Hampered by huge budget deficits and an unpopular war, US President George Bush today called for training 70,000 maths and science teachers to improve US competitiveness with booming Asian nations and declared that America must break its dependence on Mideast oil.

US PRESIDENT George W Bush received a morale boost ahead of his State of the Union address last night with the confirmation of his nominee for the Supreme Court.

US President George Bush today told abortion opponents they are pursuing “a noble cause” and making a real difference in the campaign to recruit more Americans to stand on their side.

THE US Supreme Court steered clear of a major ruling on abortion yesterday, instead giving the northeastern state of New Hampshire a chance to save its parental notification law.

The US Supreme Court steered clear of a major ruling on abortion today, instead giving the northeastern state of New Hampshire a chance to save its parental notification law.

The US Supreme Court upheld Oregon’s one-of-a-kind physician-assisted suicide law today, rejecting a Bush administration attempt to punish doctors who help terminally ill patients die.

US President George Bush is nominating Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, according to senior Republican officials.

THE White House yesterday said President Bush is confident Harriet Miers will be confirmed to the Supreme Court, even though a Democrat on the Senate panel that will hold hearings on her nomination said she doesn’t have the votes.

US PRESIDENT George W Bush nominated White House counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court yesterday, turning to a lawyer who has never been a judge to replace Sandra Day O’Connor and help reshape the nation’s judiciary.

President George Bush has chosen Harriet Miers, White House counsel and a loyal member of the president’s inner circle, to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the US Supreme Court, a senior administration official said today.

US Chief Justice William H Rehnquist has died from cancer, ending a 33-year Supreme Court career during which he oversaw the court’s conservative shift, presided over an impeachment trial and helped decide a presidential election.

Frustrated by Democrats, President George Bush will circumvent the Senate and install embattled nominee John Bolton to be ambassador to the United Nations, a senior administration official said.

IF confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate, Judge Roberts would succeed on the nine-member court retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who has long been a swing vote on a court divided narrowly on issues such as abortion, states’ rights and the death penalty.

US President George Bush named federal appeals court judge John Roberts for a seat on the Supreme Court, delighting Republicans while unsettling some Democrats with the selection of a young jurist with impeccable conservative credentials.

JUSTICE Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court and a key swing vote on issues such as abortion and the death penalty, said yesterday she is retiring.

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed to the US Supreme Court and a key swing vote on issues such as abortion and the death penalty, said today she is retiring.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is to receive the 2005 Philadelphia Liberty Medal, awarded to those who demonstrate leadership in the pursuit of freedom.

Massive firework displays in US cities rounded off America’s July 4 celebrations – the nation’s 227th birthday.