French linguistic purists are waging a war in defense of the point-virgule (semi-colon), which they say is being driven to extinction by the lazy habits of English speakers.

>>China - China jailed 34-year-old Hu Jia, an outspoken rights activist, for three and a half years on Thursday. The sentence was relatively light for those similarly charged under the Chinese system. Hu Jia is the most prominent activist yet to be sentenced in the recent clampdown.

>>Zimbabwe - President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party has lost control of parliament for the first time since the nation's independence, according to official results released by the Zimbabwe Elections Commisison. The final results from the presidential election have not yet been released, but it appears from the posturing of President Mugabe and the state-run media as if there will be a runoff between the president and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, whose Movement for Democratic Change contends that Tsvangirai has garnered the necessary votes to avoid a runoff. Meanwhile, the British are working on an unprecedented £1-billion-a-year aid and development package for Zimbabwe, to be coordinated by the UN, IMF, EU, and World Bank, which believe that Zimbabwe's hyperinflation, as much as 100,000%, could be brought under control in as little as a year. President Mugabe has turned down similar packages in the past.

>>NATO - Yesterday NATO leaders did not grant a Membership Action Plan (MAP), the path to eventual membership, to Georgia or the Ukraine, whose candidacies were strongly supported by President Bush. They did, however, agree that the two nations would some day join NATO and to review their progress in December. Bush instead won NATO's endorsement for the U.S.'s missile defense system, which coincided with the Czech Republic's announcement that they would install a missile tracking site for the system. NATO also failed to offer Macedonia an invitation to join, due to Greece's objection over the name issue.

>>Ireland - Prime Minister Bertie "Teflon Taoiseach" Ahern unexpectedly stepped down after 11 years in office amid corruption charges. Ahern denied the allegations, and supporters suggest that his political career is not over, floating the possibility of his taking the helm as the first permanent president of the European Union.

>>Cyprus - As Greek and Turkish Cypriots prepare for talks to end the island's division, they tore down barricades and reopened Ledra street, which has symbolized the line of partition for decades.

• Zoe's Ark and Interpol
• A Darfur Scholar Weighs in on the
  Role of the ICC

Africa

• href="http://feeds.reuters.com/%7Er/reuters/worldNews/%7E3/263270031/idUSL0347924420080403">Kenya
  - Kenya power-sharing cabinet to be named Sunday: Odinga
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7328097.stm">Nigeria
  - Ex-leader in Lagos adultery case
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7327989.stm">Tanzania
  - Tanzania targets witchdoctors
• href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/world/africa/03mauritania.html?ex=1364875200&en=8110336b299e6b6f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">Mauritania
  - Accused Killer of Tourists Escapes in Mauritania
• href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/world/africa/03briefs-INVESTIGATOR_BRF.html?ex=1364875200&en=e775cc36f4d8a4f0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">Congo
  - Investigators in Congo Check Allegations That Peacekeepers Engaged in
  Torture
• href="http://feeds.reuters.com/%7Er/reuters/worldNews/%7E3/262842398/idUSN0238984820080402">Sudan
  - U.S. urges U.N. to speed up Darfur deployment

