U.S. pledges $135 million in additional Syria aid after U.N. warnings
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The United States pledged an additional $135 million in aid for the victims of the Syrian war on Saturday, much of it to help the United Nations with a funding shortfall it had warned could force it to scale back food distribution….
Iran supreme leader moves to break impasse over key cabinet post
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s supreme leader moved on Saturday to break a factional deadlock over the sensitive Ministry of Higher Education by reinstating President Hassan Rouhani’s moderate pick as interim minister, Iranian media reported.
Scotland’s first pro-independence daily paper to launch next week
LONDON (Reuters) – Scotland’s first daily newspaper to support independence from the United Kingdom will launch on Monday, reflecting surging nationalist support since Scots spurned independence two months ago.
Albanian opposition rallies against tax, power burden
TIRANA (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Albanians protested on Saturday against tax hikes in next year’s budget, accusing the Socialist-led government of impoverishing Albanians and falling short on its promises.
Colombia’s Santos says FARC release of hostages will be next week
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said he hoped next week to secure the release of five captives, including an army general, held by Marxist FARC rebels, a move that will allow stalled peace talks to continue.
U.S. releases Guantanamo prisoner to Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Saudi inmate held for 12 years at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on suspicion of fighting in Afghanistan for al Qaeda has been transferred to Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Defense Department said on Saturday.
Magnitude 6.8 quake hits central Japan; no tsunami warning: NHK
TOKYO (Reuters) – An earthquake with preliminary magnitude of 6.8 jolted central Japan on Saturday evening, trapping at least five people when their homes collapsed, public broadcaster NHK said.
U.S. welcomes oil deal between Iraqi Kurdistan and Baghdad
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Joe Biden welcomed an agreement between Iraq’s central government and its northern Kurdistan region over the management of oil exports, a step forward in a feud that has threatened the unity of Iraq.
Bodies of Armenian pilots removed from helicopter crash site
YEREVAN (Reuters) – The bodies of three pilots have been removed from a crash site in a special military operation after their helicopter from a region controlled by ethnic Armenians was shown down by Azeri forces earlier this month, officials from the…
Russia to seek new partners if Western oil majors leave: minister
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Moscow will seek new partners in countries that have not imposed sanctions on it if Western oil and gas companies pull out of projects with Russia, RIA news agency quoted Energy Minister Alexander Novak as saying on Saturday.
