Briefing

PRISTINA, KOSOVO Parliament ratifies the new nation's first constitution

LONDON Keep Britain Tidy campaign launches

SAN ANTONIO, TEX AS Kansas wins NCA A championship

RHINE RIVER, GERMANY Russian space shuttle Buran 002 to go on display at museum

NAIROBI, KENYA Police and opposition-party supporters clash in streets

INFLATION

Sky-High Staples Food prices have surged in the past few years, and in recent months inflation has sparked riots, hoarding and economic sanctions around the globe. A look at the rapid increases of some local necessities in the past year:

[This article contains a complex diagram. Please see hardcopy of magazine.]

Global Food Price Index 1998-2000=100

March 220

Source: U.N.

Eggs up 24% U.S. Steep animal-feed costs trickled down in 2007, contributing to the fastest increase in U.S. food prices since 1990.

Ground Beef up 8% CHILE The biofuel boom has strained food supplies throughout South America. Floods and a farm strike have made things worse.

Rice up 40% SIERRA LEONE Oil prices have made food even less affordable in a nation facing its lowest food reserves in 30 years.

Pasta up 14% ITALY Wheat shortages have led to pasta protests and turned spaghetti into a political issue in Italy ahead of its election.

Dairy up 12% PHILIPPINES Increased food demand by China and India has forced some Asian countries to institute economic sanctions.

Bread up 10% AUSTRALIA A six-year drought has taken a toll on what is normally one of the world's largest wheat producers.

AVIATION

Jet Blues The U.S. airline industry can't seem to get a break lately

FINANCIAL WOES Aloha Airlines, ATA and Skybus all ceased operations in the same week this month, and Champion Air will shut down in May. Rising fuel prices, among other factors, made it difficult to stay in the sky and out of the red.

POOR SERVICE The industry's customer-satisfaction ratings were lower in 2007 than in any other year this decade, according to the annual Airline Quality Rating report, released April 7. Only 4 of the 16 airlines studied improved their overall scores, which take into account on-time arrivals, denied boardings, mishandled baggage and customer complaints.

SYSTEMIC CRACKS Hundreds of flights have so far been canceled as a result of inspection audits by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Now the air-safety agency itself is embroiled in controversy. With the help of FAA whistle-blowers, Congress is investigating the agency's alleged complicity in regulatory lapses. At least one FAA official has been reassigned.

CHILD WELFARE

A Crackdown Gets Complicated

On April 3, Texas authorities raided a breakaway Mormon sect's compound following allegations by a 16-year-old girl of sexual and physical abuse. More than 400 children were removed from the ranch in the state's largest-ever child-welfare operation.

LEGAL LIMBO With the girl in question yet to be identified and her alleged abuser found living in a different state, lawyers for the sect--which is led by jailed polygamist Warren Jeffs--have moved to stop the search on constitutional grounds. The children are currently in foster care.

TIMELINE

The Never-Ending Story

After 11 years and multiple investigations, the latest verdict by a British jury may be the final word on Princess Diana's death:

AUG. 31, 1997 Diana and boyfriend Dodi al Fayed are killed when their chauffeured Mercedes crashes in a Parisian tunnel after being chased by paparazzi.

SEPTEMBER 1999 After a two-year investigation by French authorities, a 6,000-page report is published that holds driver Henri Paul responsible. Dodi's father, Egyptian businessman Mohamed al Fayed, claims the couple were murdered in a conspiracy involving the British royal family.

JANUARY 2004 A British investigation is commissioned.

DECEMBER 2006 The investigation, at a cost of $7.2 million, comes to a close. Paul's drunk driving, aggressive paparazzi and the victims' failure to wear seat belts are identified as the causes of death.

OCTOBER 2007 A separate inquest begins in London, following a three-year postponement, to further investigate the case.

APRIL 2008 After hearing more than 240 witnesses over six months, the 11 jurors reach conclusions similar to the '06 findings; claims of conspiracy are dismissed.