Croatians vote in local polls ahead of EU entry
Zagreb. Croatians cast ballots on Sunday for municipal officials in a vote seen as a test for the centre-left government and its austerity policies, six weeks ahead of the former Yugoslav republic's EU entry, AFP reports.

Scandals risk tainting Obama's second term
Washington. With time ticking down to get things done in his final term, President Barack Obama risks suffering long-term consequences from a series of scandals that have hit the White House in recent days, AFP reports.

Nigeria offensive on Islamists escalates in key city
Maiduguri. A key city in northeast Nigeria was on lockdown Sunday as the military enforced a 24-hour curfew and blocked supply routes in its sweeping campaign against Islamist insurgents, AFP reports.