Russia searches for missing former official; Air strike kills dozens in Afghanistan

Russian police search for missing former Kremlin official

US media reported that a CIA informant working in the Russian government was brought to the US in 2017. Photo: AFP

The Russian Interior Ministry officially announced on September 23 that a former Kremlin official was missing and that police were searching for him, RIA news agency reported.

Earlier, US media reported that a CIA informant working in the Russian government was brought to the US in 2017. Meanwhile, the Russian daily Kommersant said that this official could be Oleg Smolenkov, who disappeared with his wife and children while on vacation in Montenegro in June 2017. According to the RIA news agency, the Russian Interior Ministry's database shows that Mr. Smolenkov has been declared missing and is the person Russia is looking for.

White House Asia expert named deputy national security adviser

Mr. Matt Pottinger becomes US Deputy National Security Advisor. Photo: wsj.com

US President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, announced on September 22 that White House Asia policy adviser Matt Pottinger will become his deputy. Mr. O'Brien made the announcement while accompanying President Trump on Air Force One from Ohio to New York to attend events within the framework of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

On September 18, President Trump appointed Mr. O'Brien as National Security Advisor to replace Mr. John Bolton, a "hawk" with a hardline stance on Iran, North Korea, and Afghanistan.

Tens of thousands of customers stranded as Thomas Cook goes bankrupt

A branch of Thomas Cook in London, UK. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

British travel group Thomas Cook said on September 23 that about 140,000 German passengers on vacation abroad who used the company's services are at risk of being stranded abroad. The announcement came after Thomas Cook declared bankruptcy earlier that day.

Thomas Cook said that about 21,000 other customers had also booked flights through the company with departure dates on September 23 and 24. Given the current situation, Thomas Cook warned that it could not guarantee flights for passengers booked on both dates.

3,000 NATO soldiers participate in international exercise Silver Arrow 2019

Image of a military exercise in Latvia. Photo: theglobeandmail

On September 23, the international exercise "Silver Arrow - 2019" of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states kicked off in Latvia. Lasting until October 6, "Silver Arrow - 2019" mobilizes more than 3,000 soldiers from 12 participating countries. The goal of the exercise is to improve cooperation between the armies and practice the ability to plan and conduct defense operations.

According to the announcement of the Latvian Ministry of Defense, armed units of Latvia, Albania, Canada, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Estonia will coordinate their actions in a hypothetical situation of an attack on the Latvian capital Riga. According to the scenario, the enemy will attack Riga from the north and NATO forces will initially deploy defensive tactics, repel the attack, wait for reinforcements and then counterattack to push the enemy out of the territory.

Air strike mistakenly kills dozens in Afghanistan

Smoke rises after an airstrike on an IS position in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. Photo: AFP/VNA

According to a representative of Helmand province, on the night of September 22, two airstrikes occurred in Musa Qala district, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan. The airstrike in Konjak village killed 18 militants, while the airstrike on a house in Shah-wa-Harrus village, where a wedding ceremony was taking place, killed many civilians, most of whom were women and children. Citing local sources, local officials said at least 40 civilians were killed and injured in the airstrike.

Afghan officials announced on September 23 that the country's authorities were investigating the mistaken airstrike. In a statement, the Afghan Ministry of Defense said that the agency would share the results of the investigation. Majeed Akhundzada, a member of the Helmand Provincial Council, said both the Afghan military and foreign forces were involved in the airstrike.

Russian Prime Minister signs resolution ratifying Paris Agreement on climate change

Illustration: windfair

On September 23, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a cabinet resolution on ratifying the Paris Agreement on combating climate change. Russian state media reported that the Paris Agreement was reached within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC), which focuses on issues related to greenhouse gas emissions.

Russia signed the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016. To date, 195 countries and the European Union (EU) have signed the agreement. However, there are still 10 countries that have not ratified this important agreement, including the United States.