Israeli and Palestinian leaders sat down for their first direct peace talks in two years on Thursday, pledging to overcome deep skepticism spawned by disappointment with U.S.-brokered attempts in the past to resolve the long-running conflict. Formally opening the negotiations after a day of...

Did creation need a creator? British physicist and mathematician Stephen Hawking says no, arguing in his new book that there need not be a God behind the creation of the universe. The concept is explored in "The Grand Design," excerpts of which were printed in the British newspaper The Times on...

Eric Gordon scored 21 points and the United States pulled away from Tunisia after sleepwalking through the first half, winning 92-57 on Thursday in its final game of pool play at the world championship. With nothing to play for, the Americans led their winless opponent by only four points early...