Strait of Hormuz developmentsAt least 22 seafarers killed in Strait of Hormuz since February 28 — IMO The IMO also said that attacks in the Red Sea resumedLONDON, September 16. /TASS/. At least 22 seafarers died in the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the conflict between the US and Iran, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) reported. "Since the current conflict in the Middle East began on 28 February, IMO has verified 80 attacks on international shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 seafarers and injuries to many others," the organization said in a statement. The IMO also said that attacks in the Red Sea resumed. According to the organization, four people were killed in the latest attack by members of Yemen’s Ansar Allah (Houthi) rebel movement on August 11. The IMO added that attacks in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov also resulted in fatalities. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez called on countries to refrain from attacks on merchant ships. "We are reaching a point where these conflicts are being used as a pretext to attack merchant vessels and innocent seafarers. Do not use these conflicts to attack innocent seafarers," he said. Dominguez noted that attacks on commercial vessels disrupt global supply chains and slow economic growth worldwide. Von der Leyen, Kallas constitute Europe’s biggest catastrophe — MEP"They have turned the European Union into a Nazi war machine," Lubos Blaha saidRead moreRussia, Mexico support UN reform, Charter’s inviolability — Foreign MinistryAccording to Russian diplomats, "a trusting political dialogue" remains the foundation of cooperation between the two countries todayRead moreRussian diplomat warns NATO countries against supporting nuclear proliferationMaria Zakharova advised Western European hotheads to take a sober look at the worldRead moreTaimazova, Tasoyev to headline Russian squad at 2026 World Judo Championship in BakuThe 2026 World Judo Championships is scheduled to take place on October 4-11, 2026, at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, AzerbaijanRead moreMoscow vows response to Hungarian move to expel Russian diplomats — MFAOn September 8, Hungary’s top diplomat Anita Orban said Budapest was expelling 10 Russian diplomats, citing the need to protect national securityRead moreIN BRIEF: Russian Armed Forces strike Ukrainian military, energy, transport facilitiesAs a result of strikes in the Velikaya Balka settlement in the Odessa Region, a logistics center for the storage and distribution of military cargo arriving in Ukraine from abroad was struckRead moreMerz cancels trip to New York for UNGA events — news agencyGerman officials told DPA that the situation requires chancellor's presence in BerlinRead moreIsraeli military abducted Iranian TV journalist near Bethlehem — Press TVAccording to one of Hamed’s colleagues, the Israelis detained the entire crew and searched them, after which the cameramen were released, while the journalist herself was taken to an unknown locationRead moreEU loses 90 bln euro due to situation in Strait of Hormuz — EC presidentUrsula von der Leyen said the EU needs to double efforts on development of "affordable and homegrown clean energy"Read moreChina ready to defend Iran's legitimate rights — Chinese foreign ministerWang Yi said that Beijing is also ready to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the Iranian sideRead moreCasualties in Sochi, 399 UAVs: aftermath of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian regionsFalling UAV debris injured five people, including a child, in Russia’s southern city of Sochi in the Krasnodar RegionRead moreIran, Oman agree on plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz — top diplomatIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran believes that the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran remains in forceRead moreUkrainian servicemen shot, tortured civilians in Kursk Region — human rights commissionerYana Lantratova said that many civilians were shot in their homesRead moreEuropean Council president to call for creating European Security Council — mediaAccording to an article in Euractiv, Ursula von der Leyen will announce the proposal in her annual State of the European Union address in Strasbourg on WednesdayRead moreKremlin comments on Putin’s address to Russians, US Justice Department statementPresident Vladimir Putin will deliver a televised address to the nation this evening ahead of the upcoming parliamentary electionsRead moreKiev authorities lost control over Ukrainian security forces — underground resistanceAccording to the source, citizens "can only watch as the agencies figure out who’s in charge"Read moreUS, Germany agree to advance defense industrial cooperation — PentagonAccording to the statement, Pete Hegseth and Boris Pistorius signed an agreement that aligns the Pentagon’s "acquisition transformation strategy with Germany's Procurement Acceleration Act"Read moreSikorski's plans to restore Poland's greatness show 'unhealthy ambitions' — Kremlin aideNikolay Patrushev said he was previously surprised with the Polish foreign minister's lack of knowledge about history and RussiaRead moreRussia’s Battlegroup North destroys 345 Ukrainian fixed-wing UAVs in past dayAccording to the spokesman, the battlegroup also destroyed a Polish-made PT-91 tank and two T-72 tanksRead moreIN BRIEF: Russian Foreign Minister on asset dispute, threats to freedom of navigationThe Russian foreign minister stressed that Western interference with freedom of navigation is a concern, as European states have detained 12 vessels since January of this yearRead moreOnly 20-25 million people live in Ukraine now, former Zelensky press secretary saysYulia Mendel added that Ukrainians continue to flee the countryRead moreRussia remains guarantor of global energy security — Energy