Bombings kill 45 in Shi’ite areas of Baghdad and outskirts – police, medical officials
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – At least 45 people were killed in bombings in Baghdad and its rural outskirts on Saturday as the government continued to defend the capital against jihadists who four months ago seized major cities in northern Iraq.
Largest Irish anti-austerity march in years targets water charges
DUBLIN (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of people rallied against new water bills in Dublin on Saturday in Ireland’s biggest anti-austerity protest for years as a candidate calling for a boycott of the charges was elected to parliament in a by-election.
Suspected Somali Islamists abduct Kenyan traders – governor
MOMBASA Kenya (Reuters) – Suspected Somali Islamist militants have abducted five Kenyans who were transporting the stimulant khat on Kenya’s northern coast, a regional official said, the latest in a string of incidents blamed on the Somali rebels.
Drone strike kills two suspected militants in northwest Pakistan
DERA ISMAIL KHAN Pakistan (Reuters) – A U.S. drone strike killed two suspected militants in northwest Pakistan on Saturday, Pakistani intelligence officials said, part of a flurry of strikes this week after a long pause earlier this year.
Ban Ki-moon makes surprise visit to Libya, urges dialogue
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon flew to Tripoli on Saturday to urge the warring factions fighting for control of Libya to make peace, in the highest-level visit since an armed faction took the capital in August.
Ukraine leader says expects tough talks with Putin next week
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Saturday he expected planned talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin next week in Italy to be difficult but said Moscow had a crucial role to play in bringing peace to his country.
Finland says Russian navy interfered with Baltic Sea research vessel
HELSINKI (Reuters) – The Russian navy twice interfered with a Finnish state environmental research vessel in international waters in August and September, the Finnish Environment Institute said on Saturday.
Mourners pay last respects to Haiti’s ex-dictator, Duvalier
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) – Haiti’s former dictator, Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, was laid to rest on Saturday, marking the end of a political dynasty notorious for its corruption and abuse of human rights.
Somalia to halt banned charcoal trade at port recaptured from al Shabaab
BARAWE Somalia (Reuters) – Somalia’s president said on Saturday he would halt charcoal exports from Barawe, a port town recaptured from an Islamist group who U.N. investigators said had benefited from the illegal trade.
Pitching tents, Hong Kong democracy protesters dig in for long haul
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hundreds of student activists camped overnight at major protest sites in Hong Kong as the democracy movement sought to re-gather momentum after the government called off talks on defusing unrest in the global financial hub.
