(Reuters) – Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday said Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered the military to strengthen the country’s western borders so that no one would ever think of launching an attack. Peskov told the main television net…
Russia headed for recession, closed economy despite rouble rebound, U.S. says
By David Lawder and Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Punishing sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies on Moscow for invading Ukraine are pushing Russia into recession and starting to turn it back into a closed economy, a senior U.S. T…
Saudi-led coalition welcomes the 2-month truce in Yemen – state TV
CAIRO (Reuters) – The Saudi-led coalition, which intervened in March 2015 against the Houthis, welcomed on Friday the U.N.-brokered truce in Yemen saying it supports the U.N. efforts and arrangements to keep the truce, Saudi state TV reported. The warr…
Sri Lanka declares emergency after violent protests over economic crisis
By Uditha Jayasinghe COLOMBO (Reuters) -Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a nationwide public emergency late on Friday following violent protests over the country’s worst economic crisis in decades. In a Sri Lankan government gazette not…
Sri Lanka lifts curfew after violent protests over economic crisis
By Uditha Jayasinghe and Dinuka Liyanawatte COLOMBO (Reuters) – Police in Sri Lanka’s capital lifted a curfew on Friday after protests in which dozens of people were arrested and injured near the home of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over his handling o…
What happens if Russia turns off gas to Germany?
(Corrects final paragraph to remove reference to oil products) FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Germany has activated the first stage of an emergency plan to manage gas supplies in Europe’s largest economy in preparation for a possible disruption or halt in natura…
Two detainees released from Afghanistan – U.S. State Dept
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An American and a U.S. resident have been freed from detention in Afghanistan, the State Department said on Friday, and one of the pair identified themselves as brothers who were engaged in humanitarian work when the Taliban arre…
U.S. NTSB helps China download voice record of crashed Boeing jet
By David Shepardson (Reuters) -The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Friday it was assisting Chinese investigators with the download of the cockpit voice recorder in Washington from an China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-800 jet as it…
Bulgaria expels Russian diplomat over alleged espionage
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s foreign ministry said on Friday it has declared one Russian diplomat “persona non grata” and given him 72 hours to leave the Balkan country over accusations of spying. The ministry said it was informed by the country’s pros…
Ukraine says Russian forces pushed back around Kyiv but fighting rages
By Natalia Zinets and Max Hunder (Reuters) – Ukraine pushed back Russian forces around Kyiv on Friday, retaking control of some areas near the capital amid fierce battles, Ukrainian officials said. Russia said during negotiations on Tuesday that it wou…