MinisterRussia holds the world's largest combined oil and gas reserves, amounting to approximately 60 billion tonnes of oil equivalent, Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilyov saidRead moreUN secretary-general candidate calls for comprehensive agreement on IranOlara Otunnu identified the resolution of the Iran conflict as one of the areas to which he intends to immediately give priority in the sphere of international peace and securityRead moreUS House advances Russia sanctions billThe House of Representatives voted 214-211Read moreUN secretary-general candidate calls for organizing peace conference on UkraineOlara Otunnu called for urgent work with key stakeholdersRead moreUK actively explores participation in NATO’s defense bank — newspaperA senior Labour figure told The Financial Times that participation in the DSRB initiative could potentially help the UK reach a milestone of spending 3% of GDP on defense by 2030Read moreUN secretary-general candidate proposes creating special body on AIAccording to Olara Otunnu's assessment, the world is simultaneously on the threshold of a potential "golden age" and a period of serious upheaval, during which "drones and artificial intelligence might evolve to dominate the human race"Read moreEurope unlikely to go back to being Russia's top gas buyer — expertThe European market will remain large and attractive for Russia, Ilya Grashchenkov notedRead moreRussia fighting against both Ukrainian army, Western war machine — DPR leaderDenis Pushilin added that the Ukrainian military receives support from Western intelligence servicesRead moreShanghai Cooperation Organization calls for preventing arms race in space — officialSecretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev said the organization advocates for the development of a correspondent legally binding international documentRead moreUS cannot trust Merz’s words — Trump’s envoy"Merz is mad that Americans want the German government to pay its NATO obligations," Richard Grenell saidRead moreUS House approves resolution demanding end to Iran warThe resolution is not legally binding and serves as a recommendationRead moreRussian, Chinese military medical services share treatment experience — Defense MinistryRussian State Secretary and Deputy Defense Minister Anna Tsivilyova said this at the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on international security in ChinaRead moreIran-backed Houthis’ actions go beyond domestic conflict — Yemen’s PMShaya Mohsen al-Zindani says Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia "cannot be separated from the military escalation" on Yemen’s Red Sea coastRead moreAchieving special military operation goals to improve Eurasia landscape — LavrovAccording to the Russian foreign minister, it will contribute to the establishment of a world orderRead moreUnlike Ukraine, Russian army not targeting civilians in its attacks, diplomat saysMaria Zakharova's comment came in response to a question from media regarding allegations in the Western press about a recent "deliberate" Russian strike on a passenger train carrying former and current Western officialsRead morePress review: EU eyes Russian assets as Ukraine corruption scandal erodes Western trustTop stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, September 15thRead moreBritish national eliminated in Russia’s special mil-op zone in Ukraine — top brassThe sources said that three more Ukrainian officers have been killed as well, including a senior lieutenant of the National Guard of UkraineRead moreZelensky dismisses Kravchenko as prosecutor generalKravchenko had held the post since June 2025Read moreViktor Bout sees no real readiness from US to restore relations with RussiaViktor Bout noted that the US Congress continues to consider new sanctions against Russia Read moreOverwhelming majority of Germans dissatisfied with Merz's performance — pollOnly 10% of respondents, three percentage points fewer than last week, gave a positive assessment of the government head’s performanceRead moreMiddle Eastern countries disappointed with US security guarantees — ex-top diplomatAntony Blinken said the US had no good military solution to the current conflict "absent a full-scale invasion of Iran, which would be a disaster"Read moreRussia’s Battlegroup West destroys 75 Ukrainian heavy combat hexacopters in past dayThe spokesman additionally reported that the battlegroup destroyed 50 enemy drone control centers, two Starlink satellite communication stations, 36 ground robotic systemsRead moreSwitzerland not being considered for new round of Ukraine talks — Russian foreign ministryMaria Zakharova cited the loss of neutrality in Switzerland’s policy, Russophobia in the context of joining anti-Russian sanctions and related statements as reasonsRead moreDPR leader sees Kiev regime, West making money on continued Ukraine conflictEU countries capitalize on weapons supplies to Kiev, Denis Pushilin saysRead moreKremlin briefing touches on Ukrainian attempt to strike energy site, Trump’s truce ideaIt is possible to discuss the resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe only if they are beneficial for the country, Dmitry Peskov saidRead moreUS policy compels North Korea to strengthen nuclear deterrence — agencySecurity expert Choe Ju Hyun wrote in an op-ed for the Korean Central News Agency that US actions are accelerating "the corrosion of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime"Read moreBritish PM to discuss Ukraine at first meeting with Trump in New York — newspaperAccording to The Times, the talks are set to be held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on September 22Read moreAny use of Russian assets would cause greater damage to Europe than to Russia — portalEurope is forced to balance between aiding Ukraine and financial suicide, media outlet InsideOver saidRead moreUkraine's interceptor drones