diff --git a/Objects/abstract.c b/Objects/abstract.c
index 79dfe40..8810762 100644
--- a/Objects/abstract.c
+++ b/Objects/abstract.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "longintrepr.h"
 
 
+
 /* Shorthands to return certain errors */
 
 static PyObject *
@@ -117,9 +118,9 @@
 		return m->mp_subscript(o, key);
 
 	if (o->ob_type->tp_as_sequence) {
-		PyNumberMethods *nb = key->ob_type->tp_as_number;
-		if (nb != NULL && nb->nb_index != NULL) {
-			Py_ssize_t key_value = nb->nb_index(key);
+		if (PyIndex_Check(key)) {
+			Py_ssize_t key_value;
+			key_value = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(key, PyExc_IndexError);
 			if (key_value == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
 				return NULL;
 			return PySequence_GetItem(o, key_value);
@@ -146,9 +147,9 @@
 		return m->mp_ass_subscript(o, key, value);
 
 	if (o->ob_type->tp_as_sequence) {
-		PyNumberMethods *nb = key->ob_type->tp_as_number;
-		if (nb != NULL && nb->nb_index != NULL) {
-			Py_ssize_t key_value = nb->nb_index(key);
+		if (PyIndex_Check(key)) {
+			Py_ssize_t key_value;
+			key_value = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(key, PyExc_IndexError);
 			if (key_value == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
 				return -1;
 			return PySequence_SetItem(o, key_value, value);
@@ -178,9 +179,9 @@
 		return m->mp_ass_subscript(o, key, (PyObject*)NULL);
 
 	if (o->ob_type->tp_as_sequence) {
-		PyNumberMethods *nb = key->ob_type->tp_as_number;
-		if (nb != NULL && nb->nb_index != NULL) {
-			Py_ssize_t key_value = nb->nb_index(key);
+		if (PyIndex_Check(key)) {
+			Py_ssize_t key_value;
+			key_value = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(key, PyExc_IndexError);
 			if (key_value == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
 				return -1;
 			return PySequence_DelItem(o, key_value);
@@ -530,9 +531,8 @@
 sequence_repeat(ssizeargfunc repeatfunc, PyObject *seq, PyObject *n)
 {
 	Py_ssize_t count;
-	PyNumberMethods *nb = n->ob_type->tp_as_number;
-	if (nb != NULL && nb->nb_index != NULL) {
-		count = nb->nb_index(n);
+	if (PyIndex_Check(n)) {
+		count = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(n, PyExc_OverflowError);
 		if (count == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
 			return NULL;
 	}
@@ -809,23 +809,87 @@
 	return x;
 }
 
-/* Return a Py_ssize_t integer from the object item */
-Py_ssize_t 
+/* Return a Python Int or Long from the object item 
+   Raise TypeError if the result is not an int-or-long
+   or if the object cannot be interpreted as an index. 
+*/
+PyObject *
 PyNumber_Index(PyObject *item)
 {
-	Py_ssize_t value = -1;
-	PyNumberMethods *nb = item->ob_type->tp_as_number;
-	if (nb != NULL && nb->nb_index != NULL) {
-		value = nb->nb_index(item);
+	PyObject *result = NULL;
+	if (item == NULL)
+		return null_error();
+	if (PyInt_Check(item) || PyLong_Check(item)) {
+		Py_INCREF(item);
+		return item;
+	}
+	if (PyIndex_Check(item)) {
+		result = item->ob_type->tp_as_number->nb_index(item);
+		if (result &&
+		    !PyInt_Check(result) && !PyLong_Check(result)) {
+			PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError,
+				     "__index__ returned non-(int,long) " \
+				     "(type %.200s)",
+				     result->ob_type->tp_name);
+			Py_DECREF(result);
+			return NULL;
+		}
 	}
 	else {
 		PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError,
 			     "'%.200s' object cannot be interpreted "
 			     "as an index", item->ob_type->tp_name);
 	}
-	return value;
+	return result;
 }
 
