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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.

Moscow Exchange index tops 2,800 first time since October 16

The index climbed by 1.56% at 10:56 p.m.

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Syrian ports of Latakia, Tartus fully resume operations — official

Both ports are now serving ships and handling cargo normally

German lawmaker slams Ukrainian diplomat for demanding more weapons

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Russian units attack Ukrainian troops near Kurakhovo power plant in DPR — republic’s head

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Russia open to talks on Ukraine, agreement must be ironclad — Lavrov

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Russian chess grandmaster comes third at FIDE World Rapid Championship 2024

Yekaterina Lagno scored eight points in 11 rounds

Russian chess grandmaster Volodar Murzin wins FIDE World Rapid Championship

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Putin apologizes for AZAL airliner incident in Russia’s airspace — Kremlin

The Russian leader conveyed his deep and sincere condolences to the families of the plane crash victims

What is known about plane crash in South Korea

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Alexander Stepanov emphasized that "the goal of the enemy’s terrorist campaign on international shipping routes was to disrupt trade and economic cooperation"

At least 85 people killed in plane crash in South Korea — agency

There were 175 passengers and six crew members on board the plane

Lukashenko pardons 20 people convicted of extremism

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At least 17 killed in Israeli strike on munitions depot in Damascus Governorate — TV

According to the TV channel, a drone likely belonging to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacked a munitions depot near Adra about 25 kilometers away from the Syrian capital

Press review: US, Israel aim to curb Turkey’s gains while Moscow, Tehran strengthen ties

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Baku creates international group to investigate plane crash — president

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Ukrainian troops leave their positions in Shevchenko near Krasnoarmeysk

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Russia to counter extremists’ attempts to recruit minors — strategy

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Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov has signed a decree on the matter

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Russian forces liberate DPR’s Novotroitskoye — top brass

The battlegroup East has eliminated up to 170 Ukrainian servicemen over the past 24 hours, the military emphasized

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Earlier, Afghanistan's Ariana News reported clashes on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan

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Roscosmos buys Earth observation satellite data from private company for first time

The Sputnix Group confirmed that the contract had been signed

Russian Investigative Committee’s head office takes over plane incident investigation

Alexander Bastrykin held a situation meeting in Grozny

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According to sources, light and heavy weapons were employed in the skirmishes

Russia practically eliminates remnants of Ukraine’s Air Force — source

The source said that attempts to recruit more pilots in Poland and other Eastern European countries were not particularly successful

Houthis say they shot down US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen

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PREVIEW: Croatia to hold presidential election

The favorites in the race are current President Zoran Milanovic and independent candidate Dragan Primorac, physician, geneticist and forensic scientist

Recruitment for unauthorized rallies aims to destabilize Russia — strategy

It is specified that to this end, various ways of manipulating public opinion and spreading unreliable information are being increasingly used

Russia sees elimination of threats in Ukraine as critical condition for fighting extremism

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Ukrainian troops attempt unsuccessful counterattack in DPR — republic’s head

The adversary attempted a counterattack with several of these attempts resulting in enemy losses

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Kanat Bozumbayev recalled that Kazakhstan had been a member of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation since 1992

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Russian Su-35S jets cover combat aircraft in air strikes on Ukrainian troops in Kursk area

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Israel "does not need this territory, as the Israelis have already taken the Golan Heights," Vitaly Naumkin said

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About 70 former Syrian troops deported back after fleeing to Lebanon

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Fox News includes Biden’s Putin slip-up in top political gaffes of 2024

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Russia substantially expands blacklist of EU officials in response to sanctions — MFA

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Moscow Exchange index tops 2,800 first time since October 16

The index climbed by 1.56% at 10:56 p.m.

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Baku demands Moscow admit guilt, punish those responsible for AZAL plane crash

Russian, Azerbaijani presidents hold telephone conversation on Aktau plane crash

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Plane that crashed in Kazakhstan suffered damage outside of country — deputy PM

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Russia’s FSB foils assassination attempts on defense officer, military blogger

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Top Russian, Jordanian diplomats discuss importance of Syria’s territorial integrity

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German post-conflict presence in Ukraine should be coordinated with Russia — politician

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RuStore surpasses AppStore in terms of user audience in Russia — minister

Maksut Shadayev noted that Chinese developers have increased investments in promoting their applications in the store fivefold this year and spent 60 million rubles ($590,088)

Kremlin says no comment on 'highly specialized' issue of Finland’s seizure of oil tanker

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Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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Yemen’s Houthis claim strikes on Israeli Nevatim airbase

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North Korea announces extremely tough US strategy

Kim Jong Un highlighted "landmark achievements" in building up the country’s defense capabilities

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Over 340 military officials’ cars set on fire in Ukraine over year

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US, UK special services plotting terror attacks on Russia’s bases in Syria — intel agency

"Washington and London presume that in such conditions they will be able to achieve more quickly their geopolitical goal of ensuring their long-term dominance in the region on the basis of a repulsive concept of the rules-based order," the statement reads

Russia withdraws from agreement on multilateral nuclear environmental program

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Kiev loses nearly 400,000 soldiers on Lugansk’s frontline in 2024

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