Thousands of Ukrainians stage rival rallies in capital Kiev
KIEV (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Ukrainians rallied in support of President Viktor Yanukovich in central Kiev on Saturday, separated by a line of riot police from anti-government protesters who have camped out for weeks in a nearby square.
Syrian Islamist rebels to meet U.S. officials: opposition sources
BEIRUT/ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Syrian rebel commanders from the Islamic Front which seized control of bases belonging to Western-backed rebels last week are due to hold talks with U.S. officials in Turkey in coming days, rebel and opposition sources said …
Egyptians to vote on constitution January 14-15
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptians will vote on a new constitution on January 14 and 15, pushing on with the army-backed government’s plan for transition back to democracy after its overthrow of elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi.
Iran arrests spy for Britain’s MI6: Fars news agency
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian intelligence authorities have arrested a man on charges of spying for Britain’s MI6, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Saturday.
Catalonia sets referendum date next year, Spain says no
MADRID (Reuters) – Separatist parties in Spain’s Catalonia region set November 9 next year as the date for a proposed independence referendum on Thursday and agreed the wording, but the Spanish government immediately poured cold water on the plan.
Yemen says air strike targeted al Qaeda leaders
SANAA (Reuters) – Yemen said senior al Qaeda militants were targeted in Thursday’s air strike in al-Bayda province, the first government statement on an incident which local officials said killed 15 people on their way to a wedding.
More than 4,000 evacuated from Gaza ‘disaster area’ floods
GAZA (Reuters) – More than 4,000 people have been evacuated from flood-damaged homes in northern Gaza in what the United Nations has called “a disaster area”, officials said on Saturday.
Kerry presses Vietnam leaders to protect human rights
HO CHI MINH CITY (Reuters) – In his first visit to Vietnam as America’s top diplomat, John Kerry urged the country’s leaders to strengthen their commitment to human rights and allow more freedom of expression, including on the Internet.
Russia’s Lavrov says provocateurs behind ‘hysteria’ of Ukrainian protests
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukrainian demonstrators were overreacting to the country’s policy swerve to Russia and criticized the West for excessive involvement in the protests in Kiev’s Independence Square.
Israel lifts sabbath public transport ban for Jerusalem snow emergency
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Jerusalem’s heaviest snow for 50 years forced Israeli authorities to lift a Jewish sabbath public transport ban on Saturday and allow trains out of the city where highways were shut to traffic.
