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World hunger. World Food Program issues 'emergency appeal' for funds "With food and fuel prices soaring, the United Nations agency charged with feeding the world's hungry has launched an "extraordinary emergency appeal" to cover costs and avoid having to cut aid," UN food agency issues emergency plea for $500m "Food rationing will shortly be imposed on millions in desperate need unless donor countries make good a $500m (£250m) shortfall, the United Nations agency that combats starvation warned yesterday."

Iraq. Al-Sadr urges 'civil revolt' as battles erupt in Basra "The radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr today called for "civil revolt" after a crackdown on Shia factions in Basra claimed 22 lives." Iraq forces battle Basra militias "Heavy fighting has been raging in Basra as thousands of Iraqi troops battle Shia militias in the southern city." Is 'success' of U.S. surge in Iraq about to unravel? "A critical cease-fire broke down Monday as Muqtada al Sadr's Mahdi Army militia began shutting down neighborhoods in Baghdad and the Iraqi government moved against it in Basra."

Iraq-US troops. Bush Says War's Outcome 'Will Merit the Sacrifice' "As the American military death toll in Iraq reached 4,000, President Bush conferred yesterday with top U.S. officials in Washington and in Baghdad and vowed in a public statement that the outcome of the war "will merit the sacrifice." Bush Given Iraq War Plan With a Steady Troop Level "Troop levels in Iraq would remain nearly the same through 2008 as they have been through most of the five years of war there, under plans presented to President Bush by the senior American commander and the top American diplomat in Iraq,"

Primaries. Indiana Shapes Up as a State of Parity for Democrats"Something unusual appears to be developing in the Democratic presidential race in this state: a fair fight." Huckabee cites power of 'kingmakers' "Mike Huckabee can't definitively explain why he couldn't win the Republican presidential nomination, but he thinks the desire of Christian leaders to be "kingmakers," media coverage and Mother Nature all had something to do with it."

NAFTA. NAFTA foes hope Dems' words turn into action"Sen. Bernie Sanders believes the country is ready to join his fight to overhaul American trade policy. He wants to believe Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are too."

Pakistan. New Pakistani PM frees judges "Pakistan's new prime minister ordered the release from house arrest of the country's former chief justice within minutes of coming to power yesterday, driving home how rapidly President Pervez Musharraf's authority is ebbing." Pakistan's quiet premier sets clear new tone "Yousuf Raza Gillani had been prime minister for only a few minutes when he showed he was anything but the low-key politician he had been made out to be. "I order the immediate release of the arrested judges," he announced in parliament."

Tibet. Pro-Tibet protesters strike as the Olympic flame is lit"The Olympic flame yesterday began its 85,000-mile, meandering journey from rural Greece to Beijing for this summer's Olympic games amid embarrassing scenes, as protests by human rights activists over the turmoil in Tibet all but eclipsed the lighting ceremony." Tibet deaths, arrests and protests shadow Olympics "At least two people have died in fresh protests in a Tibetan part of western China, reports said on Tuesday, as authorities made arrests in Tibet's capital Lhasa in an effort to reassert control over the restive region."

Trash pickers. Scorned trash pickers become global environmental force "The latest unsung heroes in the environmental movement are the impoverished trash pickers who fill the streets of countless cities around the developing world, searching garbage for cardboard, plastic bags and other treasure that can be sold and recycled."