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Syrian court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia — TV

The court also sentenced Atef Najib, the former head of the political security directorate in the Syrian province of Daraa

Bashar al-Assad Alexey Nikolsky/TASS

Bashar al-Assad

© Alexey Nikolsky/TASS

DOHA, August 11. /TASS/. A court in Damascus has handed down a death sentence to former President Bashar al-Assad in absentia, Qatari TV channel Al Jazeera reported.

According to it, former head of the political security directorate in the Syrian province of Daraa Atef Najib was also given a capital punishment sentence. The court found them both guilty of "crimes committed during the civil war."

Strait of Hormuz developments

Trump expects Iranian economy to collapse under US pressure

According to the US leader, Iran's currency has almost no value

South Korea committed to its stance of non-supplying weapons to Ukraine — agency

The official stressed that Seoul had always carried out supply of defense materials to any country in accordance with its domestic law

Soobrazitelny corvette takes part in antisubmarine warfare drills in Baltic Sea

The vessel’s crew located, classified, and tracked the target using the ship’s hydroacoustic station and deployed a Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopter

Italian PM faces growing pressure over support for Ukraine — media

According to the report, Giorgia Meloni is also "hardening her tone" on migration

Trump claims Strait of Hormuz completely cleared of mines

The US president says the strait is open to all ships except those heading to Iranian ports

Israel acknowledges negotiations underway ‘on all main fronts’

Chief of the General Staff of the IDF Eyal Zamir added that Israel maintains "the readiness and ability to immediately return to intensive combat operations"

Russian Aerospace Forces strike Ukrainian targets in DPR, Kharkov, Sumy

The Defense Ministry reported that Russian Aerospace Forces crews carried out airstrikes on the identified targets using FAB-250 aerial bombs

Netanyahu’s Likud party projected to win upcoming parliamentary election — poll

According to Next Data's research, the party could receive 33 seats out of 120 if elections took place around this time

Over 210 Ukrainian drones taken down over Russian regions during day

On-duty air defenses intercepted the Ukrainian UAVs over 12 Russian regions

US farmer Walker says his family will not be expelled from Russia

After Justus Walker’s visit to Russia’s migration office on August 10, Russian Interior Ministry Spokeswoman Irina Volk said that legal status of his family members has been settled

EU ready to do everything to prevent Russia from returning to international sports — SVR

According to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, "so-called European elites are seriously concerned about the IOC's decision to remove all restrictions on the Russian Olympic Committee and Russian athletes"

More than 130 UAV crews trained at Moscow Military District last month

During the training, the soldiers honed their skills in flying drones over obstacles on a special FPV training course equipped with structures simulating urban terrain

Russia's foreign trade surplus for January-June increased to $73.4 bln

Russia's total trade turnover in January-June 2026 increased by 11.4% year-on-year, reaching $365.6 billion

Iran’s parliament to consider new law on Strait of Hormuz within two weeks — lawmaker

According to Abolfazl Zohrevand, the new bill is being drafted with a long-term perspective to prevent aggression against Iran and consolidate Tehran’s position in the Persian Gulf region

US to unblock Iranian ports after transit through Strait of Hormuz restored — Reuters

The sources emphasized that further US actions will be tied to Iran's fulfillment of its obligations to ensure shipping in the strait

Seven citizens of Uzbekistan die in drone attack on Nizhnekamsk

The strikes targeted both industrial and civilian facilities

Omsk court appoints interim manager for Russia’s only producer of glass noodles

The company will be under Vladislav Andreev's supervision for four months

Helicopters better than missiles shoot down UAVs over Russian territory — Kalashnikov CEO

According to Alan Lushnikov, as a result of the Vikhr missile upgrade, the company has obtained a sufficiently effective means of combating fixed-wing UAVs

IN BRIEF: Latest Russian strike targets defense industry sites, logistic centers

The crews of the Russian Aerospace Forces delivered strikes against Ukrainian temporary deployment sites and drone control centers in the DPR, the Kharkov and Sumy Regions, the Defense Ministry reported

Kazakhstan reroutes some oil exports over CPC disruption

According to the republic's Ministry of Energy, in addition to operational channels, options under consideration as prospective export routes include transport via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, shipments across the Caspian Sea through Azerbaijan, and the Baku-Supsa route

Russian ambassador slams Canada’s new sanctions as empty posturing

According to Oleg Stepanov, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office understands "that such actions have no practical significance"