+/* Return an error on Overflow only if err is not NULL*/
+
+Py_ssize_t
+PyNumber_AsSsize_t(PyObject *item, PyObject *err)
+{
+	Py_ssize_t result;
+	PyObject *runerr;
+	PyObject *value = PyNumber_Index(item);
+	if (value == NULL)
+		return -1;
+
+	/* We're done if PyInt_AsSsize_t() returns without error. */
+	result = PyInt_AsSsize_t(value);
+	if (result != -1 || !(runerr = PyErr_Occurred()))
+		goto finish;
+
+	/* Error handling code -- only manage OverflowError differently */
+	if (!PyErr_GivenExceptionMatches(runerr, PyExc_OverflowError)) 
+		goto finish;
+
+	PyErr_Clear();
+	/* If no error-handling desired then the default clipping 
+	   is sufficient.
+	 */
+	if (!err) {
+		assert(PyLong_Check(value));
+		/* Whether or not it is less than or equal to 
+		   zero is determined by the sign of ob_size
+		*/
+		if (_PyLong_Sign(value) < 0) 
+			result = PY_SSIZE_T_MIN;
+		else
+			result = PY_SSIZE_T_MAX;
+	}
+	else {
+		/* Otherwise replace the error with caller's error object. */
+		PyErr_Format(err,
+			     "cannot fit '%.200s' into an index-sized integer", 
+			     item->ob_type->tp_name); 
+	}
+	
+ finish:
+	Py_DECREF(value);
+	return result;
+}
+
+
 PyObject *
 PyNumber_Int(PyObject *o)
 {
diff --git a/Objects/bytesobject.c b/Objects/bytesobject.c
index 2ee71bb..241281e 100644
--- a/Objects/bytesobject.c
+++ b/Objects/bytesobject.c
@@ -245,10 +245,9 @@
     if (PyBytes_Check(value))
         return bytes_substring(self, (PyBytesObject *)value);
 
-    ival = PyNumber_Index(value);
+    ival = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(value, PyExc_TypeError);
     if (ival == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
         return -1;
-
     if (ival < 0 || ival >= 256) {
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "byte must be in range(0, 256)");
         return -1;
@@ -366,7 +365,7 @@
     if (value == NULL)
         return bytes_setslice(self, i, i+1, NULL);
 
-    ival = PyNumber_Index(value);
+    ival = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(value, PyExc_TypeError);
     if (ival == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
         return -1;
 
@@ -449,7 +448,7 @@
     }
 
     /* Is it an int? */
-    count = PyNumber_Index(arg);
+    count = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(arg, PyExc_TypeError);
     if (count == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
         PyErr_Clear();
     else {
@@ -501,7 +500,7 @@
         }
 
         /* Interpret it as an int (__index__) */
-        value = PyNumber_Index(item);
+        value = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(item, PyExc_TypeError);
         Py_DECREF(item);
         if (value == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
             goto error;
diff --git a/Objects/exceptions.c b/Objects/exceptions.c
index be9627c..c3ead69 100644
--- a/Objects/exceptions.c
+++ b/Objects/exceptions.c
@@ -1948,6 +1948,14 @@
           "Base class for warnings about probable mistakes in module imports");
 
 
+/*
+ *    UnicodeWarning extends Warning
+ */
+SimpleExtendsException(PyExc_Warning, UnicodeWarning,
+    "Base class for warnings about Unicode related problems, mostly\n"
+    "related to conversion problems.");
+
+
 /* Pre-computed MemoryError instance.  Best to create this as early as
  * possible and not wait until a MemoryError is actually raised!
  */
@@ -2048,6 +2056,7 @@
     PRE_INIT(RuntimeWarning)
     PRE_INIT(FutureWarning)
     PRE_INIT(ImportWarning)
+    PRE_INIT(UnicodeWarning)
 
     m = Py_InitModule4("exceptions", functions, exceptions_doc,
         (PyObject *)NULL, PYTHON_API_VERSION);
@@ -2113,6 +2122,7 @@
     POST_INIT(RuntimeWarning)
     POST_INIT(FutureWarning)
     POST_INIT(ImportWarning)
+    POST_INIT(UnicodeWarning)
 
     PyExc_MemoryErrorInst = BaseException_new(&_PyExc_MemoryError, NULL, NULL);
     if (!PyExc_MemoryErrorInst)
diff --git a/Objects/intobject.c b/Objects/intobject.c
index f070404..0ff2321 100644
--- a/Objects/intobject.c
+++ b/Objects/intobject.c
@@ -193,16 +193,21 @@
 	PyIntObject *io;
 	Py_ssize_t val;
 #endif
-	if (op && !PyInt_CheckExact(op) && PyLong_Check(op))
+
+	if (op == NULL) {
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "an integer is required");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (PyInt_Check(op))
+		return PyInt_AS_LONG((PyIntObject*) op);
+	if (PyLong_Check(op))
 		return _PyLong_AsSsize_t(op);
 #if SIZEOF_SIZE_T == SIZEOF_LONG
 	return PyInt_AsLong(op);
 #else
 
