News and notes from China, Iraq, Italy and more
TRAVEL
The desire for cheap, local attractions is driving tourists to sewage plants and other offbeat venues.
INTERNATIONAL
President Calderón's handling of the outbreak may have hastened his party's slide.
INTERNATIONAL
A personal visit to a part of India where Mao-spouting armed rebels are the law.
POINT OF VIEW
The military is barely holding off Islamists in some areas--but in others it has notched up a string of successes.
THE LAST WORD
There was an overmilitarization of U.S. foreign policy and too much focus just on areas with an imminent threat.
BRITAIN
Labour may be struggling. But its Blairite model is surprisingly resilient.
AFGHANISTAN
One young woman's fight to set up schools for girls in Afghanistan despite formidable cultural and logistical obstacles.
INTERNATIONAL
Twenty years ago this week, a bold move began the process that would bring down the Berlin Wall.
RUSSIA
Putin's successor as president seemed like a smooth-talking yes man. That's changing now.
THE LAST WORD
CARS
China is now the world's largest market for cars; Chinese leaders aim to own the biggest piece of it.
POINT OF VIEW
POINT OF VIEW
The summit exposed Castro's peers in Latin America, not Obama, as the real innocents abroad.
FRANCE
In a global downturn, every nation has deep gripes. But only the French have a wave of bossnappings.
GLOBAL ECONOMY
The bottom is still a year off, says the economist who warned of the plunge.
EUROPE
Europe's top union boss on why it's both the best and worst of times for workers.
Q&A
A Somali leader talks about what his government will need to deal with the bandits.
INTERNATIONAL
In this part of India, jailbirds run on their records—and win.
SOUTH AFRICA
For good or ill, the next president is a lot different from his predecessors.
PIRACY
A document from a hijacked ship contained a 'list of written rules' of pirate conduct.
THE LAST WORD
BUSINESS
If we're in the middle of a new Great Depression, then why are we still ordering $17 cocktails?
GEORGIA
Georgians want better relations with Russia, which won't bend till Saakashvili goes. He may have to.
POINT OF VIEW
The nation's future depends not only on its leader, but on its political culture and institutions.
WORLD AFFAIRS
NATO military strategists are waking up to the threat from online attacks.
WORLD AFFAIRS
By turns charming and cagey, cool to America and close to Obama, Lula is building a unique regional giant.
ASIA
Unlike Obama, who transcends old divides, Mayawati has built her power on demagogic class warfare.
ASIA
Bargaining with Pyongyang is pointless. Regime change is the only option; here's how to make it work.
SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS
How Obama can mend relations in Latin America.
International
The earthquake has devastated some of Italy's great cultural treasures.
INTERNATIONAL
South Africa's presumptive next president on his legal battles, Zulu identity and learning to forgive.
International
Why the Navy can't beat piracy, but the Coast Guard might.
CUBA
Instead of just closing the Guantánamo Bay detention center, how about if we throw the place wide open?
INTERNATIONAL
The actions of Ethiopia's government have put a strain on relations with Washington.
POINT OF VIEW
Visionaries have emerged at critical moments in the country's past--but not this time.
WORLD AFFAIRS
Germany is one of the worst-hit economies in the developed world. So why is everybody so calm?
WORLD AFFAIRS
Iraq showed that the U.S. is better at breaking things then fixing them. A new unit aims to change that.
AFRICA
Ethiopia was supposed to help America in the war on terror. But it's only made matters worse.
WORLD AFFAIRS
Moldova's would-be color revolution fails. Chalk one up for the Kremlin.
POINT OF VIEW
Obama's kind words had a big impact on world leaders, but do they add up to a foreign policy?
International
Italy's initial response to a devastating earthquake has been nothing but praise.
Asia
Tokyo's frenzied response to North Korea's missile launch may have helped Kim Jong Il.
INTERNATIONAL
Obama's trip to Ankara promises to be a genuine meeting of minds.
PAKISTAN
AFRICA
If Rwanda can recover, says an Anglican bishop, others can, too.
INTERNATIONAL
A year ago he was Russia's richest oligarch. Now he's a warning to the others.
Environment
World leaders could still miss a chance to do right by the economy and the environment.
INTERNATIONAL
Theatrics aside, the Amanda Knox trial comes down to forensics.
ANALYSIS
How world leaders missed the boat in London.
INTERNATIONAL
Forget the protesters. The real anger at America this week is coming from European governments.
WORLD XTRA
After Sunday's elections in Turkey, Prime Minister Erdogan and his AK Party are down but not out.
IRAQ
For years this man has spoken out for members of Saddam's old party. Now Iraqis are listening.
WORLD AFFAIRS
Turkey's prime minister will need political courage to reform his country and bring it closer to Europe.
POINT OF VIEW
Successful arms-control talks between Russia and the U.S. could also help matters in Iran and Afghanistan.
GITMO
CHINA
INTERNATIONAL
Whatever they choose to call themselves, the island's people aren't going to let a few acts of violence disrupt their hard-won peace.
INTERVIEW
Invigorated by the crisis, Brazil's president says he's praying for Obama.
INTERNATIONAL
King Abdullah, 85, is racing to reform Saudi Arabia. How much can he accomplish—and will it last?
CHINA
ASIA
China's nationalistic tendencies surge back to the surface.
PAKISTAN
In an attempt to end widespread public unrest, Zardari reinstates deposed chief justice.
INTERNATIONAL
The bipartisan panel that investigated the terrorist attacks was widely praised. But did its final report rely on suspect information?
ECONOMY
With help from a former UBS banker, the Feds are demystifying how the Swiss do business. Inside the tradecraft.
INTERNATIONAL
In the city's Muslim neighborhoods, an Afghan reporter finds a few too many uncomfortable reminders of home.
INTERNATIONAL
Iraq's northern enclave used to be called a model for the rest of the country. Not anymore, say Kurds.
Pakistan
As protests come to a head, more resignations create problems for Pakistan's president.
WORLD AFFAIRS
For the last four decades, international migration has been a one-way journey. Year after year, millions of people left poorer countries for wealthier ones and rural areas for cities. Today, 200 million people are immigrants, people who have risked their lives and livelihoods to escape a dead end or pursue a dream. But now, in possibly one of the most dramatic effects of the global economic crisis, the human tide is slowing and is even starting to reverse itself.
TECHNOLOGY
CHINA
As exports plummet and coastal factories close, Beijing looks inland for a new economic model.
EUROPE
Ukraine's president was once considered a hero. But his country has spiraled into chaos and despair.
BUSINESS
As government gets bigger, so does a whole new class of public-sector boomtowns.
SOUTH KOREA
A weapon built to defend ships from planes has morphed into Star Wars.
INTERNATIONAL
As the U.S. military plans to withdraw from Iraq, a weakened rogue element remains a threat.
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- Out, America, out! Chant from young Iraqi men on the day U.S. troops withdrawWASHPO
- I don't think it is a good idea. A doctor on mixing with flu-hit friends to become immuneBBC