A Catholic nun with the Sisters of Charity Institute in Milan was among 25 people arrested early Thursday morning for a litany of mafia-related crimes, including aiding and abetting extortion, drug trafficking, receiving stolen goods, usury, tax crimes and money laundering. Sister Anna Donelli, 57, was known among prison inmates…

An American man abducted in the Philippines is presumed dead after a witness claimed he was shot during a struggle with his captors, the Philippines News Agency reported, citing police. Elliot Eastman, from Vermont, was abducted on October 17, near his home in Sibuco, on the island of Mindanao, where…

A Chinese fishing vessel off the coast of Somalia has come under the control of alleged pirates, a European Union anti-piracy force operating in the area said Thursday. The ship, with up to 18 crew members, had been taken over by the suspected pirates, some of whom were armed with…

A week of fierce demonstrations in Georgia has seen special forces violently handling protesters who are challenging the government’s controversial decision to delay its bid to join the European Union. The former Soviet republic has known protests before, but many say these are larger and more vicious. Many Georgians feel…

The Japanese capital is set to introduce a four-day workweek for all government employees, in its latest push to help working mothers and boost record-low fertility rates. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says the new arrangement, which begins in April, could give employees three days off every week. It separately announced…

The goal of Syria’s rebel coalition, as it wrests another major city from government control this week, is ultimately to overthrow authoritarian President Bashar al-Assad, according to Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the militant leader of the main group driving the country’s armed opposition. “When we talk about objectives, the goal of…