Environment, Health and Education

• Increased Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Addiction 
  A recent study found that peer pressure; surrogate advertisements of cigarette and alcohol companies, and movies are influencing high school and pre-university youth in the 15-18 age group to abuse tobacco, drugs, and alcohol.<More>

Neighbors

• LTTE Withdraws from Geneva Talks 
  Accusing the Sri Lankan Government (SLG) of creating many “hurdles” and a lack of “conducive environment,” the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has withdrawn from the ongoing Geneva talks scheduled to restart April 19.<More>

• Iran Expands Nuclear Facilities
  A US think tank said that new satellite images show that Iran has expanded its facilities at Isfahan and reinforced its Natanz underground facility in preparation for a possible US-led air raid.<More>

World

• India Backs US as Observer in SAARC
  Much to the chagrin of its communist allies, the Indian Government is enthusiastically supporting the inclusion of the US as an observer of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SSARC) in the 14^th session to be hosted in India.<More>