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Developments in Afghanistan

Afghanistan shows interest in cooperating with Russia in energy spheres — special envoy

Zamir Kabulov calls this approach reasonable and pragmatic

MOSCOW, January 31. /TASS/. Afghanistan takes interest in cooperation with Russia in oil and gas and energy spheres, special envoy of the Russian President Zamir Kabulov told TASS in an interview.

"I would elect not to speak about specific agreements. We generally welcome higher interest showed by Kabul for development of bilateral relations with Moscow in oil and gas, energy and other spheres of trade and economic cooperation," Kabulov said.

"We consider such approach to be reasonable and pragmatic, taking into account the experience available with our experts and the role the Soviet Union played in the development of Afghanistan’s national economy," the diplomat added.

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Power transfer in Afghanistan

Bank of Russia lowers dollar rate to 97.02 rubles for November 1

The official yuan rate is fixed at 13.61 rubles, up two kopecks

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According to the report, 50 people were evacuated from the building

Google’s fines in Russia reach stratospheric levels — lawyer

Google can return to the Russian market only if it complies with the court’s decision

Russian Defense Ministry releases video of Bulava missile launch

The launch was carried out from the Sea of Okhotsk

Finland charges Russia’s Torden of war crimes in Ukraine — media

The arrest warrant states that the alleged crimes occurred between 2014 and 2015

Ukrainian General Staff building damaged in Kiev — ex-lawmaker

The air alert declared in Kiev overnight to Wednesday lasted about two hours

Liberation of Yasnaya Polyana in DPR to worsen Kiev’s logistics near Velikaya Novosyolka

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DPRK fires ballistic missile towards Sea of Japan — Yonhap

The launch was also reported by the Defense Ministry of Japan

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China, India, Turkey and member-countries of the Eurasian Economic Union are main trade partners of Russia at present

Rheinmetall plant in Ukraine Russia's legitimate military target — Kremlin

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Ukraine admits number of deserted soldiers from Armed Forces of Ukraine surpasses 100,000

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Russian Su-35 fighters cover aircraft in air strikes on Ukrainian army in Kursk area

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Reporter injured during attempt to interview British diplomats at Vnukovo Airport

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Ramzan Kadyrov noted that investigators have already commenced their work to identify the culprits

Georgian opposition to hold rally protesting election results on November 4

Leader of the Strong Georgia opposition party Anna Dolidze insisted that the opposition has already figured the scheme that the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party had purportedly used to falsify the election results

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Lavrov labels Zelensky's 'victory plan' as lunatic and unhelpful for peace in Europe

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Several countries request UNSC meeting on November 4 on DPRK missile launch

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Case against Ukrainian servicemen, enemy losses: situation in Kursk Region

Russia’s Battlegroup North repelled eight enemy counterattacks towards the settlements of Daryino, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novoivanovka and Plekhovo

Capture of Kruglyakovka in Kharkov Region blocks vital supply route for Ukraine — official

The Russian Defense Ministry reported about the liberation of the settlement on October 30

West attempted to disrupt Aeroflot flights to Mauritius — Russian Ambassador

The Western countries "stoop to nothing" in order to prevent other countries from developing relations with Russia, Konstantin Klimovsky said

Uzbekistan expects to receive 1 million Russian tourists in 2025

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According to Najib Mikati, he had just held a phone conversation with US Special Presidential Coordinator for Global Infrastructure and Energy Security Amos Hochstein

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According to regional leader Radiy Khabirov, there have been no casualties or damage

Russia successfully puts spacecraft into orbit to serve its defense needs

The spacecraft was launched and orbited normally, the Russian Defense Ministry stressed, saying that it has already been taken under the control of ground-based facilities of the Russian Aerospace Forces

Over 200 injured after Typhoon Kong-Rey makes landfall on Taiwan

At least one person has died

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The security of the entire region is at risk, if we don't take care of the rights of the Palestinians, if we don't find the path that will lead us to the establishment of a Palestinian state," Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said

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French mercenary involved in transporting internal organs of Ukrainian soldiers — official

Maxime Roger Henri Barrat is also under investigation by the civilian-military administration’s department of the interior in connection with the crime against a female civilian from the village of Glubokoye in the Kharkov Region

Minsk, Budapest must act more coherently to resolve conflict in Ukraine — Belarus MFA

Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov noted that it was very important for the two countries to promote stability and reduce confrontation in the European region

Bank of Russia denies buying St. Petersburg Currency Exchange

The Bank of Russia has been a shareholder in SPCEX since 2022

Georgian elections saw unprecedented foreign interference — premier

Foreign funding is used for this purpose, noted Irakli Kobakhidze

Google's fines to Russian government could soon exceed company’s value — experts

According to lawyer Ivan Morozov, Google's fines to the Russian government for administrative violations had reached 2 undecillion rubles

Press review: US election set to shape politics while Kiev seeks 'energy deal' with Moscow

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, October 31st

International Testing Agency temporarily suspends Russian boxer Povetkin

Alexander Povetkin announced his retirement from sports in 2021

US authorizes energy transactions for Russian banks

Energy-related transactions are understood as all the transactions related to production, refining, processing, transportation and purchase of oil