-	if (op && PyInt_Check(op))
-		return PyInt_AS_LONG((PyIntObject*) op);
-
-	if (op == NULL || (nb = op->ob_type->tp_as_number) == NULL ||
+	if ((nb = op->ob_type->tp_as_number) == NULL ||
 	    (nb->nb_int == NULL && nb->nb_long == 0)) {
 		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "an integer is required");
 		return -1;
@@ -1045,7 +1050,7 @@
 	int_true_divide,	/* nb_true_divide */
 	0,			/* nb_inplace_floor_divide */
 	0,			/* nb_inplace_true_divide */
-	PyInt_AsSsize_t,	/* nb_index */
+	(unaryfunc)int_int,	/* nb_index */
 };
 
 PyTypeObject PyInt_Type = {
diff --git a/Objects/listobject.c b/Objects/listobject.c
index b84998f..ab408e9 100644
--- a/Objects/listobject.c
+++ b/Objects/listobject.c
@@ -1398,7 +1398,7 @@
 	PyObject *compare;
 	PyObject **dest;
 	int result = -1;	/* guilty until proved innocent */
-	Py_ssize_t min_gallop = ms->min_gallop;
+	Py_ssize_t min_gallop;
 
 	assert(ms && pa && pb && na > 0 && nb > 0 && pa + na == pb);
 	if (MERGE_GETMEM(ms, na) < 0)
@@ -1414,6 +1414,7 @@
 	if (na == 1)
 		goto CopyB;
 
+	min_gallop = ms->min_gallop;
 	compare = ms->compare;
 	for (;;) {
 		Py_ssize_t acount = 0;	/* # of times A won in a row */
@@ -1531,7 +1532,7 @@
 	int result = -1;	/* guilty until proved innocent */
 	PyObject **basea;
 	PyObject **baseb;
-	Py_ssize_t min_gallop = ms->min_gallop;
+	Py_ssize_t min_gallop;
 
 	assert(ms && pa && pb && na > 0 && nb > 0 && pa + na == pb);
 	if (MERGE_GETMEM(ms, nb) < 0)
@@ -1550,6 +1551,7 @@
 	if (nb == 1)
 		goto CopyA;
 
+	min_gallop = ms->min_gallop;
 	compare = ms->compare;
 	for (;;) {
 		Py_ssize_t acount = 0;	/* # of times A won in a row */
@@ -2445,9 +2447,9 @@
 static PyObject *
 list_subscript(PyListObject* self, PyObject* item)
 {
-	PyNumberMethods *nb = item->ob_type->tp_as_number;	
-	if (nb != NULL && nb->nb_index != NULL) {
-		Py_ssize_t i = nb->nb_index(item);
+	if (PyIndex_Check(item)) {
+		Py_ssize_t i;
+		i = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(item, PyExc_IndexError);
 		if (i == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
 			return NULL;
 		if (i < 0)
@@ -2494,9 +2496,8 @@
 static int
 list_ass_subscript(PyListObject* self, PyObject* item, PyObject* value)
 {
-	PyNumberMethods *nb = item->ob_type->tp_as_number;
-	if (nb != NULL && nb->nb_index != NULL) {
-		Py_ssize_t i = nb->nb_index(item);
+	if (PyIndex_Check(item)) {
+		Py_ssize_t i = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(item, PyExc_IndexError);
 		if (i == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
 			return -1;
 		if (i < 0)
@@ -2531,6 +2532,10 @@
 
 			garbage = (PyObject**)
 				PyMem_MALLOC(slicelength*sizeof(PyObject*));
+			if (!garbage) {
+				PyErr_NoMemory();
+				return -1;
+			}
 
 			/* drawing pictures might help
 			   understand these for loops */
@@ -2579,9 +2584,9 @@
 			else {
 				seq = PySequence_Fast(value,
 					"must assign iterable to extended slice");
-				if (!seq)
-					return -1;
 			}
+			if (!seq)
+				return -1;
 
 			if (PySequence_Fast_GET_SIZE(seq) != slicelength) {
 				PyErr_Format(PyExc_ValueError,
diff --git a/Objects/longobject.c b/Objects/longobject.c
index a2690a2..16c7043 100644
--- a/Objects/longobject.c
+++ b/Objects/longobject.c
@@ -240,8 +240,11 @@
 	return -1;
 }
 
