The week at a glance...International

Moscow

Putin’s sticky fingers: Russian President Vladimir Putin is angrily denying he stole a Super Bowl ring from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Kraft said last week that he showed Putin the ring during a 2005 visit to St. Petersburg. “He put it on and he goes, ‘I can kill someone with this ring,’” Kraft said. “I put my hand out and he put it in his pocket, and three KGB guys got around him and walked out.” The diamond-encrusted ring, worth $25,000, is on display with other state gifts at the Kremlin. Putin’s spokesman said Kraft had given him the ring as a gift, and said that his accusation “should be the subject of a detailed talk with psychoanalysts.” Putin offered to buy Kraft a new ring.

Hong Kong

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Snowden’s plans: Edward Snowden, the NSA contractor who leaked evidence that the U.S. monitors millions of emails and phone records, wants to leave China and claim asylum in Iceland. Snowden, who has been holed up in Hong Kong, told Chinese media that the U.S. had conducted cyberattacks on China, prompting former Vice President Dick Cheney to speculate he might be a Chinese spy. In an Internet Q&A with The Guardian, Snowden denied being a spy and added, “Being called a traitor by Dick Cheney is the highest honor you can give an American.” He said he did not intend to remain in China and had asked Iceland for asylum. “The U.S. government is not going to be able to cover this up by jailing or murdering me,” he said. “Truth is coming, and it cannot be stopped.”

Kabul

Talking to the Taliban: President Hamid Karzai has threatened to boycott U.S.-led peace talks with the Taliban, saying the process should be “Afghan-led.” The U.S. agreed to talk to the Taliban in Qatar, where the militants have opened an office, after the Taliban made two key concessions, agreeing to support the peace process and to refrain from launching attacks on other countries from Afghan soil. The U.S. announcement surprised and angered the Afghan government, which expected that talks would be contingent on the Taliban recognizing the Afghan government. This week, Afghan forces took formal control over the country’s security from NATO troops. Karzai said he would suspend negotiations to allow U.S. troops to remain in the country after 2014.

Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Skip the hajj: Saudi authorities are taking action to make Muslims put off their pilgrimage to Mecca until next year or later. The government has cut the number of permits for foreign pilgrims by 20 percent this year because there’s just not enough space: Renovations to the Grand Mosque in Mecca won’t be finished when the hajj starts in October, and part of the area will be closed. Making the trek to Mecca, birthplace of Mohammed, at least once is compulsory for Muslims who are financially and physically able. Some 3 million Muslims perform the hajj each year.