Todd Blanche takes office as US attorney general — White House

Earlier, the Senate confirmed Blanche’s nomination to the post by a minimal majority vote

US faces $13 billion in damage from Iranian strikes — newspaper

Iran has damaged or destroyed more than 42 US military aircraft, mostly large drones, but also fighter jets

IN BRIEF: Drone attack on Nizhnekamsk kills thirteen people, including child

According to the investigation, Ukraine used drones to strike residential areas and industrial facilities in Nizhnekamsk

One civilian killed, one more wounded in Ukraine’s attacks on Donetsk during day

Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin says the victims were caused by an attack on a gas station

IN BRIEF: Russian preparing terrorist attack on military detained in Kherson

The man has admitted guilt and is actively cooperating with the investigation, the Russian Federal Security Service reported

Iran’s supreme leader appoints Ali Abdollahi to lead armed forces

Kiyumars Heidari, who previously served as the commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces, will become his deputy

Yabloko not to be removed from ballot until its appeal is considered

Yabloko will be able to appeal the Supreme Court’s decision within five days

German FAZ journalist hit with petition demanding his dismissal for remarks about Russians

The initiators believe that Michael Martens "crossed the boundaries of journalistic impartiality"

Ukrainian nationalist units replenish ranks with mobilized citizens — Russian commander

Akhmat Special Forces Commander Lieutenant General Apty Alaudinov said that most of the ideologically committed Ukrainian nationalist have been killed on the battlefield

Supreme Court rules to disqualify Yabloko party from parliamentary polls

The Yabloko party has five days to appeal the ruling

Iranian bill on Hormuz makes no mention of specific countries — lawmaker

Abolfazl Zohrevand said the bill is comprehensive

Europe finds itself in trap of Russian agrarian import restrictions — expert

European countries have found themselves in a trap: by restricting the supply of agricultural products from Russia through sanctions, they are now trying to arrange imports via third countries, Anatoly Tikhonov, head of the Center for International Agribusiness and Food Security at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration said

Supreme Court finds no evidence of calls to extremism in Yabloko propaganda materials

A spokesperson for the court said that party Rodina’s arguments against the materials should be considered in a separate proceeding

Trump, GOP not sitting pretty as midterms near — CNN

The TV channel noted that rising gas prices were worsening Americans’ perception of the state of the economy, while weak employment did not help the Republicans either

Canada sanctions UAE firm over alleged ties to Russia

The statement claims that the sanctioned company's products are being utilized in the special military operation in Ukraine

Russian swimmer Borodin wins European title in 400-meter individual medley

The athlete covered the distance in 4:08.17 seconds, setting European championship record

Putin arrives in West Siberia’s Novosibirsk on working visit

The Russian president's visit focuses on regional issues and the development of science and technology

Russia’s Battlegroup West destroys 85 Ukrainian heavy drones, EW station over past day

The battlegroup’s fighters also located and destroyed 61 enemy UAV control centers

Fyodorov facilitated Palantir's involvement in Ukraine conflict — opposition politician

Viktor Medvedchuk added that the former defense minister was "the public face of projects in which drones, digital battle management systems and artificial intelligence were gradually combined into a single control mechanism"

One dies, two wounded after Ukraine’s drone attacks on Belgorod Region

The local crisis center reported the two injured men were taken to hospital

Kalashnikov upgrading BK-16 boat that is to be equipped with machine gun — CEO

Alan Lushnikov emphasized that the customers were already placing orders for the modernized BK-16 boats

Washington fails to bring down Iran like it wanted — Iranian president

Masoud Pezeshkian said that Tehran's "enemy" forecasts based on AI data and information received from spy networks and agents failed one by one

FACTBOX: One killed, fires at warehouses in Voronezh Region, 396 UAV attack aftermath

TASS has compiled the main information about the consequences

Nationwide state of emergency declared in Colombia following earthquake

According to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), this decision was made by President Abelardo de la Espriella’s decision after it was unanimously supported at the emergency government meeting

Yabloko received money through third parties from US, Germany — financial watchdog

Among the party’s counterparties, there were individuals who made donations via Armenia and Israel

Brazilian, Spanish mercenaries surrounded near Kharkov — Russian defense source

According to the source, "nationalists from the reconnaissance battalion of Ukraine’s 425th Separate Assault Regiment have been tasked with evacuating the mercenaries"

