2/11 International Herald Tribune - World News, Analysis, and Global Opinions

For some Sri Lankans, dissonance in M.I.A.'s music February 10, 2009 at 9:50 pm Critics say the rapper Maya Arulpragasam, known as M.I.A., is an apologist for the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels fighting in the country's long-running civil war. Battle is close in Israeli election February 10, 2009 at 9:50 pm The close race all but guaranteed that political jockeying to assemble a governing coalition would be intense. In new procedure, artificial arm listens to brain February 10, 2009 at 9:50 pm An advancement in the field of prosthetics allows for people with artificial arms to move them more automatically than ever. Iran offers 'dialogue with respect' with U.S. February 10, 2009 at 9:50 pm President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran made a conditional offer of dialogue to the Obama administration. U.S. news show takes on war crime, and attracts criticism February 10, 2009 at 9:50 pm Authorities are worried that a show by NBC news that probes human rights abuses might undercut official investigations. U.S. bailout plan: $2.5 trillion and a strong hand February 10, 2009 at 9:50 pm The White House plan to rescue the financial system is far bigger than predicted and envisions a far greater government role in markets and banks than at any time since the 1930s. For Geithner's debut, a lukewarm reception February 10, 2009 at 9:50 pm From his speech delivery style to the markets' reception of his announcements, the Treasury secretary did not receive great reviews. Australia fire toll could exceed 200 February 10, 2009 at 9:50 pm Investigators warned it will take months to identify the bodies and determine whether arsonists were responsible for the worst blaze which killed scores of people. Kindle runs into roadblocks outside of U.S. February 10, 2009 at 9:50 pm Analysts say mobile operators in Europe, which are eager to generate new revenue from sales of "content" like books, may be holding out for a larger share of the proceeds of book sales than Amazon wants to give them. For Russia's migrants, economic despair douses flickers of hope February 10, 2009 at 9:50 pm Russia's millions of migrants are facing increasing hardship as the country enters its worst economic decline since the 1998 ruble collapse. U.S. stocks slide as new bailout disappoints February 10, 2009 at 7:35 pm Stock prices tumbled after Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner unveiled the new proposal. Is Tehran ready to talk? February 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm When President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran took up President Barack Obama's invitation for direct talks, he seemed to be signaling the start of a war-or-peace drama that may define the Obama administration's first engagement with the rest of the world. Iraq shakes off the U.S. February 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm Speaking at a news conference with France's president, Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki signaled Tuesday a desire to gradually diminish American power over Iraqi politics and increase ties to other Western powers. CCTV apologizes for fireworks that burned Beijing hotel February 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm The apology was a rare gesture of contrition by the powerful state-owned network. Close race in Israel as rivals woo voters February 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm Israelis voted Tuesday in national elections, with public opinion polls predicting a tight race. Geithner sets out sweeping overhaul of bank bailout February 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm The U.S. Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, outlined a major expansion of the government program to rescue banks. British bankers face the sharp end of Parliament February 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm In a hearing Tuesday, executives of two failed banks were grilled over their business practices. The sharp admonitions showed the rising global backlash against bankers and bonuses. Slump in industrial production points to steep contraction in Europe February 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm Industrial output in Europe slumped in December, suggesting that economic growth weakened by a record amount in the fourth quarter. GM cuts 10,000 salaried jobs and reduces pay for those remaining February 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm The announcement comes a week before General Motors must submit a restructuring plan to the government to keep billions of dollars in loans. UBS reports loss and cuts additional jobs February 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm UBS, the Swiss banking giant that sought help from the nation's central bank last year, said Tuesday that it lost 8.1 billion Swiss francs in the fourth quarter as it continued to write down the value of some debt assets and as wealth management clients withdrew funds. Death toll from Australian wildfires expected to rise February 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm The death toll from blazes that flattened town and houses could exceed 200 people. Investigators said it would take months to identify the bodies and determine whether arsonists were responsible. Rodriguez admits past substance use February 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm Alex Rodriguez's confession casts doubt on the achievements of the New York Yankees player widely considered to be the best in baseball. S.O.S. - Save Our Seas February 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm Could the oceans become the place where humanity finally gets its act together, or will we become the victim of many environmental threats coming together at the same time? How the U.S. lost its Kyrgyzstan air base February 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm Moscow outbid the U.S. for Kyrgyzstan's services. But this was only a short-term blow. H.D.S. Greenway: The rise of extremism in London February 