fall short in July tests — ReutersMany of the interceptor drones proved difficult to control at speeds sometimes exceeding 400 kilometers per hour, with some crashing into nearby fields and forests, the news agency notedRead moreRussia backs sovereign right of nations to choose their energy mix — Energy Minister"Russia’s position is to respect the sovereign right of every country to determine its own development path and energy mix," Sergey Tsivilyov saidRead moreRussia-China relations at unprecedentedly high level — officialRussian State Secretary and Deputy Defense Minister Anna Tsivilyova noted that Russia and China are marking two significant anniversaries this yearRead moreWar with Iran costs US taxpayers $38 billion — congressional budget officeThe authority also confirmed that the war had depleted US weapons stocks, including critically important interceptors for air defense systemsRead moreSpecial court for Kosovo sentences former president to 25 years in prisonThe Kosovo war crimes tribunal in the Hague found former president Hashim Thaci guilty of committing war crimeRead moreTrump’s call to halt attacks on energy sites shows dissatisfaction with Zelensky — expertAlexander Protsenko said Donald Trump had also stressed that global diesel shortages were the result of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineriesRead moreUS plans $2.8 bln sale of heavy aerial bombs to Israel — newspaperAn article in The Washington Post explained that the deal was planned to be implemented through the Foreign Military Financing mechanism, which provides grants and loans to help other countries buy American weaponsRead morePress review: Germany eyes Patriot deal as Japan steps up Asia-Pacific military activityTop stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, September 16thRead moreRussia presses for urgent measures to prevent arms race in space — diplomatThe statements from US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink only serve as evidence how relevant Russian multilateral initiatives toward launching talks, Maria Zakharova saidRead moreMideast facing worst energy logistics crisis in modern history — Russian Energy MinisterSergey Tsivilyov commented on the situation in the Strait of HormuzRead morePresident Putin to deliver televised address on upcoming parliamentary electionsElections to the ninth State Duma will take place from September 18 to 20, 2026Read moreKiev loses some 1,225 troops along engagement line in past day — Defense MinistryOvernight, the Russian Armed Forces struck a logistics center in Velikaya Balka in the Odessa RegionRead moreRussia's pipeline gas exports to Turkey fall 10% in January-JulyIn July alone, Turkey imported a combined 948 million cubic meters of Russian gas via the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelinesRead moreEC President announces intention to tighten sanctions against RussiaThe EU has adopted 21 packages of sanctions against MoscowRead moreTrade, tech curbs only worsen global energy imbalances — Russian Energy MinisterSergey Tsivilyov commented on Moscow's key proposals for the G20 ministerial energy meeting in Houston, Texas, which runs through September 16Read moreNATO intelligence services find evidence linking Kiev to Leipzig incident — Russian SVRThe Russian Foreign Intelligence Service noted that "many in the West are merely pretending to believe the German leadership"Read moreRussia tests new concept for intercepting UAVs, unmanned surface vehiclesAlexey Chadayev emphasized that the tests demonstrated the concept’s effectiveness and feasibilityRead moreInformation warfare has no rules, creating them is our next step — GFCN presidentInterview with Vladimir Tabak, president of the Global Fact-Checking Network Read moreRussian-Canadian citizen gets seven years in penal colony for treason — FSBAccording to the Russian Federal Security Service, Nikolay Zyuzev created and launched a project spreading extremist materials, and gathering information on the instructions of EU government bodies and analytical centerRead moreThree killed as helicopter crashes in Los AngelesAnother person was injuredRead moreMassive missile attack on Taganrog, 222 downed drones: Ukrainian strikes' aftermathWarehouses belonging to the Ozon company and agricultural enterprises were damaged, as were the windows of residential buildings and an educational institution in Rostov Region’s TaganrogRead moreProspects of Ukrainian settlement no closer than a few months ago — MFASergey Ryabkov said the responsibility lies precisely with the representatives of the European "war party"Read moreOnly few ships passed through Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday — news agencyAccording to analysts, none of the ships were supertankers with oil or tankers transporting liquefied natural gasRead moreDenmark’s provocative actions against Russian frigate raise concern — ambassadorVladimir Barbin expressed regret over Denmark’s reluctance to prevent maritime escalation and push toward strengthening mutual confidenceRead moreRussia, China developing strategic cooperation across all areas — deputy defense ministerAnna Tsivilyova noted that a multipolar world order would help create conditions for a new system of international law, including in promising fields that determine the future of humanityRead moreEU foreign policy chief Kallas says would answer phone call from Russia’s Putin, LavrovKaja Kallas also recalled her meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov at international forums, including at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the G20Read moreUN secretary-general candidate wants peace in Gaza based on Oslo, Abraham AccordsHe described the resolution of major conflicts as one of the issues he intends to prioritize, noting that international peace, security, and international cooperation constitute "the core mandate of the United Nations"Read