UK warns it may not buy electricity from an independent Scotland
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain may not buy electricity from an independent Scottish state if imports from alternative markets are cheaper, the UK government has warned, putting further pressure on Scotland five months before its independence vote.
Japan, U.S. make progress on trade; key differences remain
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese and U.S. trade negotiators made progress on Wednesday in trade talks meant to spur a broader Pacific trade pact and prepare for a visit by President Barack Obama, but they remain apart on key issues, both sides said.
Egypt arrests journalist said to work for Al Jazeera: agency
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian security forces have arrested a man who worked for Qatar’s Al Jazeera television network and accused him of inciting and taking part in violence, the state news agency MENA said on Wednesday.
Netanyahu orders cutback in contacts with Palestinian Authority
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel announced on Wednesday a partial freeze in high-level contacts with the Palestinians in retaliation for their signing of international conventions, deepening a crisis that threatens to wreck U.S.-brokered peace talks.
Japan’s scrambles against Chinese planes hit record high
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese fighter jet scrambles against Chinese planes hit a record high in the year that ended in March, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday, as Sino-Japanese ties were strained by disputes over territory and interpretations of his…
Indonesia’s PDI-P leads in elections, but less than expected-pollster
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s opposition party, Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), led in parliamentary elections on Wednesday, but will not likely get enough votes to independently field a presidential candidate, according to a quick coun…
Italy PM will ask Spain to treat Italy bidders for Deoleo fairly
VERONA (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Wednesday he planned to ask Spain to treat foreign firms bidding for a stake in top global olive oil bottler Deoleo fairly.
Merkel ally warns against ‘wrong signal’ to France on deficit
BERLIN (Reuters) – One of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief allies in parliament on Wednesday criticised the center-left candidate for European Commission president, Germany’s Martin Schulz, for saying France should get more time to cut its public defic…
Assad’s forces recapture rebel border town
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad recaptured the rebel-held Syrian border town of Rankous on Wednesday, military sources and state television said, consolidating their control over a former rebel supply line from neighboring …
UK’s Cameron promotes Javid to cabinet, names Morgan to Treasury job
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron appointed former banker Sajid Javid as the country’s new culture minister, replacing Maria Miller who resigned earlier on Wednesday over an expenses scandal.