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm Officials are watching the fallout of Israel's Gaza war on Europe's Muslim populations. EU labors to prevent a race to subsidize banks February 10, 2009 at 1:08 pm European banks that receive government help to get toxic assets off their balance sheets may have to report each week to national authorities on the value of their portfolios under plans being discussed by the European Union. War court asked to examine Gaza war February 10, 2009 at 1:01 pm The Palestinian Authority is pressing the International Criminal Court in The Hague to investigate potential war crimes committed by Israeli commanders during the recent war in Gaza. Senate passes stimulus plan February 10, 2009 at 12:13 pm After a 61-to-37 vote that was largely along party lines, negotiations with the House over the $838 billion bill will begin. A push for transparency in U.S. bank bailout February 10, 2009 at 11:03 am The Obama administration has pledged to make the bailout more transparent, indicating in recent days that it intends to ask banks to report publicly how they are spending funds from the bailout, known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Election results spur threats and infighting in Iraq February 10, 2009 at 8:49 am The post-election curfew has been lifted and the threats of violence have been muted. But some winning candidates are still fearful of returning to their home regions. Sarkozy makes unannounced visit to Baghdad February 10, 2009 at 7:35 am President Nicolas Sarkozy of France made an unannounced visit to Baghdad, described by French officials as the first to Iraq by the leader of a nation that refused to join the invasion in 2003. Iran offers dialogue with U.S. February 10, 2009 at 7:35 am President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran made a conditional offer of dialogue to the Obama administration, saying Tehran was ready for "talks based on mutual respect and in a fair atmosphere." UBS announces $6.9 billion quarterly loss February 10, 2009 at 7:35 am UBS said Tuesday it lost 8.1 billion Swiss francs in the fourth quarter as it continued to write down the value of some debt assets and wealth management clients withdrew funds. The Taliban in Pakistan are raising U.S. fears February 10, 2009 at 7:35 am The increasing violence in southern Afghanistan suggests a rising flow of arms, fighters and money from beyond Pakistan's tribal areas. Obama warns of escalating crisis if stimulus plan is not approved February 10, 2009 at 7:35 am President Obama took his case for his $800 billion economic recovery package to the American people as the Senate cleared the way for passage of the bill. Uncertainty over bailout hurts markets in Europe February 10, 2009 at 7:35 am European shares slipped, while the euro fell on a report, later denied, that Russian banks might renegotiate foreign debt. Death toll from Australian wildfires expected to rise February 10, 2009 at 7:35 am The death toll from blazes that flattened town and houses could exceed 200 people. Investigators said it would take months to identify the bodies and determine whether arsonists were responsible. State TV company apologizes for Beijing fire February 10, 2009 at 7:35 am China's state-run television broadcaster apologized Tuesday for an unlicensed fireworks display that sparked a blaze that destroyed a luxury hotel in the network's headquarters complex in downtown Beijing. Israelis vote in volatile contest for new leader February 10, 2009 at 7:35 am Israeli voters went to the polls Tuesday as public opinion surveys showed Benjamin Netanyahu's conservative Likud Party with a slight lead. Papal nod to renegades is a blow to modern Catholics February 10, 2009 at 7:35 am At a time when the world is looking forward to a new spirit of reconciliation, the Roman Catholic Church has been caught looking backward. For Catholics, a revived tradition reopens a door to heaven February 10, 2009 at 7:03 am In recent months, dioceses around the world have been offering Catholics a spiritual benefit that fell out of favor decades ago – the indulgence, a sort of amnesty from punishment in the afterlife. Obama takes on Republican resistance to stimulus plan February 10, 2009 at 6:54 am The president is sounding like a candidate back on the trail, railing against the status quo and dismissing critics as apostles of a failed philosophy. 2 NATO soldiers killed in Afghan bomb attack February 10, 2009 at 3:50 am A bomb struck a NATO convoy in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing two soldiers and wounding one, a spokesman for the alliance said. Stocks in Asia pare gains on doubts about 'bad bank' plan February 9, 2009 at 10:43 pm Asian stocks pulled back from higher levels on Tuesday as doubts grew about U.S. plans to create a bank to soak up toxic debts. Retiring from GM, Lutz holds little back February 9, 2009 at 10:43 pm Robert Lutz, General Motors' vice chairman, said that for all of GM's efforts to streamline operations, the company was unlikely to ever win over critics in Congress. Geithner said to have prevailed on U.S. bailout February 9, 2009 at 9:29 pm The plan to bail out the nation's banks was fashioned after a debate that pitted the Treasury secretary against some of the president's top political hands. Pakistan is complicit in killing by Taliban, a Polish official says February 9, 2009 at 9:20 pm Polish officials charged that elements within the Pakistani government shared blame for the killing of a kidnapped Polish engineer by Taliban militants. After Iraq elections, the next big test is acceptance February 9, 2009 at 8:12 pm Iraq's provincial elections passed with little mayhem, but in Anbar, and other volatile provinces, the results have riled those vying for power. Northern Iraq suicide blast kills 4 American soldiers February 9, 2009 at 8:05 pm The incident marked the deadliest single loss for U.S. forces in Iraq in nine months. Amazon in big push for new Kindle model February 9, 2009 at 7:35 pm Though the upgrades to the electronic book reader were only incremental, Amazon defined some ambitious goals for the device.