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Arctic development comprehensive plans' implementation requires $37 billion — official

According to Yury Trutnev, 29% of planned measures are aimed at improving housing conditions, upgrade of housing infrastructures and landscaping

MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. Implementation of more than 500 events under comprehensive plans to develop settlements in the Russian Federation Arctic Zone to 2035 requires almost 3 trillion rubles ($37 billion), Russia's Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev told TASS.

Earlier, Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin reported the government had approved a comprehensive plan for development of Arctic settlements.

"The necessary financing for 516 long-term planned events is 2.9 trillion rubles, where 60% come from extra-budgetary sources," the deputy prime minister said.

According to him, 29% of planned measures are aimed at improving housing conditions, upgrade of housing infrastructures and landscaping. New housing will be built in the Chukotka Autonomous Region, water supply networks will be built in Arkhangelsk and Murmansk, and courtyard areas in Vorkuta will be landscaped. Additionally, 23% of the events are aimed at creating tourism, sports and cultural infrastructures.

Macron tries to turn EU into 'digital gulag' — Durov

The sanctioned architect of the EU’s censorship law is a close ally and appointee of Emmanuel Macron, Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov said

Chinese military stepping up its potential makes US more ‘vulnerable’ — Pentagon

According to the Pentagon, China continues to increase its nuclear potential and plans to acquire over 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030

FACTBOX: How Catholics celebrate Christmas

The first records of Christmas being celebrated as an independent holiday date back to the 4th century

Trump's Golden Fleet is doomed due to lack of proper US air defense system — expert

"Presently, the US Navy’s onboard air and missile defenses are incapable of reliably intercepting hypersonic threats, including sophisticated missiles like Russia’s Tsirkon and comparable Chinese systems," Alexander Stepanov noted

World Aquatics names Russia’s Maltsev as Male Artistic Swimmer of the year

Alexander Maltsev is a four-time world champion and six-time European champion in artistic swimming and a pioneer of men's artistic swimming in Russia

Palladium prices on NYMEX fall by more than 10%

At the same time, platinum futures with delivery in January 2026 were down 1.73%

US military reports Santa Claus flying over Russia

For 70 years, NORAD has been "tracking" the journey of Santa Claus on the night before Christmas

Moldovan border guards cut off channel for transfer of draft dodgers from Ukraine

The police said the suspects charged each evader $10,000

About 417,000 Russians have signed military service contracts — Medvedev

Additionally, more than 36,000 have voluntarily joined units dispatched to the zone of the special military operation, the politician stated

Europe has 'epiphany' on Ukraine negotiations — opposition figure

Viktor Medvedchuk said that Europe had previously acted as a "bridge between Russia and the United States," but today's attempts by Europeans to build a wall between Moscow and Washington "are a joke"

Putin warned Bush that admitting Ukraine to NATO will lead to Russia-US confrontation

The Russian leader stressed that this would create a threat of NATO moving its military bases and various arms systems to the exact proximity to the Russian border

Putin warned Bush that NATO membership would split Ukraine — declassified documents

During their meeting in Sochi in April 2008, Bush asked the Russian leader why Russia opposes to Ukraine’s NATO membership

Ukraine unable to keep 800,000-strong army — German general

Harald Kujat noted that the 800,000-strong Ukrainian army, as required by the Europeans, would constitute a significant increase from the pre-conflict number

Putin’s state of the nation address to take place 'in due time' — spokesman

Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov noted that the address will be delivered "when the president sees fit, first of all in terms of contents"

Medvedev suggests encouraging separatism in West as countermeasure

"Separatism is a gamble that can be played by two," the politician noted

Passenger car output in Russia down 12.6% in first 11 months to 591,000 — Rosstat

In November, passenger car output fell by 34.1% year-on-year but increased by 8.2% compared with this October

Plotter of terrorist attack on oil pipeline neutralized in Tyumen Region — FSB

According to the FSB’s Public Relations Center, the suspect, a Russian citizen originally from Vinnitsa in Ukraine, resisted arrest and was subsequently neutralized during the operation

Ukraine’s ex-premier describes Zelensky’s plan as attempt to stall talks

According to Nikolay Azarov, the plan does not resolve a number of important issues

EU got involved in conflict in Ukraine to rev up economy — Orban

The prime minister believes the decision is wrong

Social unity around grand goals is key to Russia's achievements, Putin says

The Russian president highlighted the readiness of millions to unite around shared, noble goals

EU loan will not lead to improvement in Ukrainian military’s situation — Guardian

