DAMASCUS, Jul 27 (NNN-SANA) – Fire crews yesterday battled numerous blazes, amid a heatwave and have controlled most of them, in Syria’s north-western province of Latakia, said officials.

Amer Ismail Hilal, governor of Latakia, said that, firefighters have been trying to control new blazes in the area for two days, as flames have burned large swathes of agricultural and forest areas in Latakia.

About 70 percent of regional fires were controlled, the Civil Defence Commander in Latakia told local media.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell briefly left his own press conference Wednesday after stopping his remarks midsentence and staring off into space for several seconds.

McConnell approached the podium for his weekly press conference and began speaking about the annual defense bill on the floor, which he said was proceeding with “good bipartisan cooperation.” But he then appeared to lose his train of thought, trailing off with a drawn-out “uh.”

ATHENS, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Three people have died in wildfires that continued to rage across Greece on Wednesday.

A woman was found dead in a trailer near Volos where a major wildfire broke out on Wednesday, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. Her husband was seriously injured.

Meanwhile, a 45-year-old shepherd was found dead a few kilometers away, according to the report. He had rushed with his brother to move their animals to safety.

MOSCOW, July 27. /TASS/: The units of Russia’s Battlegroup South repelled the attacks of the assault groups of the Ukrainian armed forces in the directions of Lisichansk, Aleksandr-Kalinovsk and Soledar-Artyomovsk, head of the group’s press center Vadim Astafyev told TASS.

"The units of the Battlegroup South successfully repelled the attacks of the assault groups of the Ukrainian armed forces in the directions of Lisichansk, Aleksandr-Kalinovsk and Soledar-Artemovsk," he said.

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Papua New Guinea leaders on Thursday to discuss developing the Pacific Island nation’s military strength and deepening security ties, as the United States competes with China for influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Austin is the first U.S. defense secretary to visit the nation of 10 million people that was fiercely fought over during World War II and is gaining strategic importance in the U.S. struggle against Beijing.

KUWAIT CITY, Jul 27 (NNN-KUNA) – Kuwait recorded its first budget surplus in nine years, in the fiscal year ending Mar 31, the Finance Ministry announced, yesterday.

Kuwait registered a surplus of 6.4 billion Kuwait dinars (20.85 billion U.S. dollars), in the fiscal year 2022-2023, the ministry said in a statement, published on its website.

MOSCOW/LONDON/NEW DELHI, July 27 (Reuters) - A Liberian-flagged oil tanker set sail in May from Russia's Ust-Luga port carrying crude on behalf of a little-known trading company based in Hong Kong. Before the ship had even reached its destination in India, the cargo changed hands.

The new owner of the 100,000 tonnes of Urals crude carried on the Leopard I was a similarly low-profile outfit, Guron Trading, also based in Hong Kong, according to two trading sources.

MOSCOW, July 27. /TASS/: Putin holds first meetings with guests of Russia-Africa Summit; Kiev asks NATO to overturn Russia’s ban on maritime traffic to Ukrainian ports; and EU may introduce yet more sanctions against Russia before year-end. These stories topped Thursday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.

ULAN BATOR, Jul 27 (NNN-XINHUA) – Five people were killed in a traffic accident, in the southern Mongolian province of Umnugovi, last night, the country’s Traffic Police Department said, today.

The accident occurred when a car crashed into a truck, on a paved road in the territory of Khankhongor soum (administrative subdivision) of the province, the police department said, adding that, all five people in the car lost their lives immediately, at the scene.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a rule that allows immigration authorities to deny asylum to migrants who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border without first applying online or seeking protection in a country they passed through. But the judge delayed his ruling from taking effect immediately to give President Joe Biden’s administration time to appeal.

MADRID, July 26 (Reuters) - An Iranian chess player who moved to Spain in January after she competed without a hijab and had an arrest warrant issued against her at home has been granted Spanish citizenship, Spain said on Wednesday.

Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, better known as Sara Khadem, took part in the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships held in Kazakhstan in late December without the headscarf that is mandatory under Iran's strict Islamic dress codes.

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Mutinous soldiers claimed to have overthrown Niger’s democratically elected president, announcing on state television late Wednesday that they have put an end to the government over the African country’s deteriorating security.

The soldiers said all institutions had been suspended and security forces were managing the situation. The mutineers urged external partners not to interfere.