Russian financial watchdog finds evidence opposition party received funding from abroad

Yabloko will be provided with the documents from Rosfinmonitoring under a non-disclosure agreement

Western pressure on Georgia regarding Russia has no effect — MFA

Mikhail Galuzin highlighted that Russia and Georgia’s relationship is rooted in centuries of shared history, culture, and spiritual bonds

Israel claims neighbors only want to make friends with it to surprise attack it later

According a foreign source cited by Kan, representatives of an unnamed nation in the Middle East recommended another regional country "show tactical flexibility" and make an agreement with Israel to "lull it into a false sense of security"

Zaluzhny leads Ukraine’s confidence rating, with Zelensky in 4th place — poll

According to the poll, the former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is trusted by 66% of respondents

Russia says Kiev hit foreigners to drive wedge into its relations with fraternal nations

Maria Zakharova called on all members of the international community to condemn the barbaric crimes of the Kiev regime

Armed provocations in Transnistria to be regarded as attack on Russia — MFA

Mikhail Galuzin noted that Moscow assessed the risk of direct armed provocations by Kiev and Chisinau against Transnistria as low

General Prosecutor’s Office calls for removing Yabloko candidates from Duma elections

The prosecutor cited receiving foreign funding and violating legislation on combating extremism among the grounds

Kiev troops bombard Donetsk People’s Republic 27 times over past day

A civilian was killed and another one wounded

Iran readies for friendly football match against Russia — Iranian federation

President of the federation Mehdi Taj says that the Iranian team will also play "two European teams and one Asian team that also participated in the World Cup"

Moscow rejects option of 'freezing' Ukraine conflict, Russian deputy foreign minister says

"Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that no 'freeze' is possible without eliminating the root causes of this crisis," Mikhail Galuzin emphasized

Trump vows to get compensation from Iran for deaths of US troops

According to Donald Trump, the US also considers it necessary to compensate the families of those who participated in protests in the republic over the past 50 years

Russia warns Ukraine against any provocations against Belarus — Russian diplomat

Mikhail Galuzin reiterated that the Agreement on Security Guarantees between Russia and Belarus implies "an obvious mechanism for joint response" to actions considered threats to a member of the Union State

Russian strikes paralyze Ukraine’s southern power grid — official

Yevgeny Poddubny said the damage to the energy infrastructure in the southern regions of Ukraine is of particular importance

IN BRIEF: Colombian earthquake resulting in casualties and damage

At least 18 people died in the city of Pereira, Mayor Mauricio Salazar said

Battlegroup North UAV crews destroy over 10 Ukrainian UAV control centers near Kharkov

A Russian serviceman, call sign Svat, said the enemy is constantly attempting to strike the civilian population and civilian infrastructure

Death toll from earthquake in Colombia climbs to 111 — president

Abelardo de la Espriella said that 87 people were injured

Press review: NATO expands Black Sea presence and raises risks as Hormuz deal sparks hope

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, August 7th

Ukrainian forces attack Novaya Kakhovka district of Kherson Region 445 times in one week

The bombardments caused significant damage, including to an apartment building, a defunct enterprise, the power grid, and road surfaces

US-brokered Lebanese-Israeli talks to be held in Rome in early September — TV

A US Department of State official told Al Jazeera that the sides are facing political restrictions and internal pressure, while Washington is trying to settle the issues

Ukraine to need years to produce Patriots — Financial Times

According to an editorial by the newspaper, the agreement is not a quick solution to the problem of technology transfer and the creation of a certified supply chain

Press Review: EU seeks to prolong Ukraine conflict and NATO prepares Arctic ops

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, August 8th

Libya’s military intelligence chief Mansouri assassinated — news web portal

According to the report by Al Marsad, the attackers used an explosive device to assassinate Fowzi Mansouri near his home in Benghazi

Vucic says Europe is on brink of larger war

Apart from that, Serbian President said that he doesn’t think that the conflict in Ukraine could be ended this year

Brent oil on ICE climbs above $87 per barrel for first time since July 31

By 7:31 p.m. Moscow time, Brent edged up by 4.3% to $87.14 per barrel

Russia is sure to win in its standoff with Ukraine — diplomat

Rodion Miroshnik added that we must do everything possible to strengthen our country

Ukraine has no resources left to continue conflict — Russia’s senior diplomat

Mikhail Galuzin separately said that the recent management reshuffle in Ukraine was carried out in order to retain power and control over the Western financial ‘trough’

