3/14 International Herald Tribune - World News, Analysis, and Global Opinions

Legislators in U.S. state vote to repeal death penalty March 14, 2009 at 4:41 am New Mexico could become the 15th U.S. state without capital punishment if the governor signs the bill into law. Russia's richest woman seeks bailout March 14, 2009 at 4:41 am Yelena Baturina has applied for about $1.4 billion in government loan guarantees for her construction company. U.S. shifts a Guantánamo policy March 14, 2009 at 4:41 am The Obama administration said it would not use "enemy combatant" in reference to Guantánamo Bay detainees, but asserted a power to detain them. As China's Communists gather, luxury sales soar March 14, 2009 at 4:41 am The practice of bribing government officials with expensive goods is so widespread here that luxury goods producers have come to count on it as an increasingly important source of revenue. Northern Ireland funeral unites old enemies March 14, 2009 at 4:41 am The lament of a lone bagpiper leading a hearse captured the mood of much of Northern Ireland as old enemies gathering for the funeral of the first police officer to be shot down in Ulster in over a decade became an occasion to reaffirm the peace agreement that has stilled much of the sectarian violence that racked that British-ruled province for 30 years. Mutiny tests Bangladesh's government March 14, 2009 at 4:41 am An unusually savage mutiny by border guards widened the gulf between Hasina Wazed's fragile elected administration and the military. U.S. frosty toward Britain for its contacts with Hezbollah March 13, 2009 at 4:51 pm Signaling displeasure with a staunch ally, a senior Obama administration official said the United States was puzzled by Britain's announcement last week that it was re-establishing contact with the political wing of the militant group Hezbollah. Robin Hood shoe thrower seizes hearts in Baghdad March 13, 2009 at 4:51 pm What does it take to get for an Iraqi woman to fall in love with a man? It helps if your the Baghdad showe thrower. American man badly hurt at West Bank demonstration March 13, 2009 at 4:51 pm The man, Tristan Anderson, from Oakland, California, was hit in the head by a tear-gas canister, according to witnesses, and was taken to Tel Hashomer hospital in Tel Aviv. An army spokeswoman said his condition was severe but stable. A walled city in Tuscany clings to its ancient menu March 13, 2009 at 4:51 pm <strong>FOOD FIGHT</strong> A prohibition on ethnic restaurants in the historical center of an Italian town has set off a tug of war between the romantic Italy of the popular imagination and the more complex reality. Madoff plea leaves questions unanswered March 13, 2009 at 4:51 pm Victims of his Ponzi scheme did not learn where their money went, and Madoff's version of events differed from the charges. Suspicions follow crash of Kyrgyzstan politician March 13, 2009 at 4:51 pm The former head of the presidential administration in Kyrgyzstan, who was a leader of the opposition, was killed in a suspicious car crash early Friday morning that many observers are calling a murder. Signs of possible deal in Pakistan turmoil March 13, 2009 at 4:51 pm Pressure grew on President Asif Ali Zardari to reach an accommodation with the opposition leader Nawaz Sharif. Push by gay couples for health coverage poses tough choice for Obama March 13, 2009 at 4:51 pm If President Barack Obama supports a court order authorizing health insurance benefits for same-sex partners of goverrnment employees, he risks alienating Republicans with whom he is seeking to work on economic, health care and numerous other matters. Most of Madoff's victims were also his accomplices March 13, 2009 at 4:51 pm Just about anybody who actually took the time to kick the tires of Madoff's operation tended to run in the other direction. Japan pledges a third round of spending to spur economy March 13, 2009 at 4:51 pm The Japanese government on Friday called for another round of government spending to help the world's second-largest economy emerge from its deep recession. Wen voices concern on safety of U.S. debt March 13, 2009 at 1:58 pm The Chinese prime minister urged the Obama administration to provide new assurances that the $1 trillion investment would maintain its value in the face of a global financial crisis. David Brooks: 'No picnic for me either' March 13, 2009 at 12:02 pm Two traits are necessary for academic success: relationships and rigor. How to leave March 13, 2009 at 12:02 pm Withdrawal from Afghanistan need not mean defeat for America. How to surge March 13, 2009 at 12:02 pm Abandoning the Afghans would hand our enemies an enormous propaganda victory. On living with less, from 3 points of view March 13, 2009 at 12:02 pm From the Paris catwalk to the developing world to the halls of power in eastern Europe, the crisis is pushing people to express, and reinvent, themselves. European bonds fall on issuance fears; stocks gain March 13, 2009 at 12:02 pm European government bonds declined Friday as Italy's planned sale of as much as €7.5 billion of debt sapped demand; stocks were helped by the prospect of fresh stimulus measures in China and Japan. Swiss offer concessions on tax evasion March 13, 2009 at 12:02 pm The Swiss bowed to international pressure to conform to international standards on exchanging information in suspected cases of tax evasion but maintained that banking secrecy was intact. Portrait of German gunman emerges March 13, 2009 at 12:02 pm Tim Kretschmer, who killed 15 people, was a troubled teenager with easy access to an unsecured pistol. Japan warns North Korea against launch March 13, 2009 at 12:02 pm Japan condemned North Korea's plan to launch a rocket, warning that it was legally entitled to shoot down any threatening object that falls toward its territory. Opposition predicts Pakistani president won't finish term March 13, 2009 at 7:06 am The authorities have detained hundreds of political activists and lawyers in recent days, seeking to thwart a protest movement that is challenging the government's shaky, year-old rule.