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This week in photos: Trump’s royal guest, Lavrov’s birthday cake and Frankfurt’s fiesta

The world in pictures in a photo gallery by TASS

Photo {{sliderIndex+1}} from 12

Light shines out from one of the buildings at Roemer Square during the official opening of the "Luminale" light festival in Frankfurt, Germany, March 20

© AP Photo/Michael Probst

German Chancellor Angela Merkel waits at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, March 20

© REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Technical staff take shelter as a helicopter takes off prior to the Nendaz Freeride skiing and snowboard competition, a Freeride World Tour Qualifier event, on the Mont Gond in Nendaz, Switzerland, March 21

© EPA-EFE/VALENTIN FLAURAUD

People seen in voting booths during the 2018 Russian presidential election at a polling station at Moscow's Kazansky railway station, Russia, March 18

© Maxim Grigoryev/TASS

A Soyuz-FG rocket booster carrying the Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft being installed on a launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, March 19. Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft carrying Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev and NASA astronauts Andrew J. Feustel, Richard Arnold was launched on March 21

© Sergei Savostyanov/TASS

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov presented with a soccer ball-shaped cake by Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono for his birthday at the Iikura Guest House, Tokyo, Japan, March 21

© Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

A boy works on a snowman as his siblings laugh while having a snowball fight during the spring snowfall in Washington, USA, March 21

© AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Elza the Central Asian Shepherd dog and a leopard cub named Milasha, born in the Sadgorod Zoo and fed by another dog, Vladivostok, Russia, March 17

© Yuri Smityuk/TASS

US President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC USA, March 20

© AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Models present creations from the Autumn/Winter 2018 collection by Chinese born designer Viviano Sue for the label 'Viviano Sue' during the Tokyo Fashion Week in Tokyo, Japan, 21 March

© EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHER JUE

Dancers perform during the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Games at the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium, South Korea, March 18

© Photo by Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin talks to the crowd during a concert rally dubbed "Russia. Sevastopol. Crimea", marking the 4th anniversary of Crimea's reunification with Russia in Manege Square, Moscow, Russia, March 18

© Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince visits the White House, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov celebrates his birthday with a soccer ball shaped cake in Japan, Frankfurt’s light festival and other photographs of the week. Scroll through the world in pictures put together for our photo gallery by TASS.

Embraer representatives arrive in Aktau to investigate crash

Kazakhstan’s authorities earlier stated that analysis of the black boxes from the crashed Embraer 190, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, would commence following the arrival of Brazilian experts on December 27

Denmark to strengthen control over Greenland after Trump’s words — top defense official

Denmark plans to increase the number of personnel at the Joint Arctic Command in the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk

Israel only starting to retaliate to Yemen’s Houthis — Netanyahu

"We will beat them to the bone until they understand, too," the minister said

Russia 10 years ahead of whole world with research into 4th generation nuclear power

The BREST-300 fast neutron reactor is due to be launched in 2026-2027 and to go on stream in 2028

Putin says Biden in 2021 proposed to postpone Ukraine's admission to NATO

The Russian leader recalled that the US President spoke about Ukraine's unreadiness to join the alliance

Oboronlogistics company blames loss of its ship Ursa Major on terrorist attack

The Ursa Major dry cargo ship wrecked in the Mediterranean Sea

Crew of plane that crashed in Kazakhstan lost control due to system failure

Kazakh Transport Minister Marat Karabayev noted that the information was also received that "after providing data on the weather in Makhachkala and Baku, the crew decided to fly to Aktau"

Russian troops liberate Novy Trud community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 245 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy howitzers in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Cooperation between Russia, North Korea meets vital interests of their peoples — KCNA

"I am confident that in the forthcoming year of 2025 we will continue close mutual work on implementation of this historical agreement and will bring further closer the efforts of combating modern threats and challenges," Russian President Vladimir Putin said

Georgian president demands appointing snap elections within week

Salome Zourabichvili also promised to announce her further plans on Monday

WHO chief says unhurt in Israeli air attack on Yemen airport

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained that he had arrived in the Yemeni capital to negotiate the release of UN staff and to assess the humanitarian situation in the country

Armored vehicle with Israeli commanding officers blown up in West Bank

The rest of the passengers in the vehicle did not get injured

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

The Russian president recalled that no Russian land troops had been deployed to Syria, with Russia having only an airbase and a naval base

Russian Cabinet to hold closing meeting in 2024

The agenda comprises issues pertaining to support of regions, road and transportation networks and other topics

Press review: Putin outlines Russia's future goals and Tehran faces energy blackout riots

