No clear outcome as Madagascar election results dribble in
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – Results dribbled in from Madagascar’s presidential election on Saturday but two front-runners said a second round looked likely in a vote many hope will restore investor confidence in an economy left paralyzed by a coup four ye…
Czech center-left ekes out slim poll victory, tough coalition talks loom
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech Social Democrats won a slim victory in a parliamentary election on Saturday but faced a tough task forming a government after a wave of voter anger over sleaze and budget cuts propelled new protest parties into parliament.
Italy’s Mount Etna volcano erupts
ROME (Reuters) – Europe’s tallest and most active volcano Mount Etna erupted on Saturday, spewing glowing lava into the air and sending a vast plume of smoke over the southern Italian island of Sicily.
Army says pushing back M23 rebels in eastern Congo
GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – The Congolese army said it made significant advances against eastern rebel forces in a second day of fierce fighting on Saturday and called on neighboring Rwanda to help disarm the insurgents.
Militants say ex-army major carried out Cairo suicide attack
CAIRO (Reuters) – A Sinai-based Islamist militant group that claimed a September assassination attempt on Egypt’s interior minister released a video on Saturday saying a former major in the army carried out the suicide bombing.
Kosovo issues arrest warrant for Serb minister for illegal entry
PRISTINA (Reuters) – Kosovo has issued an arrest warrant for a Serbian minister who entered the country illegally, a police spokesman said on Saturday, a move that may hamper implementation of a deal to normalise ties between Pristina and Belgrade.
Bahrain defends use of teargas following criticism
DUBAI (Reuters) – Bahrain has defended its use of teargas after rights groups criticized the Gulf kingdom’s reported plans to buy 1.6 million canisters of the material.
Afghanistan to ask Pakistan about Taliban chief’s whereabouts
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan will demand an explanation from Pakistan on the whereabouts of a former Taliban second-in-command when the leaders of both countries meet next week to discuss how to end years of insurgency, an Afghan official said on Satu…
Iran border guards killed, captured on Pakistan border
DUBAI (Reuters) – Fourteen Iranian border guards were killed and three others captured by “bandits” on the southeastern frontier with Pakistan overnight, Iranian media reported on Saturday.
Kurdish fighters seize Syrian border post from Islamists
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Kurdish militants seized a Syrian border post on the frontier with Iraq early on Saturday, fighters and monitors said, after three days of clashes with an al Qaeda-linked group which had held the crossing since March.
