France denies paying ransom as Sahel hostages return
NIAMEY/PARIS (Reuters) – Four Frenchmen held hostage in the Sahara desert by al Qaeda-linked gunmen for three years flew home and were reunited with their families on Wednesday, with Paris dismissing media reports it had paid a ransom for their release…
Italy Senate to hold open vote on expelling Berlusconi
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s Senate will hold an open vote next month on whether to expel Silvio Berlusconi from parliament, after an upper house committee narrowly rejected his bid to make the ballot secret.
Kenya election officials charged over faulty vote count equipment
NAIROBI (Reuters) – The chief executive of Kenya’s electoral commission was charged on Wednesday over a $15 million tender for equipment that was meant to prevent vote fraud during March’s presidential election but broke down during the count.
Congo’s army says closing in on last rebel positions
RUTSHURU, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – Congo’s U.N.-backed army closed in on some of the last pockets of territory held by M23 rebels on Wednesday, a local commander and a United Nations official said.
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.