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 20th

Oreshnik missile systems still few, but they are enough — Putin

According to the head of state, the system's serial production has begun

Putin says he receives information about frontline situation round the clock

There is always something new at certain sections of the front, the head of state emphasized

Parliament impeaches South Korean acting president

The impeachment was supported by 192 delegates with at least 151 votes required

Bosphorus transit suspended due to malfunction of tanker en route to Russia

The Cordelia Moon is 274 meters long and 50 meters wide

At least four Syrian law enforcement employees killed in operation near Homs

According to Al Watan, the Department of military operations in Damascus sent major reinforcements to the Homs Province in order to eliminate the remaining supporters of former president Bashar Assad

Decision-making centers in Kiev may be targets of Russia’s strikes, says Lavrov

Moscow selects targets for strikes on the territory of Ukraine, proceeding solely from threats to Russia, the foreign minister stressed

Taiwan records approach of five Chinese PLA warplanes, five vessels

According to the report, five aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern air defense identification zone

No panic aboard crashed Azerbaijan Airlines plane, eyewitness says

The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25

US disrupts payment of Russian contribution to ICRC budget — Foreign Ministry

This is another example of a harmful impact of unlawful restrictive measures, the ministry said

France made several requests to Russia on Ukraine topic through private channels — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, Paris proposed "to assist and facilitate dialogue on the Ukrainian issue"

Voting on acting president’s impeachment expected in South Korea

The voting is expected to take place on December 27

Russia, Argentina interacting at working level — Russian Ambassador

"But the political dialog at a summit and high level is actually frozen to date," Dmitry Feoktistov added

EU to impose new sanctions on ‘Russian shadow fleet’ over Baltic Sea incident

In addition, the European Union is strengthening protection of the bloc's undersea cables

Russian forces break through Ukrainian defense lines in Kharkov Region — expert

Marochko added that the operation allowed Russian troops to "expand their zone of control" in the area

Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet returns back to Baku shortly after takeoff

"The passenger aircraft landed at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport at 10:13 a.m. local time [6:13 a.m. GMT]," the statement noted

Russia shortens temporary stay term for foreigners to 90 days — Foreign Ministry

In some cases, the temporary stay term is being prolonged in accordance with the abovementioned federal law

El Al suspends Tel Aviv - Moscow flights

The airline will assess the situation in the upcoming weeks and will decide whether the flights will resume depending on the assessment

Russian fighters advance in Volchansk in Kharkov Region, force Volchya River — expert

Andrey Marochko added that Russian servicemen "start preparing the way for further advancement southwest of this locality"

Press review: Middle East may host Putin-Trump talks as experts probe Kazakhstan crash

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, December 26th

Russian prime minister approves list of countries imposing destructive attitudes

It includes the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan and other states

IN BRIEF: Putin talks to reporters about Oreshnik missile, natural gas transit

The president noted that the most important thing in the coming year is "the well-being of the Russian people, standard of living, stability"

Biden tasks Pentagon with boosting military aid to Kiev

In recent months, the United States has provided Ukraine with hundreds of air defense missiles, and more are on the way, the White House’s press service released

Canadian ministers going to US for consultations with Trump’s administration — TV

Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc intend to continue consultations on issues discussed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with US president-elect

NATO to boost military presence in Baltic Sea following cable incidents — Rutte

Earlier, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas attributed responsibility for the Baltic Sea incidents to the tanker fleet transporting Russian oil, even before the investigation concluded

FSB eliminates extremists who were plotting bomb blast outside police station in Moscow

The FSB stressed it had suppressed the activity of a cell of an international terrorist organization whose members, "Natives of Central Asia, were planning to commit a terrorist act against one of the police stations

Israel intends to ‘cut off tentacle’ of Iran's ‘axis of evil’ in Yemen — Netanyahu

Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces’ press office said that Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck military targets of the Houthi regime on the west coast and in the interior regions of Yemen

Russia not setting preconditions for talks on Ukraine — Lavrov

The foreign minister stressed that Russia was deceived "when they stated that NATO would not expand eastwards and when they emphasized their commitment to resolve [the conflict] based on the UN Charter"

Scientists present Russia's first 50-qubit cold atom quantum computer — MSU

The experiment that allowed testing the supercomputer prototype took place on December 19, the Moscow State University said

US may face bankruptcy if situation with national debt does not change — Musk

The US national debt for the first time climbed above $36 trillion on November 15

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

On December 25, Reuters reported that Finland’s police and border guards have detained an oil tanker, which flies under the flag of the Cook Islands, suspecting that an anchor of the vessel may have damaged the EstLink 2 cable

