U.S. hopes for more from Russia after Crimean prisoners freed
KIEV (Reuters) – The release of two Crimean Tatars from Russian custody this week was a good sign and hopefully means Russia will take positive steps in eastern Ukraine as well, the U.S. special envoy to the Ukraine peace talks said on Saturday.
Sacked Catalonia leader calls for opposition to Madrid’s rule
MADRID/BARCELONA (Reuters) – Sacked Catalonian president Carles Puigdemont on Saturday called for peaceful “democratic opposition” to the central government’s takeover of the region following its unilateral declaration of independence from Spain.
Brazil’s president recovering after prostate surgery
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Brazilian President Michel Temer is recovering after a successful operation in a Sao Paulo hospital to reduce the size of his prostate, his office said in a statement late on Friday night.
U.S. service member killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash
KABUL (Reuters) – A U.S. military service member died as a result of injuries and six others were wounded after a helicopter crashed in Logar province south of the Afghan capital Kabul late on Friday, the NATO-led resolute Support mission said in a sta…
Catalan police call for neutrality as Spain exerts control
MADRID/BARCELONA (Reuters) – Catalonia’s police force told its officers to remain neutral in the struggle over the region’s fight for independence on Saturday, a step toward averting possible conflict as the Madrid government starts to impose direct co…
Yemeni Salafist imam killed in Aden: sources
ADEN (Reuters) – A Salafist imam was shot dead by gunmen early on Saturday in Aden, southern Yemen, witnesses and local officials said, the third killing of a Salafist imam this month.
China’s Guangdong gets new party boss, former leader likely to be promoted
BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Saturday appointed a new top official for the southern export powerhouse province of Guangdong, whose former leader sources say is likely to be promoted to a vice premier, part of a reshuffle after the end of a Communist Pa…
Spain sacks Catalan police chief as Madrid exerts control
MADRID/BARCELONA (Reuters) – Spain has sacked the chief of Catalonia’s regional police force, Josep Lluis Trapero, as the government in Madrid takes control of the autonomous region to block its push for independence.
In Kenya election re-run, polling incomplete and next steps uncertain
KISUMU, Kenya (Reuters) – Kenyans who boycotted a repeat presidential election voiced relief on Saturday after authorities indefinitely delayed further attempts to hold the vote in some opposition areas due to the risk of violence.
U.S. wants Sahel force strategy before giving money: officials
KINSHASA (Reuters) – The United States strongly supports an African military force to combat extremist militants in the Sahel region, but needs to see a strategy for the operation before it considers funding, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations and th…
