IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Trump taunts GOP, refusing to support Ryan and McCain

Donald Trump is openly taunting the leaders of his own party by refusing to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Senator John McCain of Arizona in their GOP primaries. Yet thus far, McCain, Ryan and other Republicans who've reluctantly declared that they plan to back Trump for president appear to be sticking with him.

Albania stands as last bastion of 'sworn virgins'

Women become men to gain certain rights in patriarchal society

Obama: Leaks would not alter Russian ties

US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday if Russia had engaged in hacking Democratic Party organizations it would be an issue he would discuss with President Vladimir Putin, but it would not "wildly" alter the countries' relationship.

Govt and rebels trade gas attack accusations

Fighting has intensified around Aleppo

Israeli army sale of seized donkeys stirs Palestinian outrage

"Forty donkeys for sale," reads a notice in Palestinian newspapers. Nothing out of the ordinary about that, except for the fact that the advertiser is the Israeli army.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Chicken tweet of business mogul tears Twitter users apart

Politicians prefer to document what they are eating on social media to attract voters, but sometimes, one culinary misstep may cause reversing effects. Donald Trump is currently facing such a situation, due to a controversy over eating fried chicken.

Groups blast Australia's 'abuse' of asylum seekers on Nauru

Australia is deliberately failing to combat the abuse of asylum seekers on the Pacific island of Nauru to deter others from arriving by boat, two global human rights groups said Wednesday.

Vocal group records popular Chinese song Tian MiMi

One of China's most popular songs Tian Mi Mi (Sweet Honey) has made it across the globe and is now being performed by Cuba's best a cappella vocal group.

Father struggles with son's fall into militancy

He has seen the body, and authorities say the fingerprints match. But Towhid Rouf is having trouble believing that this skinny, bearded man - killed with eight other suspected Islamist militants in a Bangladesh police raid - could possibly be his smart, well-behaved son.

England's new i360 observation tower seen as 'pier in the sky'

The world's tallest moving observation tower, the i360, opens to the public on Thursday, a futuristic landmark that has transformed the historic seafront in the English tourist resort of Brighton.