Ukrainian agents attempted to deliver booby-trapped documents to Archangel Project head

The project's curator Vitaly Romanov noted that the bomb was defused, and no one was injured

Two families with children return to Russia from Syria — commissioner

An aircraft landed in the Moscow Region, Maria Lvova-Belova said

Serbia’s Vucic suggests Trump may bring ceasefire in Ukraine closer

Aleksandar Vucic also believes that, under Trump, the White House "will not provide as much financial support to Ukraine as the current administration" of outgoing US President Joe Biden

Kazakhstan’s Aktau Airport was aware of oxygen cylinder blast before plane’s crash

KazAeroNavigation’s flight director immediately notified all emergency services

UN Secretary-General condemns escalation between Israel, Yemen

Guterres calls "for all parties concerned to cease all military actions and exercise utmost restraint"

Lukashenko, Putin discuss regional security, bilateral relations

The presidents also talked about cooperation between the countries in a variety of areas, including economy

Plane crash in Kazakhstan claims 38 lives

29 people had been hospitalized

Yemen’s Houthis launch missile attack on Israel's Ben Gurion Airport — spokesman

Yahya Saria also said the group's drone strike destroyed a "critical target of the Israeli enemy" near Tel Aviv

Egypt lost more than 60% of Suez Canal revenues in 2024 — administration

This stood at about $7 bln, in the outgoing year

Four injured in plane crash in Kazakhstan now in intensive care in Aktau hospital

It is reported that the condition of three is stable

Foreign powers seek to provoke mass riots in Syria — source

On December 27, security forces formed by the new Syrian government blocked districts of the city of Tartus, where Alawites organized riots

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

Zelensky as commander-in-chief loses trust of army, population — MP

Aleksandr Dubinsky recalled the unsuccessful financing of Ukraine in the middle of the year

FSB foils series of assassination attempts on senior Russian defense officials

The bombs intended for killing high-placed Russian Defense Ministry officials were disguised as a power bank and a document folder, the FSB press office specified

US-made Abrams tanks in Taiwan won’t help island — China’s defense ministry

The Chinese People's Liberation Army will comprehensively strengthen military training to prevent a separatist plot by supporters of Taiwan independence and interference by outside forces, according to Spokesman Zhang Xiaogang

Lukashenko says he discussed gas supplies to Europe with Putin, Russia ready to sell them

The Belarusian leader believes that Germany should restore relations with Russia for the sake of its own economy

Putin congratulates Emergencies Ministry’s staff on professional holiday

"Employees of the Ministry of Emergencies rightfully enjoy the deserved recognition and respect in our society," the president said

Gazprom plans to produce gas at some fields for another 110 years — CEO

According to Alexey Miller, Gazprom is the world leader in terms of gas reserves

Emigration of 5.3 million Ukrainians a serious blow, Ukrainian expert says

According to Alexey Poznyak, problems are to be expected in the labor market

IN BRIEF: What is known about passenger plane crash in Kazakhstan

According to the Kazakh Transport Ministry, the plane belonged to Azerbaijan Airlines

Contract for gas transit to EU cannot be renewed before New Year — Putin

According to the Russian President, an option of concluding contracts for delivery through third parties - Turkish, Hungarian, Slovak, Azerbaijani companies - is possible

Russia prepared to respond to Western missile strikes on its territory — Serbian leader

According to Aleksandar Vucic, "anyone who believes that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will refrain from using these powerful weapons is mistaken"

No politics behind current absence of Russian ambassador in US — Lavrov

The top diplomat stressed that it was not a demarche

Investigative Committee opens case against US mercenary who invaded Kursk Region

In August 2024, armed with automatic firearms, large-caliber weapons, explosive devices, and military equipment, Ryan O'Leary illegally crossed Russia's state border

Over 25 countries want to take part in Intervision Song Contest, Lavrov says

Russia is ready to welcome tourists from Latin American countries in every possible way, to show them Moscow and St. Petersburg, Lake Baikal, Kamchatka, Sochi, Suzdal, and Altai, the top Russian diplomat said

Thailand accepts invitation to become BRICS partner state — MFA

As a BRICS partner state, Thailand hopes to raise the level of relations with the group’s members in order to gain better opportunities for the development of its economy

Russia’s still paying for gas transit through Ukraine — Putin

Pumping also continues through the Sudzha station, where military activities are ongoing

US requires a large fleet of drones for future wars, Musk says

Earlier, the US businessman predicted "drone swarm" battles in the future

Yemeni ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa put out of service by Israeli strikes — source

