NEWS The Obama administration is secretly carrying out a domestic surveillance program under which it is collecting business communications records involving Americans under a hotly debated section of the Patriot Act, according to a highly classified court order disclosed on Wednesday night. Charlie Savage and Edward Wyatt report from Washington.
The Syrian government said it had recaptured the key town of Qusayr, though it appeared to owe that victory to the help of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite Muslim organization that has allied itself with the regime. Anne Barnard reports from Beirut.
The city of Qum, a center of spirituality in Iran, is drawing the country’s presidential candidates as they seek the support of the city’s influential religious leaders. Thomas Erdbrink reports from Qum, Iran.
More than 70 medical, research and advocacy organizations from 41 countries have agreed to create organized databases of genetic and clinical information that would be open to researchers and doctors all over the world. Gina Kolata reports.
Researchers announced on Wednesday that they had found the earliest fossil primate ever, dating to 55 million years ago. The creature was an early ancestor of the tarsier, and weighed no more than an ounce. John Noble Wilford reports.
Countries around the world are offering incentives to lure foreign entrepreneurs from the United States. But it’s hard to resist the seduction of Silicon Valley. Somini Sengupta reports from San Francisco.
As China seeks to become more competitive, scientists on the job in the United States are being asked to share technology data. Edward Wong reports from Shenzhen and Beijing, and Didi Kirsten Tatlow from Beijing.
The International Monetary Fund released an internal report that sharply criticizes its first bailout program for Greece, saying it seriously underestimated the severity of the country’s downturn. Annie Lowrey reports from Washington.
ARTS “The Encyclopedic Palace,†the main show of the 55th Venice Biennale, is organized by the chief curator of the New Museum of Manhattan. It includes work from more than 150 artists spread over two sites. Holland Cotter reviews from Venice.
In “Manet: The Return to Venice,†a far-ranging exhibition in the Doge’s Palace in Venice, works are shown that illustrate how the Old Masters inspired the French artist. Roderick Conway Morris reviews from Venice.
SPORTS Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic â€" the two finalists from last year’s French Open â€" will meet again this year on Wednesday, but in the semifinal. Christopher Clarey reports from Paris.
