Swift action sought over abdication

In a nationwide survey conducted from Friday to Sunday, 66 percent of respondents were in favor of the government aiming for legal revisions that would allow abdication for the current and subsequent emperors.

In Aleppo, necessity is mother of invention

Cigarettes stuffed with grape leaves instead of tobacco, gardens on bombed-out rooftops, and batteries powered by rusted bicycles: in Syria's besieged eastern Aleppo, necessity is the mother of invention.

Killings spark debate on status of Arab women

After years of abuse and death threats, Duaa Abu-Sharkh had finally divorced her husband, agreeing even to give up custody of her four young children and family property to escape his violent grip.

Trouble brewing as upstarts threaten beer king's dominance

Belgium is historically one of the world's top beer countries but Thomas Costenoble, organizer of the Brussels Beer Challenge, fears that trouble is brewing.

Pitt-Jolie children to remain in care of actress

Angelina Jolie Pitt will continue to have sole custody of her six children with Brad Pitt in a joint agreement reached by the actors, a representative for the actress said on Monday.

British chef wins award for best French village cafe

A small cafe run almost singlehandedly by a British chef was on Monday named France's best village bistro.

Rivals chase final votes

After nearly two years of bitterness and rancor, the United States will elect its 45th president on Tuesday, making Hillary Clinton the nation's first female commander in chief or choosing billionaire businessman Donald Trump, whose volatile campaign has upended US politics.

New Hampshire hamlet gets Election Day rolling

The US presidential election got underway - on a small scale - with the seven voters of a tiny New Hampshire village who cast the nation's first ballots at the stroke of midnight.

Chinese voters hold heated debates amid intense election

Emotions are running high among Chinese-American voters in the San Francisco Bay Area with the issues of the presidential election creating a divide.

Ortega easily wins new term, with wife as VP

President Daniel Ortega overwhelmingly won re-election to a third consecutive term in official results announced on Monday, putting him in position to govern for a quarter-century and cement family control over the country with his wife now officially vice-president.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Shining a light on shadowy deals in Seoul

Returning from a board meeting of South Korean steel giant POSCO last November, director Bahk Byong-won said he was "dumbfounded" at a decision made there to donate 3 billion won ($2.61 million) to a recently set up non-profit foundation.