Opposition takes aim at scandals

Japan's main opposition party said on Tuesday it will pursue Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over a string of Cabinet funding scandals that have dented his popularity ratings, and attacked his signature "Abenomics" economic revival recipe as a failure.

Minister blames latewife for spending irregularities

Japanese Environment Minister Yoshio Mochizuki blamed his late wife when discussing allegations of illegal expenditure, at a news conference held on Tuesday.

Airstrikes add to Syria's economic woes

The middle-aged salesman sat glumly among an array of shorts, khaki leisure suits bedecked with gold belts and dresses with plunging necklines in the ancient Damascus bazaar - luxuries few can afford in today's Syria.

Survey shows decline in India's gender equality

Indian women still face some of the world's worst inequality in access to healthcare, education and work, despite years of rapid economic growth, according to a survey of 142 nations released on Tuesday.

Nobel peace laureates seek report on torture

Twelve Nobel Peace Prize laureates are urging President Barack Obama to disclose the CIA's use of torture on terror suspects since the attacks of Sept 11, 2001.

Media: Release US force-feeding videos

Videos of prisoners being force-fed at the Guantanamo prison in Cuba should be released immediately, media organizations said on Monday, but the US government argued that doing so would compromise national security.

Bizarre clown terror spreads in France

A 14-year-old dressed as a clown was arrested on Monday near Paris for attempting to attack a woman. It was the latest incident in a bizarre phenomenon spreading around France involving fake clowns who terrorize people, apparently at random.

German spy agency says IS remains potent

Islamic State militants will be able to mount operations in Iraq "for the foreseeable future" despite US-led airstrikes and efforts by Iraqi security forces to regain territory, Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency said.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Blind sailors find new horizons at sea

Standing at the helm of a three-masted schooner, Alina Koralewska is having no trouble at all staying the course forward Barcelona despite being able to see neither compass nor stars.

Families living a nightmare over missing students

Night has become the most difficult time for the parents of 43 students from a rural teachers college who disappeared a month ago.

Sierra Leoneans in Britain answer Ebola 'call of duty'

Watching with horror as the Ebola crisis ravages their country, Sierra Leoneans in London are mobilizing to help their compatriots fight the deadly virus back home.