World
United States, Taliban to start talks in Qatar office
By The Associated PressKABUL, Afghanistan — In a major breakthrough, the Taliban and the U.S. announced Tuesday that they will hold talks on finding a political solution to ending nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan as the Islamic militant movement opened an …
New president shifts Iran’s tack, hews to nuclear goals
By USA TodayWestern hopes that Iran’s newly elected president signals a moderate shift by the mullahs who run the country may be misplaced, given Hassan Rowhani’s support of the leadership’s nuclear program, some experts said. Rowhani’s pledge to “build trust” may open …
U.S., Cuba to resume talks on direct mail, stopped in ’63
By The Associated PressWASHINGTON — The United States and Cuba will resume talks this week on restarting direct mail service despite a deadlock between Washington and Havana over detainees that has largely stalled most rapprochement efforts, a U.S. official said on Monday. U.S. …
Montreal’s anti-corruption mayor arrested on fraud allegations
By The Associated PressMONTREAL — Montreal’s interim mayor, who vowed to clean up the corruption scandals rocking the city, faces fraud charges himself. Michael Applebaum faces 14 charges, including defrauding the government and corruption in municipal affairs. He was arrested at home on …
Chinese supercomputer declared world’s fastest
By The Associated PressBEIJING — China has built the world’s fastest supercomputer, almost twice as fast as the previous U.S. holder and underlining the country’s rise as a science and technology powerhouse. The semiannual TOP500 official listing of the world’s fastest supercomputers released …
Syria divides G8 summit
By The Associated PressENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland — Deep differences over Syria’s fierce civil war clouded a summit of world leaders on Monday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin defiantly rejecting calls from the United States, Britain and France to halt his political and military …
Report: U.S. long ready to aid rebels
By McClatchy NewspapersAMMAN, Jordan — The U.S. military began laying the groundwork to arm and support Syrian rebels more than a week ago, using a military exercise currently being held in Jordan as a cover for bringing in personnel and equipment. Despite …
Turkey threatens to use military against demonstrators
By The Washington PostISTANBUL — Turkey’s leaders are prepared to use the armed forces against protesters if they consider it necessary, the deputy prime minister said on Monday, raising the threat of military intervention for the first time during the current unrest, in …
Egyptians no longer to tolerate ‘cultural desecration’
By Betsy HielDAHSHOUR, Egypt — Tour guide Ahmed Shihab cried when he saw how thieves ravaged an ancient burial site here that includes a pyramid dating back …
Experts heartbroken by raiding in Egyptian area near Nile
By Betsy HielEL-HIBEH, Egypt — From 1070 B.C. until A.D. 600, this was a provincial town and cemetery. Today, from its ancient mud-brick walls, you can watch …
Chinese supercomputer named as world’s fastest
By The Associated PressBEIJING — China has built the world’s fastest supercomputer, almost twice as fast as the previous U.S. holder and underlining the country’s rise as a science and technology powerhouse. The semiannual TOP500 official listing of the world’s fastest supercomputers released …
North Korea changes tack and tells U.S.: Let’s talk
By The Associated PressPYONGYANG, North Korea — After months of threatening to wage a nuclear war, North Korea did an about-face Sunday and issued a surprise proposal to the United States, its No. 1 enemy: Let’s talk. But the invitation from North Korea’s …
Series of attacks kills 51 in Iraq
By The Associated PressBAGHDAD — A blistering string of apparently coordinated bombings and a shooting across Iraq killed at least 51 and wounded dozens on Sunday, spreading fear throughout the country in a wave of violence that is raising the prospect of a …
Czech prime minister resigns amid scandal
By ReutersPRAGUE — Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas was forced to quit on Sunday by a graft and spying scandal involving his closest aide, pitching the European Union member state into a period of uncertainty over who will form the next …
North Korea changes tack, tells U.S.: Let’s talk
By The Associated PressPYONGYANG — After months of threatening to wage a nuclear war, North Korea did an about-face on Sunday and issued a surprise proposal to the United States, its No. 1 enemy: Let’s talk. But the invitation from North Korea’s National …
As G8 opens, Obama, Putin to seek common ground on Syria
By ReutersLOUGH ERNE, Northern Ireland — President Obama will seek the help on Monday of Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Syria’s most powerful ally, to bring Bashar al-Assad to the negotiating table and end a two-year civil war. At their first private face-to-face …
Erdogan rally, protests split Turkey
By The Associated PressISTANBUL — Riot police firing tear gas and water cannons repelled thousands of anti-government protesters attempting to converge on Istanbul’s central Taksim Square on Sunday, unbowed even as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended his crackdown at a rally of …
New diet craze offers 5 days of feasting for 2 days of famine
By ReutersLONDON — Forget abandoning carbohydrates or detoxing. The dieting craze sweeping Britain and taking off in the United States lets people eat whatever they like e_SEmD but only five days a week. “The Fast Diet,” also known as the 5:2 …
Unchecked looting guts Egypt’s heritage, with one ancient site ‘70 percent gone’
By Betsy HielABU SIR AL MALAQ, Egypt — A wispy-haired mummy’s head, bleached skulls, and arm and leg bones are piled outside looted tombs. A mummified hand …
We only sell real thing, Egyptian grave-robbing family boasts
By Betsy HielLooting is an open secret in the village of Abu Sir al Malaq. Policemen quietly debate the depth of some emptied tombs. Villagers driving on …
