Bush pressured on Iranian dialogue
WASHINGTON, May 11 (UPI) -- Mounting criticism at home and abroad is trying to convince the Bush administration to join direct talks with Iran about its nuclear program, reports say.
Republican and Democratic moderates in Congress have questioned the White House's stance in recent sharply worded commentaries. Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and five former EU foreign ministers say Iranian officials report widespread interest in talks with Washington.
Interest appears to have been fanned by an unusual 18-page letter to U.S. President George W. Bush from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, The Washington Post said Thursday.
The administration dismissed the letter as not a serious diplomatic overture, suggesting it contained nothing to solve the nuclear stalemate. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice termed the letter "a kind of philosophical and indeed religious attack on U.S. policies."
Albright, however, said it should be viewed as a chance to talk and influence world opinion. "In diplomacy" she said, "you make your opportunities."
Israel to bypass Hamas with aid funds
JERUSALEM, May 11 (UPI) -- Israel will begin releasing tax and customs revenues it has been withholding from the Palestinian Authority but only for humanitarian purposes.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said the money could not be used by the Hamas-led government to pay civil service employees, but only for such things as medicine and other health needs.
Israel suspended monthly payments of tax receipts it collects on behalf of the PA in February after Hamas won an election majority, upsetting the Fatah party. Israel, the European Union, the United States and other countries also froze funding, as they consider Hamas to be a terrorist group that does not recognize Israel as a country.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said he would prepare a detailed plan for the repayments and present it to the Israeli Cabinet on Sunday, The Jerusalem Post reported.
Wednesday, the European Union, United Nations, United States and Russia also agreed to resume some funding, but only for humanitarian purposes, the Financial Times said.
Study: Migrating birds didn't spread flu
PARIS, May 11 (UPI) -- European scientists say despite predictions migrating birds would spread avian flu across Europe this spring, studies indicate that did not occur.
Health officials around the world voiced fears during the winter that migratory birds that flew south to Africa last fall would spread the deadly virus into Europe during their return this spring.
The fact that hasn't occurred is a significant finding for Europe, since it's much simpler to monitor a virus on farms than in the wild, The New York Times reported Thursday.
In thousands of samples collected in Africa this winter, not one bird was found carry the avian virus, scientists told the newspaper.
The number of European bird flu cases has declined sharply since February, when dozens of new infections were reported daily. The last case was discovered April 28 in a grebe in Denmark, along with a falcon in Germany and a few swans in France, the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health reported.
Many European nations responding to the good news are lifting restrictions intended to protect domestic poultry from infected wild birds.
Burned trees close I-95 in Florida
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla., May 11 (UPI) -- A 12-mile stretch of Interstate 95 in central Florida was closed Thursday over fears burned and unstable trees could topple onto the highway.
The tall pine trees, palmettos and underbrush near New Smyrna Beach caught fire Sunday, and the flames jumped the highway and eventually burned 1,400 acres, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported.
Forestry officials said they will have to inspect and tag thousands of trees, wet them and haul them away before I-95 can be reopened.
"These trees are unstable. They're going to fall," said Chris Worrell, operations chief for the command team battling the fire. "If we don't do this, there will be an accident on this road. It's not a matter of if, it's when."
Various wildfires burning in the tinder-dry state since April have caused road closures along the east coast for days. Four deaths have been attributed to smoke-related car crashes.
Chavez to snub Britain's Blair on visit
LONDON, May 11 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is scheduled to travel to Britain but will not meet with Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Times of London reported Thursday.
The outspoken leftist Venezuelan leader has been particularly critical of Blair for his strong ties to the Bush administration. He also has called for Britain to return the Falkland Islands to Argentina. The two nations waged a short war over the islands off of Argentina's coast in 1982.
Chavez is on a three-nation tour of Europe that includes a stop in Austria for a summit of European, Caribbean and Latin American leaders.
