Here is the Saturday, May 17th, 2008 edition of interesting reads from around the world.

Famine Stalks The Horn of Africa
The New York Times reports that after three seasons of below-average rainfall, the people of central Somalia are beginning to fear the worst.

Zimbabwe Sets Run-off Election Date
Zimbabwe’s delayed runoff election between President Robert Mugabe, who has led the nation for nearly three decades, and the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been set for June 27, the country’s election commission said Friday. More from the New York Times and the UK Guardian.

Italian Poll: Expel the Roma
Sixty-eight per cent of Italians, fuelled by often inflammatory attacks by the new rightwing government, want to see all of the country’s 150,000 Gypsies or Roma, many of them Italian citizens, expelled, according to an opinion poll. More from the UK Guardian.

Fifth Latin America and European Summit in Lima, Peru
European and Latin American leaders have pledged to fight poverty, global warming and high food prices as the Fifth Latin American-European Summit opened in Lima. More from the Miami Herald.