-static Py_ssize_t
-_long_as_ssize_t(PyObject *vv) {
+/* Get a Py_ssize_t from a long int object.
+   Returns -1 and sets an error condition if overflow occurs. */
+
+Py_ssize_t
+_PyLong_AsSsize_t(PyObject *vv) {
 	register PyLongObject *v;
 	size_t x, prev;
 	Py_ssize_t i;
@@ -277,45 +280,7 @@
  overflow:
 	PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError,
 			"long int too large to convert to int");
-	if (sign > 0)
-		return PY_SSIZE_T_MAX;
-	else
-		return PY_SSIZE_T_MIN;
-}
-
-/* Get a Py_ssize_t from a long int object.
-   Returns -1 and sets an error condition if overflow occurs. */
-
-Py_ssize_t
-_PyLong_AsSsize_t(PyObject *vv)
-{
-	Py_ssize_t x;
-
-	x = _long_as_ssize_t(vv);
-	if (PyErr_Occurred()) return -1;
-	return x;
-}
-
-
-/* Get a Py_ssize_t from a long int object.
-   Silently reduce values larger than PY_SSIZE_T_MAX to PY_SSIZE_T_MAX,
-   and silently boost values less than -PY_SSIZE_T_MAX-1 to -PY_SSIZE_T_MAX-1.
-   On error, return -1 with an exception set.
-*/
-
-static Py_ssize_t
-long_index(PyObject *vv)
-{
-	Py_ssize_t x;
-
-	x = _long_as_ssize_t(vv);
-	if (PyErr_Occurred()) {
-		/* If overflow error, ignore the error */
-		if (x != -1) {
-			PyErr_Clear();
-		}
-	}
-	return x;
+	return -1;
 }
 
 /* Get a C unsigned long int from a long int object.
@@ -3379,7 +3344,7 @@
 	long_true_divide,		/* nb_true_divide */
 	0,				/* nb_inplace_floor_divide */
 	0,				/* nb_inplace_true_divide */
-	long_index,			/* nb_index */
+	long_long,			/* nb_index */
 };
 
 PyTypeObject PyLong_Type = {
diff --git a/Objects/object.c b/Objects/object.c
index 44b3f7d..cb60320 100644
--- a/Objects/object.c
+++ b/Objects/object.c
@@ -725,23 +725,6 @@
 		return (vv < ww) ? -1 : (vv > ww) ? 1 : 0;
 	}
 
-#ifdef Py_USING_UNICODE
-	/* Special case for Unicode */
-	if (PyUnicode_Check(v) || PyUnicode_Check(w)) {
-		c = PyUnicode_Compare(v, w);
-		if (!PyErr_Occurred())
-			return c;
-		/* TypeErrors are ignored: if Unicode coercion fails due
-		   to one of the arguments not having the right type, we
-		   continue as defined by the coercion protocol (see
-		   above).  Luckily, decoding errors are reported as
-		   ValueErrors and are not masked by this technique. */
-		if (!PyErr_ExceptionMatches(PyExc_TypeError))
-			return -2;
-		PyErr_Clear();
-	}
-#endif
-
 	/* None is smaller than anything */
 	if (v == Py_None)
 		return -1;
diff --git a/Objects/sliceobject.c b/Objects/sliceobject.c
index 271a9ad..d8a2465 100644
--- a/Objects/sliceobject.c
+++ b/Objects/sliceobject.c
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@
 {
 	Py_ssize_t ilen, start, stop, step, slicelength;
 
-	ilen = PyInt_AsSsize_t(len);
+	ilen = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(len, PyExc_OverflowError);
 
 	if (ilen == -1 && PyErr_Occurred()) {
 		return NULL;
diff --git a/Objects/stringobject.c b/Objects/stringobject.c
index 7ba15a0..028b375 100644
--- a/Objects/stringobject.c
+++ b/Objects/stringobject.c
@@ -1187,9 +1187,8 @@
 static PyObject*
 string_subscript(PyStringObject* self, PyObject* item)
 {
-	PyNumberMethods *nb = item->ob_type->tp_as_number;
-	if (nb != NULL && nb->nb_index != NULL) {
-		Py_ssize_t i = nb->nb_index(item);
+	if (PyIndex_Check(item)) {
+		Py_ssize_t i = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(item, PyExc_IndexError);
 		if (i == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
 			return NULL;
 		if (i < 0)
@@ -4226,12 +4225,17 @@
 	if (!result)
 		return NULL;
 
