Kennedy vows U.S. help to Japan for Fukushima nuclear clean-up
OKUMA, Japan (Reuters) – U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy pledged U.S. support for the clean-up at Japan’s tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Wednesday after her first visit to the site.
Separatists kill seven Ukraine soldiers in heaviest loss for Kiev forces
KIEV/MOSCOW (Reuters) – Pro-Russian separatists ambushed Ukrainian troops on Tuesday, killing seven in the heaviest loss of life for government forces in a single clash since Kiev sent soldiers to put down a rebellion in the country’s east.
North Sea tax change to end drillers’ 20-year tax holiday
LONDON (Reuters) – A planned change in the way Britain taxes North Sea drillers exposes the loophole in a system that allowed an industry with annual revenues of 2 billion pounds to pay almost no corporation tax for two decades, prompting accusations t…
Public employees demand big raise from Lebanese parliament
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Thousands of Lebanese teachers, civil servants and children rallied outside parliament on Wednesday in the biggest of a year of pay protests as the assembly debated a much-delayed bill on public sector salaries.
Scottish independence bid flags questions about Union Jack
LONDON (Reuters) – For centuries the Union Jack has been the symbol of British power across the globe but a bid by secessionists in Scotland to break the union with England has thrust the future of the red-white-and-blue flag into question.
‘Stay strong,’ union boss tells South Africa platinum strikers
MARIKANA, South Africa (Reuters) – The president of South Africa’s striking AMCU union urged its members on Wednesday to remain strong in the face of efforts by the world’s top platinum firms to woo miners to end a 16-week stoppage, the longest and cos…
Afghanistan delays election result announcement till Thursday
KABUL (Reuters) – The final result of the presidential election held in Afghanistan over a month ago will be announced on Thursday, the country’s Independent Election Commission (IEC) said, delaying the announcement by a day.
Europe’s centre-right leads by a sliver before EU election: poll
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The center-right is set to win the most seats in European Parliament elections next week, but its wafer-thin poll lead suggests the chances of securing the presidency of the European Commission are uncertain.
Dutch populist Wilders targets Moroccans in EU campaign
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – A popular video on YouTube shows a dark-skinned young man trailing a suitcase through Dutch streets.
Islamist militants hit Yemeni army posts, 18 dead
SANAA (Reuters) – At least eight Yemeni soldiers and 10 al Qaeda militants were killed in clashes on Wednesday when insurgents attacked two military posts in a southern province where the government mounted an offensive two weeks ago, military sources …




