3/17 International Herald Tribune - World News, Analysis, and Global Opinions

In thin air of the Alps, Swiss discretion is vanishing March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am It has become fashionable to wander in the Swiss Alps in little more than hiking shoes. Philippine troops battle kidnappers of aid workers March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am Clashes between government troops and Abu Sayyaf militants continued to flare in the southern Philippines on Tuesday, with three soldiers killed and 19 wounded, military officials said. Fight for education pits civil law against Islamic tradition March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am A transsexual's bid to return to an Islamic medical school in Egypt reflects conflicting attitudes about sexuality in an increasingly pious country. The duck that laid the golden egg March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am The Moncler down jacket soars on high altitude, and in high fashion. Sudanese president seeks to expel aid groups March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am Sudan's president said Monday he wants all international aid groups out of the country within a year, insisting they can drop off supplies "at airports or seaports" and let Sudanese organizations take care of it. Flailing, but not yet failing March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am Pakistan is not condemned to, and hopefully will not suffer, a terminal decline. H.D.S. Greenway: The money garden March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am The world has become obsessed with the antics of Bernard Madoff, who ran the biggest money garden of them all. David Brooks: The commercial republic March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am The United States is addicted to the pace of commercial enterprise. After periodic pauses, the country inevitably returns to its elemental nature. Leftist victor in El Salvador tries to reassure opponents March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am The election of Mauricio Funes of F.M.L.N. marks a turning point after two decades of rule by the right. Markets in Asia rally but Europe slips March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am European stocks opened lower Tuesday after a mostly stronger session in Asia, and the euro regained all the ground it lost to the dollar since early February. An outbreak of autism, or a statistical fluke? March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am There is an apparent surge of children with autism within communities of Somali immigrants in the U.S. The fall and rise of the right whale March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am Researchers say the right whale offers proof that simple conservation steps can have a big impact, even for species driven to the edge of oblivion. Drones are weapons of choice in fighting Qaeda March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am War has taken on a video-game quality, as missiles are fired on enemy targets from halfway around the world. Pakistan turns onto a new and uncertain path March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am A compromise between political rivals does not herald a solution to the instability of this nuclear-armed nation, but there are glimmers of hope. President of Madagascar steps down as opposition moves in March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am President Marc Ravalomanana of Madagascar handed power to the military after a power struggle with the opposition on the Indian Ocean island, officials said. Police station bombed in Tibetan area of China March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am A bomb was hurled into a government building in a predominantly Tibetan area of western China amid growing concern over a period of unrest in the region. Ambitions of U.S. colleges crashing into budget realities March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am Funding problems have raised the question of whether public universities in the U.S. have lost sight of their educational mission. Nokia to lay off 1,700 workers March 17, 2009 at 9:12 am Nokia said Tuesday that it would lay off 1,700 people worldwide to cut costs, as the global economic downturn strikes deeper into the mobile phone sector. After long struggle, Pakistani chief justice is reinstated March 17, 2009 at 7:39 am Having been restored by a popular outpouring led by the lawyers of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will have the potential to further jolt Pakistani politics. China to relax rules on overseas investments March 17, 2009 at 2:25 am The Ministry of Commerce will make it much easier for Chinese companies to win approval to invest overseas, in the country's latest move to encourage its companies to go abroad. The case for bonuses at A.I.G. March 16, 2009 at 11:42 pm The $165 million payout does sting, but the U.S. government may want to keep the employees right where they are. E.U. continues to reach out to Belarus March 16, 2009 at 6:53 pm European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed to continue reaching out to Belarus, one of Moscow's closest allies, by suspending for a further nine months a travel ban on the country's President, Aleksandr Lukashenko, despite worries about his human rights record. Barclays in talks to sell a U.S. unit to raise cash March 16, 2009 at 6:53 pm The British bank is in talks to sell a unit of its fund management business, a move that would help Barclays shore up its balance sheet without surrendering control to the government. Far-right Israeli may be next foreign minister March 16, 2009 at 6:53 pm A deal between Israel's conservative Likud Party and the nationalist Yisrael Beitenu Party would appoint Avigdor Lieberman as the nation's next foreign minister. Austrian pleads guilty to incest as case opens March 16, 2009 at 6:53 pm A man accused of imprisoning his daughter for 24 years and fathering her seven children pleaded guilty at the opening of his trial to charges of incest, but not to killing her newborn son or enslaving her. China likely to be stronger after crisis March 16, 2009 at 6:53 pm The country had already become more assertive; now it is exploiting its unusual position as a country with piles of cash and a strong banking system. Panel flags state of U.S.