Taliban hands over Bagram airbase to the United States
U.S. sources report that, amid potential strikes on Iran, the Pentagon has once again taken control of the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan.
During a recent briefing, Andrey Serdyukov, the Chief of Joint Staff of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), highlighted that despite some positive developments in Afghanistan, the country continues to pose significant threats to regional and global security.
These threats include terrorism, the spread of radical ideologies, and drug trafficking. Serdyukov’s remarks underscore the ongoing challenges faced by CSTO member states, particularly in Central Asia, as they grapple with the spillover effects of instability in Afghanistan.
Russia, a key member of the CSTO, has repeatedly expressed concerns over the threats emanating from Afghanistan, particularly those linked to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and the illicit drug trade.
Despite these challenges, Russia has adopted a pragmatic approach toward the Taliban, which regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021. Unlike many Western nations, Russia did not close its embassy in Kabul and has maintained diplomatic ties with the Taliban-led government. Moscow has hosted Taliban delegations on multiple occasions and has even received diplomats appointed by the Taliban administration.
While Russia officially designates the Taliban as a terrorist organization, it has signaled a willingness to reconsider this classification as part of its broader engagement strategy.
In a move aimed at addressing Afghanistan’s economic difficulties, Russia has signed agreements to export fuel, wheat, and gas to the country. These deals are seen as an effort to stabilize the region and mitigate the humanitarian crisis, while also fostering cooperation with the Taliban.
However, Moscow remains cautious about the Taliban’s ability to contain the threat posed by ISKP. This skepticism reflects the complex dynamics of Russia’s relationship with the Taliban.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
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The British steel industry is grappling with its most significant crisis in decades, as the government has been forced to intervene in an emergency bid to save the country's last operational blast furnaces at British Steel.
Police in Pakistan have detained nearly 180 people following a series of incidents involving KFC restaurants in several major cities.
The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Central Asian countries will come together on May 5 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, marking a major milestone in relations between the two sides.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman has confirmed that the second round of talks between representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America will be held in Rome this Saturday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to hold talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Moscow.
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