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Darkest December: Moscow got 7 minutes of sun in final month

According to Moscow State University’s observatory, Moscow saw only six or seven minutes of direct sunlight last month

© Ilya Pitalev/TASS

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MOSCOW, January 16. /TASS/. Muscovites witnessed one of the darkest months in history in December 2017 when they saw sunlight for just six or seven minutes, head of Russia’s Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Roman Vilfand said on Tuesday.

"According to Moscow State University’s observatory, Moscow saw only six or seven minutes of direct sunlight in December. Once learning about this, many people comprehend why they were suffering from depression," Vilfand told a news conference.

By mid-January, the sun began shining on Moscow longer than in November and December.

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Putin to extend New Year greetings to peoples of several unfriendly countries — Kremlin

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Baltic states threaten mass deportation of Russians, take lead in Russophobia — statement

The Foreign Ministry noted that the facts of discrimination and persecution of Russians are often ignored by the official leadership of countries and international human rights agencies, leading many victims to remain silent

Russia to retaliate against Ukrainian strikes, just as Putin said — Kremlin

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Syrian armed groups to merge into one under auspices of the country's Defense Ministry

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the militant leader of the main group driving the Syrian armed opposition, met with the leaders of the armed groups and discussed with them the new format of the Syrian army

German chancellor exasperated by idea of spending frozen Russian assets to help Kiev

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Ukrainian troops struggling to escape being trapped in Lozovaya in Kharkov region — expert

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Series of explosions rock central Kiev — eyewitnesses

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Putin sends greetings on Russia’s Energy Industry Worker’s Day

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Three of eight drones that attacked Kazan targeted defense industry facilities — head

The Tatarstan head Rustam Minnikhanov also noted that all operational services worked well when dealing with the aftermath of the drone attack

Russia has confidence in its weapons, senior diplomat says

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also stressed that the recent developments had shown that the US policy of establishing a system of increasingly layered missile defenses was wrong

Russian troops liberate 10 communities in Donbass region over week — top brass

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Almost 20 drones downed over four Russian regions, Black Sea last night

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Oreshnik’s launch is sudden, undetectable by satellites — analyst

The range of the Oreshnik system is up to 5,500 kilometers

Russia ready to normalize relations with US without detriment to its interests — Putin

The previous generation of Russian politicians chose the course towards the country’s destruction for the sake of joining the so-called civilized world but this was what the West wanted, President Vladimir Putin

Magdeburg attacker may be charged with murder of 5, attempted murder of 205 — prosecutor

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Houthis say attacked US aircraft carrier in Red Sea, shot down US fighter jet

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Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

It is planned to launch it in general circulation in early 2025

BRICS is approaching G20 format, Brazilian foreign minister says

According to Mauro Vieira, during Brazil's BRICS chairmanship in 2025, the country's leadership plans to organize several important high-level meetings and events, including negotiations between foreign ministers and heads of state

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Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 480 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

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The restart of transit via the Ukrainian gas transportation system is possible at a request of the European Commission if this is not Russian gas, Denis Shmygal said

Putin suggests Zelensky may flee abroad, says Russia would take him in

"But he will be taken care of by those people whose interests he is serving now," the Russian leader said

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Two freight trains collide at Trans-Baikal Railways, traffic suspended

Both freight trains loaded with coal collided at the Bushulei-Zhireken railway section

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"Robert Fico will travel to visit Putin as a European countries leader," Aleksandar Vucic said

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According to Al Jazeera, Israeli forces shelled a residential building in Deir al-Balah and a downtown Khan Yunis

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Putin calls Oreshnik missile development ‘an historic event’ for space rocket industry

Russian President also said that he had handed down direct instructions to produce and test-fire the Oreshnik hypersonic missile

Hungarian PM highlights need to lift sanctions on Russia once Ukraine conflict is resolved

Viktor Obran added, however, that only a couple of EU countries shared Hungary’s position

Putin opens new transport infrastructure sites in Russian regions via video link

Putin also took part in the ceremony of opening international airports in Magadan, Cheboksary, and Stavropol

Russia to invite World War II allies to next year’s Victory Day parade

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Ahmed аl-Sharaa expressed hope for building strategic relations with Lebanon

US Navy cruiser mistakenly downs F/A-18 fighter over Red Sea

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Civilian manufacturers ramp up drone production to 40,000 units per month

The Russian Defense Ministry has also purchased more than 100,000 units from small design bureaus and civilian manufacturers, the statement said

Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine ready to join Russian Navy — Sevmash Shipyard CEO

Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines carry Oniks and Kalibr-PL cruise missiles as their basic strike weapons

Magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocks South Africa

No injuries or damage were reported

Russian sleeper agents open up about secret trip to 2018 World Cup

The married couple, Artyom Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, returned home as a result of an exchange

Oreshnik test launch forces London to take a step back — Russian ambassador

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Russia’s Battlegroup South liberates settlement of Ostrovskogo in DPR — Defense Ministry

"The enemy lost up to 285 troops, two armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles, a D-30 122 mm howitzer, a US-made M119 105 mm howitzers and five field ammunition depots," the ministry added

NATO prepares for war with Russia, Moscow takes these risks into account — senior diplomat

According to Alexander Grushko, NATO's general course poses a danger both to Russia and to the entire architecture of global and regional security

Embassies of 12 countries closed in North Korea amid shortage of goods

All foreign personnel of international humanitarian organizations have also left, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang said

Ukrainian lawmaker slams Zelensky for trying to bribe Slovak PM

The lawmaker believes that the bribe money wasn’t meant to come from Russia’s frozen funds but Zelensky "could have brought it in a suitcase"

Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

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Russian forces control more than half of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

Trump wants NATO countries to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP — FT

The sources also told the Financial Times that Donald Trump intends to continue the military aid to Ukraine despite the statements he made during his presidential campaign

Russia to raise issue of Ukrainian strikes on Rylsk at UNSC meeting on Friday — diplomat

Acting Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein said earlier that the town of Rylsk, located some 120 kilometers west of Kursk, had come under Ukrainian fire

US confirms strikes on Houthi command posts in Yemen

CENTCOM forces also shot down several Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea

Yemeni capital city subjected to massive airstrike - TV channel

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Aleppo taken by 350 militants while 30,000 gov’t troops retreated without fight — Putin

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CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

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Kiev takes out its anger for military defeats on Russian people — diplomat

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Scholz, German Interior Minister booed during visit to terrorist attack site — newspaper

A protest broke out during the chancellor's and minister's visit, with demonstrators whistling and shouting "Get out!"