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Developments in Afghanistan

Former Afghan cabinet delegation seeks asylum in Qatar — agency

The former Afghanistan government delegation to stay in Doha "until the inception of an inclusive government in Afghanistan"

Taliban delegation in Doha AP Photo/Hussein Sayed

Taliban delegation in Doha

© AP Photo/Hussein Sayed

MOSCOW, August 18. /TASS/. The government delegation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan that ceased to exist has appealed for temporary shelter in Qatar, Afghanistan’s Pajhwok news agency reported on Wednesday.

The delegation is in Doha for talks with the Taliban (outlawed in Russia).

According to the news agency, "the former Afghanistan government delegation in Qatar has sought asylum in Doha until the inception of an inclusive government in Afghanistan."

The consultations in Doha between the former government and the Taliban were held since September 2020, they were interrupted multiple times and recently resumed. The talks in Doha did not manage to move beyond discussing the agenda for the peace negotiations.

On August 15, Taliban militants entered Kabul without a fight and took over the city in a matter of hours. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani stepped down to avoid bloodshed, as he put it, and fled the country. Western states are currently evacuating their citizens and embassy staffers.

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Power transfer in Afghanistan

Thailand ready for cooperation to settle conflict with Cambodia

The Thai Armed Forces Joint Press Center stressed that Thai actions in the conflict with Cambodia are "within the framework of self-defense under international law, guided by the principles of necessity, proportionality, and distinction, and in strict compliance with the Rules of Engagement, with operations directed solely at military targets"

Explosion reported in Ukraine’s northern city of Sumy

An air raid warning is currently in effect for the Sumy Region

Police detain likely suspect of shooting at Brown University

No information has been released about the detainee’s identity or the motive behind the incident

Russian forces strike units of nine Ukrainian brigades, regiments in Zaporozhye Region

Russian units are advancing methodically, liberating the territory of the Zaporozhye Region, said governor Evgeny Balitsky

Zelensky blackmails Western handlers to get them secure his re-election — Russian diplomat

Vladimir Zelensky’s presidential powers expired on May 20, 2024

Kremlin aide confident Zelensky's talk of elections comes from US pressure

"What a double-dealing," Yury Ushakov said

Temporary restrictions on departure of aircraft introduced at Pulkovo Airport

Restrictions are necessary to ensure flight safety

Russia to strongly object to changes to Ukraine peace plan — Kremlin aide

Yury Ushakov pointed out that Moscow had not seen the proposals yet

Trump will not dictate to Europe how to build relations with Russia — US blogger

American political commentator and Russia Up Close host Eddie Gonzales also noted that the new US National Security Strategy does not explicitly label Russia as a 'security threat', as previous documents did

Explosions reported in Ukraine’s Odessa Region

Air raid warnings are currently in effect for the Odessa, Nikolayev, and Sumy regions

US lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash to take effect immediately

"This decision has been made and will take effect immediately," Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations Valentin Rybakov said

Lifting US sanctions on Belarusian potash to affect fertilizer market, Minsk believes

According to member of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Alexander Shpakovsky, the results of the Belarusian-American talks meet the expectations of official Minsk

Zelensky to fail in trying to take Crimea back, secure NATO membership — Kremlin

According to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, "there is a one million percent guarantee that it’s impossible"

Explosion reported in Kiev-controlled city of Zaporozhye

An air raid warning is currently in effect for the city

Ukrainian soldiers frozen to death at Liman positions in Kharkov Region — defense source

Battlegroup North fighters found the frozen bodies of Ukrainian soldiers who had died from hyperthermia at two out of six positions they seized

Sydney beach shooting kills ten, leaves 16 injured

One of the attackers was killed and another two were detained

Russian boxer Gassiev captures World Boxing Association heavyweight title

The Russian landed a left hook, sending the Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev to the canvas

Russian government approves Roscosmos-NASA talks on cross-flights to ISS

In late November, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Operations Kenneth Bowersox said that the United States and Russia were working to extend the ISS cross-flight program

Trump says threatened Thailand and Cambodia with new duties

US President said he was sure that the duties is an important tool in the foreign policy for his administration

Man opens fire on territory of Brown University — TV

According to the Associated Press, the suspect was detained

UN commission arrives in southern Syria to record Israeli violations

The Al Hadath TV channel said the visit coincided with a new Israeli operation in the province, where six armored vehicles entered its southern regions and searched four houses.

