World datelines

Israel: Ancient writing found

HIRBET QEIYAFA — An Israeli archaeologist has discovered what he believes is the oldest known Hebrew inscription on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard — a find that suggests Biblical accounts of the ancient Israelite kingdom of David could have been based on written texts.

A teenage volunteer discovered the curved shard bearing five lines of faded characters in July in the ruins of an ancient town on a hilltop south of Jerusalem. Yossi Garfinkel, the Israeli archaeologist leading the excavations at Hirbet Qeiyafa, released his conclusions about the writing Thursday after months of study. He said the relic is strong evidence that the ancient Israelites were literate and could chronicle events centuries before the Bible was written.

Afghanistan: Suicide blast

KABUL, Afghanistan — A suspected Taliban suicide bomber shot his way into the Ministry of Information and Culture in central Kabul on Thursday, then blew himself up, leaving at least two others dead and severely damaging a kindergarten, officials and witnesses said.

The blast, which also wounded at least 21 people, set off a panicky scramble by parents working at the ministry to find their kindergartners, but it appeared that only two were among the wounded, said the police chief of Kabul, Gen. Muhammad Ayub Salangi, after he toured the scene. The bomber first killed a policeman at the entrance of the building and then set off the explosion inside, Salangi said. A second man died later, according to the deputy police chief, Gen. Ali Shah Ahmadazi.

Dominican Republic: Drugs

SANTO DOMINGO — Legislators are debating a proposal that would let Dominican authorities shoot at drug-laden planes and boats that refuse to land or dock when ordered, despite threats from the U.S. to suspend anti-drug efforts if the law is approved.

The proposal received preliminary approval late last year and senators are expected to debate it by year's end. Congress leader Julio Cesar Valentin urged lawmakers to approve the law and accused the United States — whose forces fire on suspected drug boats and flights — of "meddling" when it sent letters warning them of the consequences.

Germany: Famed airport closes

BERLIN — The last flight lifted off from Berlin's Tempelhof Airport late Thursday, bringing an end to an era of aviation that spanned World War II, the Cold War and the rebirth of the German capital.