Armenia imports 20,000 tonnes of oil products from Azerbaijan over past year — MFA

Both countries continue working to boost bilateral trade, the Armenian Foreign Ministry stated

Russia opens flights to two more Egyptian airports — regulator

Both airports are located on Egypt's Mediterranean coast

Russia develops latest Fantom camouflage cape, concealing soldier’s silhouette

At night, the cloak’s materials minimizes light reflection and glare and pronounced contrast to prevent detection by night-vision devices

Moscow ready to expand pragmatic ties with Tbilisi — senior Russian diplomat

Mikhail Galuzin clarified that there are currently no bilateral political contacts

Ukraine lost MiG-29 fighter jet in Odessa Region — Air Force

This is the second such incident in Ukraine in less than two weeks

Hossein Taeb appointed head of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force

Taeb already served in this post between 2007 and 2009

US retains potential for escalation in conflict with Iran — Trump

The US president did not elaborate on whether he intended to strike the leadership of the Islamic Republic

FAZ journalist’s show some Germans neglect Eastern front lessons — Serbian politician

Milos Jovanovic emphasized that any reaction to Michael Martens’ comments should be determined by the Serbian people themselves

Defeat in Kramatorsk to deal massive blow to Kiev — Bild

The situation is getting worse day by day, and the frontline is moving closer to Ukrainian positions

Russian troops strike Ukrainian army’s energy, transport infrastructure over past day

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,300 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

Putin congratulates Raul Castro on what would have been his brother Fidel’s 100th birthday

The congratulatory message was read out by presidential envoy for international cultural cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy at the first international colloquium "Fidel: Legacy and the Future"

Russian Be-200 aircraft help extinguish wildfires in Turkey

According to the Russian embassy, this collaboration has become a good tradition and serves as an example of practical cooperation between Russia and Turkey

Kiev may be handed bill for Nord Stream pipelines at later date — Russian envoy

According to Rodion Miroshnik, Germany has now chosen a strategy of prolonging the investigation

FAZ journalist's comments must be legally assessed — Russian embassy in Serbia

The diplomatic mission noted that Michael Martens' remarks could incite hostility or intolerance towards Russians

Russia to respond tit-for-tat to Moldova's diplomatic provocations — Foreign Ministry

Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin indicated that the Moldovan side introduced quotas on the number of embassy staff

LATAM Airlines plane sends mayday signal in Argentinian airspace

According to Flightradar, the plane is descending somewhere over Buenos Aires

Russia hopes West has common sense to prevent irreparable effects for Europe — MFA

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin highlighted that the Joint Regional Group of Forces and the Unified Air Defense System are operating effectively within the integrated defense space of Russia and Belarus

Brent oil on ICE climbs above $88 per barrel for first time since July 31

By 1:42 a.m. GMT, Brent crude had risen 0.41% to $88.08 per barrel

Death toll in Colombia’s earthquake climbs to 132 — local radio

According to a report by BluRadio, 570 more people were injured

Putin speaks on Russia's demographic situation, balancing act of modernizing cities

The President noted that Russian cities should not lose their historical character amid modernization efforts

Decision to disqualify Yabloko party from parliamentary race yet to enter force

The party has five days to challenge the court's ruling

US President Trump says 'terrible mistake' may be made replacing FIFA chief Infantino

The US president said that FIFA World Cup "will never be as successful or profitable again" if Gianni Infantino leaves his position

Russia to resort to measures in response to growing NATO presence in Finland — embassy

According to a source in the embassy, Russia has repeatedly drawn attention to the detrimental consequences of this policy, and the diplomats are sure that Helsinki are aware of these signals

Russia says world bodies’ silence on Kiev attacks on its cities to be seen as complicity

According to Maria Zakharova, Kiev is deliberately carrying out these strikes, which are meaningless from a military point of view, for terrorist purposes

Kiev seeks to extend military operations to Belarus — senior Russian diplomat

Mikhail Galuzin said that Moscow takes such risks into consideration

IN BRIEF: Putin’s statements at State Council Presidium meeting on public transportation

According to the Russian leader, the law does not yet define the concept of a "guaranteed carrier," but this approach could be promising

Iran’s supreme leader appoints Ahmad Vahidi to head Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Ali Ozmaei was appointed as the new head of the IRGC Navy