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Gas price in Europe rises to maximum in a year in anticipation of Ukrainian transit halt

Since the beginning of the day the price has risen by more than 4%

MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. Gas prices in Europe rose to their highest since November 27, 2023, $536 per 1,000 cubic meters during exchange trading, amid expectations that Russian gas transit through Ukraine will cease on January 1, according to data from the London ICE exchange.

The cost of February futures on the TTF hub in the Netherlands rose to more than $536 per 1,000 cubic meters, or 50 euros per MWh (based on the current exchange rate of euro to dollar, prices for ICE are presented in euros per MWh).

Since the beginning of the day the price has risen by more than 4%.

Experts forecast moderate gas price growth in 2025, then a decline in 2026-2027

Finam analyst Sergey Kaufman forecasts a moderate increase in Europe's average gas price to $420 per 1,000 cubic meters

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

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World’s oldest Olympic champion Agnes Keleti dies at 103

She won her first Olympic gold in 1952

Number of Palestinians killed in Gaza since October 2023 close to 45,600

Gaza’s Health Ministry stressed that in the past 24 hours, 28 Palestinians were killed and 59 wounded in the enclave as a result of Israeli bombardments

Russian air defenses down Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft — Defense Ministry

According to the ministry, a total of 651 aircraft have been destroyed since the start of Russia’s special military operation

Roscosmos to extend flight duration of Soyuz manned spacecraft to 7-9 months next year

Next year, Roscosmos and NASA are set to sign the third supplement to the agreement on seat swap flights to the International Space Station

West does not rule out Ukrainian defense collapse soon — Russia’s intel agency

The outgoing administration of US President Joe Biden seeks to avoid this scenario, making emphasis on "the deliveries of more sophisticated weapons, including longer-range missiles," the press office said

Kazakh President Tokayev rules out early presidential election in his country

He also said that there were no prerequisites as of yet for holding the parliamentary election as well

Syrian ports of Latakia, Tartus fully resume operations — official

Both ports are now serving ships and handling cargo normally

Fuel oil leak into Black Sea not as bad as originally estimated — Transport Ministry

The main way of eliminating the effects is to collect the pollutant washed up on the beach

Slovakia to discuss retaliatory measures against Ukraine over gas transit halt — Fico

The minister said that the halt of Russian gas transit was an act of "sabotage by Zelensky"

Moldovan president plans military operation in Transnistria — Russian intel agency

According to the SVR, Maia Sandu recently convened a meeting on energy security issues with senior government officials

Hungary lost one billion euro of EU funding due to violation of statute law supremacy

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Putin orders Accounts Chamber to analyze National Projects implementation

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Death toll in New Orleans terrorist act increases to 15 — CBS

Ten died and 35 injured people were reported earlier

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 pipeline gas supplies to Europe rise by 14% in 2024

In 2023, Russian pipeline gas supplies to Europe stood at about 28.15 bln cubic meters

Ukraine’s 2014 coup was CIA’s political mistake — Putin

The Russian president noted that the US agency had achieved its goal of changing the government but failed to see what it would evolve into

Spacemen to return to Earth after longest mission in ISS’s history

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More than 2,100 birds rescued in Krasnodar Region after oil tanker emergency

In Anapa and the Temryuk district there are five points where birds undergo treatment

At least 90 Palestinians killed following Israel’s strikes on Gaza Strip over past day

According to Al Jazeera, hundreds of people were wounded

Experts forecast moderate gas price growth in 2025, then a decline in 2026-2027

Finam analyst Sergey Kaufman forecasts a moderate increase in Europe's average gas price to $420 per 1,000 cubic meters

Gas supplies to household consumers suspended in Transnistria

The authorities in both Moldova and Transnistria have declared emergencies

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

Russia’s Mirra Andreeva through to semis of 2025 WTA Brisbane International

The Russian defeated in her quarterfinals match Tunisia’s tennis star, Ons Jabeur, in straight sets 6-4; 7-6 (7-2)

Press review: EU preps for gas cuts via Ukraine as China boosts naval and air power

Top stories from the Russian press on Saturday, December 28th

Murderer in Montenegro died after suicide attempt

The attacker died from sustained injuries when being transported to a medical institution

Politics never discussed in Spartak — club’s former sporting director

Accortding to Tomas Amaral, the focus was on football and the best course of action for club

Kazakh leader calls Russia invincible, Ukraine trying to withstand with West’s help

Astana favors talks on settling the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict but does not insist on its mediation in the process, he said

President expects Bolivia to obtain new opportunities as BRICS partner state

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Russian gas is 50% cheaper for Europe than US LNG — OMV CEO

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Russia has celebrated New Year and Christmas with decorated fir trees since Peter the Great’s reign

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US commercial satellites surveyed Russia’s Engels airstrip ahead of Kiev’s strike attempt

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Russian Armed Forces made more than 1,500 strikes by precision weapons in 2024

At least five mass strikes were also delivered from the beginning of the last year.