Bank of Russia files a lawsuit against Euroclear in Moscow Arbitration Court

The amount of the claim against the depository was not specified in the statement

Venezuela condemns indefinite freezing of Russian assets by EU

The EU's decision "grossly violates international law, threatens the legal security of investments and undermines peace initiatives in the region," Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said

About 10,000 mercenaries fighting for Kiev regime killed in Ukraine — ex-intel officer

However it is difficult to give the exact number of mercenaries killed in Ukraine, noted Vasily Prozorov

'Paranoid' Hegseth removes Driscoll from Ukraine talks — media

According to the newspaper, Hegseth saw Driscoll as exceeding his authority during the Ukraine talks

US hindering Venezuela to sell its oil, supply it to Cuba — Cuban foreign ministry

This step is part of escalation staged by the United States to bar Venezuela from realizing its legitimate right to the free use of and trade in its natural resources, the Cuban foreign ministry emphasized

Russian investment in Indonesia exceeds $147 mln since start of 2025

As Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita noted, the steady inflow of capital reflects a high level of confidence on the part of Russian investors

Russian air defenses down 290 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones in past day

Also air defenses downed four smart bombs

Euroclear ready to lawsuits in Russian courts due to assets blocking

The European Commission and the Belgian government made no comments on such news so far

Lukashenko pardons more than 100 citizens of various countries

Among them are citizens of Australia, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Lithuania, the United States, Ukraine, and Japan

EU Council decided to perpetually block Russian sovereign assets

According to the plan of the European Commission, this step is the first phase in further expropriation of Russian assets

Syrian-American patrol attacked during meeting with Interior Ministry representative — WSJ

It has happened while a US lieutenant colonel was meeting with a representative of the Syrian Interior Ministry, according to the report

Ukrainian forces facing huge losses in Kharkov Region — Russian security officer

Ukrainian commanders are chaotically deploying brigade forces to various parts of the frontline in the Kharkov Region in an attempt to stop Battlegroup North from advancing

Witkoff to meet with European leaders, Zelensky in Berlin — WSJ

The decision to send Steven Witkoff to Berlin demonstrates the US administration's desire to overcome differences between Washington and Kiev regarding the terms of the peace deal, the newspaper believes

Korean sappers return to DPRK after completing combat mission in Kursk Region

The ceremony of welcoming their return took place on December 12

Explosions damage energy infrastructure in Ukrainian city of Odessa — authorities

Transport and industrial facilities were also damaged

Australian police arrest two more people over Sydney terrorist attack

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, police detained two men at a residence belonging to one of the attackers

Ukraine conflict could lead to World War III, Trump warns

The US president said the conflict in Ukraine "doesn’t really affect the United States, unless it got out of control"

Zelensky: big business tycoons, diplomats make mistake by leaving Ukraine

The Ukrainian president stressed that his own family remained in Kiev

MFA calls EU authorities 'thimbleriggers' after indefinite freezing of Russian assets

According to the European Commission's plan, the indefinite asset freeze is the first stage in the expropriation of Russian assets

Terrorism cannot be justified, Russian diplomat says, commenting on Sydney shooting

A shooting attack on innocent people during a religious celebration is a great tragedy, said Maria Zakharova

Ukrainian drone attack leaves civilian injured in Russia’s Belgorod Region

A man sustained a mine-blast trauma and multiple shrapnel injuries to his legs

Ukraine loses about 1,450 troops in special military operation zone in past day

The enemy lost over 240 troops in the area of responsibility of Russia’s Battlegroup North

Russian senator calls Merz's words recognition of major geopolitical shift

"This is a serious recognition of a major geopolitical shift, which not everyone believes in yet, but which has been looming for a long time," Alexey Pushkov noted

Cruiser Moskva retains buoyancy, explosions of ammunition stopped — Defense Ministry

Measures are being taken to tug the cruiser to port

Zelensky pushed to the wall by battlefield situation, illegitimacy — Russian diplomat

