Catalans hope for big turnout in symbolic independence vote
BARCELONA (Reuters) – Hundreds of thousands of Catalans are expected to back independence from Spain on Sunday in a symbolic referendum on secession being held across the northeastern region, despite opposition from Madrid.
Yearning for freedom brought down Berlin Wall, says Merkel
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday an irrepressible yearning for freedom brought the Berlin Wall tumbling down 25 years ago and called it a “miracle” that the Cold War barrier was breached without a shot being fired.
Libyan protesters seize eastern oil port as Benghazi toll hits 300
BENGHAZI/TUNIS (Reuters) – Libyan state security guards have started a protest at the 120,000 barrel per day Hariga oil port in the east, halting all oil exports from the terminal, a Libyan oil official said on Saturday.
U.S. air strikes target Islamic State convoy in Iraq
BAGHDAD/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. air strikes destroyed an Islamic State convoy near the Iraqi city of Mosul but U.S. officials said on Saturday it was unclear whether the group’s top commander Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been in any of the 10 targeted …
Israeli Arabs declare strike after police kill man during arrest raid
KAFR KANA Israel (Reuters) – Community leaders of Israel’s Arab minority declared a 24-hour general commercial strike, starting on Sunday, following the shooting dead by police of a man from the village of Kafr Kana in the north of the country.
Iran says nuclear deal within reach by November 24, no alternatives
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran sees no alternative to a diplomatic settlement with six world powers on its nuclear program and believes both sides are resolved to reach a deal by a self-imposed Nov. 24 deadline, its deputy foreign minister said on Saturday.
Thousands protest poll hitches in Romania ahead of run-off vote
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Thousands of people rallied in cities across Romania on Saturday in support of compatriots living abroad who were turned away as they tried to vote in the first round of a presidential election on November 2.
Iran’s uranium stockpile grows before deadline for nuclear deal
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran’s stockpile of low-enriched uranium gas has grown by 8 percent to nearly 8.4 tonnes in about two months, U.N. atomic inspectors say, an amount world powers probably will want to see cut under any nuclear deal with Tehran.
U.S. strikes Islamic State convoy near Mosul: officials
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. air strikes destroyed a moving, 10-vehicle Islamic State convoy near the Iraqi city of Mosul but U.S. officials said on Saturday it was unclear whether the group’s top commander Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was present at the time.
Yemen’s Houthis reject new power-sharing government
SANAA (Reuters) – Yemen’s Houthi movement, which seized the capital Sanaa in September, on Saturday rejected a new power-sharing government that President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi announced on Friday, thwarting his efforts to end the country’s political …
