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On Saturday, finance ministers from eight of the world's wealthiest nations formally agreed to cancel the debt owed to international agencies by 18 of the world's poorest countries -- most of them in Africa. The total owed by those nations is at least $40 billion. Salih Booker, executive director of the advocacy group Africa Action, describes the ways the debt-relief deal may help the continent's neediest citizens.

Ian MacKaye is known as a punk rock veteran, the guitarist and vocalist who founded the seminal band Minor Threat in the early '80s. But his most recent album, the self-titled debut of his new band The Evens, is lilting melody.

Next week, Roman Catholic cardinals will convene to elect the next pope. Noah Adams discusses the process with John Allen, Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter.

The House of Representatives approves an overhaul of the nation's bankruptcy laws, voting 302 to 126 in favor of a bill that will make it more difficult for people to erase debts by declaring bankruptcy. The Senate passed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act last month.

To mark the day taxes are due, we hear from taxpayers in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass., who talk about how they filed their federal tax returns.

The Washington Nationals play their home opener Thursday night at RFK Stadium. It will be the first regular season pro baseball game in the nation's capital in 34 years. Melissa Block talks with Tom Boswell of the Washington Post.

President Bush focused on his proposals for reforming Social Security during a trip to Rochester, N.Y., Tuesday. The president has worked to distance himself from events on Capitol Hill, including the recent filibuster battle.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono meets with President Bush this week. As the two leaders discuss economic reform and human rights in Indonesia, efforts to rebuild areas devastated by a tsunami at the end of 2004 continue.

Katrina, which first struck Florida last week as a tropical storm, is now a powerful Category 5 hurricane churning in the Gulf of Mexico, pointed at New Orleans. Eric Blake of the National Weather Service updates Liane Hansen on the storm's progress.

North Korea's official news agency says nearly 190,000 people are being isolated for treatment across the country.