5 held in Europe on suspicion of forming IS cell

Police have arrested five people suspected of forming an Islamic State cell and promoting Islamist militancy in Spain, Belgium and Germany, the Spanish Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.

Opposition leader blasts Abe's economic policies

Japan's main opposition Democratic Party leader Renho Murata on Wednesday blasted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over his economic policies, in the first head-to-head match up of the two leaders since she was elected to lead her party on Sept 15.

IN BRIEF (Page 11)

92 percent of world breaths polluted air

Nine out of 10 people globally are breathing poor quality air, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, calling for dramatic action against pollution that is blamed for more than 6 million deaths a year.

Canberra lowers backpacker tax rate after rural opposition

Australia watered down plans for a "backpacker tax" on foreigners on working holidays on Tuesday, after an outcry from farmers and tourism operators.

War-wounded forge new lives

Every time he hears a loud noise, Imed al-Firi hides his healthy leg under a cushion - a reflex he developed after the summer of 2014, when Israeli tank fire struck his Gaza home and robbed him of his right leg.

Hundreds of couples cash in on lasting love

A district of the Romanian capital on Monday celebrated hundreds of couples who have been married for at least half a century by handing out cash awards and inviting them to a joint lunch.

Canada confirms discovery of second ship from Franklin Expedition

Canada's parks department on Monday confirmed the discovery of a British exploration ship that vanished during a storied Arctic expedition in 1846.

Govt, rebels sign historic peace deal

After a half-century of combat that spilled blood across this South American nation, Colombians have embarked on a new, but difficult path to settle their political differences with the signing of a historic peace accord between the government and leftist rebels.

Police arrest ex-finance minister in graft probe

Brazilian police on Monday arrested Antonio Palocci, a powerful former finance minister and presidential chief of staff in recent Workers Party governments, as a sweeping anti-corruption probe hit even harder at the left-leaning party, known by its acronym PT.

King slashes salaries, bonuses of ministers

Saudi Arabia on Monday cut the salaries of cabinet ministers by 20 percent and froze the wages of lower-ranking civil servants in an intensified austerity drive to cope with lower oil revenues.

Lawyer had 2 weapons, thousands of rounds

A disgruntled lawyer wearing military-style apparel with old Nazi emblems had two weapons and more than 2,500 rounds of live ammunition when he randomly shot at drivers in a Houston neighborhood before he was shot and killed by police, authorities said.