-Russia relations March 16, 2009 at 6:53 pm A high-level bipartisan commission recommended that the Obama administration reach out to Russia in a number of ways, putting NATO membership for Georgia and Ukraine on hold. As pressure rises, A.I.G. lists firms that got money from its bailout March 16, 2009 at 2:19 pm President Barack Obama vowed to try to stop the insurer from paying out $165 million in bonuses to executives in the business unit that brought the company to the brink of collapse. U.S. investor fights to retain his share in German bank March 16, 2009 at 1:46 pm J. Christopher Flowers, seeking to fend off a government takeover of Hypo Real Estate Holding told German lawmakers Monday that a seizure of the lender would deter other investors in the country. U.S. confirms downing Iranian drone over Iraqi territory March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm The U.S. military confirmed on Monday that it shot down an Iranian remotely piloted aircraft over Iraqi territory, in what is believed to be the first incident of its type during the war. Khatami to withdraw from Iranian presidential race March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm Mohammad Khatami, the reformist former president, has decided to withdraw from the June presidential election to support a political ally, a close aide said. Seattle paper shifts entirely to the Web March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm The Post-Intelligencer will produce its last printed edition on Tuesday and become an Internet-only news source, the largest paper to take such a step. Europe Must Answer on Economy, Despite Obama's Niceties March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm The president may want to stay above the fray in the debate over E.U. nations' stimulus efforts, but that doesn't mean problems don't exit. Paul Krugman: A continent adrift March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm Europe is facing at least as severe a slump as the United States, yet has failed to respond effectively to the downturn. Going, going, gone March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm A book from Hitler's private library can be more than the object of a questionable desire. Nicholas D. Kristof: Pathogens in the pork March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm Antibiotics in animal feed is one reason we're seeing the rise of dangerous pathogens that endanger the food supply. Chávez tells his navy to take over key seaports March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm The Venezuelan president has been expanding his control over infrastructure in states where his political rivals won elections last year. Betting on a comeback for Korean bullfighting March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm Popular interest in the sport has waned in recent decades, but now the government hopes to reignite the old passion by legalizing ringside gambling, starting in July. Leftist party wins presidential election in El Salvador March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm El Salvador's F.M.L.N., the leftist party of the country's former guerrillas, won the presidential election, marking a turning point after two decades of rule by the right. Obama orders Treasury chief to try to block AIG bonuses March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm The U.S. president said that he has instructed Timothy Geithner to "pursue every single legal avenue" to block bonuses to the insurer's top executives. Fritzl pleads guilty to incest as trial opens in Austria March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm A man accused of imprisoning his daughter for nearly a quarter of a century and fathering her seven children repeatedly raped her in front of the youngsters, prosecutors said Monday as his trial opened in Austria. In Pakistan, a sense of justice and 'watching history' March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm Pakistan's chief justice had just been reinstated after a two-year struggle, and for those assembled in the country's capital to celebrate, anything seemed possible. Obama braces for a backlash March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm Anger against banks and Wall Street could end up being directed at Congress and the White House and complicate President Barack Obama's agenda. At least 12 dead after suicide attacks in Afghanistan March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm A suicide bomber struck a police station in southern Afghanistan on Monday morning, killing 11 people and wounding 28, the police said. Most of the casualties were members of a counter-narcotics squad Andalusians battling migrants for jobs they didn't want March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm As jobs disappear across Andalusia, workers are returning to the fields they abandoned for construction sites, hotels and shops during Spain's decade-long economic boom. U.S. stocks rise as investors see a ray of optimism March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm It was unclear whether Washington's tone was bolstering Wall Street, or whether the gains on Wall Street were encouraging optimism from the White House. A quest to publicize an atrocity in Ukraine March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm The 1930s famine is known in Ukrainian as the Holodomor - literally, death or killing by starvation - and the campaign to give it recognition has strained relations with the Kremlin. Shake-up at Citigroup hits board of directors March 16, 2009 at 1:17 pm Citigroup, the troubled financial giant that has received three U.S. government bailouts, announced Monday that it had nominated four independent directors to its board. Pakistani leader gives in and reinstates top judge March 16, 2009 at 12:16 pm After a weekend of protests, the Pakistani government agreed to reinstate the former chief justice of the Supreme Court, a stunning concession to the opposition leader Nawaz Sharif. Small firms at risk of being left behind in China's recovery March 16, 2009 at 9:34 am Fostering innovation, developing services and tapping rural economy are tasks for small, privately owned firms that China-watchers fear will suffer as Beijing uses big banks and industries to lift investment.