EU cracks door for Serbia in advance of vote
With a fresh round of tight elections looming in Serbia, the European Union on Tuesday signed a pre-membership pact with Belgrade in a bid to help pro-Western forces avoid defeat at the polls on May 11.

Clinton wins North Carolina governor's endorsement
The endorsement of Michael Easley, the governor of North Carolina, comes a week before the primary in that state and reinforces the impression that Hillary Clinton has greater appeal to blue-collar voters.
- Republicans wonder which John McCain will be president
- McCain proposes tax credits for health insurance
- As Clinton seeks gas tax break for summer, Obama says no
- North Carolina governor endorses Clinton ahead of May 6 primary
- Obama adds to distance from pastor
- As North Carolina primary looms, eyes on Edwards

A vexing reminder of war in Chechnya's booming capital
At least a half dozen graves of war victims have been quietly moved to make room for rebuilding. In doing so, authorities made an exception to Russia's general policy of not exhuming mass graves in Chechnya.

Iranian president's visit will test India
The visit by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gives India a chance to show that it is willing to assert its independence from the United States.

Bush presses Congress on economy
Congressional Democrats retorted that President George W. Bush was out of touch and offered impractical solutions.
- Bush defends timing of release of intelligence material on bombed Syrian building
- Text of Bush's news conference

As inflation squeezes middle-class Europe, anxiety about the future
A generation of European workers is grappling with a rising sense of injustice as they face the reality that they may be becoming worse, not better, off than their parents.
- French couple emblematic of squeeze on middle-class households
- Downward mobility: A new German reality
- Good times on hold for British family
- Anxiety in Italy over family finances.
- Spainiards pursue constant vigilance

Former chief of Serbian secret police goes on trial in The Hague
Jovica Stanisic, whose trial began Monday, was one of Slobodan Milosevic's closest aides during Serbia's 1990s wars against Croatia and Bosnia, and prosecutors have presented him as the key strategist of the wars that were often fought through covert and violent police campaigns.

Losses at Deutsche Bank reflect depth of credit crisis
Deutsche Bank announced a write-down of more than $4 billion, Dresdner Bank said it would write down its assets by €900 million, and HBOS said it would tap investors for about $8 billion in new capital.
- HBOS to raise £4 billion from shareholders
- Bank of England chief urges end to big pay packages

Hungary opposition calls on prime minister to step down
The calls by Fidesz were made after Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany, the millionaire leader of the Socialists - the former Communist Party - lost the support of his small coalition partner, the liberal Free Democrats. The Free Democrats voted last weekend to quit the government after months of disagreements over the direction of economic and social policy.

Singapore succeeds at managing everything - except dating
The government is fighting a low birth rate with instructions on how to fall in love and maintain a relationship. It's not working.

Western scientists intrigued by photos from Iran's nuclear site
Iran has released 48 photographs from inside Natanz, the country's secret nuclear facility, providing the first significant look at a new centrifuge known as the IR-2.
- Iranian president's visit will test India
- CIA director says Syrian nuclear reactor was nearly operational

'Astonishing' reunion for Austrian suspect's family
The woman imprisoned for 24 years in a cellar by her father, most of her children by him and her mother met at the clinic where they are receiving psychiatric counseling, officials said Tuesday.
- Abduction and incest case leaves Austria aghast
- Austrian appeared in court over abuse case

Younger Cuban-Americans want a softer U.S. approach to island
With Fidel Castro out of the way, a younger generation in South Florida is looking to drop the hard-line stance their parents and grandparents might have taken on Cuba and foster closer business and personal ties.

EU seeks green label for wood furniture
The environment commissioner plans to propose a regulation that would require importers and many retailers of wood products to show how the wood was obtained and where it is being sent next in the supply and production chain.

A port without shelter: Clandestine migrants stuck in 'jungle' by Calais
On the coasts of northern France, Kurds, Afghans and Eritreans bide their time as they wait to be smuggled over the English Channel, undeterred by regular tear gas assaults by French riot police.