Afghan official says NATO air strike killed up to 14 civilians
ASADABAD Afghanistan (Reuters) – A NATO air strike in eastern Afghanistan killed 14 people, including civilians, and wounded at least 13 others, an Afghan official said on Wednesday, just months before most foreign forces pull out of the country.
U.N. says China not yet deploying peacekeepers in South Sudan
JUBA (Reuters) – China will send 700 soldiers to a U.N. peacekeeping force in South Sudan later this year to protect civilians amid a rebellion in the African country, a U.N. official said on Wednesday, denying a report they were already being deployed…
Poroshenko says Ukraine to stay united, sees special status for rebel-held areas
KIEV (Reuters) – A peace roadmap agreed last week between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists preserves the concept of a sovereign, united country within its current borders, President Petro Poroshenko said on Wednesday.
China, Vietnam trade accusations over boats in disputed waters
BEIJING/HANOI (Reuters) – China said on Wednesday that its forces had boarded a Vietnamese trawler last month in disputed waters in the South China Sea and confiscated explosives used for fishing, rejecting accusations from Vietnam that its ships had b…
China tells Dalai Lama again to respect reincarnation
BEIJING (Reuters) – China repeated a call on the Dalai Lama on Wednesday to respect what it said was the historic practice of reincarnation, after the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader implied in a newspaper interview he may be the last to hold the posit…
Trouble in paradise? Sweden risks deadlock in tight election race
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden, seen for years as a beacon of stability and reforms in a crisis-ridden Europe, may be heading for political deadlock after Sunday’s general election, with polls suggesting that both right and left might be unable to form a…
Exclusive: Japan, U.S. discussing offensive military capability for Tokyo – Japan officials
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan and the United States are exploring the possibility of Tokyo acquiring offensive weapons that would allow Japan to project power far beyond its borders, Japanese officials said, a move that would likely infuriate China.
Ukraine president signs law paving way for sanctions against Russia: Interfax
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed a law paving the way for the imposition of economic sanctions against companies and individuals, Interfax news agency reported on Wednesday.
Japanese regulator approves restart of first nuclear reactors
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s nuclear regulator gave the go-ahead on Wednesday for the restart of a nuclear power station, the first step to reopening an industry that was mothballed after the Fukushima disaster and which may involve the definitive closure…
Fiji says 45 peacekeepers held by Syrian rebels to be released soon
SUVA (Reuters) – The head of Fiji’s army said on Wednesday that he expected 45 Fijian U.N. peacekeepers seized two weeks ago on the Golan Heights by an al Qaeda-backed militant group, the Nusra Front, to be released within days.
