News Digest: Global Geopolitical and Defense Updates

Supreme Court finds Yabloko received about $36,000 from abroad

The party recieved donations from counterparties, who received funding from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and a number of other countries from July 9 to August 2

AK-12 rifle more reliable, easier to use than foreign competitors — Kalashnikov CEO

The AK-12 is represented in export markets by the 7.62mm and 5.56mm caliber AK-15 and AK-19 models

Number of migrant deaths while crossing Mediterranean up significantly since start of year

According to the International Organization for Migration, 821 people died or went missing on the route through the central part of the Mediterranean Sea

NGO sues Trump challenging paid access to his publications on Truth Social

According to the plaintiffs, last year alone, from 9,000 to 11,000 posts and reposts were published on the US leader's page

Washington seeks to cut embassy staff in Middle East — CNN

According to the TV channel, the US State Department does not expect to return to normal staffing in the region soon amid the looming threat of a full-scale return to war

Russia cut oil production by 6,000 bpd in July — OPEC

Russia’s oil production is currently constrained by the OPEC+ agreement

Ensuring Russia’s security on all fronts: what is known about meeting held by Putin

The Russian leader stated that the main tasks are being addressed today as part of the special military operation, but it is necessary to "ensure the security of the Russian state along all its borders"

Novorossiysk declares state of emergency after Ukrainian drone attack

According to the latest reports, a secondary school, a sports school and a college had been damaged in the attack

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

Leavitt to leave White House press secretary post before September — Trump

Donald Trump noted that Karoline Leavitt will now be one of his top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party

Ukraine to lose its Western territories sooner or later — Putin

It may not happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, It may take one year, two years, 10 years or 15 years, Russian President said

All US bases will be seized if Washington uses nuclear weapons against Iran — IRGC

Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi did not clarify whether the Iranian military would occupy the US bases on its own or with the help of other forces

US spends $533 mln on shell plant that produces nothing

Moscow has repeatedly stressed that Western arms supplies to Kiev and assistance in training Ukrainian servicemen only prolong the conflict and do not change the situation on the battlefield

Russia’s security must be ensured along all of its borders — Putin

The Russian leader noted that the situation in the Pacific Fleet’s operational area "is not easy"

Strait of Hormuz traffic falls five times since start of war — WSJ

The publication also noted that on August 11, 14 vessels managed to cross the Strait of Hormuz with 11 of them using the so-called Iranian corridor

Several sailors of US aircraft carrier tried to commit suicide — Military Times

The aircraft carrier has been in service for more than eight months instead of the expected six, and the staff does not know when they will be able to return home

IN BRIEF: What we know about release of American Robert Gilman, convicted in Russia

Robert Gilman was detained in 2022 at the Voronezh railway station after being involved in a drunken brawl on the Sukhum-Moscow train

West always wanted to 'cancel' Russia, but now it's doing it brazenly — Medvedev

The politician noted that as soon as the special military operation had begun, it had come out in an absolutely cynical, undisguised, monstrous and even perverted form

Iran may drag conflict with US out until end of Trump’s presidential term — IRGC

According to Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, Iran has to attain deterrence so that the enemy never dares to attack it

Russia remains top oil supplier to India, China in June — OPEC

Russia supplied around 2.2 mbd of oil to India in June

Attempts to escalate situation in Caspian must be thwarted by littoral states

Pyotr Shchukin stressed that any attempts by extra-regional forces to bring geopolitical confrontation and military tension into these historically peaceful waters are aimed at undermining the atmosphere of friendship and mutual trust

Death toll from earthquake in Colombia up to 265

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck near the city of San Jose del Palmar in the Choco department on August 10

American mercenary Conor Kennedy arrested in absentia in Russia, placed on wanted list

He participated in combat operations on the side of the Ukrainian forces incognito

Georgia hurts itself by saying no to diplomatic relations with Russia — Abkhazian official

Sergey Shamba stressed that Abkhazia would only be happy if relations between Russia and Georgia improved

Moscow to respond in kind if West seizes Russian commercial vessels — Putin

The Russian president emphasized that it wasn’t just about the areas where Russian vessels could be seized but wherever Moscow founds it necessary and reasonable

EU wary of 'Trojan horse' as it considers faster enlargement — media

According to the sources, the European Commission was drawing up revised rules for new members, which will be presented to EU leaders at a European Council meeting on October 15

Drop in investment levels in early 2026 cannot be described as dramatic — Bank of Russia

The overall level of investment activity remaining high, said Adviser to Central Bank Governor Kirill Tremasov