The Guardian draws attention to the low level of recruitment into the Ukrainian armed forces

French president, NATO chief discuss Ukraine-related efforts by Coalition of Willing

The previous meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing took place on December 11

After WWII CIA, MI6 replaced Abwehr as Bandera's handlers — historian

According to Alexander Cheremin, "it appears that the Anglo-Saxons became the direct successors of the German secret services that had originally established this anti-Soviet foundation"

Trump administration recalls heads of nearly 30 foreign diplomatic missions — news agency

According to its information, the heads of US missions abroad have been notified that their terms in their current positions will expire in January

Belgium shocked by US sanctions against five EU citizens — foreign minister

Maxime Prevot said that EU digital legislation is not directed against the United States, but serves to ensure that EU citizens have the same security and dignity in the digital space that they enjoy in their public lives in Europe

Belarusian KGB sniffs out foreign spy ring eavesdropping on pilots — report

The network was assisted by several individuals residing in Belarus

EU had chance to prevent Russia conflict in 2022 — Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban said that Europe could have sent a peace mission to Moscow and Kiev instead of declaring their conflict its own war

Russian stock market closes with major indices down

The yuan exchange rate rose by 3 kopecks to 11.14 rubles

US Department of Justice gets more documents as part of Epstein case files

Their release may take a few more weeks

EU is militarizing Moldova despite its neutrality — Transnistrian Foreign Minister

Vitaly Ignatiev said that the European Peace Fund is providing weapons and military equipment

UN experts call on US Congress to intervene to stop aggression against Venezuela

In their view, the blockade of oil tankers going into, and out of, Venezuela violates "fundamental rules of international law"

Macron tries to turn EU into 'digital gulag' — Durov

The sanctioned architect of the EU’s censorship law is a close ally and appointee of Emmanuel Macron, Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov said

Emergence of BRICS payment system quite possible — ambassador to Moscow

The diplomat called this topic one of the most important on the BRICS agenda

Conflict in Ukraine can be resolved within 90 days — US envoy to NATO

Matthew Whittaker noted that the forthcoming winter may be very difficult for Ukraine

Zelensky's new peace plan not to work for Russia, says expert

The expert focused on the political points of the plan and on the security guarantees demanded by Kiev

Gold production in Russia rises 5.6% in November — Rosstat

Over January-November, gold production rose by 5.7% compared with the same period of 2024

Volume of household funds in Russian banks edges down by 0.04% in November — regulator

There was a small shift from ruble current accounts to term deposits

US believes sides approaching settlement on Ukraine — NATO envoy

US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker emphasized that there are still matters that need to be resolved in a way that both sides can agree

BRICS has developed criteria for admitting new members — ambassador to Moscow

A candidate country must have good relations with its neighbors and be opposed to unilateral sanctions, Sergio Rodrigues dos Santos noted

Almost all DPR supporters return from Ukraine after violence, torture — ombudsman

"Before the start of the special military operation on, as part of the work of the humanitarian subgroup of the Contact Group in Minsk, we managed to bring 879 DPR supporters home from Ukraine," DPR Commissioner for Human Rights Darya Morozova said

Air defense systems destroy 132 Ukrainian UAVs over Russian Regions in 7 hours — top brass

The drones were destroyed between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. GMT

US can gain control of Greenland without 'firing a shot' — EP member

Anders Vistisen also noted that Denmark "cannot defend Greenland alone"

Dmitriev jokes European Commission chief would be banned from entering US

Kirill Dmitriev commented on a post by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the State Department's intention to take steps to bar leading figures of the global censorship-industrial complex from entering the country

US LNG exports hit an all-time high in October

In the reporting period, LNG exports were up 11.4% month-on-month and 33.7% up year-on-year

European Union disintegrating before our eyes — Orban

The Hungarian PM noted that "EU decision-makers are constantly forced to backtrack"

West accuses Russia of Bucha killings just as it did with Holodomor — Medvedev

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Hamas informs Turkey about Israel's violations of Gaza agreement

Head of the group Khalil al-Hayy also drew attention to the "deteriorating humanitarian crisis" in the Gaza Strip

Thief conks jewel courier on head in Paris, steals sapphire priced at 150,000 euro

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"The military tensions Europe is seeing now stem from the decline of Western Europe and the European Union," Viktor Orban said

West 'understands nothing about Russians,' Rostec says in response to Reuters report

The Russian defense industry is currently focused on solving state problems, not on generating more profit