For this reason, he began to blackmail his Western curators, said Maria Zakharova

Medvedev rejects accusations of Russia’s ‘disproportionate use of force’

There were several explosions in Kiev this night

Sydney beach shooting death toll rises to 12 — authorities

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon designated the attack as a "terrorist incident"

Russia starts using Force reconnaissance drone, resistant to electronic warfare

The device is equipped with thermal imaging equipment and can work around the clock

Fico calls for restoration of work of commissions for economic cooperation with Russia

Slovakia, as the prime minister always emphasizes, pursues a foreign policy "oriented to all four sides of the world"

Sixty-eight ionizing radiation sources lost in Ukraine — Russia’s top brass

According to the report, the loss of control over ionizing radiation sources was qualified as a radiation accident

Over hundred people come to White House to rally against Trump's policies

Speakers criticized expelling illegal migrants

Russia’s response to EU freeze of Russian assets will follow shortly — diplomat

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also noted that the European Union’s policy toward Russia has long been devoid of any sound logic and resembles a theater of the absurd

Two civilians killed in Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Saratov Region

The Ukrainian drone attack also damaged the facades of several buildings, added Governor Roman Busargin

Kalashnikov ships first batch of MultiCam colored AK-12K rifles to customer

The concern highlighted that the compact AK-12K was specifically designed to meet the needs of the Airborne Troops

Proton-M launch delayed to fix problems — Roscosmos

The postponement will not affect the planned scientific program

Seizure of Russian assets to backfire on EU — Hungarian PM

It is a direct step toward entering the war, Viktor Orban said

Washington will respond to ISIS over killing of US service members in Syria — Trump

This was an attack against the country, United States President said

Ukrainian forces stretched thin in DPR, Russian commander says

Alexey Vereshchagin, commander of the Nevsky reconnaissance-assault brigade of Battlegroup South’s volunteer corps said that his "brigade’s zone of responsibility covers the city of Soledar, as well as the Kramatorsk and Druzhkovka area"

Police, FBI look for shooter or shooters at Brown University — mayor

According to Brett Smiley, local police officers and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation are "currently in close coordination"

Fire breaks out at oil depot after UAV attack on Uryupinsk

The evacuation of residents of the houses adjacent to the oil depot is underway

Normalization in BiH requires immediate closure of high representative office — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister said that "It was obvious 20 years ago"

EU to rue indefinite freezing of Russian assets — RDIF CEO

The EU Council is expected to officially enshrine the decision on the indefinite freezing of Russian assets in Europe today

Starmer, von der Leyen discuss progress of Russian assets confiscation

British Prime Minister and the head of the European Commission also discussed the work on the US-led peace plan

TV presenter Clarkson bans all members of Britain's ruling party from visiting his pub

He has done this due to tax increases

Two people killed in shooting at Brown University — mayor of Providence

Another eight in critical status

Nigeria denies reports that supertanker seized by US is Nigerian

NIMASA confirmed that SKIPPER did indeed sail to Nigeria in 2024

Russia delivers massive overnight strike on Ukrainian military-industrial sites

Kiev loses 1,355 troops along engagement line in past day

FBI officials held secret meetings with Kiev's top negotiator in US — media

According to the report, the meetings have caused alarm among Western officials who remain in the dark about their intent and purpose

Belgium demands EU countries halt investment agreements with Russia — media

Belgium is demanding independent and autonomous guarantees from EU countries in return for its support for a floated loan to Ukraine using immobilized Russian assets

Putin, Erdogan discuss highly sensitive issues in Ashgabat — Kremlin

The meeting in Turkmenistan lasted for about one and a half hours

Western actions on BiH have most negative impact on situation in Balkans — Lavrov

According to Russian Foreign Minister, the West "launched a layered campaign against the Serbs," wishing "to reformat the country through its unitarization by depriving Serbs and Croats of Dayton rights"

EU intends won’t return Russian assets as long as Europe experiences economic problems

Commenting on this decision, EU leaders did not go into these legal details, but simply called the freeze on Russian assets "indefinite"

Some 11,270 diamonds hidden in hand luggage seized at Frankfurt Airport — DPA

Law enforcement officers detained a 53-year-old man who had flown to Frankfurt from Angola, and placed him in custody

