Slavery alive and well worldwide

Forced to pick cotton, grow cannabis, prostitute themselves, fight wars or clean up after the wealthy - some 35.8 million people are currently trapped in modern-day slavery, a new report said on Monday.

Bulls fight for bets in rural Haiti

Gamblers who goad bulls to fight each other just outside this Haitian coastal town stand for hours by a river bed scrutinizing a dozen muscular animals with horns sharpened by knives.

At 80, murderer Manson plans to wed

Murderer Charles Manson plans to marry a 26-year-old woman who has spent the past nine years trying to help exonerate him.

Jolie wants Unbroken to be an antidote to world's hate, violence

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie said on Tuesday she wanted her World War II epic Unbroken, which was filmed in Australia, to act as an antidote to the violence and hate in the world.

4 Israelis dead in synagogue attack

A Palestinian left-wing group, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said on Tuesday that two of its members were responsible for the deadly synagogue attack in West Jerusalem earlier in the day.

Abe puts off tax hike, calls snap vote

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called a snap election for December and put off a sales tax hike planned for next year, vowing on Tuesday to step down if his strategy to revive the ailing economy falls flat.

Army of housewives saves Nepal's newborns

On a wet and windy morning, Nepalese housewife Bhumisara Upadhyay is out visiting pregnant women, on a mission to slash newborn deaths with a simple tube of gel.

Indonesian police criticized for virginity tests

Indonesia's national police were urged on Tuesday to halt virginity tests for women applying to join the force in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.

IN BRIEF (Page 11)

US reviews hostage policy after killings

US President Barack Obama has ordered a review of how Washington can secure the release of US hostages, as intelligence agencies investigated the involvement of Westerners in the beheading of aid worker Peter Kassig.

Russia says it hopes to avoid 'point of no return'

Russia said on Tuesday it hopes its ties with the EU have not yet crossed the point of no return after Brussels applied more sanctions in response to the conflict in Ukraine.

Shandong shows its talent for attracting researchers

Even though she obtained her postdoctoral degree from the University of California, Zhang Yan says she is happy to focus on research work in China rather than stay in the United States.