TOKYO – Japan’s future prosperity will depend on improving its lagging productivity, says a report by McKinsey Global Institute that urges companies to boost their competitiveness by better use of their workers. Japan’s population of about 127 million began declining in 2011 and is rapidly aging, a trend seen in …
Read More »UK expands probe into police 'cover up' of child sex abuse allegations
LONDON – Britain’s police watchdog says it is expanding its probe into claims that police officers covered up allegations of child abuse. The Independent Police Complaints Commission says it is looking into three new claims of police corruption related to child sex offenses from the 1970s to the 2000s. One …
Read More »Congolese commanders sign declaration to combat sexual violence in war, a move welcomed by UN
UNITED NATIONS – Congolese army commanders signed a declaration to combat rape in war, a move the United Nations welcomed Tuesday as an important step in the fight against sexual violence during conflicts. The declaration, signed in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, is part of a government plan adopted in September to …
Read More »Israeli premier: Bodies of French Jews killed in Paris grocery store to be buried in Israel
JERUSALEM – Israel’s prime minister says the bodies of French Jews killed in a hostage standoff in a Paris grocery store will be buried in Israel. In a statement issued from Paris, Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he had “responded to the request of the families of those killed in the …
Read More »In Islam, a long tradition against depicting the prophet
CAIRO – It’s not mentioned in Islam’s holy book, the Quran, but the religion’s ban on depicting the Prophet Muhammad — even favorably — has run firm through the centuries. Religious traditions built over the years have prohibited such depictions out of respect for Muhammad and to discourage idolatry, according …
Read More »Canadian actor who starred on "Hee Haw" and writer Don Harron has died at age 90
TORONTO – Don Harron, who entertained TV audiences in Canada and the U.S. with his comic alter ego Charlie Farquharson and helped bring the Canadian classic novel “Anne of Green Gables” to the stage, has died. He was 90. Harron’s eldest daughter Martha said her father died Saturday morning surrounded …
Read More »Top EU court upholds sanctions against uncle of Syrian leader Assad
BRUSSELS – A top European Union court has upheld sanctions imposed on the uncle of Syrian President Bashar Assad, including an asset freeze and visa ban. The EU’s General Court in Luxembourg on Wednesday dismissed the Syrian’s appeal to have his name removed of a list of close associates against …
Read More »Officials say 2 bombings in Iraq's capital, Baghdad, kill at least 7 people
BAGHDAD – Authorities in Iraq say two bombings have killed seven people in the capital, Baghdad. Police officials say one bomb exploded Saturday near a small restaurant in Baghdad’s mainly Shiite southeastern district of Zafaraniyah, killing four people and wounding 13. Later, police say a bomb blast missed a passing …
Read More »Indian government removes top foreign ministry official
NEW DELHI – The Indian government has fired its top foreign ministry official, replacing her with its current ambassador to the United States. S. Jaishankar took over as India’s new foreign secretary on Thursday, describing his elevation as “a big responsibility.” The government on Wednesday cut short Sujatha Singh’s tenure …
Read More »A look at the trial of 3 Al-Jazeera English journalists imprisoned in Egypt for over a year
CAIRO – Here is a look at the major events in the arrest and trial of three Al-Jazeera English journalists imprisoned in Egypt for over a year: Dec. 29, 2013: Security forces storm into a five-star hotel suite in Cairo and arrest Canadian-Egyptian Mohammed Fahmy, Australian Peter Greste and Egyptian …
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