Marking 45 years since the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, the Islamic Emirate said on Thursday that Afghans’ struggle demonstrates that they are deeply committed to their faith, value their freedom and independence, and are ready to sacrifice everything in defense of their beliefs.

“This invasion posed a severe threat to the religion, freedom, prosperity, and social security of the Afghan people,” IEA said in a statement.

It said that as a result of the Afghan people's “sacrifices, hardships, martyrdoms, and unwavering commitment, and with the help of Allah, the once-powerful Soviet forces suffered a humiliating defeat in Afghanistan and were forced to retreat after nine years.”

“Alhamdulillah (thanks Allah), the resilient Afghan nation did not remain silent in the face of this aggression. With unity, determination, and steadfast courage, they stood firm against the Soviet forces, sacrificing their lives, wealth, and everything they owned for the cause of jihad,” it added.

The Islamic Emirate also urged the future generations to “follow the path of their ancestors, defending their faith and homeland with courage, standing firm against any form of invasion and oppression.”

The national cricket teams of Afghanistan and Zimbabwe are set to begin their highly anticipated test match series on Thursday, December 26. The first of the two tests, taking place in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, will run until December 30. The first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 12:30 PM Kabul time.

This test match adds another exciting chapter to the growing rivalry between the two nations. Afghanistan’s recent tour of Zimbabwe saw the team claim victories in both the T20 and ODI series, boosting their confidence as they transition into the longer format of the game.

The second test match will follow, beginning on January 2. Cricket enthusiasts can expect a thrilling contest as Afghanistan looks to continue its strong form, while Zimbabwe aims to challenge the visitors in the longest format of the game.

Russian companies have begun using bitcoin and other digital currencies in international payments following legislative changes that allowed such use in order to counter Western sanctions, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Wednesday.

Sanctions have complicated Russia's trade with its major partners such as China or Turkey, as local banks are extremely cautious with Russia-related transactions to avoid scrutiny from Western regulators, Reuters reported.

This year, Russia permitted the use of cryptocurrencies in foreign trade and has taken steps to make it legal to mine cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin. Russia is one of the global leaders in bitcoin mining.

"As part of the experimental regime, it is possible to use bitcoins, which we had mined here in Russia (in foreign trade transactions)," Siluanov told Russia 24 television channel.

"Such transactions are already occurring. We believe they should be expanded and developed further. I am confident this will happen next year," he said, adding that international payments in digital currencies represent the future.

Earlier this month, President Vladimir Putin said that the current U.S. administration was undermining the role of the U.S dollar as the reserve currency by using it for political purposes, forcing many countries to turn to alternative assets, Reuters reported.

He singled out bitcoin as an example of such assets, saying that no-one in the world could regulate bitcoin. Putin's remarks indicated that the Russian leader backs the extensive use of cryptocurrencies.