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...

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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...

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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....

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India Ink: The Truthers of Pakistan

“As the security situation in Pakistan continues to deteriorate, trading conspiracy theories has become the new national pastime,” Huma Yusuf wrote in the Latitude Blog, “nothing is more popular on the airwaves, at dinner parties or around tea stalls than to speculate, especially about American activities on Pakistani soil.”These rumors include speculations about the role of Indian spy agency R.A.W.,...

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Asian shares capped by China PMI slip, U.S. budget worry

TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares were capped on Friday, with sentiment dented by lackluster manufacturing data from China and worries over the economic fallout from Italy's political confusion as well as possible U.S. spending cuts. European markets are seen narrowly mixed, with financial spreadbetters predicting London's FTSE 100 <.ftse>, Paris's CAC-40 <.fchi> and Frankfurt's...

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Japan to Begin Restarting Idled Nuclear Plants

Junji Kurokawa/Associated PressJapan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers his policy speech at the lower house of parliament in Tokyo. TOKYO -- Japan will begin restarting its idled nuclear plants once new safety guidelines are in place later this year, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday, moving to ensure a stable energy supply despite public safety concerns after the Fukushima disaster. ...

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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...

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India Ink: Deadly Fire Breaks Out at Market in Kolkata

KOLKATA, India (AP) — A fire broke out at an illegal six-story plastics market in the Indian city of Kolkata early Wednesday morning, killing at least 19 people, police said. The blaze, which started before 4 a.m., was likely caused by a short circuit, said West Bengal fire minister Javed Khan. The fire was under control by mid-morning, he said, but toxic gases being released by the blaze...

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Bobby Brown Sentenced to 55 Days in Jail in Drunk Driving Case

02/26/2013 at 09:30 PM EST Bobby Brown has been sentenced to 55 days in jail and four years probation in his most recent drunk driving arrest.Brown, 44, was pulled over in Studio City, Calif., on Oct. 24 for driving erratically and was arrested when the officer detected "a strong scent of alcohol." He was charged...

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Wall Street rebounds on Bernanke comments, data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rebounded from their worst decline since November on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke defended the Fed's bond-buying stimulus and sales of new homes hit a 4 1/2-year high. The S&P 500 had climbed 6 percent for the year and came within reach of all-time highs before the minutes from the Fed's January meeting were released last Wednesday....

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