2/26 International Herald Tribune - World News, Analysis, and Global Opinions

Looking for peace in a loaded term February 26, 2009 at 3:29 am <strong>DEFINING TERROR</strong> A battle over the term terrorist has become a proxy for the larger issues that divide Washington and the Arab public. Ruins in Gaza City, pictured, are a reminder of the wide perception gap of the terrorism label. RBS posts biggest loss in British corporate history February 26, 2009 at 3:29 am Reporting the biggest annual loss in U.K. history, the Royal Bank of Scotland became the first bank to sign up to the British government's asset protection plan. UBS names new chief executive February 26, 2009 at 3:29 am UBS announced that its chief executive, Marcel Rohner, had resigned and named a former Credit Suisse executive, Oswald Grübel, to succeed him. Mutiny spreads across Bangladesh February 26, 2009 at 3:29 am A mutiny by paramilitary guards spread from the heart of Dhaka to towns across Bangladesh as the prime minister pleaded for citizens to remain calm. Son's death recasts image of British leader February 26, 2009 at 3:29 am The life and death of David Cameron's young disabled son have helped bridge a social gap between him and Britain. Study zeroes in on calories, not diet, for loss February 26, 2009 at 3:29 am The largest-ever controlled study of weight-loss methods found that it does not matter if dieters count carbohydrates or fat, as long as they are counting something. U.S. government offers details of bank stress test February 26, 2009 at 3:29 am American banks that fail the test would have to provide securities that could be converted to common stock in order to get additional government funds. Fall in oil prices threatens plans to rebuild Iraq February 26, 2009 at 3:29 am The financial crisis will make it harder for Iraq to pay for services and could affect U.S. plans for troop withdrawal. U.S. State Department rights report give Asia mixed reviews February 26, 2009 at 3:29 am Countries such as Myanmar, North Korea, Vietnam and Cambodia were sharply criticized, while Indonesia and Thailand received generally high marks. Tibetans greet New Year in solemn opposition February 26, 2009 at 3:29 am Tibetans are marking the normally joyous Losar holiday with an informal boycott, holding vigils instead of celebrating. U.S. is a vast arms bazaar for Mexican cartels February 26, 2009 at 3:29 am The case against the owner of a Phoenix gun store offers a glimpse of how weapons delivered to American gun dealers are being moved into Mexico and wielded in horrific crimes. Romania shrugs off reminder of its past February 26, 2009 at 3:29 am The son of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu has won a lawsuit to get back artworks that belonged to the family before Romania's revolution in 1989. My monkey, my self February 26, 2009 at 3:29 am Sharing a home with a primate involves a much greater commitment than a cat or dog — or it should — because primates are social animals that cannot be left alone for long, and that live for decades. U.S. moves against top Mexican drug cartel February 25, 2009 at 9:27 pm Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. called Mexican drug trafficking organizations "a national security threat." Obama's Iraq plan has December elections as turning point for pullout February 25, 2009 at 9:19 pm The plan would maintain relatively high troop levels through Iraq's parliamentary elections, to be held in December, before beginning to meet the August 2010 target for removing combat forces. Lawmaker leaving Iraq is detained, then freed February 25, 2009 at 9:17 pm Mohammad al-Daini has been stripped of his immunity in connection with accusations of killings, kidnappings and a bombing of Parliament. Obama to seek higher tax on affluent to pay for health care February 25, 2009 at 5:29 pm The tax proposal introduces a politically volatile edge to the congressional debate over Obama's domestic priorities. New fusion cuisine takes Los Angeles by storm February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm The food at Kogi Korean BBQ-to-Go, the taco vendor that has overtaken Los Angeles, does not fit into any known culinary category. It is an epitome of fusion cooking. Government gives details of plan to support U.S. banks February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm Nineteen major banks worth more than $100 billion will face a "stress test" to judge whether they have enough capital to survive another drop in housing prices or an increase in unemployment rates. Obama's offer: 'Bold action and big ideas' February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm Pretense and pride fell by the wayside as the president reported to the nation that things had skidded wildly off course. Expanding broadband to bail out economies February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm As policy makers haggle over how to revive ailing economies, one strategy has found widespread support from Washington and Berlin to Sydney and Seoul: Investing in high-speed Internet access. Tibetans mark their new year with a boycott February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm Monks, nomads and merchants refrained from holding festivities and instead used the occasion of Losar to memorialize Tibetans who suffered in the government crackdown last year. At least 9 dead in Amsterdam jet crash February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm Another 50 are injured, some critically, as a Turkish Airlines plane slams into the ground about 200 meters from Schiphol Airport's perimeter fence. EU proposes tighter banking regulation February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm Confronted by a deepening economic downturn, the European Commission proposed ways to strengthen banking supervision and deal with toxic assets. Markets can't find traction to hold gains February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm All three major U.S. exchanges had worked their way into positive territory but could not hold their gains in the final minutes. Pentagon spends more to counter roadside bombs in Afghanistan February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm More than 175 U.S. and allied troops were killed by roadside bombs in Afghanistan last year, more than twice as many as in the year before. Estonian convicted of spying for Russia February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm An Estonian court on Wednesday convicted a former top security official of treason for passing domestic and NATO secrets to Russia, the country's biggest espionage scandal since the Cold War. U.S. judge sentences arms dealer to 30 years in prison February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm U.S. authorities say Monzer al-Kassar, a native of Syria, who was extradited to the United States from Spain, had been involved in arms trafficking since the early 1970s. Iran starts testing at nuclear power plant February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm Iran started tests Wednesday at its first nuclear power plant in the southern port of Bushehr, despite intense international pressure over its nuclear program. German bakers angered by EU 'taste police' February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm European Union officials have offered to break bread with German bakers in an attempt to defuse the latest uproar over proposed regulations handed down from Brussels. Google wants to join European case against Microsoft February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm Accusing Microsoft of unfairly sidelining competitors, Google has said that it would apply to join a European Union antitrust case against Microsoft over the company's Web browser. In innovation, U.S. said to be losing competitive edge, as Singapore takes lead February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm The competitive edge of the U.S. economy has eroded sharply over the past decade, according to a new study by a nonpartisan research group. Letter from America: Ignoring trains puts U.S. on the wrong track February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm When it comes to rail transport, the United States hasn't made much palpable improvement, at least not compared to countries in Europe and Asia, Richard Bernstein writes. Enthusiasm for Art Deco drives €59.14 million sale February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm The auction of the Yves Saint Laurent-Pierre Bergé sale continued unabated as Christie's sold Old Master paintings and drawings, German silver gilt of the 16th and 17thcenturies and Art Deco furniture and objets d'art tha talone added up to €59.14 million, or $75.70 million. A Brazilian art: Bringing a dead ball to lethal life February 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm In a field where art is movement, and where pace is paramount, it takes someone special to score out of stillness. Juninho Pernambucano is special, even by the standards of the great Brazilians. EU worried by sharp drop in British pound February 25, 2009 at 1:53 pm European Union officials are concerned that the pound's slide to a record low against the euro could destabilize the British economy. EU looks to coordinate aid to carmakers February 25, 2009 at 1:03 pm Countries throughout Europe have offered billions of euros to support carmakers as sales dry up, but so far there has been little coordination on how the funds should be distributed. Democrats vow swift passage of Obama's ambitious agenda February 25, 2009 at 12:30 pm Senate Democratic leaders pledged to move quickly to enact the ambitious policy agenda outlined by President Barack Obama in his speech before Congress