IN BRIEF: Ukrainian drone attack targets Berdyansk port, key details uncovered

According to Governor Yevgeny Balitsky, three individuals have been hospitalized with injuries of varying severity

Case against US mercenary, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

According to the report, Russian tactical aircraft and artillery hit clusters of manpower and equipment of 14 Ukrainian brigades in the Kursk Region

West must stop view Russia, China ‘through rifle sights’ — Belarusian Foreign Minister

"Political will is necessary to achieve a sustainable and serious peace, to ensure security," Maxim Ryzhenkov said

Russian Skvorets drone takes out expensive Canadian-made Senator armored vehicle

The ONF specified that the drone is equipped with a PG-7VL hollow charge anti-tank grenade that is very effective against modern armored targets, enemy fortifications and manpower inside brick and reinforced concrete buildings, and earthen shelters

Russian troops liberate Yasnaya Polyana community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 810 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Ruscon launches scheduled service for delivering package freight from Israel to Russia

The service is suitable for a wide range of cargoes, including hazardous and chemical ones

Georgia’s CEC receives more than 1,100 complaints over parliamentary elections

CEC representative Giorgi Santuriani noted that the number of complaints has decreased compared to the previous election period

Yerevan sees peace treaty with Baku close at hand

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Kremlin dismisses rumors on halting attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities as fake news

"Today, many fakes circulate that have no relation to reality. Even the most respected outlets do not hesitate to publish such fabrications," Dmitry Peskov said

Comprehensive partnership with Iran to be signed soon — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, the treaty will outline the parties' commitment to closer cooperation in the areas of defense and in the interests of peace and security both regionally and globally

OSCE aware of Sandu's resource use for victory, stays silent — foreign intel agency

"The leadership of the OSCE Secretariat believes that the Moldovan authorities will employ similar tactics during the second round of the presidential election on November 3," the SVR press bureau highlighted

Zelensky’s request for US Tomahawk missiles irks Washington — Lavrov

The Russian Foreign Minister is confident that Washington will put Vladimir Zelensky in place "every time he tries to drag the United States into a war against Russia"

Gas reserves in Europe’s underground storage facilities approach 95.2%

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Russia-North Korea agreements should not alarm anyone — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov refrained from commenting on the recent missile launch by North Korea, specifically not confirming whether Russia provided any technological assistance to its North Korean partners

Over 4,300 people cross into Syria from Lebanon in past day — Russian military

In a separate development, the Russian reconciliation center carried out five humanitarian missions in the provinces of Aleppo, Raqqa, Idlib and Tartus, distributing 980 sets of food weighting almost over 9.7 metric tons in total

Rescue operations after gas explosion in Cherkessk complete

The rescuers saved three people

Russia's asset revenues total €5.15 bln in nine months of 2024 — media

A total of €176 billion in Russian funds are held in the depository's accounts, the report states

Georgian prosecutors bring charges against organizers of ballot stuffing

Earlier on Thursday, the Georgian Interior Ministry said in a statement it had detained two persons for ballot stuffing at the 69th polling station in the Marneuli district

Russian forces liberate 20-kilometer-long strip of land in south Donetsk area

Vladimir Rogov pointed out that Ukrainian forces were quickly leaving their positions

Bosch CEO not ruling out further job cuts

"Bosch will not reach its economic targets in 2024," CEO of the German industrial giant Stefan Hartung said

Kiev regime attacks port of Berdyansk, presumably using kamikaze drones — city authorities

Vladimir Rogov, head of the Civic Chamber Commission on sovereignty, patriotic projects and support for the veterans, said the attack involved at least six drones

General Staff reports challenges for Ukrainian forces in Pokrovsk area

Sergey Dobryak, the head of the Kiev-controlled Pokrovsk Military Administration, announced on October 30 that the town would be sealed off from entry and exit to various neighborhoods and streets

Iran plans to carry out major strike on Israel from Iraq within days — report

The US doesn't know if Tehran has made a decision to go ahead with the strike soon, a US official told Axios

Bank of Russia lowers dollar rate to 97.02 rubles for November 1

The official yuan rate is fixed at 13.61 rubles, up two kopecks

Ukrainian experts assess damage to Kiev Hydroelectric Power Plant as critical

It is also noted that the import of electricity, provided from abroad to cover the deficit of the energy system, will not cover the need

Zelensky advises Ukrainian troops to retreat when heavily outnumbered

"We must save our soldiers and protect our people," the Ukrainian president emphasized

Death toll from Spain flooding rises to 155

The EFE news agency earlier reported the disaster took 140 lives across the entire country, but said most casualties happened in in Valencia

Time to book capacity for 2025 gas supplies from Russia via Ukraine is up — Putin

The Russian leader recalled that "the contract ends at the end of this year, in December"

Retaliation against Kiev's strike on special forces university was prompt — Kadyrov

The Russian Defense Ministry's Air Force hit the unmanned systems control center of the General Staff in Kiev with two Geran drones