The Air Force base that sparked a controversy last year because its B-52 crews unknowingly flew nuclear missiles has failed a nuclear security test from Defense Department inspectors. Personnel at the 5th Bomb Wing's Minot Air Force Base here failed to counter simulated nuclear security challenges that earned it an "unsatisfactory" grade in that category from inspectors on Sunday, based on a report of the Pentagon's Defense Threat Reduction Agency that was cited on the Air Force Times website. The tests were conducted for a week starting May 17.

Excitement, enthusiasm, and national pride are running high among local Chinese in anticipation of the Beijing 2008 Olympics Games, a survey released Monday revealed. The survey 'Project 2008 Poll, conducted for public relations and advertising company Ogilvy in China and Milward Brown ACSR, showed that 74 percent of Chinese were "excited or very excited" about China hosting its first Olympics and a high degree of "national pride" in the games, prevails among 72 percent who said they were proud of China.

A bill proposing to put a 1-percent excise tax on TV sets, video games and video game equipment sold in New Mexico will be submitted to the state legislature on Monday to fund programs preventing childhood obesity and improving school performance. State legislator Gail Chasey, an educator and sponsor of the bill, expects to raise $4 million from the tax each year.

The Austrian Supreme Court denied a petition by a British woman to have her chimpanzee elevated to human status. Paula Stibbe, who assumed guardianship over Hiasl, a chimp who was left money by an unidentified benefactor to ensure his future after the animal house he used to call home went bankrupt, argued the ape should enjoy the same rights as any human child as Hiasl loves watching TV, playing games, on top of his being very affectionate.

Olympic organizers in Beijing have announced that there are 132 official reception hotels for this summer's games. The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games said there are 120 contracted hotels for the event providing 30,000 rooms for the duration of the games. The organizers said some 38 are five-star hotels, 45 are four-star, 22 are three-star and 15 are not yet star-rated. The average room rate for a double room in a five-star hotel in Beijing is $383 and $295 is charged on average in a four-star hotel.