Another assassination attempt

- The president of Afghanistan has survived a fourth attack.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for an attack on President Hamid Karzai.
President Hamid Karzai has been attacked on Sunday during an anniversary celebration in Kabul.
The ceremony marked the mujahedeen victory over the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
Karzai said during a live TV address that arrests have been made.
"Everything is calm, rest assured," he said.
One blogger who watched a video from The Associated Press says Afghanistan has been devastated by wars, and the people are dying of hunger. The blogger states change is needed in the country.

For more information, please see the following Web sites:
1. Fourth assassination attempt
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/8737
2. Narrow escape
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/apr2008/afgh-a29.shtml
3. President escapes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjpwYUcnTwM
4. Attacked during parade
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7369540.stm

White House wants answers

- The U.S. demands to know the truth behind Syria's supposed nuclear reactor.

The White House is claiming that North Korea helped Syria with a secret nuclear program. The revelation could undermine attempts to resolve a nuclear standoff with North Korea.
"...This reactor was not intended for peaceful activities," White House press secretary Dana Perino said.
The White House says Syria's facility was never intended for 'peaceful purposes,' according to The Associated Press.
The White House is demanding that Syria expose the truth about their nuclear program.

For more information, see the following:
1. U.S. makes claim
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7364269.stm
2. Syria needs to 'come clean'
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24293375/
3. Syria denies U.S. claim
http://www.examiner.com/a-1359897~Syria_denies_US_claims_of_a_secret_nuclear_program.html
4. President of Syria denies claim
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Apr25/0,4670,SyriaNuclear,00.html

Less food means more turmoil

-Rising costs of food items is causing worldwide poverty which, in turn, threatens the livelihood of food programs.

People are going into poverty because of sharply rising food prices, according to http://www.readexpress.com/.

The issue of food prices threatens U.N.-backed food programs for children, top U.N. officials said.
Costs for basic food supplies has risen in recent months in part because of rising costs in fuel prices and the demand for biofuel production.
"This is the new face of hunger- the millions of people who were not in the urgent hunger category six months ago but now are," Josette Sheeran, executive director of the World Food Program, said.
Should rising prices continue, rioting could increase worldwide, analysts say.

1. Rising costs trouble world leaders
http://www.dawn.com/2008/04/26/top12.htm
2. Food is global crisis
http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8227069&nav=2HAB
3. Warning of food prices
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=24&art_id=vn20080426091103807C651809
4. 'Real global crisis'
http://www.kjrh.com/news/world/story.aspx?content_id=e6cea404-1778-4998-93d1-851b16099bb8

Possible power change

-The presidential election in Paraguay is shows a desire for political change in the region.

Fernando Lugo is making progress in Paraguay's presidential election, according to Sunday's exit polls. Lugo is a former Roman Catholic bishop who has been dubbed the "bishop of the poor," according to The Associated Press.
A win for Lugo would bring the 61-year reign of the Colorado Party to an end.
The exit polls were a concern for candidate Blanca Ovelar, who disputed the exit poll results.
"We are going to await the provisional official results from election authorities," Ovelar said.

For more information, see the following:
1. People call for Lugo
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/04/20/paraguay.elections.ap/index.html
2. Ovelar awaits victory
http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=107420
3. Former bishop leads race
http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=13104&formato=HTML
4. Lugo gets slightly ahead
http://www.heraldextra.com/component/option,com_contentwire/task,view/id,40315/Itemid,53/

good news, bad news

- A Democratic presidential debate is the most watched and least favored program, according to a network's Web site.

ABC News has received record ratings and poor reviews for a Democratic presidential debate which aired Wednesday.
"The poor reviews are a sign of how much people care," said George Stephanopoulos, moderator during the event.
The debate had two moderators, Stephanopoulos and Charles Gibson, and it drew in record ratings.
"The questions were tough and fair and appropriate and relevant," Stephanopoulus said.
Both Democratic presidential candidates agreed on one thing for certain during the debate. Each of them could defeat John McCain.

1. Record rates, poor critiques
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/express/pdfs/EXPRESS_04182008.pdf
2. Highs and lows
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/express/pdfs/EXPRESS_04182008.pdf
3. Debate missed out?
http://pushingrope.blogspot.com/2008/04/abc-news-presidential-debate.html
4. Presidential hopefuls attack
http://news.yahoo.com/elections

Global Warming plan offered

-Greenhouse gases are being addressed by Bush this week.
The president of the United States has called for a halt to growth of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by 2005. Bush wants to develop national goals to address climate change.
Bush is attempting to address concerns that Congress could pass legislation which would effect economic growth and hopes to solve global warming without heavy costs to the industry.
Bush's proposal was part of efforts to oppose the Senate bill which would require mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions.
"... America's national plan will be a comprehensive blend of market incentives and regulations to reduce emissions by encouraging clean and efficient energy technologies," Bush said.

For more information, see the following:
1. Plan of Action
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/express/pdfs/EXPRESS_04172008.pdf
2. Incentive or action?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/31/AR2007053100934.html
3. Halt is needed
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080416/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_climate
4. Bush proposes goals
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/washington/01prexy.html

Victory shows promise

-Voting for prime minister continues in Italy.
Silvio Berlusconi has won a victory in Italy's primary election.
"Berlusconi won... because people feel that on the other side, the government is going to take them nowhere," said Franco Pavoncello, a political science professor at Rome's John Cabot University.
Two years ago, Berlusconi lost to Romano Prodi. Berlusconi is on his way to a third term as prime minister after Prodi's government has failed to please his people, sources say.

For more information, visit the following:
1. Berlusconi on his way
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/express/pdfs/EXPRESS_04152008.pdf
2. The Good, the bad, and Berlusconi
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3034600.stm
3. Earned or given?
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=1957150
4. Frustration leads to Berlusconi
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/world/europe/15italy.html?hp