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Construction of new units at Hungary’s Paks NPP to begin as scheduled - foreign minister

Austria announced plans to challenge the project in the European Court

TROMSO /Norway/, January 24. /TASS/. Despite Austria’s protests, the construction of two new units at Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant will begin in February, as previously agreed, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.

"Everything is still on track, the investment is still on track, according to the schedule. As you know, the government of Austria made an appeal because of the decision of the European commission on the investment, but it has no impact on the schedule. Everything is according to the plans," Szijjarto told TASS on the sidelines of the Arctic Frontiers conference in Norway’s Tromso.

Austria’s Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism announced on Monday that it was planning to contest in the European Court the European Commission (EC)’s approval for the construction of new units of the Hungarian NPP . Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban is set to discuss the issue with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on January 30.

The Paks nuclear plant was built in late 1980s and now accounts for about 43% of Hungary’s electricity consumption, according to Szijjarto. The Paks-2 project to build new units with a combined capacity of 2,400 megawatts will bring this figure to 65%

Russia and Hungary agreed to build two reactors at Paks in January 2014. Russia will extend a 10 bln euro loan to Hungary for the implementation of the project. The overall investments in two new Paks reactors will not exceed 12.5 bln euros. The borrowed funds will be used through 2025.

APEC leaders to discuss digitalization, sustainable economic growth in Peru

The official part of the summit will be held, resulting in the adoption of the final declaration

Over 7,400 attacks on healthcare facilities registered worldwide since 2018 — WHO

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Swedish minister in charge of gender equality suffers from bananaphobia

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Israeli anthem booed before start of football match in Paris

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Most Russians believe survey results — pollster

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Su-57 fighter jet shows exceptional performance in Russia’s special op, senior official

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Trump to nominate North Dakota governor Burgum as interior secretary

The official announcement will be made on Friday

Bloodshed in Ukraine to end soon, Musk says

The Axios portal reported earlier that Musk took part in a phone call between Trump and Vladimir Zelensky

Russian Marines destroy Challenger 2 tank with FPV drone in Kursk Region

Previously, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the enemy lost 10 tanks in the Kursk region in the past 24 hours

Russian troops storm into Kupyansk outskirts in Kharkov Region — military expert

Troops from various Russian army units are engaged in battles in the outskirts of Kupyansk, Andrey Marochko said

Trump plans to appoint special envoy on Ukraine to hold peace talks with Russia — TV

According to the source, the job is not expected to be a salaried role

Football fans clash during France vs Israel football match in Paris

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US views Russia as present-day threat, Trump may prioritize containing China — Lavrov

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Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 450 troops, two tanks, three IFVs, two M113 armored personnel carriers, 33 armored combat vehicles, five artillery pieces, including a Krab self-propelled howitzer, a Crotale multiple rocket launcher, and 49 motor vehicles

France wraps up training of new Ukrainian brigade — minister

The brigade is equipped with French weapons

Two injured in bridge collapse in Crimea

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Trump to zero in on fragmenting BRICS, Ukraine to take back seat — expert

According to the political scientist Boris Mezhuyev, in all likelihood attempts to replace the presidents of Brazil and Venezuela, and pit India, Russia and China against each other are coming

Trump picks ex-congressman Collins for veterans’ affairs secretary

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Press review: US to maintain aid to Israel while Kiev regime faces challenge to retain it

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Trump does not rule out he may run in next US presidential election

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Explosion of Kurakhovo reservoir dam disrupts water supply

Roman Pukalov noted that the blast killed many fish in the reservoir, washed away fertile soil, and inundated potentially hazardous sites, including cemeteries, cattle burial grounds, and fertilizer depots

Russia's newest Su-57 fighter jet superior to China's new J-35 — test pilot

Sergey Bogdan emphasized that the newest Russian fighter was a "magnificent platform for a future generation of configurations, just as the Su-27 aircraft in its heyday"

Ukraine aims to call up 1 mln people in eastern areas by end of 2024 — official

According to the plan, 360,000 people are to be mobilized in October; 325,000 and 300,000 in November and December, respectively

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Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

Nikolay Patrushev agreed that Trump, when he was still a candidate, "made many statements critical of the destructive foreign and domestic policies pursued by the current administration"

European Commission gives ‘positive assessment’ for payment of 4.1 bln euros to Kiev

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Western efforts to vilify Russia climax, Moscow fights back — MFA

"We are witnessing the culmination of the Anglo-Saxons' systematic efforts to vilify our country, exerted over decades, and maybe even centuries," Maria Zakharova said

Gazprom says EU artificially destroys gas demand to the detriment of its own economy

As for global gas demand, gas consumption in January-October increased by 80 bln cubic meters year-on-year, the company noted

US oil reserves rise by 2.1 mln barrels over week — Department of Energy

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Russian troops secure ground near Novodarovka, Rovnopol in Zaporozhye Region — official

On November 13, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Russian Armed Forces had liberated the settlement of Rovnopol in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), located near the administrative border with the Zaporozhye Region

Ukrainian army's actions in Russia cause 60 bln Rubles in damage — Investigative Committee

Russia’s Investigative Committee Head, Alexander Bastrykin, chaired a meeting of the headquarters in Donetsk to investigate the crimes committed by Ukrainian troops against civilians and Russian servicemen

Israeli military vows to keep Syrian-made weapons out of Hezbollah’s hands by any means

IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said that Israeli troops have detected the movement's use of Syrian-produced weapons in its attacks on Israel

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Lack of due support, and accommodation issues, are the reason

Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Iran will never try to build nuclear weapons, president tells IAEA chief

Masoud Pezeshkian accused the US of derailing the agreements around Iran's nuclear program

India increases imports of goods from Russia by 8.8% in April — October

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Over the day, Ukraine lost more than 400 servicemen and 29 armored vehicles

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All weapons pledged by Biden to Kiev to be delivered before he leaves office — Pentagon

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Russian air defenses down multiple aerial targets over Belgorod, with one injury reported

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Hezbollah reports attack on Israeli military intelligence base near Tel Aviv

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Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev did not rule out the possibility that the incident was the result of sabotage

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Authorities of southeastern Ukrainian region report ‘infrastructure damage’

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54 countries vote against resolution on combating ne-Nazism

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Israeli practices ‘consistent with characteristics of genocide’ — UN committee

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Kremlin comments on possible return of Japanese, European cars to Russia

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Trump suggests Kennedy Jr. as US secretary of health and human services

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Trump nominates his lawyers to key Justice Department jobs

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Musk, Iran’s UN envoy discuss ways to ease tensions between Iran, US — NYT

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South Korea to support Ukraine in response to Russia-North Korea alliance — president

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Trump’s return to power unlikely to change US approach to Ukraine crisis — Lavrov

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Lavrov arrives in UAE to take part in Sir Bani Yas Forum

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Kamala Harris’s campaign team continues fundraising efforts after election defeat — TV

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Israeli strike on southern Lebanese village leaves at least six dead

Four of the victims were rescue workers

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Musk doubles down on his opinion about 'endless war' in Ukraine

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Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

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