US claims Russian spy ring exposed Iceland PM weds same-sex partner

WASHINGTON - US authorities said yesterday they have broken up a Russian spy ring operating in the US that was tasked with recruiting…

WASHINGTON - US authorities said yesterday they have broken up a Russian spy ring operating in the US that was tasked with recruiting political sources and gathering information to send back to Moscow.

Authorities charged 11 individuals with the plot, 10 of whom were arrested on Sunday in Boston, New York, New Jersey and Virginia on charges including conspiracy to act as unlawful agents of the Russian Federation and money laundering.

The group was accused of being tasked by the Russian intelligence agency SVR to enter the US, assume false identities, and become "deep-cover" Americans, US Justice Department said.

REYKJAVIK - Icelandic prime minister Johanna Sigurdardottir has married her long-term partner, her office said yesterday, making her the world's first national leader with a same-sex spouse.

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Ms Sigurdardottir (67) married writer Jonina Leosdottir on Sunday, the day a new law took effect defining marriage as a union between two consenting adults regardless of sex.

The two women had had a civil union for years and changed this into a marriage under the new law, which was approved by Iceland's parliament earlier this month. - (Reuters)