Section: Special sections
AP: U.S. hit IS with largest non-nuclear bomb ever used
U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Thursday struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with ”the mother of all bombs,” the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said, according to the Associated Press. The bomb, known officially as a GBU-43B, or massive ordnance air blast weapon,...
MFA Ukraine verifying reports on possible visit of Spanish politicians to occupied Crimea
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is checking information about a possible visit of Spanish officials and businessmen to the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula, the ministry`s press secretary Mariana Betsa told UNIAN. ”We are verifying this information,” she said. According to the spokesperson, it is necessary to confirm whether such a...
Russian government gives cash injection to Crimea bank
Russia`s government is to inject $265 million of budget money into a state-owned bank in Crimea because the lender does not have enough capital to finance infrastructure projects in the region, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine three years ago, according to Reuters. According to a government order seen by Reuters, the charter capital of the...
“It`s crazy what`s going on” – Trump about situation in Donbas
U.S. President Donald Trump has mentioned the situation in the east of Ukraine, Donbas, when describing problems in the world, saying: ”it`s crazy what`s going on,” according to an UNIAN correspondent. ”It`s crazy what`s going on – whether it`s the Middle East or you look at – no matter where the – Ukraine – you look at – whatever you look at,...
U.S. intel has intercepts of Assad military communication with chemical experts ahead of sarin attack
The U.S. military and intelligence community has intercepted communications featuring Syrian military and chemical experts talking about preparations for the sarin attack in Idlib last week, a senior U.S. official tells CNN. The intercepts were part of an immediate review of all intelligence in the hours after the attack to confirm responsibility...
EU foreign affairs chief Mogherini to pay first official visit to Russia on April 24
EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini will make her first official visit to Russia on April 24, according to Radio Free Europe /Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Mogherini`s office made the announcement on April 12, amid increased tensions between Moscow and the 28-member bloc over Russia`s actions in Ukraine and Syria, among other things, RFE/RL...
Putin meets with Tillerson in Russia as Syria rift deepens
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, as a diplomatic rift between the two nations deepens over a chemical attack in Syria, according to CNN. The meeting is taking place at the Kremlin along with Tillerson`s counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the U.S. State Department...
Putin complains of degradation of ties with U.S. under Trump
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russian-American relations under U.S. President Donald Trump deteriorated. ”We can say that the level of trust at the working level, especially at the military level, has not become better, it rather degraded,” Putin said in an interview with the Mir TV channel, the text of which was published on the...
Russian bombers hit Syria`s Idlib, casualties reported – media
Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation have carried out an air strike on the village ofHambushiya in the vicinity of the Syrian province of Idlib, resulting in, according to preliminary data, three people were killed and eight injured. The wounded were taken to field hospitals, Anadolu Agency reported, citing local sources. At the same time,...
Russia seeks to ”save face” in Syria – U.S. envoy to UN
Nikki Haley, the US envoy to the United Nations, is characterizing Russia as skittish and isolated in the wake of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad`s deadly chemical weapon attack last week that killed scores of civilians, including children, according to CNN. ”I think they`re nervous,” said Nikki Haley, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations, CNN...