Democrat Barack Obama today he would fine-tune his U.S. presidential campaign and remind voters of his humble roots after a defeat in Pennsylvania fueled in part by his failure to win over working-class voters. Obama leads the Democratic race but is in a grueling battle with Hillary Clinton for the right to face Republican John McCain in November's presidential election. Nine of the state-by-state nominating contests remain before voting ends on June 3.

Zimbabwe's main opposition party retained a lead today in an ongoing recount of ballots from last month's elections where it won a historic victory against President Robert Mugabe's ruling party. With results from 10 of the 23 constituencies being recounted announced in the state daily The Herald, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) retained six parliamentary seats while ZANU-PF retained four.

Mohammed Shaikha was 9 when the carefree rhythm of his village childhood -- going to third grade, picking olives, playing hide-and-seek -- was abruptly cut short. Uprooted during the 1948 war over Israel's creation, he's now a wrinkled old man. He has spent a lifetime in this cramped refugee camp, and Israel's 60th independence day, to be celebrated with fanfare on May 8, fills him with pain.