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Afghanistan’s interim government is preparing to celebrate Victory Day on August 15, marking its takeover of power in 2021 and the withdrawal of US-led troops from the country.

Main roads, including the route linking Kabul International Airport to the former US embassy, have been adorned with the administration’s white flags. Slogans such as “Afghans defeated the invaders” have been displayed on state buildings and traffic circles to commemorate the occasion, according to Xinhua.

The government has observed August 15 annually as Victory Day since the last US soldier left Afghanistan on August 31, 2021.

China has voiced support for Thailand and Cambodia in resolving their border dispute, offering assistance if both nations request it, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Yunnan, Wang urged the two countries to strengthen dialogue and rebuild mutual trust, according to Reuters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Thursday, ahead of US President Donald Trump’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, Reuters reported.

Zelenskiy, who attended a virtual meeting with Trump and European leaders on Wednesday, urged against concessions to Moscow and warned that Putin is “bluffing” about ending the war. Trump responded by threatening “severe consequences,” including possible sanctions, if Putin rejects peace terms.

Trump said the Alaska meeting aims to “set the table” for a follow-up involving both Zelenskiy and Putin. Britain, France and Germany — co-chairs of the “Coalition of the Willing” — outlined their ceasefire position after Wednesday’s talks, according to Reuters.

Russia has restricted voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, citing security concerns and the platforms’ refusal to share user data with law enforcement. The ban, announced by media regulator Roskomnadzor, affects over 185m combined users in the country. Authorities claim the services are widely used for fraud, extortion, and recruiting citizens for sabotage or terrorism, and say access will be restored once they comply with Russian laws, according to Al Jazeera.

While the restrictions officially target voice calls, users report video calls are also disrupted. The move is part of Moscow’s broader push to tighten internet control since the Ukraine war began, including plans to replace foreign messaging apps with a domestic service called Max. WhatsApp says it resists government efforts to undermine secure communication, while Telegram insists it actively removes harmful content.