Cracks in British nuclear reactor ring power alarm bells
LONDON (Reuters) – Cracks in the core of a Scottish nuclear reactor could signal that most of Britain’s ageing plants will not be able to supply the country with much needed power for as long as predicted.
Iraq to close airports and border crossings during election
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq will close its airports and border crossings for 24 hours during its May 12 election, the first held since it defeated Islamic State militants, the electoral security committee said on Wednesday.
Europeans work to save Iran deal, and business, after Trump pulls out
WASHINGTON/PARIS (Reuters) – Dismayed European allies sought on Wednesday to salvage the Iran nuclear deal and preserve their Iranian trade after President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the landmark accord and ordered sanctions reimposed…
Malaysia’s ruling coalition holds slight lead in election count
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s long-ruling coalition clung to a slight lead in vote counting from Wednesday’s election, a cliff-hanger contest against a resurgent opposition alliance led by 92-year-old former leader Mah…
Merkel calls for more German military spending, but SPD eyes tax cuts
BERLIN (Reuters) – Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday said the state of the German military was “not satisfactory” and called for increased military spending to cover a wide range of gaps.
North Korea releases detained Americans ahead of planned Trump-Kim summit
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – North Korea released three American detainees and handed them over to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday, clearing a major obstacle to an unprecedented summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader K…
Greece passes law to end ‘regime of grief’ on adoption red tape
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece approved legislation on Wednesday speeding up child adoption and allowing same-sex couples to become guardians of orphans, cutting a morass of bureaucracy where candidate parents and thousands of children are trapped waiting f…
At Vatican bank trial, court hears of Swiss funds, missing documents
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The trial of a former head of the Vatican bank and an Italian lawyer on charges of money laundering and embezzlement began on Wednesday with the court hearing of missing documents and secret funds in Switzerland.
Syrian Observatory: Israeli raid in Syria killed Iranians
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday an Israeli attack on Iranian military facilities south of Damascus had killed at least 15 people, including eight Iranians.
Attackers hit Afghan capital Kabul with bombs, bullets
KABUL (Reuters) – Gunmen mounted coordinated attacks in the Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday, battling security forces for hours in the city’s main commercial area after three large explosions sent plumes of smoke and dust into the sky.
