IHT Rendezvous: Muslims Seek Dialogue With Next Pope

LONDON — As the Catholic Church’s cardinal electors gather at the Vatican to choose a new pope, Muslim leaders are urging a revival of the often troubled dialogue between the two faiths.During the papacy of Benedict XVI, relations between the world’s two largest religions were overshadowed by remarks he made in 2006 that were widely condemned as an attack on Islam.In a speech at Regensburg University...

Read More..

David Bowie Makes Triumphant Comeback with New Album: PEOPLE's Critic

By Chuck Arnold 03/01/2013 at 08:40 PM EST Ten years after his last album, David Bowie is back – and so is his swagger.Forget the moody musings of "Where Are We Now?" – the reflective comeback single that he dropped, seemingly out of nowhere, on his birthday last month (Jan. 8). The Next Day – which, though...

Read More..

WHO: Slight cancer risk after Japan nuke accident

LONDON (AP) — Two years after Japan's nuclear plant disaster, an international team of experts said Thursday that residents of areas hit by the highest doses of radiation face an increased cancer risk so small it probably won't be detectable.In fact, experts calculated that increase at about 1 extra percentage point added to a Japanese infant's lifetime cancer risk."The additional risk is quite small...

Read More..

With record highs in sight, stocks face roadblocks

NEW YORK (Reuters) - If Wall Street needs to climb a wall of worry, it will have plenty of opportunity next week. Major U.S. stock indexes will make another attempt at reaching all-time records, but the fitful pace that has dominated trading is likely to continue. Next Friday's unemployment report and the hefty spending cuts that look like they about to take effect will be at the forefront....

Read More..

Death Toll From Bangladesh Unrest Hits 42

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Violent clashes between protesters and security forces erupted across Bangladesh on Thursday, leaving at least 44 people dead, after a special war crimes tribunal handed down a death sentence to an Islamic leader for crimes against humanity committed 42 years ago, during the country’s 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. The verdict against Delawar Hossain Sayedee,...

Read More..

American Idol Reveals Its Top 20

By Steve Helling 02/28/2013 at 11:20 PM EST From left: Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, Ryan Seacrest, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban Michael Becker/FOX American Idol has been on the air for 12 seasons. From the early days of Kelly Clarkson, the judges continually hounded...

Read More..

WHO: Slight cancer risk after Japan nuke accident

LONDON (AP) — Two years after Japan's nuclear plant disaster, an international team of experts said Thursday that residents of areas hit by the highest doses of radiation face an increased cancer risk so small it probably won't be detectable.In fact, experts calculated that increase at about 1 extra percentage point added to a Japanese infant's lifetime cancer risk."The additional risk is quite small...

Read More..

India Ink: Big Hikes in Rural, Social Spending in India’s New Budget

Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram presented the Union budget in Parliament on Thursday morning. When Mr. Chidambaram walked into the Lok Sabha, or lower house of Parliament, carrying the ceremonial budget briefcase, it was eighth time he had presented the country’s annual budget, and the 82nd national budget presented in India.As the last Union Budget to be presented before the national elections...

Read More..

American Idol Reveals Its Top 10 Women

TV Watch American Idol 02/27/2013 at 10:45 PM EST From left: Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, Ryan Seacrest, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban Michael Becker/FOX American Idol's's list of the top 10 women is complete!After the first week of sudden-death rounds, the judges gave...

Read More..

Medicare paid $5.1B for poor nursing home care

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Medicare paid billions in taxpayer dollars to nursing homes nationwide that were not meeting basic requirements to look after their residents, government investigators have found.The report, released Thursday by the Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general, said Medicare paid about $5.1 billion for patients to stay in skilled nursing facilities that failed to...

Read More..