U.S. ready to help Hungary build energy independence: diplomat
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – The United States is willing to help Hungary and other European countries build energy infrastructure to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Budapest André Goodfriend has told Nepszava newspaper.
Lebanese block roads to demand release of soldiers
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Families of Lebanese soldiers held by militants blocked roads in Beirut and highways between major cities on Saturday, pressing the government to do more to free them.
India detains suspect in plot to kill Bangladesh PM
GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) – Indian police have arrested a key suspect in a blast in West Bengal state who they believe is linked to a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of neighboring Bangladesh and stage a coup there.
Syria says repels Islamic State attack on air base
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A Syrian military source said on Saturday that government forces had repelled an attack by Islamic State militants on an air base in the eastern province of Deir al-Zor, one of the last remaining government stronghold in eastern Syri…
Swiss man overpowers rebel guard, escapes in Philippines
MANILA (Reuters) – A Swiss wildlife photographer escaped from Islamist rebels in the Philippines on Saturday, killing one of them with a machete as he made a break for freedom during a clash between the insurgents and government troops, a Philippine of…
Al Qaeda militant threatens Lebanese Shi’ites after wife detained
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A leading member of Syria’s al Qaeda branch, Abu Ali al-Shishani, has pledged to attack Lebanese women and children and end talks to free more than two dozen members of the Lebanese security forces, after his wife was detained by aut…
France’s Hollande to meet Putin in Moscow: Kremlin
MOSCOW (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande will hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, the Kremlin said on Saturday.
Iran confirms air strikes in Iraq against Islamic State: Guardian newspaper
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A senior Iranian official has confirmed his country carried out air strikes in neighboring Iraq against Islamic State fighters at the request of Iraqi authorities, Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported.
Russia’s Gazprom receives prepayment from Ukraine for gas supplies
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian natural gas producer Gazprom said on Saturday it had received a prepayment of $378.22 million from Ukraine for natural gas supplies, paving the way for the first shipments to Kiev since Moscow cut supplies in June.
Massive evacuation as Typhoon Hagupit nears Philippines
MANILA (Reuters) – More than half a million people in the Philippines have fled from a powerful typhoon in one of the world’s biggest peacetime evacuations, as the storm threatens to wreak more destruction on areas still bearing the scars of a super ty…