Afghanistan has increased sales of soda, spices, and stomachs to Russia.

Denmark's Defense Intelligence Agency has warned that a large-scale military conflict could erupt in Europe within the next five years. The report notes that if Russia perceives NATO as politically and militarily weak, it will be more likely to use force against individual alliance countries.

The Religious Committee of Muslims of Russia is developing a strategic plan for the development of Islamic education in the country. The project covers the period until 2037.

The American publication Reuters interviewed Rashad Mansour, a Palestinian who was two years old during the Nakba, the mass expulsion of Palestinians by Israel in 1948.

Syrian Defense Minister Murhef Abu Qasra said the country's new government is ready to keep Russian military bases if they serve Syria's interests. He noted that Russia's attitude towards the new government has improved significantly since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. "There are no permanent enemies in politics," the minister said.

The Azerbaijani government is preparing a lawsuit against Russia in an international court over the tragedy of the AZAL Embraer E190 plane that was shot down near Grozny. Baku is reportedly accusing Moscow of hiding the facts.

US President Donald Trump has said the conflict between Russia and Ukraine must end,

Syria has canceled a 49-year lease agreement for the port of Tartus to the Russian company Stroytransgaz, signed under Bashar Assad in 2019. All revenues from the port's operations will be used in the interests of the Syrian state.

The lowest crime rates among Russian regions in 2024 were observed in Chechnya, Ingushetia, and Dagestan. In particular, in Chechnya last year there were only 17 crimes per 10,000 inhabitants. For comparison, this figure is on average 131 nationwide.

The ongoing tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan following the downing of a plane have been drawing much attention. President Ilham Aliyev's sharp and loud protests to Moscow, his toughening of visa requirements for Russian citizens, and his threatening statements about his intolerance towards Armenian fascism have led to speculation about whether they will cast a shadow over the Russian-Azerbaijani alliance. However, one cannot always agree with these views.