Damage also came from sweeping fires that were set off by strikes on oil tanks in both ports

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

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, December 24th

German president dissolves parliament, schedules early elections for February 23

Frank-Walter Steinmeier also said that he had consulted with the leaders of all the parties represented in the Bundestag before making the decision and concluded that neither the current nor the new government, in any composition, would win a majority in the current parliament

China imposes sanctions on seven US military-industrial companies over Taiwan — MFA

US President Joe Biden on Monday approved the country's $895 billion defense budget for the fiscal year 2025 (starting October 1), which mentions China 107 times

Expert sees the collective West behind Ursa Major terrorist attack

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

Europe must be punished, US ignored after hybrid war between West, Russia — Medvedev

According to the politician, Europe "became the primary stronghold of Russophobia globally," undermined the Istanbul agreements, initiated the sanctions campaign, and fueled the most extreme war factions without considering the losses suffered by both sides of the conflict

Russian gas is most profitable for Europe in terms of price and logistics — Novak

In conditions of competing China, Europeans pay significantly more for US LNG than for Russian gas, the official noted

Russia’s Chechnya ships 200 ‘Jihad mobile’ vehicles for special military operation

The authorities of Chechnya handed over 200 "Jihad mobile"

South Korean acting president accepts impeachment by parliament

Han Duck-soo vowed that he would step down "in accordance with the law so as not to add chaos" to the country’s politics

Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency investigates passenger jet’s crash near Aktau

The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25

Astana, Moscow, Baku will not hide information on plane crash — Senate speaker

Maulen Ashimbayev warned against premature conclusions concerning an external impact on the plane based on photographs, noting that certain forces were trying to derive dividends

Press review: Putin discusses EU gas supplies and Russia open to Ukraine talks with Trump

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 27th

Russian-Iranian partnership agreement to be inked on January 17 — ambassador

The comprehensive strategic partnership treaty is expected to mark a significant step forward in the development of relations between Russia and Iran, which are growing rapidly

Termination of transit of Russian gas to kill Ukraine’s gas transport system — experts

Moreover, Ukraine will have to reorganize the flows of gas on the domestic market and resolve respective issues with keeping pressure in the eastern and central parts of the gas transport system, experts added

Grozny airport was closed due to Ukrainian UAVs when AZAL plane crashed in Aktau

Dmitry Yadrov stressed that the plane’s commander tried to land in Grozny twice

Pentagon mum on F-16 fighter jet downed in Zaporozhye Region

The US Department of Defense "has no statement or information to provide," a department’s spokesperson said

Russian fighters control about 40% of Terny in Donetsk region, military expert says

Andrey Marochko added that Russian servicemen have advanced east of Yampolovka, bringing the distance between that village and Russia’s frontline positions to less than 1.2 miles

Finnish police detain oil tanker on suspicion of damaging communication cables

It is also reported that the Eagle S "noticeably slowed down" presumably at the moment when the cable between Finland and Estonia was damaged

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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

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

According to Alexander Stepanov, strikes are systematic efforts to gradually wipe out the military capabilities of Ukraine

Lavrov sees ceasefire in Ukraine as road to nowhere, calls for reliable agreements

The top Russian diplomat pointed out that those accords should first and foremost address the root causes of the Ukraine crisis

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

According to the Houthi spokesman, the strike on US vessels was delivered with the use of "eight cruise missiles and 17 drones"

Azerbaijan Airlines plane tried to land twice at Aktau airport before crash

The Aktau air traffic controller promptly performed all necessary measures for the aircraft’s landing

Buildup of Russian presence in Arctic region critical amid West’s statements

"The buildup of presence in the Arctic Region is extremely important because the collective West is already carrying propaganda under slogans that ‘the Arctic is not Russian only," Executive Director of the RGS Artyom Manukyan said

Russia to press for progress on line of engagement — Putin

The President stressed that Moscow would move on in accordance with the plans it had outlined

Zelensky defines essence of next summit on Ukraine in four-letter explicit word — Lavrov

The first Kiev-initiated conference on Ukraine was held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on June 15-16

Russia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia fail to agree on moving Geneva talks — Russian MFA

Since 2008, international discussions on security and stability in the South Caucasus have been held in Geneva, with the participation of Abkhazia, Georgia, Russia, the United States, and South Ossetia, mediated by special representatives from the UN, the EU, and the OSCE

Israel’s army intercepts missile fired from Yemen

"Following the sirens that sounded in several areas in central Israel, one missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory," the press service says