Israel frees Palestinian prisoners, pushes settlement plan
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) – Israel freed 26 Palestinian prisoners on Wednesday as part of U.S.-brokered peace efforts, but said it was pressing on with plans to build more homes for Jewish settlers, in an apparent move to appease hardliners.
Assad tells U.N. envoy peace talks can succeed only if aid to rebels stops
BEIRUT (Reuters) – President Bashar al-Assad told U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Wednesday that talks to end Syria’s civil war would only succeed if foreign powers ended support for rebels fighting to overthrow him.
Syria’s Assad says peace talks tied to ending aid to ‘terrorists’
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who met with United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Wednesday, said the success of peace talks was tied to “stopping support for terrorist groups.”
Mexico Senate broadly approves tax plan, hits snag on details
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s Senate gave general approval to the government’s plan to boost tax revenues before the main opposition party walked out early on Wednesday, halting voting on divisive details of the reform.
Germany’s Merkel sends top foreign adviser to press U.S. over spying
BERLIN (Reuters) – Angela Merkel’s top foreign affairs and intelligence advisers will quiz officials in Washington on Wednesday over the activities of U.S. spies in Germany, including allegations they tapped the German chancellor’s phone.
Russia denies Italian reports it spied on G20 leaders
ROME/MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia has denied reports that its intelligence services spied on hundreds of foreign delegates at a Group of 20 summit in St Petersburg in September using gifts such as teddy bears, diaries and free USB keys.
China formally charges journalist with defaming state-backed company
BEIJING (Reuters) – A Chinese journalist who repeatedly criticized a major state-owned construction equipment maker has been formally arrested on a charge of damaging its reputation, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday, in the latest twist in the …
Egypt arrests Muslim Brotherhood leader: ministry source
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian authorities have detained senior Muslim Brotherhood leader Essam El-Erian, an Interior Ministry source said on Wednesday, the latest arrest in a government crackdown against the Islamist movement.
China to step up own security after new NSA allegations
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will step up its security following allegations that the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) collected data on millions of phone calls in Europe and snooped on leaders of major U.S. allies, the government said on Wednesday.
Tepco shouldn’t be in charge of Fukushima shutdown: Japan panel
TOKYO (Reuters) – Tokyo Electric Power Co should be stripped of the responsibility for shutting down its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, according to a draft proposal by a panel of Japan’s ruling party.
