Ghana’s main opposition party elects Akufo-Addo as 2016 candidate
ACCRA (Reuters) – Ghana’s main opposition New Patriotic Party voted overwhelmingly on Saturday to retain Nana Akufo-Addo as its leader for the 2016 election, setting up a rematch of the last poll when he lost narrowly to President John Mahama.
Maduro supporters, foes stage rival protests in polarized Venezuela
CARACAS (Reuters) – Red-clad “Chavistas” rallied in central Caracas on Saturday to protest the killing of a young ruling party lawmaker, while across town a protest called by the opposition’s new leader failed to attract as big a crowd.
Ukraine says it agrees on interim gas price with Russia
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s and Russia’s leaders have reached a preliminary agreement on a price for gas supplies this winter but Kiev may need international help to pay, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Saturday.
U.S.-led coalition jets strike Kobani, Islamic State shells hit Turkey
MURSITPINAR Turkey/BEIRUT (Reuters) – U.S.-led coalition jets pounded suspected Islamic State targets at least six times in the besieged Syrian town of Kobani on Saturday after the fiercest shelling in days by the insurgents shook the town’s center and…
U.N. urges Mali peace accord at Algiers talks
ALGIERS (Reuters) – The United Nations peacekeeping chief on Saturday urged the Malian government to show a strong signal of its commitment to peace as negotiations with rebels restarted.
Hong Kong democracy street battles rage on despite imminent talks
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Violent clashes erupted early on Sunday in a Hong Kong protest hotspot as unarmed pro-democracy activists once again confronted riot police despite the confirmation of talks between protest leaders and officials early this week.
Morocco says Algerian soldier fired on Moroccans at border, summons envoy
RABAT (Reuters) – Morocco said on Saturday that an Algerian soldier had fired on Moroccan civilians, badly wounding one of them, in the north east at the border with Algeria, and that it had summoned the Algerian ambassador for an explanation.
Greece’s anti-bailout party still leads conservatives in latest poll
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s radical leftist Syriza party would beat Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ New Democracy party if an election were held now, but its lead has slipped, an opinion poll showed on Saturday.
Rome mayor recognizes gay marriages, riles minister, bishops
ROME (Reuters) – Rome’s center-left mayor on Saturday recognized the validity of 16 gay marriages performed outside Italy, the first such ceremony in the capital, sparking an angry reaction from the interior minister and the country’s Roman Catholic Ch…
Berlin gets a less glamorous mayor with focus on economy
BERLIN (Reuters) – The German capital will replace its party-loving mayor Klaus Wowereit with little-known politician Michael Mueller, the city’s Social Democrats (SPD) decided in a vote on Saturday.