3/22 International Herald Tribune - World News, Analysis, and Global Opinions

World Bank chief sees economy shrinking 1 percent to 2 percent in 2009 March 21, 2009 at 3:00 pm The global economy is set to shrink 1 percent to 2 percent this year, Robert B. Zoellick, the president of the World Bank, said Saturday, adding that the depth of the slowdown was unprecedented since the Great Depression of the 1930s. France shifts from striking to marching March 21, 2009 at 3:00 pm On Thursday, metros ran normally and fewer people struck at French schools and government offices than in previous actions. But as many as three million marched in demonstrations nationwide. Indicted Bosnian Serb claims immunity March 21, 2009 at 3:00 pm Radovan Karadzic, who is charged with war crimes, claims that Richard Holbrooke told him that he would not be prosecuted if he stepped down. Newly cheap natural gas gains role as economic stimulant March 21, 2009 at 3:00 pm The first globalized natural gas glut in history is driving a drastic collapse in the cost of the fuel that cooks food, heats homes and runs factories around the globe. And six giant plants are due to come on line this year. Ireland beats Wales in Six Nations tournament March 21, 2009 at 3:00 pm As Steven Jones lined up to perform the final act of the Six Nations tournament on Saturday evening, the Irish players waited under the goal posts. Ireland led Wales 17-15, before a raucous full house of 74,645 at the Millennium on a balmy evening in Cardiff. Hungary's premier offers to resign March 21, 2009 at 3:00 pm An unexpected announcement reinforced the sense of instability in a nation that was once a magnet for investment. Russian president welcomes shift by U.S. March 21, 2009 at 6:23 am Russian President Dmitri A. Medvedev and a group of veteran American policymakers have voiced cautious assertions of optimism about improving relations. In village, Palestinians face gas with rocks March 21, 2009 at 6:23 am Protests against the expansion of Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank are dangerous and deadly for Nilin residents. Thai government survives no-confidence vote March 21, 2009 at 6:23 am Analysts said Thailand's three-month-old government is likely to face continuing street demonstrations by loyalists of the exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Fed chief calls for scrutiny of pay at financial firms March 21, 2009 at 6:23 am Ben Bernanke said that compensation policies should be designed with financial companies' long-term health in mind. Hungarian prime minister to quit amid tumbling popularity March 21, 2009 at 6:23 am Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said Saturday he was resigning because of his government's low popularity amid a worsening financial crisis. Madoff must stay in prison, U.S. appeals court rules March 21, 2009 at 6:23 am The appeals court order upholds an earlier Federal District Court decision that Mr. Madoff represented a flight risk and should not be released on bail. Pope asks Angola to use oil riches to help poor March 21, 2009 at 6:23 am Pope Benedict XVI, midway through his first trip to Africa, arrived in oil-rich Angola and admonished those enjoying the nation's newfound wealth not to ignore the justifiable demands of the poor. Young and old battle for jobs in U.S. March 21, 2009 at 6:23 am In a depressed U.S. job market, tensions have swelled as young and old say that employers improperly favor the other. Travelers, your tour bus is boarding for Basra March 21, 2009 at 6:23 am A group of Westerners has taken the first authorized tour of Iraq since 2003. Few problems were reported. U.S. to introduce plan for troubled mortgages March 21, 2009 at 6:23 am The plan is likely to offer generous subsidies, in the form of low-interest loans, to coax investors to form partnerships with the government to buy toxic assets from banks. Western envoys skip leader's installation in Madagascar March 21, 2009 at 6:23 am Supporters packed a stadium for the installation of President Andry Rajoelina but several foreign envoys stayed away in a show of censure, and some countries have suspended aid. Iran's supreme leader dismisses Obama overtures March 21, 2009 at 6:23 am Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed overtures from President Barak Obama on Saturday, saying Tehran does not see any change in U.S. policy under its new administration. As the public simmers, Obama lets off steam March 21, 2009 at 6:23 am The tornado of populist fury over executive bonuses forced President Barack Obama to improvise as he worked to catch up with public opinion. 2 tied to Colombian rebels will be extradited to U.S. March 21, 2009 at 6:23 am The arrest of two FARC cocaine brokers, who face charges of conspiring to smuggle the drug from airstrips in Venezuela, may strain U.S.-Venezuela relations. Obama to push programs in budget March 21, 2009 at 5:34 am President Barack Obama said he expected lawmakers to pass a budget that would fund key programs in his recovery plan while substantially cutting the national deficit. Mayor's vision of a unified Jerusalem also divides March 21, 2009 at 5:04 am For Nir Barkat, the city is Israel's eternal and indivisible capital: a view in keeping with that of the country's incoming prime minister, but out of step with the Obama administration. Budget office says U.S. deficits to be higher than estimated March 21, 2009 at 4:26 am The Congressional Budget Office placed a new hurdle in front of President Barack Obama's agenda, calculating that the White House's tax and spending plans would create deficits totaling $2.3 trillion more than the president's budget projected for the next decade. Whipping A.I.G. feels good, but it hurts us all March 21, 2009 at 2:52 am The anger and drama over the bonuses at A.I.G. may be undermining efforts to shore up the economy. Obama and Israeli leader make taped appeals to Iran March 20, 2009 at 7:08 pm President Barack Obama and the Israeli president, Shimon Peres, asked Iranians to shift away from decades of confrontation.