{{dayPoint.date | date : 'd MMMM yyyy'}}

{{newsPoint.title}}

{{newsPoint.title+ ' '}}

{{newsPoint.subtitle}}

Congress of Industrialists, BRICS Innovation Center sign cooperation agreement

According to experts, the opening of an ICIE representative office at the BRICS Innovation Center in Xiamen in 2027 will mark a significant step in the development of Russian-Chinese economic cooperation

ST. PETERSBURG, August 21. /TASS/. The International Congress of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ICIE) and the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution Innovation Center (Xiamen, China) have signed a cooperation agreement in principle, the ICIE press service told TASS.

"The agreement opens a new chapter in the development of business ties between Russia and China. The parties agreed to establish a permanent representative office of the ICIE at the BRICS Innovation Center in Xiamen in 2027, as well as to jointly draft a comprehensive memorandum of understanding to formalize a long-term strategic partnership," the press service said.

The document was signed following a strategic working session attended by representatives of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Russian Direct Investment Fund, and the Russia-China Investment Fund.

According to experts, the opening of an ICIE representative office at the BRICS Innovation Center in Xiamen in 2027 will mark a significant step in the development of Russian-Chinese economic cooperation.

As part of this cooperation, plans are also in place to establish a Russian-Chinese center for the protection of the rights of industrialists and entrepreneurs based at the BRICS Innovation Center. This entity will focus on the pre-trial resolution of commercial disputes, legal support for businesses, and investment protection, serving as a reliable pillar of support for entrepreneurs operating in the Chinese market.

National debt worth $50 trillion threatens US as early as 2029 — expert

Ilya Grashchenkov also said the $50 trillion mark itself is not a threshold beyond which the US economy would automatically collapse

Plane makes emergency landing in Sakhalin after engine catches fire

There were seven people on board

Kiev plots smaller drone attacks amid failure to target Moscow with long-range UAVs — FSB

The Russian Federal Security Service stated that fraudulent call centers controlled by Kiev present their operators as employees of Russia’s Central Bank, Rosfinmonitoring, and the FSB

Russia only country in world with expertise across entire nuclear energy sector — Putin

These competitive advantages enable the country to hold a leading position in the market for the construction of nuclear power plants abroad, the Russian leader stressed

Russian diplomat points to increasing terror against Serbians in Kosovo

Maria Zakharova described the developments as all the more outrageous because local self-government bodies in Pristina that claim the status of legitimate authorities are implicated in this terror

Deaths of ‘Iranian leaders’ hindering deal with US — Trump

The US leader emphasized that Washington was successfully achieving its goals in the conflict with Iran

Belarus moves to close its embassy in Finland early next month

The decision comes into effect, starting from September 1, 2026

Fyodorov launches all-out war against Zelensky, his entourage — publication

Despite these aggressive efforts, the publication indicated that the former Ukrainian defense minister can expect resistance from his opponents

FACTBOX: What to know of Omsk oil refinery intel sharing, foiled terrorist attack in LPR

Officers detained two men in the Lugansk People’s Republic, who helped the Security Service of Ukraine plan a terrorist attack against the republic’s interior minister

Italian defense contractor opens company in Ukraine — news outlet

The CEO of the state-owned Italian defense giant Leonardo confirmed that the group will test its new air defense system, dubbed the Michelangelo Dome, in Ukraine

Conflict in Ukraine requires prompt measures — candidate for UN secretary-general

Yvonne A-Baki believes that the Ukrainian crisis can be resolved through a solution, which both parties will find acceptable

US wants its economy to grow faster than state debt — Vance

US Vice President JD Vance did not disclose details of the plan

Russian aircraft hit Ukrainian army’s deployment sites by FAB-500 bombs in Kharkov area

Live-recording images verified the successful destruction of all the designated targets

Kiev to return to talks with Russia on terms worse than those in 2022 — magazine

According to The American Conservative, the Ukrainian armed forces are facing a shortage of manpower, and their stockpile of Patriot interceptor missiles "is at, or approaching, zero"

IN BRIEF: Novak’s directives on supplying Russian fuel market and refineries’ repairs

TASS has compiled the key takeaways from the meeting chaired by the Russian deputy prime minister

Russian Il-76 aircraft drops ten loads of water on active fire sites in Serbia — ministry

The Emergencies Ministry said that Russian rescue teams are working closely with Serbian ground services and receiving organizational support from the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center

Iran was not the one to trigger escalation in Middle East — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya said that the US should be the one to blame for the latest escalation in Middle East

Russian envoy sees possibility of more candidates seeking top UN post

They may emerge, if the current candidates fail to secure the required support

By attacking ships, Kiev risks to spoil relations with partners — Kherson governor

Vladimir Saldo stressed that Ukraine is destroying its own reputation among international partners

Kiev should beg Moscow for peace to save Ukraine — former Zelensky spokesperson

Yulia Mendel said this is now a matter of the country’s "survival"

New mobilization rules forcing Ukrainians into servitude, driving them to front — diplomat

Maria Zakharova stressed that Ukrainian leaders offered no explanation to ordinary people about how they are supposed to survive

Kremlin reacts to 'fishing in troubled waters' in Ukraine, potential Wikoff, Kushner visit

Dmitry Peskov stressed that Russia highly values the efforts of all countries that sincerely seek to contribute to settling the Ukraine conflict

Germany, UK, France, Italy call on Israel to withdraw its E1 settlement project plans

The international community has long opposed this settlement expansion, and has voiced their grave concerns privately and publicly, the joint statement said

Turkey’s NATO membership does not protect its servicemen in Syria — Israeli expert

Shay Gal pointed out that on August 18, Israel "allegedly struck Syria's Abu al-Duhur air base before Turkish forces arrived"

Several hundred Ukrainian soldiers desert during training in Germany — newspaper

Under Ukrainian law, these individuals could face up to 12 years in prison if they return home

US shows weakness by turning to its allies on Iran issue — Iranian diplomat

Saeid Reza Mosayeb Motlagh said that Donald Trump "uses every means and every opportunity to isolate Iran and put pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran in an attempt to compensate for its military defeat"

Croatian court rules to place in custody Ukrainian suspect in Nord Stream sabotage

Germany is seeking his extradition

Hormuz risks remain even if Iran-Oman talks yield positive results, Russian diplomat says

The current situation in the Persian Gulf can hardly be called a "pause", given quite a regular exchange of strikes, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov noted

Von der Leyen pushing EU toward war with Russia — Finnish politician

Armando Mema said the European Commission president tends to baselessly accuse Russia of violating the airspace of European countries

Gold futures top $4,600 per troy ounce, first time since May 29

By 4:45 a.m. the growth slowed down to $4,583.5 per troy ounce

Several injured in attack at school in Sweden — TV

Police and emergency services were called to the scene

US establishes corridor in Strait of Hormuz for covertly transporting oil — news outlet

According to sources cited by Axios, between 15 and 20 tankers pass through the strait’s southern channel along the coast of Oman every day, exporting roughly half of the pre-war level of oil from the Middle East

Russia starts serial production of Garpiya-A1 drone — Rosoboronexport

The Garpiya-A1 (E) is a loitering munition with a range of up to 1,000 km

Production of fuel for Ukrainian missiles in Denmark delayed until 2027

Euractiv noted that Danish authorities had "cleared more than 20 bureaucratic hurdles for the construction of the plant," but this did not help

US has no idea of how long its economic pressure on Iran will take — Vance

Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced the beginning of the "most crushing economic operation" against Iran

Ukraine imposes sanctions on authors of Russian comedy cartoon 'Masha and the Bear'

An executive order, published on Vladimir Zelensky’s website, imposes sanctions on the Animaccord animation studio, the cartoon’s producer Dmitry Loveyko and animator Oleg Kuzovkov

Ukrainian attack on Crimea kills two people, injures four others — regional head

Sergey Aksyonov expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and stated that the authorities would provide all the necessary assistance

Russia calls on Japan to stop revising history of World War II — MFA

Maria Zakharova highlighted that instead of openly acknowledging its role in initiating aggression across Asia and the Pacific, Japan appears to be increasingly engaged in whitewashing its wartime crimes

Musk agrees that state debt of $50 trillion will be critical for US

Earlier this week, the US state debt exceeded record $40 trillion

Russian strike brings Ukrainian industrial site in Brovary near Kiev offline — top brass

The facility was struck by Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade Varyag

Battlegroup North UAVs destroy two US armored vehicles near Kharkov

The FPV drone crews eliminated two US-made Humvee armored vehicles and one Ukrainian Kozak armored fighting vehicle

MFA raises concern over illegal actions of foreign law enforcement agencies in Russia

According to Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the amendments were needed to prevent unfriendly countries from interfering in Russia's internal affairs

Witkoff, Kushner do not confirm visit to Kiev — agency

The two Americans had reportedly intended to visit Kiev for Ukraine's Independence Day

Ukrainians' right to protection in EU depends on their usefulness on frontline — senator

Alexander Voloshin remarked that Kiev has long promoted Europe as a sanctuary where human rights are a fundamental priority

Finnish Foreign Ministry summons Russian envoy over Il-20 alleged border violation

The ministry requested an explanation regarding a suspected violation of airspace

No need for new constitutional amendments now — presidential envoy

Garry Minkh ecalled that the 2020 amendments were aimed at protecting Russian national interests and strengthening sovereignty

Sinner withdraws from US Open

The Italian withdrew from the Masters 1000 tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati ahead of the US Open because of a right knee injury

Russian troops liberate 11 communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

Russian troops delivered one massive and nine combined strikes by precision-guided weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities, logistics centers and cruise missile launch sites over the week

West provided only quarter of required funds to Kiev — lawmaker

Kiev admits that the country has completely exhausted its own resources, and it is getting harder and harder for it to secure the required funds every time

International organizations become accomplices in Kiev’s crimes against media — MFA

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the reaction of international organizations to the murder of war correspondent Darya Dugina in 2022 was particularly telling

Putin discusses national security in Arctic with Russian Security Council

This is the third consecutive in-person meeting of the Russian Security Council since the beginning of August

New meeting of Coalition of Willing to take place on Monday — Elysee Palace

The previous meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing was held in Paris on July 13

Russia develops first combat robot that disarms mines with laser

The system is completely safe for bomb disposal experts

Moscow to respond to any hostile actions by Helsinki — MFA

Maria Zakharova noted that Finland, starting in 2022, "has become one of the most ardent sponsors of the Kiev regime"

Ukraine imposes sanctions against Rusal group of companies

Kiev also imposed sanctions on several dozens of Russian citizens, including those who, as Ukraine claims, are working in the Russian defense industry

UN chief calls for halt to attacks on civilian infrastructure, including in Russia

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that Antonio Guterres remains deeply concerned by the continued escalation of the Ukrainian conflict

Plane with eight people on board crashes in Alaska — Associated Press

The fate of those on board is currently unknown

Ukrainian troops shot at Kharkov Region residents attempting to evacuate — administration

According to Yevgeny Lisnyak, people had to drink rainwater and eat what they had stockpiled before the front line closed in until Russian soldiers arrived

‘Astonishing’ if Polish PM truly supports terrorist sabotage — Kremlin

Donald Tusk earlier stated that Germany should not prosecute those responsible for sabotaging the Nord Stream pipelines

Press review: Ukraine crisis nears peak as Israel-Turkey tensions rise over Syria

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, August 20th

Ukraine’s ex-defense minister urges to mobilize women

Alexey Reznikov noted that women can enter military service not just as medical workers

UN secretary-general candidate A-Baki proposes agreeing that Ukraine abstains from NATO

Yvonne A-Baki believes that Russia and Ukraine should sit together in the United Nations and talk

Russian troops liberate two communities in Donetsk region over past day — top brass

Russia's Battlegroup South and Battlegroup Center units liberated settlements of Nikolaipolye and Matyashevo in the Donetsk People’s Republic

FAZ journalist Martens’ profile appears on Russian Interior Ministry’s wanted list

Reason for being wanted is a Criminal Code article

EU attempts to interfere into Georgia’s affairs to do no good — Russia’s UN envoy

Attempts by the EU to interfere in the country’s domestic political situation, as well as to drag Tbilisi into NATO, will not lead to anything good," Vasily Nebenzya said

FSB detains Ukrainian intel agent, foils terror plot near Moscow

The perpetrator sought to launch a drone from a Moscow railway station to identify railcars carrying petroleum products

Diplomat calls West’s silence on Kiev’s nuclear terrorism 'strange'

The Zaporozhye NPP has been without an external power supply for over a day due to the shutdown of the last 330 kV high-voltage power supply line

Russia expects new UN chief to show courage in settling conflicts — envoy

Vasily Nebenzy noted that the UN can be the platform for Ukraine crisis resolution

Attempts to cut Russia off from world permanent tactic of Western policy — adviser

Anton Kobyakov noted that Russia had never closed itself off from the world throughout its history

IN BRIEF: What we know about Russia’s massive attack targeting defense-tech sites in Kiev

Russian forces struck a Fire Point plant, a Kiev-based assembly site owned by the Antonov aircraft manufacturing factory and an arsenal with M-900 thermobaric bombs and munitions for Baba-Yaga drones

IN BRIEF: Russian MFA statements on FAZ reporter’s provocation, UN criticism

The Foreign Ministry calls on the citizens living abroad to be vigilant and not to give in to provocations ahead of the State Duma elections

Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkovka turned into ‘ghost cities’ by Ukrainian army — expert

Andrey Marochko said that Ukrainian militants are using abandoned civilian facilities for military purposes

Battlegroup North artillery eliminates 71 Ukrainian troops, 34 UAV control posts overnight

Artillery crews of the Battlegroup North carried out over 200 fire missions last night

Russia’s Battlegroup South confidently advancing after liberating Nikolaipolye in DPR

The liberation of the settlement became possible thanks to the coordinated efforts of reconnaissance units, artillery crews, and UAV operators from the unmanned systems forces

Some US allies in Mideast took 'semi-neutral' stance on Iran

The Iranian authorities said on many occasions that Tehran had not attacked any country in the region, targeting only US military bases

Israel could cease to exist after the Middle East conflict — senior Russian officer

Apty Alaudinov says Israel’s objective is to drag both the US and the entire NATO bloc into the struggle

US company Powerus to deliver anti-drone systems to Middle East — Bloomberg

The US company will provide its customer with detection and tracking equipment

Russia conducting 'surgical operation' in Ukraine to avoid harming civilians — TASS chief

Andrey Kondrashov said the Russian forces avoid causing completely unjustified civilian casualties

Zelensky complains about lack of funds to continue war

Vladimir Zelensky also expects Khmara to audit all agreements with Western partners and take a "more humane approach" to the organizational issues in the army

Liberation of Matyashevo opens way for Russian forces’ advance in Dobropolye area

The settlement was liberated by Pskov Guards Airborne Forces formation

Polish prime minister defends Nord Stream sabotage — TV

Donald Tusk opined that those who built the pipeline should be held accountable, not those who destroyed it

Russia’s Battlegroup North destroys 443 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over past day

The battlegroup's units eliminated up to 200 enemy personnel, an infantry fighting vehicle and three armored combat vehicles over the past 24 hours

Vucic thanks Russia for providing Serbia with aircraft for fighting forest fires

Serbia is currently facing wildfires, prompting local authorities to turn to Moscow for assistance

Court finds farmer who shot at drone caused less harm than he prevented — documents

Earlier, a source in the judicial system said the Volgograd Regional Court had terminated the proceedings in the case of 66‑year‑old Nikolay Mukhin

Kiev troops shell DPR 33 times in past day, three wounded

Six civil infrastructure sites were damaged, as well as three residential buildings and a number of cars and trucks

Candidate for UN secretary·general declares neutrality in conflict in Ukraine

Yvonne A-Baki opined that for a final settlement, both sides need to make certain concessions

Perm industrial facility comes under attack: 325 drones target Russian regions

On-duty air defense systems intercepted Ukrainian UAVs over 16 Russian regions

Russian forces hit Ukrainian naval patrol boat in port of Chernomorsk

Throughout the day, the Russian Armed Forces continued to strike ports and ships being used in the interests of the Ukrainian military

Trump orders to increase number of space launches five-fold by 2030

The US leader gave instructions to explore commercial robotic access to the surface of Mars

Northern Fleet ships finish preparations for long-range Arctic deployment

The Fleet press service specified that naval Arctic deployments are aimed "at ensuring the safety of Russia’s maritime navigation and maritime economic activities in the Arctic"

Russia has no need for mobilization — envoy to UN

Vasily Nebenzya emphasized that mobilization is not planned and expected

Two die after Ukraine’s attack on minibus in DPR

Four more people were wounded

Russia ready to cooperate with everyone who cares about South Caucasus — envoy to UN

Vasily Nebenzya added that Russia is guided by the interests of preserving and strengthening security in the region

Ukraine faces extremely negative situation on agricultural market

Experts noted that the difference between 2022 and the current situation lies in prices

Press review: US tightens Iran pressure while Russia expands nuclear power projects abroad

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, August 21st

IN BRIEF: Kremlin on Putin’s work schedule, Polish PM’s justification of terrorist attacks

Russian President Vladimir Putin is to hold an in-person operational meeting of the Russian Security Council

US allies unsure of Washington’s ability to defend them if necessary — newspaper

The newaspaper noted that military operation against Iran had depleted US arsenals and "laid bare the limits of American hard power"

Eight detained for attempting to launch drone attack on strategic plant near Moscow — FSB

One of the accomplices put up armed resistance during the arrest and was neutralized

Zelensky shouted demanding dismissal of official who failed to pay bail for Yermak

A court session to choose a preventive measure for Makim Mikitas will continue on Friday

Russia open to dialogue with US, refuses to sacrifice its principled positions — diplomat

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stressed the importance whether "Washington can influence the decisions of the Kiev regime and its European sponsors"

Lithuania seeking to take Russians hostage by tightening transit from Kaliningrad

Chairman of the region’s Legislative Assembly Andrey Kropotkin noted that such moves were driven by a political agenda of further pressure on Russia