SEOUL | Wed Feb 22, 2012 5:50am EST SEOUL (Reuters) – Isolationist North Korea lashed out at its neighbor on Wednesday for hosting an international nuclear security summit in Seoul next month, calling it a “childish farce” and an “intolerable grave provocation.” The South has said Pyongyang can send a delegate to the conference involving some 50 world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, but insists the invitation is conditional…

WASHINGTON | Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:43pm EST WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama spoke on Monday with his Afghan counterpart to discuss regional support for Afghan-led reconciliation, the White House said. Obama, in his conversation with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, also discussed the Afghanistan-Pakistan-Iran trilateral meetings held last week in Islamabad.”They agreed to speak again soon to remain closely aligned as both countries continue our efforts to achieve common…

SYDNEY | Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:15pm IST SYDNEY (Reuters) – Ricky Ponting was dropped from the Australia team because of poor form on Monday with selectors strongly indicating that his career in one-day internationals was all but over. The 37-year-old, the second most prolific batsmen of all time in one-day internationals with 13,704 runs since his debut in 1995, had made just 18 runs in five games in the…

KARACHI | Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:54pm IST KARACHI Feb 19 (Reuters) – Australian Dav Whatmore will replace the Pakistan team’s interim coach Mohsin Khan after their one-day series against England ends this month, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source told Reuters on Sunday. The source said Whatmore would take charge as head coach for the Asia Cup tournament in Bangladesh next month.”It has been decided to release Mohsin from…

Temperature changes off the coast dried out East Africa 2 million years ago read more…