Briefly

RUSSIA

UK envoy summoned over warship incident

Russia's Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned the British ambassador to "strongly protest" what it said was a British destroyer's violation of its territory. The spat between Moscow and London erupted on Wednesday after the HMS Defender passed near Crimea in the Black Sea, with Russia saying it fired warning shots at the destroyer to ward it off. Britain denied the claim. In a statement on Thursday, the Russian ministry said it had summoned UK ambassador Deborah Bronnert and issued a "strong protest" over the British vessel's violation of Russia's territory and its "provocative and dangerous actions".

AFGHANISTAN

US to keep 650 troops after withdrawal

Roughly 650 US troops are expected to remain in Afghanistan to provide security for diplomats after the main military force completes its withdrawal, which is set to be largely done in the next two weeks, US officials told The Associated Press. In recent days, the Taliban have made quick gains in Afghanistan's north, overrunning multiple districts, some of them reportedly with hardly a fight, even as the US and NATO press forward with their final withdrawal from Afghanistan. US President Joe Biden was scheduled to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his former political foe, Abdullah Abdullah, on Friday to discuss Washington's support for the government forces to repel Taliban advances.

EUROPEAN UNION

Leaders reject push for summit with Putin

EU leaders said on Friday the bloc had rejected a push by Germany and France to relaunch meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin as Brussels admits its ties with the Kremlin have reached the "lowest level". Berlin and Paris blindsided EU counterparts by putting forward a last-minute proposal for the bloc to resume meetings with Putin in the wake of US President Joe Biden's sit-down with him in Geneva last week. But there was opposition from numerous EU member states, especially in Eastern Europe.

EGYPT

Former MP arrested for smuggling antiquities

Egyptian police on Thursday arrested a former lawmaker and others on charges of illegal excavation and smuggling of 201 Pharaonic, Greek and Roman artifacts, an Interior Ministry statement said. A 5-minute video accompanying the statement listed the looted relics found in the men's possession including "two wooden tablets engraved with hieroglyphics, 36 different statues of various lengths... 52 copper coins believed to be from the Greek and Roman periods ... three black basalt plates".

Agencies - Xinhua