Hezbollah's actions ignite sectarian fuse in Lebanon
After almost a week of street battles, long-simmering Sunni-Shiite tensions have sharply worsened, in an ominous echo of the civil conflict in Iraq.

World's poor pay price as crop research is cut
Cuts in agricultural research continue even as the growth of the global food supply slows and the population increases.

Food crisis meets chaos in Horn of Africa
A collision of troubles throughout the region, including skimpy rainfall, soaring food prices and escalating violence, has pushed many people here to the brink of famine.

Saudis rebuff Bush's request for more oil production
President Bush used a visit to King Abdullah's ranch to make a second attempt to persuade the Saudi government to increase oil production.
- Russian leaders pledge to stimulate oil production
- OPEC, again, trims forecast for global growth in oil demand

German industry seeks role in modernizing Russia
The German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, told President Dmitri Medvedev of Russia that German industry was prepared to help the Russian economy reduce its dependence on energy and commodities.

Treaty for cluster bombs expected during upcoming conference
Support for a ban on cluster weapons has risen sharply since 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon, when, according to United Nations estimates, Israeli troops fired some four million Vietnam War-era submunitions, of which a quarter failed to explode.

Paulson says U.S. economy is stabilizing
The Treasury secretary delivered a guardedly optimistic message to business leaders on Friday, saying that the economy was moving toward a rebound after months of malaise.
- Japan GDP grows faster in first quarter

Obama hits back at McCain and Bush
Senator Barack Obama on Friday criticized Senator John McCain, his potential rival for the presidency, and President George W. Bush for what he called "dishonest and divisive" attacks in hinting that he would appease terrorists.
- McCain sees U.S. troops leaving Iraq by 2013
- Bush's comments seen as rebuke to Obama
- In the U.S. South, a force to challenge the Republicans
- Text: McCain on his hopes for his first term
- Loss of Republican seat spurs fears for November election

Pakistan resists U.S. pressure on cross-border raids
Pakistani officials say they will not allow the U.S. military to attack militants based in Pakistani tribal areas.

Police arrest 10 men in three countries in Europe in terror investigation
Ten men of Turkish origin were arrested Friday in three European countries as part of a French investigation into what a judge said was a financial-support network tied to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, a terrorist group with links to Al Qaeda.

Microsoft is joining low-cost laptop project
After years of conflict, Microsoft and the computing and education project One Laptop Per Child have reached an agreement that will put Windows on the organization's computers.