HISTORIC DEBATE

United Kingdom

April 15, the leaders of Britain's three main political parties forged new ground by participating in the nation's first ever prime ministerial debate, the first of three debates leading up to the May 6 general election. The event was broadcast by BBC and the audience watched as current Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democratic leader Nick Clegg locked horns on major election issues. Opinion polls suggest Clegg made the greatest impact on viewers.   

BHUTTO MURDER AVOIDABLE

Pakistan

A much-anticipated UN report on the murder of Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto has been scathing in its criticism of the government of the day. The report, released April 15, finds that Bhutto's death in December 2007 could have been prevented if adequate security measures had been put in place by the government of then President Pervez Musharraf.

Heraldo Munoz, head of the UN investigation into the assassination, said Bhutto's safety was the responsibility of the Pakistani Government, the government of Punjab and the Rawalpindi district police, but they all failed to take "the necessary measures to respond to the extraordinary fresh and urgent security risks that they knew she faced."

BAKIYEV FLEES

Kyrgyzstan 

Ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev fled Kyrgyzstan after gunfire broke out at a rally where he was addressing his supporters in the south of the country. His slide from power began early April when a protest in the capital descended into violence. At least 83 people were killed. Bakiyev fled to his native south but was urged to leave the country for the sake of stability.

NUCLEAR SUMMIT

United States

At the end of the UN summit on nuclear security in April, analysts said some progress had been made. Ukraine agreed to give up all of its highly enriched uranium, while Russia confirmed it will close its last reactor producing plutonium for military purposes. Perhaps most significantly, Russia and the United States agreed to dispose of significant amounts of weapons-grade plutonium. But some critics expressed concern that, while the deals made were constructive, only time will tell if actual progress is made.

RENAISSANCE MONUMENT

Senegal

Senegal's "African Renaissance Monument," unveiled for the nation's 50th Independence Anniversary, has drawn no shortage of opinions since its debut. One leading Senegalese imam has issued a fatwa on the monument and other critics say the monument is more Soviet-style realism than African art. But others are more impressed by the 53 meter-high statue. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said the monument is a testimony to Africa's freedom and the continent's ability to choose its own destiny.

INTERNET THERAPY

Sweden

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) via the Internet has been incorporated into regular psychiatry to treat recurring panic attacks. The method was introduced after research by the Karolinska Institute, a Swedish medical university, showed that Internet treatment is not only as effective as group-based CBT, but also cost-effective. Some 15 percent of the population will suffer depression during their lifetime and 4 percent will suffer from a panic disorder.

SMILING ROBOTS

Japan

Japanese researcher Hiroshi Ishiguro has unveiled his latest humanoid robot. The story sounds like a movie, but unlike the Terminator or R2-D2, this robot can laugh and smile. It mimics facial expressions by receiving electric signals from the person it is modeled on. Such efforts to make robots capable of expressing something similar to human emotions signify the ambition for robots to be used in real-life situations, such as in hospitals. Previous data shows that robots could give patients psychological security by nodding and smiling at them.