Russia
Iran reaches out to Russia, China for help to counter Turkey-backed Azerbaijan
While addressing a virtual meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Council of Heads of State on Friday, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev had accused Iran of conspiring with Armenia and promoting drug trafficking for nearly three decades.
Russia prevents US destroyer from violating territorial waters in Sea of Japan
Russia's anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs tracked down the foreign warship, issued a warning notifying the destroyer about the inadmissibility of such actions, and had to drive the intruder from the territorial waters when the US warship didn't change its course following the warning.
Russia invites US for upcoming talks on Afghanistan
Moscow is also currently considering a proposal by Iran on hosting in Tehran a meeting of foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighbours, Xinhua news agency quoted Zamir Kabulov, Russia's Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan, as saying on Friday. Russia has also invited Taliban representatives to the meeting.
Vladimir Putin says AUKUS harms regional stability
"In my opinion, it is good to be friends with each other, but bad to be friends against someone. This impairs the stability that we all talk about and we all care about," Putin said during an interview with US TV channel CNBC on Wednesday, the Xinhua news agency reported.
16 killed in plane crash in Russia
Earlier, reports said that seven were wounded and there were 23 people on board. The plane carrying two crew members and 20 parachutists crashed immediately after takeoff from a local airport. Both pilots were killed and the survived have been hospitalised in serious condition, Xinhua reported.
Russia invites Taliban for talks in Moscow
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Zamir Kabulov, who also serves as the director of the second Asian Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that an invite has been extended to Taliban officials. However, the precise details of the meeting and who might attend it have not been disclosed yet.
Russia, Iran ready to resume nuke talks in Vienna: Lavrov
Russia opposes attempts of some countries to link the preservation of the Iran nuclear deal with Tehran's concessions on other issues, Lavrov said on Wednesday during a joint press conference with his visiting Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian following their talks in Moscow. Lavrov said that the international community is still waiting for the US to return to the nuclear deal and lift "illegal restrictions" on Iran and its economic partners.
Sergei Lavrov, Antony Blinken discuss Iran n-deal, bilateral issues
The two countries' top diplomats exchanged views on the prospects for restoring full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action during the phone call, which was initiated by the US side, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, Xinhua news agency reported.
Russia pumps gas into Nord Stream 2 pipeline
"This string will be gradually filled to build the required inventory and pressure as a prerequisite for the later technical tests," Xinhua news agency quoted the Nord Stream 2 AG as saying in a statement on Monday. The first string of the pipeline has undergone pre-commissioning activities to assure the pipeline integrity, while pre-commissioning steps for the second string are underway, it added.
All barriers for authorisation of Sputnik V vax removed: Russia
Developed by Russia's Gamaleya National Center, the Sputnik V jab is currently registered in 70 countries with a population of over 4 billion people. Sputnik V received an emergency use authorisation in India in April. The vaccine uses two different vectors for the two shots in a course of vaccination. Its efficacy was determined to be 91.6 per cent.
Advertisement