3/11 International Herald Tribune - World News, Analysis, and Global Opinions

Finessed and light: California pinot noirs with a manifesto March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am A rebellion is brewing in California as a small but growing number of wine producers are striving to make lighter, more delicate pinot noirs. Advertisers get a trove of clues in smartphones March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am Cellphones have a high potential for personalized ads, and advertisers place great value on the possibility. Libya unhappy with U.S. reciprocation for halting weapons programs March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am Officials in Libya say they believe that Libya's limited payoff undermines the credibility of the United States as it presses other nations to abandon weapons programs. Michelle Obama's agenda includes healthful eating March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am In her first weeks in the White House, Michelle Obama has emerged as a champion of healthy food and healthy living. 'Responsible middle' gets no help in crisis March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am Americans who have behaved prudently all these years are finding they're on their own when it comes to getting help with their mortgage, Richard Bernstein writes. The globalization of censorship March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am People from countries that don't permit free speech are using English law to silence their critics. Roger Cohen: Gordon to the rescue March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am Obama has been giving fireside lectures rather than fireside chats. At spring break in Mexico, revelry mixes with new caution March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am Some universities are recommending that students avoid Mexico, where the explosion of drug violence lingers in the background of a seeming paradise of white sand and searing sun. Former North Korean spy meets family of abducted Japanese woman March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am A former North Korean agent met Wednesday with relatives of a Japanese woman abducted to the Communist North in an encounter that shed little new light on the fate of the missing woman but was expected to anger North Korea. Thomas L. Friedman: This is not a test March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am Great crises produce great presidents, so one thing we know for sure: Obama has a shot at greatness. Chinese art waits out the market plunge March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am Just as Zeng Fanzhi and dozens of other artists in Beijing and Shanghai put the finishing touches on lavish studios that proclaim their success, the prices for Chinese contemporary art plunged. Taliban and Afghans are in talks March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am Afghan officials said that preliminary discussions already under way could be developed into more formal talks with the support of the U.S. Hidden homeless: U.S. families living in motel rooms March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am Many victims of the recession are living in garages or in motels, uncounted and often receiving little public aid. At least 10 killed in U.S. shooting March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am Officials said the incident, which ended with the man killing himself, was Alabama's worst multiple shooting in recent memory. Messages are mixed on China's economy March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am Exports plunged by a record 25.7% last month, but investment spending surged as the country's economic stimulus program took hold. Europe shares mixed after Asia gains March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am European shares were mixed in early afternoon trading on Wednesday after a mostly stronger session in Asia. Madoff will plead guilty, lawyer says March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am The money manager is facing life in prison for operating a vast Ponzi scheme that began at least 20 years ago and consumed billions of dollars of other people's money. Gunman opens fire on German high school March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am An attacker clad all in black stormed into a high school near Stuttgart and shot and killed at least 15 people, according to news reports. UBS revises upward its 2008 loss March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am UBS, the Swiss bank, on Wednesday revised its annual loss for 2008 upward by 1.2 billion Swiss francs because of legal settlements and write-downs. Europeans debate castration of sex offenders March 11, 2009 at 8:58 am Whose rights take precedence: those of violent sex offenders or those of society? Interest cools in InBev's auction of Korean business March 11, 2009 at 8:28 am Potential buyers of Oriental Brewery, Anheuser-Busch InBev's South Korean beer business, are balking at the $2 billion price tag, and the owners seem to be in no rush to sell. Beijing gets others to pay the bill March 11, 2009 at 7:57 am Beijing may criticize American consumers for spending money they do not have, but the truth is Chinese leaders do the same. They just make sure it doesn't end up on their account. Madoff's lawyer says he understands victims' anger March 11, 