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European banks stop sending money to North Korea: aid groups
BEIJING (Reuters) - European aid groups said their banks in Europe had stopped sending money to North Korea in the wake of U.S. sanctions on Pyongyang's main foreign exchange bank, leaving them scrambling for a solution short of hand-carrying cash into the impoverished country.

NASA investing in 3-D food printer for astronauts
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - In a scene right out of Star Trek, a Texas company is developing a 3-D food printer for astronauts to create custom meals on the fly.

Apple, former Washington wallflower, now at center of tax fight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For years, Apple Inc kept a low profile in Washington as it grew into one of the most valuable companies in the world. Now the iPad maker has taken the lead, perhaps inadvertently, on a top priority for U.S. business: simplifying America's tax code.

Apple, former Washington wallflower, now at center of tax fight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For years, Apple Inc kept a low profile in Washington as it grew into one of the most valuable companies in the world. Now the iPad maker has taken the lead, perhaps inadvertently, on a top priority for U.S. business: simplifying America's tax code.

Los Angeles calls upon star French designers for 'Figaro' opera
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Count Almaviva, muscles bulging and resplendent in white, struts like a peacock across the stage belting his baritone at his countess, who sits in a flowing red gown against a sparse backdrop of sleek, modernist lines.

Obama nominee vows to work with Congress to fund transportation
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's choice to be transportation secretary promised on Wednesday to work with Congress to figure out how to fund U.S. transportation needs during a time of tight budgets and faced lingering Republican anger over recent air traffic controller furloughs.

Obama threatens to veto Republican student loan plan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House threatened on Wednesday to veto a Republican bill to switch federal student loan interest rates to a market-based system, arguing the plan would create more uncertainty for students and families.

Exclusive: Glencore, Trafigura deals with Iran may have skirted sanctions - U.N
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Metals swap deals with Iran by Switzerland-based commodities giants Glencore Xstrata and Trafigura could have been a way of skirting international sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program, according to a confidential U.N. Panel of Experts report seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

British soldier hacked to death in suspected Islamist attack
LONDON (Reuters) - A British soldier was hacked to death by two men shouting Islamic slogans in a south London street on Wednesday, in what the government said appeared to be a terrorist attack.

Accused Fort Hood shooter asks to fire lawyers, represent self
SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - Accused Fort Hood shooting spree gunman Major Nidal Hasan asked a U.S. military judge on Wednesday for permission to fire his court-appointed lawyers and represent himself at his court martial, a Fort Hood spokesman said.

Army sergeant accused of videotaping female cadets
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Army sergeant at the Military Academy has been accused of videotaping female cadets in the showers a West Point, a defense official said on Wednesday, the latest in a series of sex-related incidents that has rocked the armed forces.

Justice Department tells lawmakers no bank is too big to jail
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Justice Department official insisted on Wednesday that no financial company is too big to jail, in the department's latest effort to backpedal from statements made in March by Attorney General Eric Holder.

Philadelphia faith-healing parents charged in death of baby
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A Philadelphia couple was charged on Wednesday in the death of their infant son, the second of their children who prosecutors say died after his parents prayed over him instead of seeking medical attention.

FDA panel says Merck's sleep drug safe, effective at lower dose
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Merck & Co's experimental insomnia drug was safe and effective at the lower of two doses studied, a panel of medical experts said on Wednesday, increasing the chance it will be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Senate committee advances drug compounding bill
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation that would increase federal oversight for companies that compound and sell sterile drugs across state lines.

Borders gift card holders deserve nothing, judge rules
(Reuters) - Borders owes nothing to holders of roughly $210.5 million of gift cards that had not been used by the time the bookstore chain shut down, a Manhattan federal judge ruled on Wednesday.

Head coach Vigneault sacked by Canucks
(Reuters) - The Vancouver Canucks fired head coach Alain Vigneault on Wednesday, along with assistants Rick Bowness and Newell Brown, following the National Hockey League team's first-round exit from the playoffs.

San Francisco's Crabtree has surgery on torn Achilles
(Reuters) - San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree has had surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon but is not expected to miss the entire 2013-14 season, the National Football League (NFL) team said on Wednesday.

HP raises 2013 outlook as Whitman's plan takes hold
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co raised its 2013 earnings outlook after quarterly results beat low expectations, as CEO Meg Whitman's turnaround plan helped offset shrinking personal computer sales with enterprise computing services.

IRS officials thwart lawmakers' quest for answers on IRS scandal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three congressional hearings during the past week have allowed lawmakers to vent their anger at the U.S. tax agency for its targeting of conservative groups for extra scrutiny, but the sessions have yielded few answers about who was responsible.