The Christian Science Monitor

MAY 2, 2007 - PAGE ONE STORIES

Key US Army ranks begin to thin
The reenlistment rate for mid-grade enlisted soldiers dropped from 96 percent in 2005 to 84 percent in the first quarter of this year. By Gordon Lubold

Britain foils many terror plots, but missed one
Major terror trial reveals that two of the July 7 subway bombers were tracked before the attack. By Mark Rice-Oxley

On the rise in American cities: the car-free zone
Pedestrians, bicyclists, and joggers are king of the road - at least sometimes - as more US cities ban autos from parks or designated districts. By Daniel B. Wood

Egypt targets Web-savvy opponents
Activists say Abdel Moneim Mahmoud was arrested because he's a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and has a popular blog. By Dan Murphy

WHAT SHOULD YOU BUY ORGANIC & WHY?

Which fish are safe to eat? Can you keep your home clean without toxic chemicals? The Green Guide is *the* source for green living, and environmental health and wellness advice. Learn more about The Green Guide's special offer here!

WORLD

Egypt's Gaza gateway: crossroad of frustration
The border crossing is one of five ways in and out of Gaza. But it has been open just 64 days in the past nine months. By Jill Carroll

As population diversifies, Swedish firms start to as well
They hope it will help them tap into the rising buying power of immigrants, who now spend $30 billion a year on goods and services. By Karin Rives

Colombian leader faces tough sell to US Congress
President Alvaro Uribe will fight for a trade deal and continued US aid when he arrives in Washington Wednesday amid a growing scandal back home. By Sibylla Brodzinsky

Reporters on the Job

Cuba's May Day goes on - without Castro
On Tuesday, the country's ailing leader missed his third May Day in his 48 years of power. By Sara Miller Llana

USA

US ocean observatories imperiled by 'earmark' crackdown
The Senate has twice passed bills to formally establish and fund a national monitoring system, but House versions never came to a vote. By Colin Woodard

What's US economy's future? Ask illegal immigrants.
The rise and fall of border crossings foretells economic change, researchers say. By Faye Bowers

EDITORIAL

Letters to the Editor
Readers discuss carbon statistics, the real problem of TV violence, home-loan tips, and the joys of small houses.

For the next president, a key test
Each candidate must give clearer visions of a post-Iraq-war world and why she or he should be the one to lead it.

OPINION

The gambling scam on America's poor
What kind of government spends millions of taxpayer dollars peddling false hope to confiscate cash from its poorest citizens to fatten state coffers? By Mark Lange

Imagining a world with more female heads of state
Women have shown they can handle the top job. Yet gender bias has persisted. By John Hughes

Get a FREE sample issue of the Monitor.

FEATURES, CURRENTS

Harry Potter and the magic of reading
With the final book due in July, teachers assess the impact the popular series has had on children's learning. By Shayna Garlick

America dines out with the Zagats
More ethnic choices and more-savvy diners have spawned an American culinary revolution. By Jennifer Wolcott

A crack in the Microsoft fortress?
Dell's decision to offer an older operating system on some of its computers is not a good sign for the company. By Tom Regan

The sharks of Australian suburbia
The prime waterfront real estate on Australia's Gold Coast is not just habitat for humanity - even sharks want a piece of the action. By Nick Squires

THE HOME FORUM

Hope for Somalia
There is a way out of every wilderness.

Oh, for the sweet freedom of fearless exploration
Sometimes it's best to let kids discover their limits without worrying. By Sally Marshall

Pirouette of man and machine
When the construction crews arrived to repair the road in front of her house, the 'ballet' began. By Dawn Goldsmith

Watch and hear Monitor reporters in on-air interviews

(c) 2007 The Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved.