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Russia, Ukraine complete gas transit talks in Vienna

VIENNA, December 13. /TASS/. The delegations of Gazprom and Naftogaz of Ukraine have completed negotiations on cooperation in the gas sector in Vienna, a TASS correspondent reported on Friday.

The meeting lasted more than four hours and was attended by head of Gazprom Alexei Miller and executive director of Naftogaz of Ukraine Yury Vitrenko.

The main issue in the agenda was the extension of the contract for gas transit from Russia to Europe through Ukraine after 2019, since the current ten-year agreement expires at the end of this year. Earlier, Yury Vitrenko said that December 13 was the deadline for concluding a contract for the long-term reservation of transit capacities of the Ukrainian gas transmission system.

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

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

Ukrainian intel agent plotted to plant bomb under car of Russian defense official — FSB

The Ukrainian intelligence services planned to detonate the explosive device remotely from the territory of Ukraine, the press office said

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"

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

Russian MFA says West could try to pull off some military 'scheme' in Belarus

A presidential election campaign is starting in Belarus on January 1, with the election scheduled for January 26

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

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

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

Press review: Kiev escalates attacks as payments ease for Russian raw material buyers

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

The Ursa Major dry cargo ship wrecked in the Mediterranean Sea

Ukrainian agent planned to present explosive gift to Russian defense official — FSB

The Russian Federal Security Service reported earlier on Thursday that it had foiled a series of assassination attempts on the lives of high-placed Defense Ministry officials in Moscow and their family members

Russian emergencies minister expects more natural disasters due to climate change

The Russian emergencies minister, Alexander Kurenkov, added, that weather anomalies are becoming more and more frequent

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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

Russia to donate 1 million euro to UN Climate Convention

The document says that the goal of the payment is to ensure the representation of Russian staffers in the convention’s secretariat

Australia contacts Russia regarding captured mercenary — diplomat

Maria Zakharova emphasized that "Canberra obediently follows in the footsteps of the collective West, which pursues a Russophobic policy"

Finnish company says power cable’s emergency shutdown due to sabotage

Finland and Estonia are connected by two sets of high-voltage submarine cables

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

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

The authorities of Chechnya handed over 200 "Jihad mobile"

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

Armored vehicle with Israeli commanding officers blown up in West Bank

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

Trump doesn’t want repeat of Minsk agreements — Kellogg

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Soyuz-5 to be dispatched to Baikonur in October 2025, launch due late December

The launch vehicle blasted off at 10:45 am Moscow time (7:45 am GMT)

Launch of Russia’s Bion-M biosatellite scheduled for March 25 — manufacturer

The spacecraft, taking 75 mice and 1,500 drosophila flies, as well as plants and microorganisms to space, was initially planned to blast off on September 1, 2024

Georgia became inconvenient for 'friends' after rejecting Ukrainian scenario — official

According to Kakha Kaladze, the country faced unprecedented pressure because of this

South Korean opposition launches impeachment proceedings against acting president

According to the law, an impeachment vote can take place no earlier than 24 hours after the initiative is introduced at a plenary session

Group of Syrian law enforcement officers ambushed in Tartus, 14 killed — minister

Previously, nine law enforcement officers were killed by gunfire during an operation to detain a high-ranking former officer of the previous government

Over 30 killed during mass escape of prisoners from Mozambique jail — authorities

A total of 1,534 prisoners, including 29 terrorism convicts, escaped

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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

Putin's principles of Ukrainian settlement stem from international law — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat drew attention to the fact that "the Kiev regime plays into the hands the West, which needs to remove such a strong competitor as Russia from the international scene"

Houthis strike military facility near Tel Aviv with hypersonic missile

Earlier, the Israeli army press office reported that air-raid sirens sounded in several areas of central Israel following the launch of a missile from Yemen

Azerbaijan Airlines plane made 2 circles near Kazakh airport before crashing — official

According to Kazakh Deputy Transport Minister Talgat Lastayev, data will be retrieved from flight recorders during the investigation, and interviews will be conducted with eyewitnesses and air controllers

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

Kremlin admits legal action over transfer of $1 bln from Russian assets to Ukraine

"Such illegal actions, including the transfer of this billion, may surely prompt legal action. And we will surely use all possibilities in the future to protect our rights and the rights to our property," Dmitry Peskov noted

Ukraine’s General Staff reports tense frontline situation

The most difficult situation for Ukrainian troops is observed in the Krasnoarmeisk (Pokrovsk), Kurakhovo and Vremevka frontline areas

Former Austrian minister believes EU ignored message Russia sent with Oreshnik missile

According to Karin Kneissl, Russia doesn’t want to trigger any nuclear war

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

Lavrov welcomes Trump team’s statements about willingness to resume dialogue

It is up to the US to take the first step towards restoring contact with Russia because it was Washington that suspended it after the launch of Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian foreign minister stated

Russian commissioner hopes for resumption of effort to bring children from Syria

The effort has been under way since 2018, with almost 600 children brought from Syrian refugee camps to their relatives in Russia

Russia sees US recommendation for its citizens to leave Belarus as provocation — MFA

According to Maria Zakharova, this is not the first statement of its kind from the US Department of State

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

Baku, Yerevan can jointly initiate dissolution of OSCE Minsk Group — diplomat

The spokeswoman went on to say that the stalemate began when Western countries de-facto blocked the work in this format

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

The Cordelia Moon is 274 meters long and 50 meters wide

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CIS countries share common approaches to resolving global issues — Putin

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Plane crash in Kazakhstan claims 38 lives

29 people had been hospitalized

Sandu regime may seize Moldavan power plant in Transnistria — Russian Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova noted that "under such a scenario, the Russian peacekeeping presence in the region will be jeopardized"

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

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Trump’s son posts image showing father buying Canada, Greenland on Amazon

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

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

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Continued terror attacks by Kiev to be met with increasingly tougher response — Lavrov

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Is Gaddafi's gloom prophecy in regard to Europe bound to be fulfilled?

As Europe’s migrant crisis grows far and wide, many Russian media are recalling the late Libyan leader Muamar Gaddafi’s gloom prophecy made several months before his violent death

Russia says Su-35S fighter jets provide cover to Aerospace Forces in Kursk Region

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Putin offers condolences to Azerbaijani president over plane crash near Aktau

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

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Rescue workers recover bodies of all those killed in Kazakhstan plane crash

The ministry confirmed an earlier statement by the Kazakh authorities that the crash had killed 38 people

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

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West plans to destabilize situation in Serbia — Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman

According to Maria Zakharova, the interim self-governance bodies in Pristina, enabled by the United States and the EU, make steps to create intolerable conditions for the Serb population of Kosovo, effectively trying to drive it out of the region

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

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Finnish police detain oil tanker on suspicion of damaging communication cables

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

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

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Ukrainian agent fails to plant bomb under car of Russian defense official — FSB

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Two people preparing attempts on Russian military officials' lives recruited in Ukraine

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

KazAeroNavigation’s flight director immediately notified all emergency services

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

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Greece continues to ship munitions to Ukraine en masse — website

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Israeli premier threatens Houthis with HAMAS, Hezbollah’s fate

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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"

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

Russian investigators initiate criminal case into terror attack on borderline town

The Ukrainian armed forces carried out a strike on the town of Lgov in the Kursk Region on December 25

Kremlin will not speculate about causes of plane crash near Aktau — spokesman

Dmitry Peskov recalled that the day before during the informal summit of the CIS, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered deep condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured

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

Russia doesn’t need ceasefire in Ukraine, it needs legally binding guarantees — Lavrov

According to the foreign minister, these agreements should be aimed at eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian conflict

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

Annual inflation in Russia gearing up to 9.7% over week — Economy Ministry

In the food sector, prices growth rates declined to 0.76% during the reporting week

Russia’s 2,000th R-7 rocket delivers Resurs-P remote sensing satellite into orbit

Resurs-P satellites are designed for the Earth’s remote sensing and for regional and local monitoring of its surface

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Syrian authorities introduce curfew in Latakia, Homs after Alawite protests

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Mine removal at Donetsk airport to start in 2025 — official

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Press review: Ukraine eyes missile programs as EU considers new sanctions on Russia

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

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No panic aboard crashed Azerbaijan Airlines plane, eyewitness says

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

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