+	buf = PyString_AsString(result);
+	if (!buf) {
+		Py_DECREF(result);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
 	/* To modify the string in-place, there can only be one reference. */
 	if (result->ob_refcnt != 1) {
 		PyErr_BadInternalCall();
 		return NULL;
 	}
-	buf = PyString_AsString(result);
 	llen = PyString_Size(result);
 	if (llen > PY_SSIZE_T_MAX) {
 		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "string too large in _PyString_FormatLong");
diff --git a/Objects/structseq.c b/Objects/structseq.c
index e074810..7ac2a1f 100644
--- a/Objects/structseq.c
+++ b/Objects/structseq.c
@@ -215,6 +215,8 @@
 	PyObject *tup;
 	int result;
 	tup = make_tuple(obj);
+	if (!tup)
+		return -1;
 	result = PySequence_Contains(tup, o);
 	Py_DECREF(tup);
 	return result;
@@ -226,6 +228,8 @@
 	PyObject *tup;
 	long result;
 	tup = make_tuple((PyStructSequence*) obj);
+	if (!tup)
+		return -1;
 	result = PyObject_Hash(tup);
 	Py_DECREF(tup);
 	return result;
diff --git a/Objects/tupleobject.c b/Objects/tupleobject.c
index 53afab5..6f3711f 100644
--- a/Objects/tupleobject.c
+++ b/Objects/tupleobject.c
@@ -580,9 +580,8 @@
 static PyObject*
 tuplesubscript(PyTupleObject* self, PyObject* item)
 {
-	PyNumberMethods *nb = item->ob_type->tp_as_number;
-	if (nb != NULL && nb->nb_index != NULL) {
-		Py_ssize_t i = nb->nb_index(item);
+	if (PyIndex_Check(item)) {
+		Py_ssize_t i = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(item, PyExc_IndexError);
 		if (i == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
 			return NULL;
 		if (i < 0)
diff --git a/Objects/typeobject.c b/Objects/typeobject.c
index e9ffa87..1578801 100644
--- a/Objects/typeobject.c
+++ b/Objects/typeobject.c
@@ -3373,7 +3373,7 @@
 
 	if (!PyArg_UnpackTuple(args, "", 1, 1, &o))
 		return NULL;
-	i = PyNumber_Index(o);
+	i = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(o, PyExc_OverflowError);
 	if (i == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
 		return NULL;
 	return (*func)(self, i);
@@ -3384,7 +3384,7 @@
 {
 	Py_ssize_t i;
 
-	i = PyNumber_Index(arg);
+	i = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(arg, PyExc_OverflowError);
 	if (i == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
 		return -1;
 	if (i < 0) {
@@ -3956,19 +3956,17 @@
 {
 	static PyObject *len_str;
 	PyObject *res = call_method(self, "__len__", &len_str, "()");
-	Py_ssize_t temp;
 	Py_ssize_t len;
 
 	if (res == NULL)
 		return -1;
-	temp = PyInt_AsSsize_t(res);
-	len = (int)temp;
+	len = PyInt_AsSsize_t(res);
 	Py_DECREF(res);
 	if (len == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
 		return -1;
-#if SIZEOF_SIZE_T < SIZEOF_LONG
+#if SIZEOF_SIZE_T < SIZEOF_INT
 	/* Overflow check -- range of PyInt is more than C ssize_t */
-	if (len != temp) {
+	if (len != (int)len) {
 		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError,
 			"__len__() should return 0 <= outcome < 2**31");
 		return -1;
@@ -4189,26 +4187,11 @@
 }
 
 
-static Py_ssize_t 
+static PyObject *
 slot_nb_index(PyObject *self)
 {
 	static PyObject *index_str;
-	PyObject *temp = call_method(self, "__index__", &index_str, "()");
-	Py_ssize_t result;
-
-	if (temp == NULL)
-		return -1;
-	if (PyInt_CheckExact(temp) || PyLong_CheckExact(temp)) {
-		result = temp->ob_type->tp_as_number->nb_index(temp);
-	}
-	else {
-		PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError, 
-			     "__index__ must return an int or a long, "
-			     "not '%.200s'", temp->ob_type->tp_name);
-		result = -1;
-	}
-	Py_DECREF(temp);
-	return result;
+	return call_method(self, "__index__", &index_str, "()");
 }
 
