World Briefs

CHINA Police have arrested two Japanese citizens on spying allegations, officials said yesterday. Japanese Chief Cabinet Spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters that the two were detained in May, one in Zhejiang province and the other in Liaoning. China said the two are suspected of spying.

SINGAPORE The government said that it has been holding two of its citizens since August for attempting to make their way to Syria to join the Islamic State group.

THAILAND Three city policemen in Bangkok were fired after failing to appear for questioning about their alleged role in extorting 1 million baht (USD27,500) from a Japanese businessman. The police said three men, later determined to be police officers, confronted the man and his Thai girlfriend at their condominium in central Bangkok and threatened to arrest them on drug charges unless they were paid 3 million baht ($82,500). The couple were held until agreeing to hand over a reduced sum of 1 million baht ($27,500).

IRAN Top Iranian leader warned Saudi Arabia of “harsh” measures if the kingdom fails to promptly repatriate the bodies of more than 200 Iranian pilgrims killed in last week’s hajj stampede. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s warning came as Iran summoned Riyadh’s envoy for the fourth time since last Thursday’s deadly crush of pilgrims to protest what it called the kingdom’s “mishandling” of the incident. Saudi authorities say 769 pilgrims died in the stampede near.

USA IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde (pictured) says global growth will likely be weaker this year as the world economy confronts a host of problems, including a refugee crisis in Europe, an economic slowdown in China and a pending rise in U.S. interest rates. Lagarde predicts a moderate rebound in growth in advanced economies such as the United States, Europe and Japan.

SOUTH AFRICA Police statistics show the rate of violent crimes and organized crime have increased for the third year in a row. Announcing the annual statistics yesterday, Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko said the rate of contact crimes increased, with murder rising by 4.6 percent. Nhleko said the statistics show that violence has become a characteristic of South African society.

VEGAS Frank, Sammy and Dean are together again. Officials have renamed a street near the Las Vegas Strip for Sammy Davis Jr. Naturally, a dedication ceremony this week was held at the three-way intersection where Sammy Davis Jr. Drive, Frank Sinatra Drive and Dean Martin Drive meet.