WILMINGTON, Del. – DuPont Co. (DD), the nation’s third-largest chemical maker, said Tuesday that first-quarter earnings grew sharply from a year ago as improved margins offset increased energy and raw materials costs, but still missed Wall Street estimates. Net income rose to $967 million, or 96 cents per share, for …

GENEVA – All samples of the killer influenza virus sent outside the United States have been destroyed except one in Lebanon (search), and that has been located, the U.N. health agency said Wednesday. The sample that had gone missing in Beirut “was found at the airport,” said Maria Cheng (search), …

MOSCOW – A Russian court on Wednesday abruptly delayed the verdict in the trial of jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky (search) in a case that has alarmed foreign investors, tipped oil prices and called into question President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to democracy. Khodorkovsky, the founder of Russia’s largest oil company, …

LAS VEGAS – Casino magnate Steve Wynn (search) opened his long-awaited Wynn Las Vegas (search) property just after the stroke of midnight Thursday to hordes of gamblers eager for a glimpse of the lavish $2.7 billion gambling, hotel and shopping complex. The crowd spilled onto the Las Vegas Strip as …

A list of attacks on foreigners in Egypt (search) in recent years: 2005: April 30: Two veiled women open fire on a tour bus in Cairo (search), then shoot themselves, and a suspect in an April 7 attack dies when the bomb he is carrying goes off during a police …

JERUSALEM – Palestinian lawmakers said Saturday that parliament will delay for at least several days a planned vote on an election law seen crucial to holding the July 17 legislative elections on time. “Tomorrow there will be no meeting,” but there is talk about holding it between Monday and Thursday, …

NEW YORK – Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona (search) was taken to a hospital Wednesday with tightness in his chest and missed the start of his team’s game against the New York Yankees. He was resting comfortably in the hospital awaiting test results, the Red Sox said during the …

WASHINGTON – Qwest Communications International Inc. (Q) said Friday that its poll of MCI Inc.’s (MCIP) shareholders found that owners of more than half of MCI’s stock supported its $9.1 billion bid for the company over Verizon Communications Inc.’s (VZ) deal. The poll puts Qwest another step closer to launching …

LOS ANGELES – In the shadow of this week’s huge pro-immigrant demonstrations, the opposition Minuteman Project launched a cross-country tour Wednesday to rally support for tighter border control. The volunteer group, which patrols the border and opposes illegal immigration, hopes to mobilize voters as the caravan heads for Capitol Hill …

WASHINGTON – The fate of President George W. Bush’s CIA nominee could hinge on how he justifies domestic eavesdropping programs that some lawmakers contend are illegal and started without congressional approval. Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden should expect sharp questioning about programs he oversaw while directing the National Security Agency …