We all need a little love this Valentine’s Day — especially one Afghan Hound who really wanted a hug from her mama! The sweet girl was begging for a little affection in a clip the woman shared.

We meet Ashraf Baburi in Chiba Prefecture who provides work to women in his native Afghanistan by importing traditional rugs they weave, and French-born Stephane Danton who runs a tea store in Tokyo.

I remember a bright morning in Kabul, standing on a dusty roadside and frantically waving at a yellow Toyota Corolla taxi, hoping to negotiate a fare to the city where my office was based.

Until Taliban authorities took power in Afghanistan, women like Fatima were able to freely sell their hair to be made into wigs, bringing in crucial cash. But a ban last year has forced the 28 ...