Global News Briefing: Geopolitical Tensions, Economic Updates, and Regional Conflicts

US escorted around 1,500 vessels through Strait of Hormuz — CENTCOM

Admiral Bradley Cooper claimed that since the US resumed its maritime blockade on Iran in mid-July, the Islamic republic "has exported zero oil from its shores"

Foreign military contingents in Ukraine to be Russia’s legitimate targets — diplomat

Maria Zakharova said the responsibility for this will fall on Western politicians

West’s aggression against Russia played role in BRICS expansion — SVR head

According to Sergey Naryshkin, the unifying potential of BRICS has grown significantly since the ideas of neocolonial dominance were revealed to the world in all their unattractive form

Russia’s budget revenues rising, exceeding forecasts — PM

The head of Russian government highlighted the changing the structure of budget revenues, emphasizing that the share of non-oil and gas revenues has surpassed 80% of the total amount

Ruling Republika Srpska party leader plans to visit Moscow in late September

The politician stressed that at present he was waging a "just and defensive war" against "part of the European Union"

Kiev tries to convince West of military successes in absence of real results — Gerasimov

As part of a propaganda campaign, the Kiev regime is spreading false information about an allegedly successful offensive in the Zaporozhye Region

US Geological Survey to rename Lake Ontario in its official documents

According to the White House, the change has been made official in the Geographic Names Information System

IN BRIEF: Kremlin briefing covers frozen assets, 'spooks' of Russia’s 'plans' against NATO

Dmitry Peskov added that Russia continues contacts with the United States on Ukraine "at the working level"

Patriot missile shortage in Europe reaches 'beyond critical' level — media

The Associated Press linked the situation primarily to the transfer of US missile stocks from Europe to the Middle East amid the US war with Iran

Poland not planning to host nuclear warheads, deputy defense minister says

Pawel Zalewski said that Poland wants to participate in NATO nuclear deterrence, which does not mean having nuclear warheads on its territory

Israel carries out sweep in Quneitra province, south of Damascus — TV

According to the report, the Israeli military blocked the road between the settlements of Ufaniyah and Khan Arnabah, where their patrols are searching homes in search of militants from radical groups and weapons caches

Grossi says relations with Russia would be serious if elected UN secretary-general

The IAEA director general said he had developed a very good working relationship with Russia

'We don't want to speak to them': Trump on negotiations with Iran

The Strait of Hormuz is open and loads of barrels of oil pass through it, said US President

Retired US rear admiral claims he possibly found Atlantis

Tim Gallaudet added that he would not go into details because he does not want the location to be revealed

Israel won't put up with Turkey's military presence in Syria — Netanyahu

The Israeli prime minister said that the prior warnings on the issue were not heard "clearly enough"

Hersh says FBI caught Israeli agent installing surveillance devices at Epstein apartment

According to the journalist, US intelligence agencies may have concluded after the agent’s detention that Israel was aware of Epstein’s client list and the potential value of compromising material

Russian UN envoy urges Israel to halt military adventurism

Vasily Nebenzya cited Israeli Air Force strikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase and a drone attack on a vehicle near the town of Beit Jinn as examples

Four wounded in drone attack on Sevastopol — governor

According to Mikhail Razvozhayev, two of them sustained minor injuries and declined hospitalization

Death toll in Nepalese floods rises to 469 — police

1,545 people have been wounded and rescued

Some 50,000 US troops deployed in Middle East — US CENTCOM

Admiral Bradley Cooper added that since the the Strait of Hormuz blockade was resumed in mid-July, it has been maintained by over 20 US warships

EU condemned Mladic, but remains silent about nationalism in Ukraine — senior legislator

Konstantin Kosachev said that even before the start of the special military operation, at least 16,000 people had been killed in Donbass by "the heirs, adherents, followers and admirers of Ukrainian nationalists"

Von der Leyen admits EU economy relied on energy from Russia, exports to China

The European Commission president chose not to point out that the disruption of global trade and the blocking of energy supplies from Russia were a direct result of sanctions drafted by the European Commission

US companies preparing for potential Republican defeat in November elections — newspaper

According to The Wall Street Journal, major technology companies that have made large donations to Trump’s projects fear becoming targets of congressional investigations and legal prosecutions

Shipping in Strait of Hormuz depends on US talks — Iranian Security Council chief

Mohsen Rezaei added that "an end to all conflicts in the Middle East," particularly in Gaza and Lebanon, was the top-priority condition for the resumption of vessel traffic

