TORONTO – A power outage hit parts of Toronto on Monday after a fire at a transformer station, but the outage appeared to have little impact on financial markets.Power was also affected at the Fairmont Royal York hotel in downtown Toronto, where Queen Elizabeth is due to have dinner later on Monday.The outage hit just after 4:30 p.m., knocking out traffic lights and blacking out screens on
JERUSALEM — Israel on Monday announced a major change in the way it will manage the country's controversial blockade of the Gaza Strip , a move Israeli officials hope will ease tensions with the Obama administration on the eve of a visit to Washington by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .The Israelis will no longer block merchandise from entry to Gaza through a limited list of permitted it
BAGHDAD Biden's visit came in the midst of sluggish negotiations that are stalling the formation of a new Iraqi government.Iraqis voted nearly four months ago.It was also a bid to reaffirm the U.S commitment to Iraq.Iraqi officials have complained that U.S policy has been adrift and too focused on the ultimate U.S exit from Iraq. A distant policy in this country is deemed as a weakness and a
CARACAS, Venezuela – South America's 19th century independence hero Simon Bolivar was reunited Monday with his controversial and audacious lover at a graveside ceremony.A coffer containing the symbolic remains of Manuela Saenz, an audacious woman credited with helping Bolivar liberate several South American nations from Spain, was moved alongside Bolivar's tomb in an independence day celebr
BIRMINGHAM, England – Pakistan beat Australia for the first time in 13 matches across all formats as they won the first Twenty20 international by 23 runs at Edgbaston here on Monday.They were indebted to Umar Akmal's career-best 64 that helped Pakistan to a total of 167 for eight after they'd been 47 for four.Australia, chasing 168 to win, were bowled out for 144 with off-spinner Saeed Ajm
OTTAWA – Angry Canadian legislators accused the country's spy chief on Monday of making a huge mistake by alleging some politicians were under the influence of foreign governments, with one parliamentarian demanding he name the traitors to the nation .Richard Fadden, head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), prompted an uproar last month when he said in televised remarks
PAMPLONA, Spain – Hordes of humans will sprint ahead of thundering beasts this week at Pamplona's famed running of the bulls, but Spain's most storied fiesta is being overshadowed by a crisis in the bullring.A proposed regional bullfighting ban is combining with grim economic times to send a chill through the national pastime.Pamplona's historic old quarter comes under the international spo
Two months after a tense meeting at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Obama are set to meet on Tuesday with a deceptively simple mission: getting their picture taken together.The public show of unity matters both for the delicate Middle East peace process and for domestic political consumption on both sides.Of immediate concern to the Democratic party is the