2/9 International Herald Tribune - World News, Analysis, and Global Opinions

A hard-liner gains ground in Israel February 8, 2009 at 11:13 pm Avigdor Lieberman, an unlikely candidate for to be prime minister, presents himself as a strongman eager to confront enemies. A visit to a U.S. ally, but an increasingly wary one February 8, 2009 at 11:13 pm Envoy Richard Holbrooke will face a surge of anti-American sentiment on clear display in Pakistan, mainly regarding continued remote missile strikes. Death toll in Australian fires climbs to 128 February 8, 2009 at 11:13 pm The police say that at least 700 homes have been destroyed in the country's deadliest wildfires. Vanity plates take a hit February 8, 2009 at 11:13 pm You know that the global financial crisis has hit this once booming city hard when Hong Kong's wealthy skimp on their cars. Attack at an Indian bar intensifies a clash of cultures February 8, 2009 at 11:13 pm A mob attack on women drinking in a college-town bar is laying bare the limits of freedom for young Indian women. U.S. bank bailout to rely in part on private money February 8, 2009 at 11:13 pm Obama administration officials said the new bailout plan was likely to depend on private investors to purchase the toxic assets that wiped out the capital of many banks. Obama is back on the trail to sell stimulus plan February 8, 2009 at 11:13 pm The American president is traveling to Indiana and Florida this week in an effort to build support for his economic stimulus plan. Music aplenty, and some awards too February 8, 2009 at 11:13 pm Robert Plant and Alison Krauss won album of the year — for a total of five awards — for "Raising Sand", their album of luxuriant rockabilly and country songs. Ex-leader of Iran announces candidacy February 8, 2009 at 11:13 pm Former President Mohammad Khatami said Sunday that he would run in presidential elections in June. A secularist finds sway in a hub of Shiite islam February 8, 2009 at 11:13 pm Yousef Majid al-Habboubi soundly defeated candidates from the religious parties that controlled Karbala province, gaining nearly twice as many as votes as his two closest competitors. Punching back against despair on the American Plains February 8, 2009 at 11:13 pm A single mother is among a group of American Indian boxers fighting for more than reservation life can offer. Grammy Awards: List of winners February 8, 2009 at 11:11 pm A partial list of the winners and nominees at the 2009 Grammy Awards. Holbrooke says Afghan war 'tougher than Iraq' February 8, 2009 at 6:45 pm "There is no magic formula in Afghanistan," Richard Holbrooke told an audience of European policy makers. France aims to take its full place in NATO February 8, 2009 at 3:55 pm French President Nicolas Sarkozy and NATO officials will begin an effort this month to convince Parisian lawmakers to accept plans to return France to full membership in NATO by April. Scores dead in Australian wildfires February 8, 2009 at 3:55 pm The Victoria police said that more than 100 people were killed in a series of wildfires that tore across the southeastern state on Saturday. Bailout pushed back to Tuesday February 8, 2009 at 3:55 pm With Congress wrangling over the details of the stimulus package, the Treasury Department said it would delay the rollout of its plan to assist the nation's troubled banking system. U.S. delegation underlines Afghan war difficulties February 8, 2009 at 3:55 pm The war in Afghanistan will be "much tougher than Iraq," President Barack Obama's special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan told a security conference here Sunday. Merkel tested with German minister's resignation February 8, 2009 at 3:55 pm Angela Merkel and her conservative allies refused on Sunday to accept the resignation of the economic minister, Michael Glos, after he said he wanted to leave government. Swiss vote to extend labor ties with EU February 8, 2009 at 3:55 pm Switzerland gave open-door economic ties with the European Union a vote of confidence by strongly supporting the free movement of labor in a referendum Sunday. Venezuela campaign gets rough February 8, 2009 at 3:55 pm In the final days before a crucial referendum that will determine whether President Hugo Chávez can run for re-election indefinitely, campaigning has taken on a noticeable, and sometimes ugly, edge. In Europe, moves to limit bonuses gather steam February 8, 2009 at 3:55 pm Efforts in Europe to rein in compensation in the financial sector intensified Sunday as French bankers proposed guidelines to limit bonuses and Britain announced a review of rewards. Bishop to 'look again' at Holocaust February 8, 2009 at 3:55 pm A bishop who faces a Vatican demand to recant his denial of the Holocaust said he would correct himself if satisfied by the evidence, but said that examining it "will take time." Dozens killed in latest Madagascar protest February 8, 2009 at 3:55 pm The violence was yet another deadly episode in a struggle for power between President Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina, the