Police arrest 60 at Dutch “Black Pete” festival
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Police arrested 60 people on Saturday as protesters clashed at a traditional Dutch festival for children which critics say is racist, but that many locals defend as harmless fun in the run up to Christmas.
Ukraine to close state offices, bank services in rebel-held east
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko issued several decrees on Saturday to shut state institutions and banking services in pro-Russian eastern regions, pressing a move to cut links with the rebel-held territory.
Rome’s anti-migrant protests highlight resentment among poor
ROME (Reuters) – Protests over a migrant center in a run-down suburb of Rome this week have exposed a crisis in poor areas of the Italian capital suffering after years of neglect and mismanagement of infrastructure compounded by Italy’s deep economic c…
Algeria’s Bouteflika leaves French hospital, flies home: police
ALGIERS/PARIS (Reuters) – Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has left a French hospital and is on a plane flying home, a French police source said on Saturday.
Serbian nationalist, released from war crimes court, rallies thousands
BELGRADE (Reuters) – A Serbian nationalist leader rallied thousands of supporters on Saturday in scenes that threaten to embarrass a U.N. war crimes court that released him on grounds of ill-health before reaching a verdict in his trial.
Burkina military restores constitution, gives deadline for new leader
OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) – Burkina Faso’s military ruler said on Saturday he had restored the constitution that was suspended when President Blaise Compaore was toppled after mass protests last month.
Pakistan prime minister pledges support for new Afghan president
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Looking to overcome years of mistrust and hostility between their two nations, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the new Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, promised on Saturday to boost security and trade ties.
Russia sees chance of deal at nuclear talks with Iran
BRISBANE Australia (Reuters) – A deal could be reached this month between world powers and Iran on curbing the country’s nuclear program if there is the will in Washington and Tehran, a senior Russian diplomat said on Saturday.
Scottish nationalist ‘kingmakers’ eye post-2015 election deal with Labour
PERTH Scotland (Reuters) – If Scottish nationalists win a ‘kingmaker’ position in Britain’s May 2015 election, they would consider supporting a minority Labour government but would never get into bed with the Conservatives, their leader in the London p…
Sierra Leone frees journalist detained over Ebola criticism
FREETOWN (Reuters) – Authorities in Sierra Leone have freed a journalist arrested 11 days ago for making supposedly disparaging comments about the country’s effort to fight Ebola.
