EU parliament graft suspect Kaili released to house arrest

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Eva Kaili, the former European Parliament vice president accused of accepting bribes in one of the biggest scandals to hit European Union institutions, was released from custody to house arrest on Friday. The 44-year-old Greek Socialist was driven in a black Mercedes with her lawyer from Haren prison in northern Brussels to…

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Taiwan president pledges to strengthen military as Chinese drills ebb

By Ben Blanchard TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday thanked fighter pilots who scrambled against China’s air force during its drills around the island and pledged to keep strengthening the armed forces, as Beijing’s military activity in the vicinity ebbed. China began its exercises, including simulated precision strikes with bombers and missile forces,…

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Cash-loving Germans fret over exploding ATMs as cross-border crime wave hits

By Tom Sims and Nette Noestlinger RATINGEN, Germany (Reuters) – In the German town of Ratingen, exploding cash machines are a hot-button topic. Two got blown up early on the same morning last month, at branches of Santander and Deutsche Bank across the street from each other close to the Duesseldorf suburb’s main square. A…

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Explainer-What is solid-fuel technology, and why is North Korea eager to develop it?

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea says it has tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), its first known use of the propellant in a longer-range projectile, as it seeks the capability to launch with little preparation. Here are some characteristics of solid-fuel technology, and how it can help the North improve…

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Ukraine forces pull back as Russia mounts ‘re-energised’ Bakhmut assault, UK says

LONDON (Reuters) – Ukrainian troops have been forced to withdraw from some territory in the battlefield city of Bakhmut as Russia mounts a renewed assault there with intense artillery fire over the past two days, Britain said in an intelligence update on Friday. “Russia has re-energised its assault on the Donetsk Oblast town of Bakhmut…

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Russian diplomat says it may be time to reduce number of U.S. reporters in Russia

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s ambassador to the United States said Washington had threatened retaliation after Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained on espionage charges, and suggested it might be time to cut the number of U.S. journalists in Russia. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on March 30 it had detained Gershkovich in…

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