worst nuclear accident

On Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced a three-month moratorium on extending the operation periods for its nuclear power plants, which account for 23 percent of the nation’s power. Under the moratorium, seven plants that began operating before 1980 will be shut down, leaving 10 plants still operational. The move is a reversal for Merkel, who last year made the controversial decision to keep the plants running until the mid-2030s.

Switzerland also suspended its nuclear plans pending a safety review, and the European Union called for an emergency meeting of energy ministers Tuesday to assess, among other points, the idea of running stress tests on the EU’s 143 nuclear plants.

But other world leaders, while calling