China, Russia move ahead avoiding confrontation — Xi Jinping

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Europe to lose up to 30% of gas import from Russia after Ukrainian transit stops

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Serial production of missiles for S-500 air defense systems begins in Russia — source

State trials of S-500 are under way at a testing range in southern Russia

Montenegrin authorities to discuss complete ban on weapons possession

The government of Montenegro made the decision to declare January 2-4 as days of mourning

US creating NATO bases in Ukraine under guise of training centers — Belarusian president

"Unfortunately, the Ukrainian authorities don't care a bit about their own people and they don't hear our concerns," Alexander Lukashenko noted

Tesla investigates Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas — Musk

One person died and seven others were wounded as a result of the Cybertruck explosion on Wednesday

FACTBOX: Celebrities who passed away in 2024

Many well-known politicians, statesmen, scientists and cultural figures passed away in 2024

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

Russia’s Zub to return to Ottawa Senators after leg injury

The defenseman missed 16 matches due to a broken leg

Russian diplomat blames shutdown of Russian gas transit via Ukraine on West, Kiev

According to Maria Zakharova, the Kiev authorities decided to end the transit of Russian gas to European countries even though the Gazprom company was complying with its contract obligations

FBI sees no connection for now between New Orleans, Las Vegas terrorist attacks

Bureau’s Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia said noted that the investigation was at an early stage

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

Russia’s Gazprom stops gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine as transit deal expires

The deal provided for the transit of 40 bln cubic meters of Russian gas through Ukraine annually

No connection between Cybertruck explosion and Islamic State

One person died and seven others were wounded as a result of the Cybertruck explosion on Wednesday

Russian paratroopers destroyed three Ukrainian tanks by drones

Russian paratroopers destroyed vehicles in Kursk region

One person killed in Cybertruck explosion outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas — police

Law enforcement authorities have not yet identified the deceased person

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The Corruption Investigation Office is looking into the circumstances of the announcement of martial law by the president who has been accused of insurrection following the move

Ukraine may lose Odessa and access to Black Sea if it refuses to negotiate — Musk

"It was a tragic waste of life for Ukraine to attack a larger army that had defense in depth, minefields and stronger artillery," american entrepreneur said

2025 to see four great celestial events, scientists say

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In the private home, the FSB operatives found an object resembling a Makarov pistol, a grenade trigger and an improvised explosive device

Hungary, Russia find payment workaround for gas amid sanctions against Gazprombank

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto stressed that "there are no factors on either the Hungarian or Russian side that would prevent us from finding a way out of the current situation"

Over 20 Ukrainian drones attack Russia’s Belgorod Region in past day

The attack left two civilians injured, while two cars were damaged

SKA head coach expects Ovechkin to beat Gretzky’s record in 2025

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Life and career of Russian politician Boris Nemtsov

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Soviet Union could have survived as Union of Sovereign States — Gorbachev

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Kiev's forces shell village in Kursk Region, no casualties reported yet — acting governor

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Middle East in for ‘chaotic and violent’ time after change of power in Syria – analyst

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UN calls for restoring Al Jazeera broadcasting in Palestinian territories

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Ukraine loses up to 1,050 troops in all areas of special military operation in past day

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Termination of Russian gas supplies to spur inflation in Moldova — expert

Pensioners and public sector employees, whose wages and salaries have long lagged behind rocketing prices, will also be among the most affected

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

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Putin issues orders to draft Basics of State Language Policy by June 1

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Cybertruck explosion may be terrorist act — Musk

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Tourist bus accident in Thailand leaves 27 Russians injured

The bus reportedly went out of control when nearing a motorway toll gate and rammed into a guardrail

Trump team offers nothing interesting in proposals on Ukraine — Russian envoy

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Over 1 mln members of Ukrainian armed forces killed or wounded since start of special op

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Putin nearly doubles number of foreign visits in 2024 — TASS estimates

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Moscow-Fergana flight redirected to Tashkent over fog

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Critical infrastructure suffers damage in Kiev-controlled part of Kherson Region

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Ukrainian attack targets civilian infrastructure in Kursk Region — acting governor

Alexander Khinshtein emphasized that he is personally engaged in continuous monitoring of the situation

Russia strikes Ukraine’s military-industrial sector, mercenaries’ sites over week

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Russian stock market switches to decline after opening higher on Friday, yuan grows

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French military expert says NATO may repeat Soviet Union’s fate

Regis Chamagnedescribed NATO and the EU as 'two sides of the same coin'

Roscosmos achieved significant progress in several major projects in 2024 — CEO

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Death toll from Montenegro shooting incident rises to 12 — prosecution

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Dyatlov Pass incident investigators publish book unlocking its "mysteries"

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Hundreds of Syria’s health facilities partially or completely ruined — minister

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Russia not satisfied with Trump team’s proposals on Ukraine — Lavrov

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Revenues from West’s frozen assets allocated for support of Russian regions — ministry

The US Department of the Treasury said earlier that a $20 bln loan would be provided to Ukraine and paid in tranches

Clashes between Palestianians, Israeli troops take place in West Bank — TV

According to Al Mayadeen, fighters from Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the radical Palestinian organization Islamic Jihad, attacked Israeli military vehicles