moreRussia to work on permanent visa-free regime with China — foreign ministryMaria Zakharova recalled that Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed a visa-free regime through mid-September 2026 a year ago, an initiative supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin, after which a reciprocal visa-free regime was introduced for Chinese citizensRead moreLukoil refinery crisis shows Europe cost of severing ties with Russia — expert"The longer the Petrotel refinery remains idle, the more the sanctions issue will transform from a foreign policy matter into a domestic political challenge for the country's authorities," Ilya Grashchenkov saidRead moreRussia to secure return of its foreign exchange reserves from West — LavrovThe Russian Foreign Minister said the European Commission still wants to confiscate these assetsRead moreWar between US, Iran to enter 'different phase' in coming months — VanceAccording to the vice president, the US has already completed the first phase, which was to destroy the nuclear program and conventional military of IranRead moreRussia ready for Western provocations amid State Duma elections — MFARussian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that diplomats are being trained even more thoroughlyRead moreRussian indices decline as trading closes on Moscow ExchangeThe MOEX Index falling 1.02% to 2,337.1 points and the RTS Index dropping 0.90% to 874.02 pointsRead moreAfD seeks full normalization of relations with Russia — BildSources told the newspaper that the party is also seeking an end to military aid to UkraineRead moreIran lifts ban on use of foreign messengers by government agenciesIslamic Republic Government Spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said that the main goal of the move is "to ensure the ability to promptly respond to emerging doubts and planted information, as well as effectively counter psychological operations and the information war" against IranRead moreSituation in Reznikovka encirclement is at stalemate for Ukrainian forces — expertAndrey Marochko said the Ukrainian military command is giving its personnel false informationRead moreRussia to respond accordingly if Lithuania moves to field nuclear weapons — MFAAs for the autumn session of the Lithuanian Seimas on amending legislation to allow the deployment of foreign nuclear weapons, this is a completely irresponsible act, Maria Zakharova saidRead moreUS businesses await lifting of ban on new investment in Russia — AmCham headRobert Agee said the inability to invest means US companies are not only losing profits and market share but also seeing the value of their brands declineRead moreKremlin mum on exposure in US of individuals allegedly working for Russian intelligenceUntil "any plausible evidence" emerges, there is no point in commenting on statements by the US Department of Justice, Dmitry Peskov said Read moreExplosions heard in Iranian city of Qeshm — agencyAccording to sources cited by IRNA, the sounds came from the seaRead moreItalian delegate says Russia preserves diplomacy abandoned by WestAttending the International Festival of Youth, Carlo Di Martino said it is encouraging to see people from all over the world, supporting Russia's project and its geopolitical visionRead moreUS seeks to normalize military use of outer space — newspaperThe Wall Street Journal reported that, according to officials, open discussion of the issue could deter adversaries that also seek to launch weapons into orbitRead moreKalashnikov Group presents Kalitka-KA anti-drone systemThe system is designed to protect strategic facilities from drone attacks at low and extremely low altitudesRead moreTrump became $2.7 bln richer after 2024 election — mediaAccording to Forbes, the US president cashed in on crypto ventures and overseas dealsRead moreRussia vows to back priorities of China’s chairmanship in BRICSRussian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that China is yet to present a conceptual framework for its chairmanshipRead moreUS accepts risk of human extinction, if it holds lethal AI weaponry — expertAlexander Stepanov recalled that former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon accused OpenAI and Anthropic of "racing toward superintelligence self-improvement and gambling with our lives"Read moreRussia, Ukraine preparing new family reunification initiative — human rights commissionerYana Lantratova declined to specify the number of people involved or when the humanitarian initiative might take placeRead moreUkraine carries out two attacks on residential areas in DPR in past dayOne civilian was reported injuredRead moreChina calls for building more balanced security architecture — defense chiefDong Jun stated that this architecture "should address the legitimate security concerns of all countries"Read moreRussia hopes Europe has taken notice of warning about 'other, very short war' — LavrovRussia’s top diplomat pointed to the fact that it was Europe that was regularly voicing claims about its preparations for a possible warRead moreLarge group of countries ready to host Ukraine talks, source tells TASSEarlier, Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov told Russian state-controlled television Channel One in a comment that Abu Dhabi has been discussed as a platform for hosting trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States, and that Turkey and other countries too have offered their servicesRead moreRussia, US need to launch dialogue on trade, investment prospects — MFAMaria Zakharova noted that in relations with the United States, "with the arrival of the current administration, some things have moved in the right direction"Read more
Ozone hole shrinks to its smallest in decades in 2025 — UN
• What happened: The ozone hole over Antarctica shrank to its smallest size in over two decades in 2025, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO...