2/12 International Herald Tribune - World News, Analysis, and Global Opinions

Court approves warrant for Sudan's president Bashir February 11, 2009 at 7:36 pm The International Criminal Court brushed aside requests to allow more time for peace talks in the Darfur region. Debris spews into space in collision of satellites February 11, 2009 at 7:36 pm The debris from the collision between the two satellites could pose a threat to the space station. Taliban attackers storm Kabul offices February 11, 2009 at 7:36 pm The attacks killed at least 20 on the eve of a visit by President Barack Obama's envoy, showing the ease with which the Taliban can breach the capital. U.S. military faulted on weapons tracking February 11, 2009 at 7:36 pm Tens of thousands of weapons shipped to Afghan security forces were not properly tracked by the U.S. U.S. bank chiefs face grilling in Congress over bailout funds February 11, 2009 at 7:36 pm Eight of the top bankers in the United States faced off against critical lawmakers in Congress on Wednesday, who questioned their use of taxpayer money and cited growing public anger. Chinese firm in talks to raise its stake in Rio Tinto February 11, 2009 at 7:36 pm Aluminum Corp. is in advanced discussions about increasing its investment in the mining company for about $20 billion to strengthen its grip on the supply of raw materials. Ireland to take control of banks, while plans for Fortis are rebuffed February 11, 2009 at 7:36 pm Ireland approved a bailout for its two largest lenders, while shareholders in Fortis, once the biggest bank in Belgium, derailed state-led plans to sell the nationalized business. Texas ranchers and farmers struggle in drought February 11, 2009 at 7:36 pm Farmers have found themselves playing a guessing game amid the worst drought in nearly 100 years. Questions grow for fertility clinics in the U.S. February 11, 2009 at 7:36 pm To the U.S. government and fertility industry, large multiple births have begun to look like problems. British regulator quits after accusations of firing a whistleblower February 11, 2009 at 7:36 pm A whistleblower warned in 2004 that HBOS, the fast-expanding mortgage lender both men then worked for, was accumulating levels of debt that put it at unacceptably high risk. Executives getting shy about paying for business lunches February 11, 2009 at 7:36 pm Since the economic downturn, the delicate social rituals of the bull market era, when executives tried to outdo one another in expense-account one-upmanship, have been upended. Gates orders review of policy on soldiers' coffins February 11, 2009 at 7:36 pm Defense Secretary Robert Gates suggested that he was open to letting the media photograph the coffins of fallen soldiers. Rival parties in Israel each claim the right to lead February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm The close race all but guaranteed that political jockeying to assemble a governing coalition would be intense. At least 20 killed in attacks in Kabul February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm The attacks displayed the apparent ease with which Taliban insurgents can breach the defenses of the heavily-fortified capital. New U.S. approach to China not just economic February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm The Obama administration plans to realign the United States' relationship with China by widening the focus beyond the economic concerns of the Bush years, according to senior administration officials. Mugabe rival becomes prime minister February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm The swearing-in brought an inconclusive and ambiguous end to almost 11 months of confrontation and wrangling in Zimbabwe. Agreement in U.S. Congress appears near on stimulus February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm The pace of the talks in Congress suggested that the final legislation could be on President Barack Obama's desk by the end of the week. U.S. is looking to the 'vultures' to rescue banks February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm Howard Marks is the sort of financier who Washington hopes will help fix the nation's tumbledown banks. Trouble is, he is not quite sure he wants the job. Credit Suisse is upbeat despite loss February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm Credit Suisse posted an annual loss of $5.2 billion, its worst ever, but expressed cautious optimism for 2009. Russia may allow shipment of Afghan-bound U.S. arms February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm Russia will consider allowing the United States and NATO to ship weaponry across its territory to Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday. Lawmakers rush to get stimulus in final shape February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm Congressional leaders moved quickly into intense negotiations with the Obama administration after the Senate voted to approve its version of an $838 billion economic stimulus plan, and officials said the talks were on a fast track to finish the legislation perhaps by the end of this week. Australian wildfire victims allowed back to devastated homes February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm Residents of towns scorched off the map by Australia's worst-ever wildfires returned to their homes on Wednesday for the first time and found scenes of utter devastation. New demands overwhelm UN peacekeeping missions February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm More than a decade after UN forces failed to prevent massacres in Rwanda and Srebrenica, what many consider the organization's flagship mission appears to be slouching toward crisis once again, diplomats and other experts say. Lampooning leaders wasn't always so easy February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm Americans poke fun with unworried abandon even when soldiers are dying in faraway wars, protected as we are by the First Amendment and the enormous prestige that it has acquired over the years. An international star, M.I.A. not so popular at home February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm M.I.A. remains virtually unknown in Sri Lanka, and some who do know her work say she is an apologist for the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels fighting in the country's long-running civil war. At the power lunch, the check is kryptonite February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm Since the economic downturn, many business meals in the United States are ending with a cold, hard calculation of who is worth paying for and who isn't. Better relations with Iran might mean trouble with Israel for U.S. February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promised Tuesday that if the United States was truly serious about changing the countries' relations, then Iran was ready to respond in kind. Roger Cohen: Iran's inner America February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm 'Death to America' has become background noise, interesting as piped elevator music. Thomas L. Friedman: The open-door bailout February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm The centerpiece of the U.S. stimulus should be to stimulate everything that attracts smart people to America's shores. The care and feeding of former occupants February 11, 2009 at 12:07 pm Americans assume it is terrible to have once been a big enchilada and now be a mere taquito. Au contraire. 2 Republicans jump fence to support stimulus February 11, 2009 at 11:53 am Much to the dismay of their fellow Republicans and to loud applause from Democrats, the two senators from Maine have put President Barack Obama on the precipice of winning passage of an $800-billion-plus economic recovery plan. Russia open to U.S. arms shipments accross its territory February 11, 2009 at 11:13 am Russia is open to the possibility of letting the United States and NATO ship weaponry across its territory to Afghanistan if the broader relationship between Moscow and the West improves, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday. Fortis shareholders vote down BNP deal February 11, 2009 at 10:32 am Shareholders of the bailed-out bank Fortis have rejected the sale of the business to the French bank BNP Paribas. Revised U.S. bank bailout plan gets lukewarm reception February 11, 2009 at 8:33 am For Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner as much as for the troubled government program to bail out the financial system, Tuesday amounted to a do-over. 1 French soldier killed, 1 wounded in Afghanistan February 11, 2009 at 6:50 am A French officer was killed and another soldier wounded Wednesday in a clash in Afghanistan, the French president's office and the Defense Ministry said. UN chief says Israel is blocking most Gaza aid February 10, 2009 at 11:38 pm Ban Ki-moon repeated Tuesday his demand that Israel allow significantly more humanitarian aid into the beleaguered Gaza Strip.