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Two people died in Ukrainian drone attacks in the Moscow region and an oil refinery in Russia's capital was hit, authorities said on Sunday, as Russia enters the final day of parliamentary elections. Ukraine and Russia have continued attacks on each other's energy infrastructure despite an announcement by US President Donald Trump on Monday that they had agreed to stop. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his Telegram channel that the biggest Ukrainian drone attacks had been thwarted with [Read more]

Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and US commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Sunday according to the semi-official Fars news agency. Iran must both fight and negotiate, Qalibaf said, adding that Tehran would use military force to push back its enemies and diplomacy to consolidate battlefield gains when the time is right. (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom) [Read more]

Iran warned on Sunday against any big new attack by the United States and its allies, saying it had information such a move was being prepared, adding to the anxiety in a region already on edge after drone and missile strikes on Saudi Arabia. Iran's military central command said on state media that any new attack would trigger sustained retaliation against US bases and interests, and that Washington's regional allies would be considered parties to the conflict. It did not elaborate on the [Read more]

Venezuela Interim President Delcy Rodriguez on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding with French oil and gas company Total Energies, according to local media. It was the latest of a flurry of oil deals signed between multinational oil companies and Venezuela's new government, following the U.S.'s toppling of former president Nicolas Maduro in January. No details about the deal with Total Energy were immediately available. (Reporting by Deisy Buitrago in Caracas, writing by Laura [Read more]

CALGARY - An emotional Premier Danielle Smith held back tears Saturday as she recounted a long list of historic indignities Albertans have suffered at the hands of the federal government. Smith was the opening speaker at a virtual assembly discussing Alberta's future in Canada, an event co-hosted by former Opposition leader and conservative elder statesman Preston Manning and former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell. The Alberta premier has called a referendum for Oct. 19 that includes a question [Read more]

Shale gas became an issue on the campaign trail Saturday as Coalition Avenir Québec leader Christine Fréchette claimed more Quebecers are warming up to fracking amid trade tensions with the United States.  Fracking has been raised during the Quebec election campaign, especially with the Quebec Conservatives pushing fossil fuels to boost the economy.  Fréchette was reacting to a report by La Presse that, citing its own survey, showed Quebecers are still heavily divided on the [Read more]

Iran has conveyed its conditions to mediators for re-engaging in negotiations aimed at ending the war with the US, Al Jazeera cited Iran's Security Chief Mohsen Rezaei as saying in an interview on Saturday. The conditions include ending the war on all fronts, unfreezing Iranian funds and ending the naval blockade, Rezaei said, adding that consultations were continuing with Qatari and Pakistani mediators and that Tehran was awaiting a response from US President Donald Trump. (Reporting by Ahmed [Read more]

EDMONTON - Albertans head to the polls Oct. 19 to vote on whether there should be a future, binding referendum on the province separating from Canada. Strains of western alienation go back decades. Here's a look at some key events: 1980 — The federal government ignites widespread alienation in Alberta with the National Energy Program, which keeps domestic oil prices below world levels to promote Canadian energy security and increase the federal share of oil revenues. Alberta views it as an [Read more]