Global News Roundup: International Conflicts, Military Drills, and Diplomatic Developments

Putin says he has fairly good relationship with Trump

The Russian leader said that he is grateful to Donald Trump for his efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis

FPV drones take 'swarm' formation against assault groups during Center-2026 drills

The ministry noted that, in parallel with the attack by the assault groups and drone crews, mobile fire groups using Ulan-2 vehicles were engaged in combat against the enemy’s unmanned aerial vehicles

Trans-Caspian Corridor sea freight exceeds 4.5 mln metric tons in seven months

According to Bakytzhan Sagintayev, the heads of government discussed the development of transport infrastructure along the east-west and north-south routes, including in conjunction with China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Iran considers banning Israeli, hostile nations’ ships from Strait of Hormuz

Vessels from other, non-hostile states would be required to obtain special transit permits from the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces under regulations set out in the proposed legislation

Fridman’s access to assets in EU remains limited despite removal of sanctions - Bloomberg

Mikhail Fridman’s main assets in the EU include a 37.9% stake in LetterOne, a Luxembourg-headquartered multinational investment firm, according to the agency

Unmanned tanks used during main stage of Center-2026 drills

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the use of a multi-channel, jamming-resistant control system facilitates the rapid movement of unmanned tanks on the battlefield

Up to World Athletics to decide on Russian track and field int’l participation — IOC

Russian track and field athletes previously submitted appeals to the United Nations, the IOC and World Athletics against their ban in international tournaments

Russia backs US push to preserve G20’s original priorities — sherpa

Trade was probably one of the most difficult negotiating tracks, and those talks concluded only yesterday, Russian G20 Sherpa and Chief of the Presidential Experts’ Directorate Denis Agafonov said

Japan sanctions Russian companies, individuals

Restrictive measures were for the first time introduced in respect of 35 ships that may be associated with Moscow, in the opinion of Tokyo

Over 2,000 soldiers with special op experience involved in Center-2026 drills

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov said the drills also involve more than 780 students of military academies who gained a vast expertise while deploying and commanding units

Situation in Europe so critical that it is being ‘eaten alive’ — Trump

The US president made the statement while addressing his supporters in Texas

US to deploy anti-ship missiles near Taiwan for first time — media

According to sources, the system will be deployed to Yonaguni during the Keen Sword exercise

Co-pilot who attacked captain on Flydubai flight identified as Omani national — TV

According ABC News sources, extremist materials were discovered in 2024 belonging to him, and investigators have yet to determine how he was cleared to operate a Flydubai flight as a co-pilot

Prisoner killed while trying to escape from train near Vladikavkaz

A spokesman for the law enforcement agencies said that reports about a riot are not true

Ukraine paying price for Black Sea strikes, need for lasting peace: Kremlin remarks

No specific details are available regarding the Turkish and UN initiative to hold talks involving Russia and Ukraine on a ceasefire in the Black Sea, Dmitry Peskov said

Active phase of CSTO drills over in Russia

All components of the CSTO’s Rapid Reaction Force demonstrated coordinated actions at the Chebarkul training ground during a joint operation to contain a border armed conflict

Signal 2.0 perimeter surveillance system is deployed in Zaporozhye front of special op

"The Signal 2.0 mobile system is designed for the rapid deployment of security systems at technically unprepared front lines and temporary facilities," Igor Potapov said

US will not ban diesel fuel exports — Trump

According to the US president, the issue was "never really ever on the table"

UAE attorney-general classifies Flydubai incident as terrorist attack

The investigation found that the co-pilot who attacked the captain had planned to carry out a terrorist attack, the state-run WAM news agency quoted Al Shamsi as saying

Belarus’ refusal to stab Russians in the back, gratitude to Trump: Lukashenko’s statements

The Belarusian president stressed that Minsk will always remain committed to a common course with Moscow

New world’s conflicts, chaos, West’s attempts to destroy Russia: Putin’s speech

The Russian president says the world needs to think about what should be done to avoid the most catastrophic scenarios, in which humanity could slide to the brink of survival

Rada urges concessions on NATO, language, faith to secure peace with Russia

According to Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexey Goncharenko, Kiev should "send a signal" to Moscow that it is willing to discuss Ukraine’s neutral status to launch a peaceful dialogue