Trump admits looming difficulties for Republicans at midterm elections

US President also said that he had brought multibillion-dollar investments for the United States, though it is unclear when the money would start working

US forces conduct operation on ship traveling from China to Iran — WSJ

After the goods were confiscated, the ship continued on its way, the newspaper said

Russia focuses on US instead of Europe in terms of Ukraine peace process — Kremlin

The Europeans are playing their own game, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Russia needs guarantees to prevent Kiev from sabotaging agreements — Kremlin

Washington’s position is certainly very important here, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Zelensky maneuvering when he announces referendum on territories — Ukraine’s former PM

Nikolay Azarov also stressed that Vladimir Zelensky has never consulted the people of Ukraine

Number of injured in shooting at Brown University grows to nine

The shooter is yet to be detained

NATO needs to prepare for global naval challenge from Russia, analysts say

The report adds that scenarios for a crisis "often focus on an escalation in what is a single strategic direction stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Kara Sea"

NATO specialists in Ukraine triggered special military operation — Kremlin

This posed a direct threat to Russian citizens in Ukraine, as well as broader security risks for Russia, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Zelensky started to promote war after coming to power on promises of peace — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov added that the Minsk Agreements were in fact a staged plan that had been signed by all parties, including Poroshenko

Turkey offers limited safety agreement for navigation in Black Sea — Fidan

Foreign Minister said that the grain deal was struck in 2022 under a similar principle

Orban says EU use of Russian assets would mean declaration of war

"Hungary will not play along in this twisted Brusselian scheme," Hungarian Prime Minister said

Russia shoots down 235 Ukrainian UAVs over regions overnight

Two of them were shot down over the Leningrad Region and one over the Moscow Region

US uses lighting bombs after attack by ISIS militants on patrol in Palmyra — TV

"American planes dropped lighting bombs in the sky over the city," Syria TV reported

Sri Lanka's cyclone death toll reaches 643

Another 184 people are missing

Western politicians bound with Zelensky by corruption — Russian diplomat

He blackmails them on the parameters of the Ukraine settlement and the issue of elections, said Maria Zakharova

Russia’s Battlegroup West destroys over 220 Ukrainian troops, Bastion MLRS in past day

Also the Battlegroup West’s air defense crews suppressed 21 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles and 38 Vampire heavy attack drones of the Ukrainian army

Moscow calls on Berlin to tone down anti-Russian rhetoric — embassy

Russia urged the German side to stop stirring up hysteria over Russia's alleged preparations to attack one or more NATO countries

Irresponsible politicians, not Russia, threaten Europe — embassy

Diplomats commented on NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's statement that the alliance would allegedly become Moscow's "next target"

North Korean combat engineers clear mines on over 40,000 hectares in Russia’s Kursk Region

This is invaluable help in the work, without which our borderline territory cannot be rebuilt, Governor Alexander Khinshtein said

Ukrainian attack leaves almost 30,000 customers without power in Zaporozhye Region

Balitsky noted that energy personnel were "working non-stop" to restore supplies as soon as possible, but the weather was complicating repair efforts

Japan to suspend support of new solar parks — newspaper

According to sources in the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the decision was made over concerns about environmental damage and the negative attitude of the local population

Russian assets seizure could trigger crisis in EU comparable to Great Depression — expert

According to Jacques Sapir, "this will have extremely dire consequences for the largest European banks"

Russia tries to secure release of almost 500 political prisoners in Ukraine

According to Commissioner for Human Rights Tatyana Moskalkova, among those repressed "are priests, journalists, human rights defenders, and just ordinary civilians who, by the will of fate, were on the territory of Ukraine"

Restrictions on operation of Pulkovo Airport lifted

Restrictions were imposed to ensure flight safety

EU's grandiose fraud, Putin's possible visit to Turkey: Peskov's statements

Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan exchanged views on Ukraine in depth

Kremlin spokesman critical of NATO chief’s remark about preparations for war

This must be a statement by a person from the generation that has forgotten what World War II was like, noted Dmitry Peskov

Analyst expects EU to cease to exist as global political entity by 2023

The idea of "a united Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok" will ultimately give way to the reality of a divided, militarized, and economically weak continent