With Kunduz in crosshairs again, Afghan forces draw on past mistakes
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Bullet-ridden bunkers and signposts shredded by rockets bear witness to dozens of Taliban attacks this month on police posts around Kunduz, the northern Afghan city that fell briefly in September in the insurgents’ bigge…
Swedish opposition leads after tough week for minority government: poll
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden’s center-right opposition Alliance bloc has a big lead over the minority coalition after the resignation of the housing minister and an ongoing asylum crisis, a poll on Wednesday showed.
Russia ready to join Afghan talks – Interfax cites Russian official
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is ready to join stuttering peace talks on Afghanistan if interests of all parties taking part in them are respected, including Afghanistan itself, Interfax news agency cited Russian envoy on Afganistan Zamir Kabulov as saying…
Taiwan’s Tsai says democratic principles will rule ties with China
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan President-elect Tsai Ing-wen said she will maintain the status quo in the island’s relationship with China, but that her policy will be based on democratic principles and transcend party politics, a nuance likely to be lost on…
Thai Facebook group charged over ‘foul language’ about draft constitution
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s election commission on Wednesday filed charges against a group for posting “foul and strong” comments online criticising a military-backed draft constitution, the first case filed under a law that prohibits campaigning on…
Irish parties make progress in government talks: minister
DUBLIN (Reuters) – Ireland’s two main parties have made great progress in talks on forming a minority government, including the outlines of a deal to suspend unpopular water charges, a senior minister said on Wednesday.
German air passengers set for disruption as airport workers strike
BERLIN/FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Airline passengers traveling through Germany are set for a day of disruption after public sector workers at airports started strikes in a bid to push for higher wages.
Traffic to Wikipedia terrorism entries plunged after Snowden revelations, study finds
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Internet traffic to Wikipedia pages summarizing knowledge about terror groups and their tools plunged nearly 30 percent after revelations of widespread Web monitoring by the U.S. National Security Agency, suggesting that conce…
North Korea to open ruling Workers’ Party congress on May 6
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea said on Wednesday its ruling Workers’ Party would hold a congress from May 6, ending its silence on the date of the first such conference in 36 years, as South Korea said another North Korean nuclear test appeared imminent…
Havana archbishop who played key role in U.S.-Cuba detente retires
HAVANA (Reuters) – The Cuban Catholic Church leader who became an influential figure within a country where he was once despised and played a key role in the Communist-run island’s detente with the United States, is retiring.
