Top Story

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Oil prices could soar as high as $200, the head of OPEC warned Monday. Some analysts wonder if we're living in a world of permanently higher oil prices. Shell and BP just announced record profits for the first quarter, but non-OPEC production appears to have plateaued in recent years.

2008 U.S. Elections

On the stump in Indiana, Hillary Clinton is wielding the gas-tax issue against Barack Obama.

Global economy

The United Nations is setting up a high-level task force to deal with the global food crisis. World Bank President Robert Zoellick expects prices for corn and rice to remain high.

Americas

Hugo Chávez + dairy farming = disaster.

Mexico's latest craze? "Virtual kidnapping."

For nearly three decades, U.S. farmers have been steadily shunning wheat in favor of more profitable crops.

Europe

The European Commission is threatening to censure Britain for its budget deficit.

Poland's foreign minister thinks the election of Dmitry Medvedev is "a hopeful development."

Inflation has ticked up to 3.2 percent in the eurozone.

French prisons are full of Muslims.

Middle East and Africa

Former Saddam deputy Tariq Aziz faces trial in Iraq.

Zimbabwe's opposition has reunited to claim a majority in Parliament.

New photographs of Iran's nuclear facilities at Natanz are fascinating experts.

Saudi Arabia's new sovereign wealth fund will be only $5.3 billion to start.

Asia

A suicide bombing near Jalalabad, Afghanistan, has killed at least 15 people.

A Chinese court has jailed 17 Tibetans for their role in the Lhasa riots.

Singapore is struggling to convince its young people to mate early and often.

Many Chinese students in the United States are angry about their country's portrayal in the media.

Today's Agenda

Luxembourg is hosting preliminary talks on a new EU-Russia agreement.

U.S. President George W. Bush welcomes Kai Eide, the U.N. secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan, to the White House.

Italy's new parliament is meeting for the first time.

Yesterday on Passport

• What We’re Reading
• McCain’s crackpot ideas
• Apple’s history of violence