2009 at 4:39 am Ira Lee Sorkin, who was a federal prosecutor before becoming a defense attorney, has long provoked strong feelings. IMF chief calls for fast cleanup of banks' balance sheets March 11, 2009 at 2:01 am The world's advanced economies are moving too slowly in ridding banks of problem assets, which could jeopardize a global economic recovery in 2010, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the International Monetary Fund, said. Those who lost savings find little comfort March 10, 2009 at 10:35 pm News that Madoff was not seeking a lighter sentence provided relief, but many victims are still left with many questions. U.S. still considering who to support for NATO post March 10, 2009 at 7:54 pm Vice President Joseph Biden Jr. kept Washington's options open over the future secretary general of NATO, amid objections from Turkey that a leading contender, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark, is viewed with suspicion in the Muslim world. France strikes deal with Mexico on prisoner March 10, 2009 at 7:54 pm A commission of legal experts will review whether a Frenchwoman convicted of kidnapping in Mexico may serve out her 60-year sentence in France. U.S. navy provoked South China Sea incident, China says March 10, 2009 at 7:54 pm The encounter Sunday was the latest in a series of recent incidents in which Chinese ships shadowed the USS Impeccable. Afghan civilian deaths a threat to U.S. mission March 10, 2009 at 7:54 pm A two-week halt in U.S. raids came after a series of operations in recent months in which women and children were killed. Northern Ireland killings raise fears on power sharing March 10, 2009 at 7:54 pm With three members of the security forces killed within a period of less than 48 hours, there were fears that the fragile peace that culminated with the establishment of a power-sharing government in May 2007 might be at risk. A moment of mourning for Zimbabwe March 10, 2009 at 7:54 pm President Robert Mugabe joined hundreds of Zimbabweans on Tuesday to mourn the wife of the prime minister, wishing his coalition partner strength for the nation-building work ahead. Madoff to plead guilty and could spend life in prison March 10, 2009 at 7:54 pm A lawyer for the disgraced financier Bernard Madoff told a federal judge that Madoff was expected to plead guilty later this week to charges that could result in his spending the rest of his life in prison. 2nd suicide bombing perils Iraqi alliances March 10, 2009 at 7:54 pm Military officials and community leaders say they fear a renewed effort by Sunni extremists to disrupt the relative calm in Iraq. A Brussels brouhaha over coffee machines March 10, 2009 at 7:54 pm As if running an organization of 27 countries wasn't complicated enough, a new position has been added at European Union headquarters: coffee monitor. Asian markets soar on Citigroup CEO's comments March 10, 2009 at 7:39 pm Banking shares led the rally on Wednesday, as investors took heart from remarks by Citigroup's chief executive, Vikram Pandit, who said the bank was making profits. U.S. halted some Afghan raids over concern on deaths March 10, 2009 at 2:06 pm The halt, which lasted about two weeks, came after a series of nighttime raids by Special Operations troops in recent months killed women and children. Healing deep wounds with the Muslim world March 10, 2009 at 2:06 pm Reaching out to a complex and diverse constituency of 1.3 billion people in 57 nations in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East cannot be a one-size-fits-all project. Chanel -- Fine and dandy March 10, 2009 at 2:06 pm The Chanel show defied definition, with Karl Lagerfeld sending out Coco hats, fluffy knitwear and Art Deco-style jewelry. Pakistan strikes deal with border clan to rein in militants March 10, 2009 at 2:06 pm A major tribe with close ties to the Taliban signed an agreement with the Pakistani government to hand over several of the militant group's local leaders, to lay down arms and to stop harboring foreign militants. Bernanke calls for overhaul of financial regulations March 10, 2009 at 2:06 pm Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, called Tuesday for a broad reworking of how the government regulates the financial system to prevent future financial meltdowns. Dalai Lama assails China one year after uprising March 10, 2009 at 2:06 pm The Dalai Lama delivered one of his harshest attacks on the Chinese government, saying that the Communist Party had transformed Tibet into a "hell on earth." Citigroup buoys Wall Street March 10, 2009 at 2:06 pm Wall St. soared Tuesday morning as investors got a taste of what they desperately crave: a glimmer of optimism in the financial sector. Rising violence in Iraq as bomber kills dozens March 10, 2009 at 2:06 pm A suicide attack on Iraqi Army officers killed 33 people Tuesday after a bomber on Sunday killed 28, suggesting a renewed deadliness in attacks by insurgents. Global split on economy: More debt or more control? March 10, 2009 at 10:44 am The world's major and emerging economic powers cannot agree on whether redesigning a system created in 1944 should be Job One. Asian shares rally, but reprieve might be brief March 10, 2009 at 8:45 am Asian shares outside Japan posted their best gains in a month while safe-haven flight to the dollar eased, but the moves were seen as only a momentary reprieve from a gloomy economic outlook.