Four French hostages kidnapped in Niger freed
NIAMEY/PARIS (Reuters) – Four French hostages kidnapped in Niger by al Qaeda’s north African wing have been released following secret talks with officials from the West African country, ending three years in captivity.
Bachelet may win Chile election in first round, poll shows
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Center-left former President Michelle Bachelet holds a huge lead in Chile’s presidential election this year and may attract enough support to win outright in the first round, a key poll showed on Tuesday.
U.S. lawmakers criticize Egypt aid cuts, consider changing law
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Some U.S. lawmakers said on Tuesday they were unhappy about cuts in Washington’s aid to Egypt announced earlier this month after authorities in Cairo used violence to put down protests.
Egypt and Brotherhood should pursue reconciliation: minister
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s army-backed government and the Muslim Brotherhood should seek reconciliation, a senior minister said on Tuesday, voicing a rare plea to seek compromise with a group branded “terrorists” by many of his cabinet colleagues.
Fewer North Koreans fleeing to South Korea, U.N. rights envoy says
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Fewer North Koreans are fleeing to South Korea, possibly due to tighter border control and cases of asylum seekers being returned home by China, a U.N. rights envoy said on Tuesday.
In Syria outbreak, polio exploits conflict once more
LONDON (Reuters) – With the world tantalizingly close to wiping out polio, conflict in Syria has allowed the crippling disease to take hold again, putting at risk the rest of the region as well as plans for global eradication.
Libya oil crisis deepens as protesters shun talks
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya’s oil crisis deepened on Tuesday after protesters blocking western fields shunned talks and locals denied that an eastern terminal would reopen, frustrating government efforts to end three months of disruptions.
Czech left leader gains ground in post-election party row
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka gained ground on Tuesday against rivals trying to depose him as party chief and candidate for prime minister, after an unconvincing election win last weekend.
Moldovan dancer says she was Concordia captain’s lover
GROSSETO, Italy (Reuters) – A young Moldovan dancer who was on the bridge of the Costa Concordia cruise liner with Captain Francesco Schettino when it capsized last year told an Italian court on Tuesday she had been his lover.
U.N. urges end of U.S. embargo on Cuba for 22nd time
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly for the 22nd time to condemn the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba, whose foreign minister said the American policy in place since 1959 was barbaric and amounted to g…