Russian forces disabling rather than fully destroying Ukrainian bridges — expert

According to Boris Rozhin, an expert at the Center for Information and Geopolitical Research, Ukrainian bridges have sufficient structural strength because they were built back in the Soviet era

No one has weapons of destruction like Russia — Putin

The head of state stressed that it is Russia's competitive advantage

FACTBOX: What is known about the prisoner attack on Russian prison guards

The attack left one convoy officer dead and three others wounded

Ukrainian forces encircled in Kharkov Region lose up to 35 soldiers in 24 hours

Spokesman for Russia’s Battlegroup North Vasily Mezhevykh said that the battlegroup continues to tighten the encirclement around the Ukrainian formations in the northeastern part of the region and expand the outer zone of control

US military transport aircraft sends out distress signal over Canada

According to the source, the aircraft took off from Reykjavik

Russia wants to end conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible through talks — Putin

The head of state urged to stop the accusations that Russia does not want these negotiations

Russian forces strike Kiev bridge used to move troops across Dnieper

The Russian Armed Forces continue to strike Ukrainian infrastructure facilities and seagoing vessels used in the interests of the Ukrainian armed forces

Heads of government of EAEU countries discuss trade, agriculture development

The Eurasian Intergovernmental Council greenlighted the forecast for the development of the agriculture sector

TASS source refutes media allegations about prisoner riot in train car near Vladikavkaz

One of the convicts attacked an officer in a train car and killed him, the official explained

Russian troops liberate 17 communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup North thwarted all the Ukrainian army’s attempts during the past week to break out of the encirclement in the northeast of the Kharkov Region, the Defense Ministry reported

Russian stocks close in the red on Friday

Freedom Global expects the MOEX Index to trade within the 2,250-2,350 point range on Monday

Ukraine loses 2 mln tonnes of metallurgical output by end-September — TASS calculations

Based on European market prices, these losses are valued at approximately $580.2 million per month for steel, $274.9 million for pig iron, and $449.9 million for rolled products

US to announce sweeping sanctions against International Criminal Court — The Times

According to the report, supporters of the court fear this could lead to its dissolution

Price of Russian gas for non-CIS states to exceed $700 per 1,000 cubic meters in Aug-Dec

The price is expected at $450 in 2027

Su-57 aircraft provides cover for helicopters during strike on UAV control post

The crews of Ka-52 helicopters launched a strike with light multi-purpose guided missiles against an enemy UAV control point exposed by reconnaissance means at the Chebarkul training ground as part of the Center-2026 exercises

Covert strike behind enemy lines with underground routes practiced at Center-2026 drills

The assault groups carried out a covert advance along the water supply line and through a pre-prepared underground passage to the rear of the enemy’s stronghold, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Latest ground-based complex with LMUR missiles deployed during Center-2026 drills

The Russian Defense Ministry said that the ground-based missile system is designed for high-precision destruction of important stationary and moving targets at a range of up to 20 kilometers

US Coast Guard reports seizing two vessels carrying fuel to Cuba

The US considers the vessels part of a shadow fleet but did not specify their ownership

North Korea rejects military sovereignty talks with South — Kim Yo-Jong

The department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea slammed Seoul’s proposal to hold talks on establishing a military demarcation line as "an illusion unworthy of a response and unilateral whining"

Decision on Putin’s G20 summit participation depends on range of factors — sherpa

Denis Agafonov noted that US President Donald Trump "has spoken quite clearly" in favor of his Russian counterpart attending the summit

Nearly all G20 countries reject revision of most-favored-nation treatment — Reshetnikov

According to the Russian economic development minister, the United States, as this year’s G20 chair, put the issue of reforming MFN treatment on the meeting’s agenda

US not ready to join Saudi operation against Houthis — media

According to the Axios, the United States has rebuffed a Saudi request to join the operation and conduct airstrikes against Houthi positions for the second time in recent weeks

EU fully rejects ban on diesel exports that would undermine trust in US

European Commission representative Anna-Kaisa Itkonen confirmed that the EC was coordinating a plan to use diesel from European strategic reserves with the International Energy Agency and the G7

Christa Pike feared botched execution calling it her ‘worst nightmare’ — NYP

The newspaper also cited the death-row inmate as saying she was afraid the doctor would not be qualified enough to insert a central line

Russian forces strike cargo ship carrying dual-use goods to Odessa

The ship was struck while in transit in the northwestern part of the Black Sea