week by senior U.S. diplomats, who are to arrive to discuss peace efforts with Sharon.
FEC imposes new campaign restrictions\nWASHINGTON D.C. -- Election regulators imposed new limits Wednesday on non-party political groups that want to use large corporate and union donations to influence this fall's elections but declined for the time being to ban their use of big money.\nThe Federal Election Commission voted 4-2 to place some restrictions on outside political groups that register with the commission to raise money.
