Protocol targets sex violence in conflict

Victims reluctant to talk about crimes due to lack of resources, corruption

World Cup visitors get help from translation program

Say you're one of the 600,000 foreigners expected to attend the World Cup in Brazil, where hardly anyone speaks a language besides Portuguese, and you find yourself in the hospital and unable to communicate with the doctor. What do you do?

Mormon women's group founder faces excommunication

Two months after Mormon Kate Kelly led hundreds in a demonstration to shed light on gender inequality in the religion, the founder of a prominent Mormon wom-en's group is facing excom-munication.

Activists applaud Singapore casino for removing shark fin from menu

The US-owned Marina Bay Sands casino in Singapore has announced it will stop serving shark fin at its restaurants, the latest boycott of the contentious delicacy welcomed on Thursday by animal rights activists.

Threats haunt Afghan vote

Taliban attacks and fraud feared in the run off to pick Karzai's successor

Woman: Officers raped me at police station

An Indian woman said on Thursday she was gang-raped by four officers at a police station, the latest in a string of shocking sex attacks in the troubled state of Uttar Pradesh.

Thai anti-coup leader may face long jail sentence

A prominent anti-coup activist in Thailand faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted of incitement, computer crimes and ignoring a summons by the authorities, police said on Thursday.

Labor-short Japan expanding foreign trainee program

Japan is both aging and shrinking as it tries to emerge from two decades of economic stagnation. The construction workforce is a prime example.

IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Islamist fighters vow to capture Baghdad

Sunni militants seek to 'settle old scores' with Shiite prime minister

Venezuela orders arrests of alleged coup conspirators

Venezuela's attorney general ordered the arrests on Wednesday of three government opponents wanted for questioning over an alleged plot to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro. The men include a former presidential candidate and a former state oil company executive.

Blackwater guards on trial for 2007 shootings

Four former employees of the Blackwater security firm went on trial in the US capital on Wednesday, seven years after allegedly killing at least 14 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad.