EFFECTIVE DETERRENT? : The number of executions in Taiwan has dropped off in recent years but abolition of capital punishment still seems unlikely in the short term
By Rich Chang
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) said it is seeking to amend the law so that a death sentence can only be handed down when all three judges in a case approve the sentence.

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South America moved away from talk of war as the presidents of Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador agreed to end a bitter dispute triggered by a Colombian cross-border raid with testy handshakes and an apology.

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Spaniards mourned the death of a small-town Socialist politician in a shooting blamed on the Basque separatist group ETA, transforming what was supposed to be a quiet day of reflection before today's general election into a day of grief.

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TIME TO DECIDE: Police in Terengganu state fired tear gas and water cannons at opposition supporters as Malaysians voted in a general election yesterday
Malaysia's ruling coalition has suffered a major swing against it in general elections that may substantially decrease its majority in parliament, political observers said yesterday.

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US President George W. Bush is poised to veto legislation that would bar the CIA from using waterboarding -- a technique that simulates drowning -- and other harsh interrogation methods on terror suspects.

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