The Netherlands

Deputy must'attend his trial'

Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto must attend all sessions of his trial at the International Criminal Court unless specifically excused, appeals judges said on Friday in a ruling that puts the court at odds with Kenya and the African Union. Ruto, who is accused of orchestrating a wave of violence after Kenya's contested 2007 election, had asked judges to uphold an earlier ruling that he need only attend the opening and closing sessions of his trial as well as hearings at which victims aired their grievances.

Greece

Couple arrested for buying baby

A Greek couple has been arrested for buying a Roma baby girl from her mother for 4,000 euros ($5,500), and they will appear before a prosecutor on Friday to face charges, police said. It is the third case of suspected baby trafficking uncovered in Greece since last week, when authorities discovered a blond 4-year-old girl in a Roma camp who did not resemble the family she was living with.

Republic of Korea

DPRK returns 6 ROK nationals

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea returned six Republic of Korea nationals who had been detained in Pyongyang back to Seoul through the truce village of Panmunjom, Seoul's Unification Ministry said on Friday. The six ROK nationals, who had been detained in the DPRK allegedly for unlawfully entering the country, crossed the land border through Panmunjom at 4:50 pm local time, the Unification Ministry said.

Norway

Country rejects US request

Norway said on Friday it would not be able to accommodate a request from the United States to help destroy Syria's chemical arsenal on its soil. Foreign Minister Boerge Brende said the decision was based on the tight schedule - everything must be destroyed by the middle of next year - as well as technical and legal constraints.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Clash betweenarmy and rebels

Fighting resumed on Friday between the army and rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, both sides and the United Nations said, just days after peace talks were suspended. Clashes took place some 25 kilometers to the north of the eastern city of Goma, rebel spokesman Vianney Kazarama said. Both sides accused each other of starting the fresh outbreak of fighting.

Reuters-Xinhua-AFP

(China Daily 10/26/2013 page8)