elected mayor of Antananarivo, the capital. Roger Cohen: Iran's China option February 8, 2009 at 3:55 pm What Iran fears most is a Gorbachev figure, somebody from within the regime who in the name of compromise with the West ends up selling out the revolution. No choice but to fight February 8, 2009 at 3:55 pm If anything, Israel's survival seems even more precarious today. Spinning the vicious circle February 8, 2009 at 3:55 pm Disproportionate military operations are basically no more then revenge. Obama rolls out his big guns on economy February 8, 2009 at 1:36 pm Faced by persistent opposition and delay, the Obama administration stepped up its urgent pleas over the weekend for quick congressional action on the economy. From boom to bread line in a Florida exurb February 8, 2009 at 8:15 am A Florida community where housing prices fell 80 percent in two years now must cope with hunger and crime. House and Senate divided over U.S. stimulus bills February 8, 2009 at 8:15 am The House version of the stimulus bill emphasizes helping states and localities avoid wide-scale cuts, while the Senate plan focuses more on tax cuts. Dozens die in Australian bushfires February 8, 2009 at 8:15 am Police say that at least 84 people have been killed and 700 homes destroyed in Australia's deadliest fire disaster. Free speech and racial slurs butt heads in Britain February 8, 2009 at 8:15 am Britons generally agree - or say they do - that being racist is bad and that making racist remarks is wrong. But there is no national consensus on what that means, exactly. Holbrooke a 'larger than life' diplomatic presence February 8, 2009 at 8:15 am No one yet knows how the often pyrotechnical style of Richard Holbrooke, Obama's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, will work in a region that is dangerously unstable. Biden hints at compromise with Russia on missile plan February 8, 2009 at 8:15 am The U.S. vice president seemed to be balancing the need to appear firm against the administration's hopes to reverse a slide in American relations with Moscow, foreign policy experts said. As the economy sinks, bartering rises again in Russia February 8, 2009 at 8:15 am Some advertisements are beginning to appear in newspapers and online, like one that sought the trade of underwear for a car and another that offered lumber for food or medicine. Police in Madagascar kill more than 20 February 8, 2009 at 8:15 am Security forces in Madagascar fired on a crowd of protesters outside one of the country's presidential palaces in the capital city on Saturday. In Japan, the social safety net fails February 8, 2009 at 8:15 am A new subclass of Japanese workers are finding themselves literally cast into the streets as the economy sours. Abbas confers with Turks on Gaza February 8, 2009 at 8:15 am Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, met Turkey's prime minister and other officials to discuss the way forward after the three-week war between Israel and Hamas. Obama is right to challenge bankers' salaries February 8, 2009 at 8:15 am With President Barack Obama eventually needing to request more federal assistance for U.S. banks, the restriction of some financial-executive compensation was politically essential. What's your new Plan B? February 8, 2009 at 8:15 am The old Plan B was a fantasy of dropping everything for a better life, like buying a Jaguar car. Now, it's the backup plan, like traveling by Greyhound bus, for when the worst comes to pass. The enduring legacy of Soviet Constructivism February 8, 2009 at 8:15 am Constructivism was an important early influence on the European modern movement, and has been an enduring inspiration to Western artists and designers. Technology pits democracy against itself February 8, 2009 at 8:15 am Eightmaps.com is the latest example of how information collected through disclosure laws intended to increase the transparency of the political process, magnified by the powerful lens of the Web, may be undermining the same democratic values the rules were to promote. Karzai finding less favor with U.S. February 8, 2009 at 8:13 am A Bush White House favorite, Hamid Karzai now finds himself not so favored by Washington, and not by his own country. Not everyone cheers as Wi-Fi takes to the skies February 8, 2009 at 5:07 am Wireless Internet service on airlines may become a new source of tension between passengers on packed planes. Pay limits needed in U.S. bailout February 8, 2009 at 4:36 am Some ideas for how to hold taxpayer-supported executives accountable for their actions, both past and future. Obama urges U.S. lawmakers to pass bill February 8, 2009 at 2:17 am President Barack Obama urged Congress on Saturday to s resolve its differences in the sweeping economic recovery measure and bring fiscal relief. When nest eggs suddenly slip away February 8, 2009 at 2:06 am Many American baby boomers are having to cope with having their financial cushion yanked away in an instant, particularly, but not just those who had investments with Bernard Madoff.