By David Ingram McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) RALEIGH, N.C. _ The N.C. Republican Party says it will not back away from a planned TV ad that uses footage of Barack Obama’s controversial former minister, despite objections from the expected GOP presidential nominee, John McCain. The ad, released Wednesday on the Internet, tries to link the minister to two Democratic candidates for ...

By Jack Chang McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) ASUNCION, Paraguay _ A former Roman Catholic Church bishop scored an historic win Sunday in this impoverished country’s presidential election, ending the 61-year reign of the world’s longest ruling party. Thousands of people celebrate the historic win of presidential candidate Fernando Lugo in Asuncion, Paraguay, Sunday, April 20, 2008. The victory ended 61 years ...

By Raviya Ismail McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) BAGHDAD _ U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Baghdad Sunday for an unannounced visit one day after the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr threatened an all-out war against the Iraqi government.

By Raviya H. Ismail McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) BAGHDAD _ Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki criticized neighboring countries Tuesday as not doing enough to help Iraq root out militancy and pledged to continue his campaign against rogue Shiite Muslim militias.

By Saeed Shah McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) ISLAMABAD, Pakistan _ Pakistan’s new government is negotiating a peace deal with militants in the Taliban-controlled Waziristan region, the rugged mountainous area that’s thought to be Osama bin Laden’s refuge.

Charean Williams McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey has a leg up on most players in this year’s draft. But it is his right leg that is NFL teams’ sole concern.

Tom Jicha South Florida Sun-Sentinel (MCT) There still are people with an affection for newspapers. Some are actually young people. Perhaps “The Paper,” a new reality series on youth-oriented MTV, will expand this base. Set at Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Fla., “The Paper” follows the staff of the student newspaper, The Circuit, from the spirited competition for the ...

Sports Column ______________ Mike Bianchi The Orlando Sentinel (MCT) AUGUSTA, Ga.: In the illustrious annals of golf, this 72nd Masters will go down in the history books with the 1992 Yeehaw Junction Yip and Yank Member-Guest and the 2004 Goony Golf Pro-Am held at the Tiki Island Volcano Course on International Drive.

Glenn Gamboa Newsday (MCT) Get ready for Mariah mania. In case you’ve missed Mariah Carey on MTV’s premiere party for “The Hills” or on the “American Idol” charity event “Idol Gives Back” or “Saturday Night Live” or on the new heavy-rotation Macy’s ad, the singer would like you to know she has a new album, “E=MC2” (Island Def Jam), in ...

By Eric Ferreri McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) RALEIGH, N.C. _ In groups of 32, protestors around the nation will lie on the ground for three minutes Wednesday, an attempt to bring light to gun laws they say are too lax. This will occur at least 80 times in 33 states, and the choice of the day _ one year after a ...