The Israeli Defense Forces admit Iranian missiles hit two air bases, but Israeli planes and air force capabilities were undamaged, the IDF spokesman said.

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Netanyahu stated that Israel has the "duty and right" to respond to Iran's attack and promised to do so.

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Russia’s Afghan realpolitik designed to combat twin hydra of terrorism, drugs – expert

Russia wants sanctions targeting Afghanistan lifted, frozen assets returned, and various forms of cooperation restored, primarily due to the “grave humanitarian situation” facing the country, and the obvious benefits of a stable Afghanistan for the region, Russian Council for International Affairs expert Kirill Semenov told Sputnik, commenting on the results of Friday's Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan meeting.

Meeting with senior representatives from ten countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov slammed the West's "cynical policy" on Afghanistan, accusing the US and its allies of deliberately obstructing the country's recovery. Lavrov called for sanctions to be lifted, and Afghanistan's frozen assets given back.

Separately, Russian special presidential representative on Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov announced that Moscow is preparing to remove the Taliban* from its list of terrorist groups.

“The Taliban, being that they are in power, is trying to fight terrorism, trying to fight drug trafficking, trying to take other steps to normalize the situation in the country, but they lack any resources, any opportunities to conduct open foreign economic and foreign policy activities, which creates serious obstacles for economic growth in the country, for the development of the economy,” Semenov said, explaining the Russian Foreign Ministry’s bold initiatives.

“For now, Russia, the countries of the Middle East and Central Asia are at the vanguard of the gradual recognition of the Taliban and the establishment of full-fledged interstate relations with them,” the observer said, adding that the US and its allies, not opposed to the idea of normalized relations with Afghanistan in principle, want to see the Taliban “act in line with US interests,” with the seized assets “a very important tool to pressure the Taliban to become more accommodating.”

Washington opposes Afghanistan under the Taliban joining regional groups like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or Global South institutions opposing Western influence, Semenov emphasized.

“They are trying to blackmail the Taliban’s political leadership, so that if it takes any steps, it does so with an eye toward the United States. In other words, the Americans want to maintain their influence in Afghanistan using these frozen assets,” the analyst said.

The Biden administration froze over $7 bln in Afghan assets in August 2021, with an additional $2 bln+ blocked in Europe and the UAE. Russia, China, Iran, and several Central Asian nations are seeking pragmatic diplomatic and economic ties with Afghanistan, focusing on infrastructure, trade, and regional security.

*under UN sanctions for terrorist activities

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US CENTCOM chief Gen. Michael Kurilla has landed in Israel to meet with Israeli military officials amid IDF preparations for a response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack, Israeli media report.

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◻️ Israel-Lebanon: how current strikes have outpaced intensity of 2006 and 1982 wars

◻️ Anti-China noise about Chagos Islands’ handoff hides continued US/UK access to strategic bomber base

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◻️ Russia’s Afghan realpolitik designed to combat twin hydra of terrorism, drugs – expert

◻️ Le Pen Trial ‘good opportunity’ for establishment to try to bring France’s ‘leading party to its knees’

◻️ ‘Billions for Ukraine, pennies for Americans’: netizens fume over stingy hurricane relief

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🎥🎥 Mass protest erupted at Times Square in solidarity with the Palestinian people on the eve of the anniversary of the October 7 attacks

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Trump arrives in Butler, Pennsylvania

The former president’s plane was spotted in the sky above the campaign venue, signaling his arrival in Butler, Pennsylvania, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

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Trump lands in Butler, Pennsylvania

Former President Donald Trump has arrived in Pennsylvania, making his way to the Butler fairgrounds for his rally.

Trump embraced the family of firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was tragically shot and killed during the attempted assassination on Trump at his previous rally in Butler.

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"Donald Trump took a bullet for democracy. What the hell have you done?" – JD Vance

Vice presidential candidate JD Vance joined Trump’s rally in Butler and blasted Democrats for their “dangerous inflammatory” rhetoric.

“Even after that terrible assassination attempt that took one man's life and nearly took many others, they continue to use dangerous inflammatory rhetoric. The media has continued to call Donald Trump, the guy who actually won his primary, a threat to democracy,” Vance emphasized.

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📹 Users on social media shared footage of the Israeli strikes on the southern suburb of Beirut

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📹 “He saved free speech”: Trump invites Musk on stage

Elon Musk enthusiastically jumped on stage to join former President Donald Trump at the rally.

“And there's no truer test than courage under fire. So who do you want representing America? Yeah, absolutely. And I think this election, I think it's the most important election of our lifetime,” Musk emphasized, delivering his message with passion as he supported Trump’s vision.

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