NEWS As the European Central Bank threatened to shut off crucial financing for banks in Cyprus without a rapid accord on an international bailout, members of Parliament put off a vote on Thursday on yet another revamped formula. The vote was rescheduled for Friday. Liz Alderman reports from Nicosia, Cyprus.
The jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan on Thursday called for a cease-fire and ordered all his fighters off Turkish soil, in a landmark moment for a newly energized effort to end three decades of armed conflict with the Turkish government. Sebnem Arsu reports from Diyarbakir, Turkey.
A large explosion killed at least 42 people inside a central Damascus mosque on Thursday, including the top Sunni cleric in Syria, one of the major remaining Sunni supporters of President Bashar al-Assad’s embattled government in the civil war. Hania Mourtada reports from Beirut, and Rick Gladstone from New York.
At least five people have been killed in fighting between Buddhists and Muslims in central Myanmar, residents and a hospital official said Thursday, in another sign of a resurgence of communal violence that is testing the country’s fledgling democracy. Thomas Fuller reports from Bangkok, and Wai Moe from Yangon, Myanmar.
President Obama, appealing to very disparate audiences to solve one of the world’s thorniest problems, moved closer on Thursday to the Israeli government’s position on resuming long-stalled peace talks with the Palestinians, even as he passionately implored young Israelis to get ahead of their own leaders in the push for peace. Mark Landler reports from Jerusalem.
A Jesuit priest whose kidnapping by the Argentine military raised questions about the actions of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, during that country’s so-called Dirty War said in a statement this week that Father Bergoglio did not initiate the detention by reporting him and another priest to the authorities. William Neuman reports from Caracas, Venezuela.
So severe are China’s environmental woes, especially the noxious air, that top government officials have been forced to openly acknowledge them. What the leaders neglect to say is that infighting within the government bureaucracy is one of the biggest obstacles to enacting stronger environmental policies. Edward Wong reports from Beijing.
European Union regulators are examining the contracts Apple strikes with cellphone carriers that sell its iPhone for possible antitrust violations after several carriers complained that the deals throttled competition. Brian X. Chen, Nick Wingfield and Kevin J. O’Brien report.
In one year, 18 textile factories in Bangladesh saved 1.2 million cubic meters of water, 16 million cubic meters of gas and 10 million kilowatt hours of electricity. The factories upgraded equipment as part of a program backed by the aid agencies of Britain and Norway and the International Finance Corp., the World Bank unit serving the private sector. Amy Yee reports from Dhaka, Bangladesh.
ARTS A world congress of Art Deco experts are uncovering gems in Havana ripe for restoration. Victoria Burnett reports from Havana.
SPORTS A day after the U.S. Open tennis tournament announced it was increasing its payouts, an official with the French Open said it is prepared to increase its prize money “spectacularly†over the next four seasons. Christopher Clarey reports.
Now that the dust has settled on another Six Nations rugby championship, discussion about who will be selected for the British and Irish Lions will begin in earnest. Emma Stoney reports from Wellington.
In cricket, Australia is hoping to avoid a series sweep on Friday when it takes on India, which was led in the third test by Shikhar Dhawan, who had a century in his debut. Huw Richards reports.
