Belgian hermit on Austrian mountain awaits visitors with schnapps
VIENNA (Reuters) – A 58-year-old former surveying technician from Belgium has taken up his new post as the official hermit of Saalfelden, living in a hut-sized chapel built into a cliff in the mountains of western Austria.
German police arrest suspected militants as Berlin gears up for Obama visit
BERLIN (Reuters) – Police arrested four suspected Islamists in dawn raids in Berlin on Wednesday as the German capital geared up for a long weekend of mass gatherings, capped by a joint appearance by Chancellor Angela Merkel and former U.S. president B…
Trump arrives in Brussels, ahead of EU, NATO talks
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Brussels from Rome on Wednesday ahead of meetings on Thursday with other NATO leaders and the heads of European Union institutions.
Use of air power in Afghanistan up sharply as Trump troop decision looms
KABUL (Reuters) – U.S. warplanes dropped more weapons on Afghanistan in April than in any other single month since 2012, according to new statistics, as military officials press U.S. President Donald Trump to send thousands more troops to the country.
Macron government denies ethical misstep by minister
PARIS (Reuters) – A morality campaign by France’s new government took a knock on Wednesday when media disclosed that a minister had rented business offices from his female partner, though the government defended him and said there was no cause for resi…
Kenyan flour shortage stokes anger ahead of election
NAIROBI (Reuters) – A Kenyan government scheme to subsidize staple maize flour has hit problems over shortages, stoking anger over high food prices ahead of a national election in August.
Trump budget proposal would make it ‘impossible’ for U.N. to work
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s bid to slash funding for the United Nations would make it “impossible” for it to continue its essential work, a spokesman said on Wednesday, adding that the organization was ready to discuss refo…
Barricades, protests spread over Venezuela ‘sham’ elections
CARACAS (Reuters) – Angry Venezuelans barricaded streets in parts of Caracas and the opposition geared up for another protest on Wednesday as the announcement of two election dates failed to appease anger against President Nicolas Maduro and an economy…
Iraq orders investigation into abuses reported in Mosul battle
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s interior minister on Wednesday ordered an investigation into allegations that members of the security forces had tortured, killed and abused civilians in the campaign to oust Islamic State militants from Mosul.
Pope asks Trump to be peacemaker, gives him environmental letter
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis urged U.S. President Donald Trump to be a peacemaker at their first meeting on Wednesday after they exchanged sharp words last year, and Trump promised he would not forget the pontiff’s message.