Moscow issued no ultimatums to Washington about its role in Kiev’s strikes — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister said Moscow had a question, as information is leaked to the Western media on how exactly the administration of Donald Trump, is helping Ukraine with financial aid, weapons and intelligence

Share of foreign investment in Russian federal loan bonds up to 3.1% in July — regulator

As of July 1, 2026, the share of non-residents in OFZ equaled 3%

Armenia would lose up to 27% of exports if it withdraws from EAEU — expert

Armenia will also lose such a significant asset as the unhindered movement of labor, Anton Sviridenko added

UEFA not to back Infantino’s candidacy if he runs for another FIFA presidential term

The FIFA presidential election will take place in March 2027 in Rabat

Russia’s international reserves up $5.6 bln in one week to $761 bln — Central Bank

As of August 14, the country’s reserves totaled $755.6 bln

Saudi Arabia preparing for new war with Houthis in Yemen — media

According to the newspaper, Riyadh would prefer to preserve peace but is prepared for a military scenario

Lake Ontario got its name before US independence and will keep it — Canadian PM

Mark Carney said Canadians know "that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario"

US holding off on returning to talks with Iran — White House

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said "this will continue until the president feels that maybe they come to the table in a meaningful way"

Six EU countries call for hundreds of billions of euros in cuts to new EU budget

The statement emphasized that the European Union should make clear choices and reprioritize within the budget

Russian Deputy PM lays out objectives of new economic subcommission

The resilience of the sectors will be assessed by the subcommission through the lens of existing risks and damage incurred, Denis Manturov said

What is known about summons of Romania's charge d’affaires in Russia to Foreign Ministry

According to the ministry’s statement following Thursday’s summons of the charge d’affaires, Russia declared an employee of the Romanian embassy in Moscow persona non grata in retaliation

Bank of Russia raises dollar exchange rate to 85.95 rubles for August 28

The official euro exchange rate has been raised by 2 rubles and 1.01 kopecks to 100.2998 rubles

Moscow to respond to Ukrainian strikes on Russian economic, trade infrastructure — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, Russia does not need "military escalation," as it is making advances in the special military operation without it

More than 900 people remain missing in Nepal, nearly 1,500 rescued

The authority said that 73 people were injured

Former Ukrainian deputy defense minister leaves door open for women being mobilized

The final word in this discussion should be left to the military, and specifically to the General Staff

Trump personally dispatched CIA chief to Russia — WSJ

According to sources cited by the newspaper, John Ratcliffe's mission was "so sensitive" that even some White House officials had no prior knowledge of it

Group of Japanese students visited St. Petersburg on August 12-20 — Foreign Ministry

A Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that the visit took place in the framework of the first exchange on the governmental level in seven years

US does not plan to restore memorandum with Iran — media

The US authorities are currently focused on increasing economic pressure on the Islamic Republic, the newspaper said

Russia adds over 100 mln carats to diamond reserves since start of year

Head of Rosnedra Oleg Kazanov noted that reserve additions are driven not only by new deposits but by additional geological exploration and the reassessment of existing deposits

Royal Navy commander says UK-led coalition may replace NATO in northern Europe

The Joint Expeditionary Force provides a political flexibility to respond to crises because consensus among all ten nations is not required, General Gwyn Jenkins said

Vatican official underscores importance of mutual understanding for living in peace

Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations Paul Richard Gallagher is in Russia on a five-day working visit, which began on Monday

Nearly 1,000 people listed as missing in Nepal, over 3,200 rescued

According to available information, 13,295 people are involved in the rescue operation

Ukrainians massively fleeing training camps in Germany — diplomat

The Ukrainian conscripts who have fled make it clear that they do not wish to fight for the ideas of this Kiev regime in its neo-Nazi guise, Maria Zakharova noted

Russian forces continue their offensive unabated, chief of General Staff says

General Valery Gerasimov said the offensive continues in all directions

US Open women's draw announced, Andreeva to face Indonesia's Tjen in first round

Mirra Andreeva, who is playing under a neutral status at international tournaments, is the fifth-seed at this year’s closing Grand Slam tournament

Russia destroys Ukraine’s infrastructure capable of producing SCALP missiles — expert

Sergey Lipovoy noted that even if Kiev manages to assemble them somewhere using available components, "it is not a given that these missiles will be fully controllable"

Foreign ministers to hold meeting on Iran in Istanbul on Sunday — media

The ministers will discuss ways to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the regional security situation

Venezuela mulls possibility of quitting OPEC — Bloomberg

According to the report, Caracas discussed the idea of withdrawal with US officials, but the final decision is yet to be made