Americas

• href="http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/%7Er/wp-dyn/rss/world/index_xml/%7E3/263338055/AR2008040300468.html">U.S.
  - US Sailor Arrested in Cab Driver Murder
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7327738.stm">U.S.
  - US apologises over Japan murder
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7327791.stm">Venezuela
  - Venezuela 'to tax oil windfall'
• href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/business/worldbusiness/03chevron.html?ex=1364875200&en=669c692634ed6dd4&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">Ecuador
  - Report Says Chevron Owes Billions for Ecuadorean Pollution
• href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/world/americas/03briefs-AMNESTYCHIDE_BRF.html?ex=1364875200&en=27c2c8ad4bad80e9&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">Jamaica
  - Amnesty International Chides Jamaican Government
• href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/world/americas/03briefs-REPUTEDDRUGL_BRF.html?ex=1364875200&en=c700439816680844&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">Brazil
  - Reputed Drug Lord Gets 30 Years
• href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/world/americas/03briefs-VOTEONUSMILI_BRF.html?ex=1364875200&en=3b04fa871e2257f2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">Ecuador
  - Ecuador's New Constitution Would Ban U.S. Military Post
• href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/world/americas/03argent.html?ex=1364875200&en=89c039e42eac011c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">Argentina
  - Farmers' Strike in Argentina Is Suspended for Negotiations
• href="http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/%7Er/wp-dyn/rss/world/index_xml/%7E3/263100901/AR2008040203244.html">Brazil
  - Brazil's Military Mobilizes Against Dengue
• href="http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/%7Er/wp-dyn/rss/world/index_xml/%7E3/263100905/AR2008040203485.html">U.S.
  - Ex-Envoy Details Hussein Meeting
• href="http://feeds.reuters.com/%7Er/reuters/worldNews/%7E3/262895222/idUSN0228379120080402">Canada
  - U.S. attacks on NAFTA somewhat irrational: Canada
• href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/45fc326e-00ed-11dd-a0c5-000077b07658.html">Cuba
  - Cuban farmers embrace ministry reform
• href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/02/colombia.france?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews">Colombia
  - French mission to aid ailing jungle hostage
• href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/02/georgebush.usa?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews">U.S.
  - Oliver Stone's new movie about the American president, W, goes beyond
  a warts-and-all portrayal of George Bush

Asia

• href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Afghanistan.html?ex=1364875200&en=d2700f33fe2c4238&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">Afghan
  - Air Strike Kills 3 Insurgents in Afghanistan
• href="http://feeds.reuters.com/%7Er/reuters/worldNews/%7E3/263225391/idUSDEL10251920080403">Nepal
  - Nepal Maoists to respect poll result, threat remains
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7328000.stm">China
  - China pay row pilots 'turn back'
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7327755.stm">India
  - India and Burma in transport deal
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7327856.stm">India
  - 'Top' Kashmir militant arrested
• href="http://feeds.reuters.com/%7Er/reuters/worldNews/%7E3/263186254/idUST9590620080403">Myanmar
  - North Korea sells rocket launchers to Myanmar: report
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7327848.stm">Korea
  - Spat between Koreas escalates
• href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3669872.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797093">Afghan
  - The Times blamed for derailing Paddy Ashdown posting to Afghanistan

Europe

• href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/03/nato.ukraine?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews">Macedonia
  - Macedonia walks out of Nato talks
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7327940.stm">France
  - France sets date on Nato decision
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7327944.stm">France
  - Nato debates Afghanistan strategy
• href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/03/nato.france?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews">France
  - Sarkozy signals return to Nato military command
• href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/03/usa.nato?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews">Czech
  Republic - US strikes missile deal with Czechs
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7327762.stm">France
  - Alitalia calls emergency meeting
• href="http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/%7Er/wp-dyn/rss/world/index_xml/%7E3/262595074/AR2008040200678.html">Croatia
  - Alliance Invites In Croatia, Albania
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7326320.stm">France
  - Alitalia boss quits as talks end

Middle East

• href="http://feeds.reuters.com/%7Er/reuters/worldNews/%7E3/263315673/idUSL0391092020080403">Israel
  - Israel says removed 50 W.Bank dirt roadblocks
• href="http://feeds.reuters.com/%7Er/reuters/worldNews/%7E3/263245942/idUSL0228881320080403">Iraq
  - U.S., Iraqi troops face test at battle of Creek Road
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7328584.stm">Yemen
  - Yemen rioter 'dies from wounds'
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7327578.stm">Bahrain
  - Mosley will not attend Bahrain GP
• href="http://feeds.reuters.com/%7Er/reuters/worldNews/%7E3/263225390/idUSL2423186320080403">Iraq
  - U.S. air strikes return in southern Iraq
• href="http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/%7Er/wp-dyn/rss/world/index_xml/%7E3/263100904/AR2008040203322.html">Iraq
  - Cease-Fire Largely Calms Basra; U.S. Says Offensive Targeted Gangs
• href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/world/middleeast/03mideast.html?ex=1364875200&en=23a7de14de5e25fa&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">Israel
  - Israel Slow to Admit Gaza Patients, U.N. Says
• href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7326964.stm">Iraq
  - 'US allies' killed in Iraq ambush