 
@@ -4882,7 +4865,7 @@
 	       "oct(x)"),
 	UNSLOT("__hex__", nb_hex, slot_nb_hex, wrap_unaryfunc,
 	       "hex(x)"),
-	NBSLOT("__index__", nb_index, slot_nb_index, wrap_lenfunc, 
+	NBSLOT("__index__", nb_index, slot_nb_index, wrap_unaryfunc, 
 	       "x[y:z] <==> x[y.__index__():z.__index__()]"),
 	IBSLOT("__iadd__", nb_inplace_add, slot_nb_inplace_add,
 	       wrap_binaryfunc, "+"),
diff --git a/Objects/unicodeobject.c b/Objects/unicodeobject.c
index e63e629..92301c0 100644
--- a/Objects/unicodeobject.c
+++ b/Objects/unicodeobject.c
@@ -5405,6 +5405,82 @@
     return -1;
 }
 
+PyObject *PyUnicode_RichCompare(PyObject *left,
+                                PyObject *right,
+                                int op)
+{
+    int result;
+
+    result = PyUnicode_Compare(left, right);
+    if (result == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
+        goto onError;
+
+    /* Convert the return value to a Boolean */
+    switch (op) {
+    case Py_EQ:
+        result = (result == 0);
+        break;
+    case Py_NE:
+        result = (result != 0);
+        break;
+    case Py_LE:
+        result = (result <= 0);
+        break;
+    case Py_GE:
+        result = (result >= 0);
+        break;
+    case Py_LT:
+        result = (result == -1);
+        break;
+    case Py_GT:
+        result = (result == 1);
+        break;
+    }
+    return PyBool_FromLong(result);
+
+ onError:
+
+    /* Standard case
+
+       Type errors mean that PyUnicode_FromObject() could not convert
+       one of the arguments (usually the right hand side) to Unicode,
+       ie. we can't handle the comparison request. However, it is
+       possible that the other object knows a comparison method, which
+       is why we return Py_NotImplemented to give the other object a
+       chance.
+
+    */
+    if (PyErr_ExceptionMatches(PyExc_TypeError)) {
+        PyErr_Clear();
+        Py_INCREF(Py_NotImplemented);
+        return Py_NotImplemented;
+    }
+    if (op != Py_EQ && op != Py_NE)
+        return NULL;
+
+    /* Equality comparison.
+
+       This is a special case: we silence any PyExc_UnicodeDecodeError
+       and instead turn it into a PyErr_UnicodeWarning.
+
+    */
+    if (!PyErr_ExceptionMatches(PyExc_UnicodeDecodeError))
+        return NULL;
+    PyErr_Clear();
+    if (PyErr_Warn(PyExc_UnicodeWarning, 
+                   (op == Py_EQ) ? 
+                   "Unicode equal comparison "
+                   "failed to convert both arguments to Unicode - "
+                   "interpreting them as being unequal" :
+                   "Unicode unequal comparison "
+                   "failed to convert both arguments to Unicode - "
+                   "interpreting them as being unequal"
+                   ) < 0)
+        return NULL;
+    result = (op == Py_NE);
+    return PyBool_FromLong(result);
+}
+
 int PyUnicode_Contains(PyObject *container,
 		       PyObject *element)
 {
@@ -6987,9 +7063,8 @@
 static PyObject*
 unicode_subscript(PyUnicodeObject* self, PyObject* item)
 {
-    PyNumberMethods *nb = item->ob_type->tp_as_number;
-    if (nb != NULL && nb->nb_index != NULL) {
-        Py_ssize_t i = nb->nb_index(item);
+    if (PyIndex_Check(item)) {
+        Py_ssize_t i = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(item, PyExc_IndexError);
         if (i == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())
             return NULL;
         if (i < 0)
@@ -7861,7 +7936,7 @@
     0, 					/* tp_print */
     0,				 	/* tp_getattr */
     0, 					/* tp_setattr */
-    (cmpfunc) unicode_compare, 		/* tp_compare */
+    0, 					/* tp_compare */
     unicode_repr, 			/* tp_repr */
     &unicode_as_number, 		/* tp_as_number */
     &unicode_as_sequence, 		/* tp_as_sequence */
@@ -7876,7 +7951,7 @@
     unicode_doc,			/* tp_doc */
     0,					/* tp_traverse */
     0,					/* tp_clear */
-    0,					/* tp_richcompare */
+    PyUnicode_RichCompare,		/* tp_richcompare */
     0,					/* tp_weaklistoffset */
     unicode_iter,			/* tp_iter */
     0,					/* tp_iternext */