Young Afghans go online to find friendship and love
KABUL (Reuters) – Frustrated by strict social rules, young and educated Afghans are quickly learning that taboos can be sidestepped at the tap of a mobile phone.
Afghan opium crop at fresh high as foreign troops withdraw
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s opium crop will hit a new high this year, the United Nations said on Wednesday, presenting the new president with a challenge in tackling the trade fuelling the Taliban-led insurgency after the foreign combat mission end…
Shelling rocks rebel stronghold Donetsk in east Ukraine
DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – New shelling rocked the pro-Russian rebel stronghold of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday despite a fragile ceasefire.
Mexico investigates police in shooting of pregnant American teen
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican authorities are investigating police in the northern city of Reynosa on the Texas border after a pregnant 14-year-old American girl was shot and injured during a high-speed car chase, the local government said on Tuesday…
Kurds gain ground but not control in struggle for Syrian border town
BEIRUT/MURSITPINAR Turkey (Reuters) – Syrian Kurds backed by fighters from northern Iraq have gained ground towards breaking the siege of the Syrian border town of Kobani but are drawing heavy fire from Islamic State insurgents and have yet to win back…
Japan’s Abe to postpone tax hike, call December election: media
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will postpone a planned tax increase and call a general election for December, a newspaper said on Wednesday, in an effort to lock in his grip on power before his voter ratings suffer a slide.
U.S., China to announce deals to reduce military tensions: report
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and China are planning to announce military agreements aimed at reducing the possibility of confrontation between the two powers, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, quoting unnamed U.S. officials.
Senator sees American prisoner in Cuba ‘closer’ to release
HAVANA (Reuters) – An American government contractor jailed in Cuba for crimes against the state may be closer to returning home, in part because he has threatened to end his life if he is not released, a U.S. senator said on Tuesday.
Japan man dies after setting himself ablaze in defense protest: NHK
TOKYO (Reuters) – A Japanese man died after setting himself on fire in a downtown Tokyo park in an apparent protest against the country’s shift away from postwar pacifism under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, NHK national television said on Wednesday.
Nigeria says U.S. support lacking in Boko Haram battle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – ‘Nigeria’s envoy to Washington criticized U.S. support in the battle against Boko Haram militants as insufficient, including failure to share enough intelligence and sell needed weaponry to fight the Islamist group.
