1. Mexicans protest against Trump

    Tens of thousands of Mexicans protested on Sunday against U.S. President Donald Trump, hitting back at his anti-Mexican rhetoric* and his pledges to make their country pay for his “big, beautiful” border wall.

    “Mexico must be respected, Mr. Trump,” said a giant banner carried by protesters in Mexico City, who waved a sea of red, white and green Mexican flags as they marched down the capital’s main avenue under the watchful eyes of thousands of police.

    2. Swiss ease citizenship for foreigners

    Voters in Switzerland decided on Sunday to make it easier for young “third-generation foreigners” to get Swiss citizenship, agreeing to extend to about 25,000 people access to the fast-track process now available to foreign spouses of Swiss nationals.

    A “naturalization* of third-generation immigrants” measure passed in a national referendum* with 60.4 percent of the vote, Swiss broadcaster SRF reported.

    The measure gives young people whose parents and grandparents have lived in Switzerland for years a simplified path to citizenship. Being born in Switzerland doesn’t automatically* confer* citizenship in Switzerland and some other European countries.

    3. Snowden ‘not afraid’ of return to US

    Edward Snowden said he is “not afraid” of being returned to the United States after NBC News reported that intelligence officials have information that Russia is considering turning him over as a “gift” to U.S. President Donald Trump.

    The fugitive former intelligence contractor wrote on Twitter: “Days ago, I criticized the Russian Government’s oppressive* new ‘Big Brother’ law. Now, threatening rumors. But I won’t stop.”

    He added: “I don’t know if the rumors are true. But I can tell you this: I am not afraid. There are things that must be said no matter the consequence.”

    4. Governor surges in South Korea polls

    A provincial governor nicknamed after a leading boy band is surging in South Korean presidential polls following former United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon’s announcement that he would not run in an election that could come within months.

    Governor An Hee-jung is seen as a down-to-earth, uncomplicated politician, traits* that could serve him well in a nation roiled by December’s impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. If the Constitutional Court upholds* the impeachment, an election would be held in 60 days.

    “I want to be a president who would put up a basketball hoop in the yard of the Blue House and play basketball with aides,” said An, a youthful-looking 51.

    5. Peru asks for ex-leader deportation

    Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski asked U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Sunday to consider deporting* the Andean* country’s fugitive ex-president, Alejandro Toledo, Kuczynski said in a statement.

    Kuczynski’s government believes that Toledo, wanted in connection with a far-reaching graft probe, is in the United States but that efforts to capture him there have stalled on legal hurdles.

    Kuczynski did not describe Trump’s response to his request and the White House did not mention Toledo in a readout of the conversation.

    6. Bill authorizing Brexit talks passed

    Britain’s House of Commons gave its final approval on February 8 to a bill authorizing the government to start exit talks with the European Union, despite fears by opposition lawmakers that the United Kingdom is setting out on the rocky path to Brexit with a sketchy roadmap.

    As the votes were being tallied*, a few pro-EU legislators whistled Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” the bloc’s anthem. But the decisive 494-122 result was another big step on Britain’s road to the EU exit door.(SD-Agencies)