Washington, D.C.: New terror attacks expected

The largest volume of intercepted communications and other intelligence since before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks suggests that al-Qaida is preparing a new wave of attacks on Western targets in the Muslim world and perhaps in the United States, senior U.S. and Saudi Arabian officials said Monday.

Monday’s version of the CIA’s “threat matrix,” a daily top-secret compilation of intelligence on possible attacks, warned that intercepted telephone calls and other communications all suggested that new attacks were likely.

An administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said any new attacks were likely to be on a smaller scale and less sophisticated than the 9-11 attacks, and more like the suicide car bombings last week in Saudi Arabia and Morocco.

California: Poll: Smaller tax cut, more state aid favored

A majority of Americans would prefer a smaller federal tax cut if it meant more aid to the states to maintain public schools and universities, according to a survey by independent researchers at the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University.

The survey is the first to gauge support for President Bush’s proposed $550 billion tax cut in light of shrinking education budgets.

Of those surveyed, 67 percent preferred a smaller tax cut, and more federal aid to the states to shore up funding for public schools, while 25 percent wanted the $550 billion tax cut.

The survey questioned 1,003 randomly selected adults between May 8 and 13. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Washington, D.C.: Press secretary resigns

President Bush’s chief spokesman announced Monday that he would leave the White House in July. Ari Fleischer said he planned to go on the speaking circuit and do some writing before looking for work in the private sector. Mostly, he said, he wanted to relax.

“I really want to unwind, do something more relaxing — like dismantle live nuclear weapons,” Fleischer joked with reporters Monday.

“I love my job,” Fleischer said. “I believe deeply in President Bush, the man and his policies, but it is my time to go.”

Ireland: Government crackdown on alcohol ads planned

Alarmed that Ireland has become one of the hardest-drinking countries in Europe, the government announced Monday it plans to require health warnings on alcoholic drinks and limit liquor ads that invade every corner of Irish life.

Prime Minister Bertie Ahern insisted in a speech to European brewers in Dublin that young people shouldn’t be exposed to saturation marketing of alcohol, which he said was fueling a new “drink to get drunk” culture in a country where the pub has been the hub of life for generations.

To that end, he said, the government plans to ban alcohol ads from buses, trains, cinemas and sporting events involving young people, while no ads for beer or other alcoholic beverages would be permitted before 10 p.m. on Irish television.