Caracas / AFP Opposition leaders in Venezuela said they have finished the process of authenticating signatures on a petition to recall President Nicolas Maduro, and have enough to hold a referendum on removing him. “The number of signatures has clearly exceeded the minimum needed,” said Vicente Bello, coordinator for the referendum effort. Government election authorities now have 20 days to …

  Reykjavik / AFP Iceland began voting in a presidential election Saturday, two months after the Panama Papers scandal tainted part of the political elite, with newcomer Gudni Johannesson seen clinching an easy victory. Polling stations opened at 0900 GMT, with 245,000 Icelanders eligible to cast ballots. Polls were to close at 2200 GMT, with the first results expected shortly …

  Tribal Areas / WAM The UAE-Pakistani Friendship Road, funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) at cost of US$60.6 million, has been inaugurated in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan. The move follows the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of …