DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: A prominent opposition candidate accused police of using live bullets to break up a protest in the capital Kinshasa today, as demonstrators demanded a re-run of last week’s presidential election.

Martin Fayulu said a bullet had landed near him while he was barricaded inside his headquarters during a stand-off with police. 

Police claimed that they were restoring order and that no live bullets had been used, only tear gas. 

Mr Fayulu is one of five opposition candidates who called the protest.

TURKEY: Air strikes by the military this week have hit more than 70 sites allegedly linked to Kurdish groups in Syria and northern Iraq in retaliation for the deaths of 12 Turkish soldiers in Iraq, Defence Minister Yasar Guler said today.

At least 59 Kurdish militants were reportedly killed in the strikes as well as in clashes on land.

There was no immediate statement from Kurdish groups and the 59 deaths could not be independently verified.

RUSSIA: A politician calling for peace in Ukraine lost an appeal today against election officials’ refusal to accept her nomination for next March’s presidential election, which incumbent Vladimir Putin is all but certain to win.

Former regional legislator Yekaterina Duntsova has promoted her vision of a “humane” Russia “that’s peaceful, friendly and ready to co-operate with everyone on the principle of respect.”

ROMANIA: The death toll from a massive fire at a guesthouse in Prahova county rose to seven people this morning, including at least two children.

Emergency crews were deployed to the blaze that erupted on Tuesday morning in the village of Tohani, where 26 people were staying at the guesthouse, according to the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations.