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Developments in Afghanistan

Taliban declare amnesty for Afghan government officials — agency

Taliban members entered Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul on August 15, meeting no resistance, and took control of the entire city

© AP Photo/Rahmat Gul

MOSCOW, August 17. /TASS/. The Taliban movement (outlawed in Russia) has declared a general amnesty for former Afghan government officials, the Agence France-Presse reported on Tuesday, citing a statement by the Taliban.

"A general amnesty has been declared for all <...> so you should have no doubt about resuming your normal activities," the statement reads.

Taliban members entered Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul on August 15, meeting no resistance, and took control of the entire city. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani left the country. Western countries are evacuating their citizens and diplomatic personnel from Afghanistan.

After taking control of Kabul University and the Education Ministry building, the Taliban announced that women would have the opportunity to study and work but most schools and colleges in Kabul remained closed on Monday. Besides, the Taliban said they had no plans to take revenge on former government officials and law enforcement officers.

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Afghanistan Power transfer in Afghanistan

Military operation in Ukraine

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Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg appears at a rally in Georgia

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Russian Guardsmen uncover Ukrainian arms cache with over 100,000 munitions in LPR

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Putin to accept diplomatic credentials from 28 ambassadors of countries like Japan, Canada

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PREVIEW: Putin to lay flowers at monument on Red Square to mark National Unity Day

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NATO number one threat to global peace, says French politician

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Russian Air Defense Forces shot down four HIMARS missiles, Hammer bomb, 42 Ukrainian UAVs

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NATO undecided on intercepting projectiles over Ukraine — top Polish diplomat

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Western military assistance to Ukraine tops 100 bln euros — minister

Ukraine regularly asks for additional military assistance from its Western partners, occasionally criticizing them for delays and insufficient amount of supplies

Russian forces destroy US-made Stryker armored fighting vehicle in Kharkov Region

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Israel hits Hezbollah intelligence headquarters near Damascus — IDF

According to the IDF, Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters has a branch in Syria, "which includes an independent intelligence gathering, coordination, and assessment network."

Russian forces liberate settlement of Vishnyovoye in Donetsk People’s Republic

Economic sanctions against Russia not working — top Hungarian diplomat

As an example, he cited Europe’s continuing purchases of Russian liquified natural gas and Russian uranium supplies to the United States for the production of fuel for US nuclear plants

Medvedev sees West waging real war on Russia in Ukraine

"Our current adversaries argue that they have a right to send any weapons to Ukraine or that they have a right to dispatch their advisors to consult on how to conduct hostilities," the Russian Security Council deputy chairman said

Putin participates in Russia’s strategic deterrence force training

The Russian president observed the drills from the Kremlin’s situational center

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

Gazprom supplies 42.1 mln cubic meters of gas to Europe via Ukraine

The day before the pumping volume reached 42.1 mln cubic meters

Plane with 103 Russian POWs lands near Moscow

They were swapped for 103 Ukrainian POWs

Malaysia rejects US call to 'stop being friendly' with Russia — PM

Anwar Ibrahim said the call came during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the 19th East Asia Summit in Laos

Around 100 air attacks of Ukrainian Armed Forces in DPR were foiled in one week

In particular, a fixed-wing drone without a warhead or visual surveillance equipment was eliminated in the Kuibyshevsky district of Donetsk, near an energy facility

Missile engine blast at testing site in northern Russia kills two

A rise of the radiation level was registered

Total losses of Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk Region reach over 29,600 servicemen

Meanwhile, over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost over 350 servicemen

Russia is not going to attack Poland, Baltics, Ukraine through Belarus rule — Lukashenko

The Belarusian President called for building relations in a neighborly manner

For US losing dollar as a standard of settlements would be like losing a war, Trump says

The Republican presidential candidate criticized the current US administration for allowing the unification of Russia, China, Iran, the DPRK and a number of other countries into one group

Kursk region will be cleared of Ukrainian forces — Putin

He added that victory is impossible without volunteers who support the fighters at the front

Kremlin spokesman says he cannot recall Putin ever talking to Kamala Harris

"When Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US President Joe Biden, Mrs. Harris was not in Geneva," Dmitry Peskov said

Ukrainian lawmaker Bezuglaya calls out ‘catastrophic situation’ in country’s army

Maryana Bezuglaya accused Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky for his alleged failure of the military operation in Russia’s borderline Kursk area and the complicated situation in the southern directions of the frontline

Ukrainian forces lose 11,800 soldiers on LPR borders in a week — military expert

During the mentioned period, the Russian military destroyed 196 vehicles, 89 various armored vehicles, five tanks, three multiple launch rocket system launchers

Kiev may look at Qatar-mediated agreement with Russia on non-targeting energy facilities

According to Andrey Yermak, a principle like the one of the grain deal could be used in this context, but no talks between Kiev and Moscow are being held at the moment

Sandu is winning in 2nd round of Moldovan presidential elections with 55.04% — CEC

Votes at a number of polling stations abroad are yet to be counted

Kremlin spokesman denies Russia ships explosives across EU

"We have never heard any official accusations," Dmitry Peskov said

FACTBOX: Russian government sets up requirements for cryptocurrency mining

The law introduced the definition of mining, a set of security requirements, and the possibility of trading digital financial assets on special platforms

Iran has hundreds of missiles capable of inflicting severe damage Israel — WSJ

The article states that the Israeli attack has compromised the air defense systems protecting key Iranian facilities

Kiev's violation of agreements means less territory for Ukraine — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister also recalled the Istanbul agreements

Hezbollah fires 105 rockets from Lebanon at Israel on November 3 — IFD

The army "will continue to protect Israel and its people from threats" from Hezbollah, the press service noted

Attempts to destroy Iran’s nuclear capacity may expand conflict — top Turkish diplomat

According to Fidan, Israel continues to put forward conditions in talks with the Palestinian movement Hamas

West itself signed death warrant for dollar, turning it into punishment tool — Lavrov

At the same time, the volume of mutual settlements in national currencies in foreign trade between the BRICS member countries reaches around 65%

BRICS to consider expanding group in 2025 — Lavrov

"Criteria for the partner country category will be agreed upon," the Russian Foreign Minister said

Russian-North Korean partnership treaty called to stabilize region — Russian diplomat

"The treaty’s provisions, including article 4 on mutual support in case of an armed incursion, will be fully implemented, if need be," Anna Yevstigneyeva said

Fencing installed around Harris’ residence in Washington ahead of election

Apart from that, additional fencing will be installed around the US Capitol and the US Department of the Treasury in Washington

Kiev wants to exchange only militants from its nationalist battalions — Russian diplomat

According to Maria Zakharova, Kiev is also "interested in the fate of foreign mercenaries who took part in combat operations against Russia"

Georgian opposition plans to disrupt first session of newly-elected parliament

He called on the opposition to hold a rally on November 21, when the Central Electoral Commission is to release the final protocol of the parliamentary election

FACTBOX: Vladimir Putin and his pets

The list of the Russian leader's pets also includes a white goat, a white female reindeer and a falabella pony, one of the smallest horse breeds in the world

Japan’s defense minister says North Korea launched 7 missiles that flew 400 km each

Japan issued a protest to Pyongyang through diplomatic channels

Crowds throw mud at Spanish king during visit to flood zone

As a result, the king's visit to Paiporta was cut short

Bulgaria, Westinghouse sign engineering deal for additional reactors at Kozloduy NPP

The cost of construction has not been determined yet, but is expected to be between $14 billion and $30 billion

Ghost town of Pripyat after Chernobyl disaster

On April 26, 1986, the fourth reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded causing the world's worst nuclear disaster