Putin critic Navalny seeks permission to visit Sochi
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian opposition figure and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny, who is restricted from travelling outside Moscow, has requested permission to visit Sochi during the Winter Olympics, according to his blog and his press secretary…
Shi’ites overrun rival strongholds in north Yemen; 40 dead
SANAA (Reuters) – Shi’ite rebels have overrun strongholds of a rival Sunni tribal group in fighting that has killed at least 40 people in northern Yemen in the last two days, tribal sources said on Sunday.
Ex-rebel faces gang-fighting conservative in El Salvador vote
SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) – A former guerrilla commander vies to keep his left-wing party in power in El Salvador’s presidential election on Sunday, but he faces a strong challenge from a right-leaning rival who wants to use the army to battle powerful st…
French gay marriage protest draws thousands
PARIS (Reuters) – Thousands of demonstrators began gathering in Paris and Lyon on Sunday in a renewed protest against France’s legalization of gay marriage, which has mobilized conservatives of all stripes.
Scandals, inequality loom large as Costa Rica votes for new leader
SAN JOSE (Reuters) – Costa Rica’s centrist ruling party front-runner hoped to fend off a leftist surge fueled by voter resentment over government corruption scandals and rising inequality as voters in Central America’s second-largest economy headed to …
Scotland’s pro-independence camp gets small poll boost before vote
LONDON (Reuters) – The number of people in Scotland who want their small country to become independent of the United Kingdom in a referendum later this year has risen slightly, a poll showed on Sunday, but those opposed to a breakaway still enjoy a com…
Turkey says open to alternatives to Chinese missile defense system
MUNICH (Reuters) – Turkey’s Foreign Minister said on Sunday Ankara had not yet decided which missile defense system it would buy and it was open to bids from other companies besides the current Chinese favorite if these guaranteed joint production.
Yemen tribesmen say seize German to push for relatives’ release
SANAA (Reuters) – Yemeni tribesmen said on Sunday they had kidnapped a German man to press their government to free jailed relatives, underscoring the breakdown in security in the Western-allied country.
Israeli minister attacks Kerry over boycott warnings
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is holding a gun to Israel’s head in peace talks with the Palestinians by warning it could face international isolation if negotiations failed, a senior Israeli cabinet minister said on Sunday.
Catalan leader says Spain cannot block independence vote: report
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain cannot block a non-binding vote on Catalan independence that could become the basis for negotiations on Catalonia’s future, the president of the northeastern region said in an interview published on Sunday.
