Workers Were Punished for Records Breach

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two companies that provide workers for the State Department say they fired or otherwise punished those who improperly accessed the passport records of the three major presidential candidates. The security breaches touched off demands for a congressional investigation.

“None of us wants to have a circumstance in which any American’s passport file is looked at in an unauthorized way,” said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as she offered apologies to the candidates.

Stanley Inc., based in Arlington, Va., and The Analysis Corp., or TAC, of McLean, Va., said Friday that their employees’ actions were unauthorized and not consistent with company policies.

Pakistan Peoples Party Ready to Nominate Next Prime Minister

By James Rupert

March 22 (Bloomberg) — The Pakistan Peoples Party, which leads the country’s new governing coalition, will name its choice for prime minister this weekend, party officials say.

The PPP and its allies, who won elections for the National Assembly on Feb. 18, vow their government will slash the powers of President Pervez Musharraf.

The party’s nominee for prime minister will be announced late today or early tomorrow and confirmed in a parliamentary vote on March 24, party spokesman Farhatullah Babar told reporters.

Taiwanese Face Tough Decision in Vote

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwanese voters were deciding Saturday whether to stick with a party whose pro-independence bent has strained ties with China or switch to one pushing for a reduction of tensions and more economic engagement with the communist country.

Just two weeks ago, opposition candidate Ma Ying-jeou seemed ready to cruise to victory in the island’s fourth direct presidential election, promising to work toward friendlier relations and even a common market with China.

But ruling party candidate Frank Hsieh appears to have been closing the gap. His party used the last day of campaigning to fan outrage over China’s crackdown in Tibet.

The house that Jack built is beginning to crumble

OTTAWA — During his regular workouts on a stationary bike, Jack Layton will occasionally listen to Tommy Douglas speeches on his iPod.

But with national support for the party of Mr. Douglas stagnating, some on the Canadian left want Mr. Layton to do more than listen: They want him to start speaking the language of traditional New Democrats.

Since his election in 2003 as the New Democratic Party’s sixth leader, the media-savvy Torontonian has moved it to the centre and shaved off its more controversial policies.

The goal was as simple as it was lofty: Replace the Liberals as the alternative government to the Conservatives. However, some are now wondering whether the NDP has lost its way.