Ukraine’s major oil producer Ukrnafta sustains critical damage

The company did not specify the exact nature of the damage or where it occurred

FACTBOX: Two traffic police officers killed in explosion in southern Moscow

The suspect is also dead

Air defenses destroy 29 more Ukrainian UAVs over Russian regions within three-hour period

10 of them were destroyed over the Belgorod Region

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Foreign intelligence services monitoring Oreshnik missile deployment in Belarus — KGB

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Some 20,000 Muscovites voluntarily sign contracts for military service annually — mayor

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US sanctions against former European officials cast doubt on EU sovereignty — Kallas

The chief of the European diplomacy said that Europe will continue to defend its values of freedom of expression

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US to maintain naval blockade of Venezuela for at least two months — Reuters

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Ruble becomes strongest-performing currency in 2025 — Bloomberg

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The total area of the fire is 2,000 square meters

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"It’s going to come down to, ultimately, the territory, and how that territory is divided up," Matthew Whitaker said

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Cancer-stricken Serbian sues NATO for use of depleted uranium in 1999 attack on Yugoslavia

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Silver overtakes Apple in market capitalization

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Kalashnikov Concern dispatches AK-15K assault rifles in Multicam colors to customer

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FIS extends int’l neutral-status participation list by five more Russian skiers

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Putin sends New Year greetings to Kim Jong Un

The Russian leader stressed that the "past one year was of special significance in the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang"

Putin-Trump call can be arranged quickly if needed — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that everything slows down during Christmas time

Russian troops liberate Zarechnoye in Zaporozhye Region over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted roughly 245 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Honduras election authority says Trump-backed candidate won presidential election

Nasry Juan Asfura Zablah received 40.27% of the vote

Tourism to Moscow booms in 2025, to set new all-time record for visits — mayor

Sergey Sobyanin emphasized that the tourist economy is growing year after year

Putin meets with businessmen in Kremlin — spokesman

The Russian government’s officials in charge of economy and social affairs, presidential administration officials, and Russian Central Bank chief Elvira Nabiullina attended the meeting

Japanese lawmaker, stalwart Moscow supporter Suzuki plans to visit Russia soon — agency

Muneo Suzuki is expected to meet with Russian officials during the visit

Polish officials not allowed to enter Russian consulate’s former building

Poland’s last operating Russian Consulate General located in the city of Gdansk closed down earlier this week

Russia developing scenarios for using net guns against drones

These scenarios will form the basis for the methodology that will be taught to Russian military personnel at training centers

Ukrainian media outlet releases Kiev’s 20-point peace plan

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Kiev loses about 20 battalions in fighting near Vilcha — expert

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Moscow becomes major center producing UAVs for Russian army — Sobyanin

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FSB thwarts hostage-taking, prisoner escape from penal colony in Kurgan Region

A prisoner concealed a shiv in his punishment cell, where he was placed for violating prison rules

Spacecraft with artificial gravity patented in Russia

"The space system with artificial gravity includes an axial module with static and rotating parts, connected with the help of a hermetically sealed flexible junction, as well as habitable modules, rotation equipment and power sources," according to the patent

Italian expert says Zelensky's new peace plan step in wrong direction

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Refusal to take path of peace is Ukraine’s tragedy — German general

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Russia cuts total gas production by 3.3% in first 11 months to 600 bcm — Rosstat

Natural gas production in January-November amounted to 507 bln cubic meters, down 3% year-on-year

Ukraine lost 1-2 GW of power grid capacity as a result of December 23 explosions

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported earlier that Russian troops struck Ukrainian military-industrial complex facilities and energy facilities with Kinzhal missiles on the morning of December 23

Press review: Ukraine mulls elections and Trump plans laser fleet as gold prices soar

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

Negotiations on Ukraine should be kept secret, Kremlin believes

Dmitry Peskov refrained from giving further comments

Several points of Zelensky’s so-called plan unworkable, expert says

Alexander Dudchak doubts that Kiev is really ready to carry out an "all-for-all" prisoner swap according to the plan

Peace in Europe unattainable without review of West's anti-Russian policy — Medvedev

"It is crucial to recognize that the root cause of the conflict in Ukraine stems from the aggressive ‘Eastern policy’ pursued by Anglo-Saxon nations along with NATO and the European Union," the politician stated

Dutch B4Ukraine, tracking Russian oil exports registered undesirable — Prosecutor’s office

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Le Parisien newspaper names Russia's Safonov player of the month for PSG

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West needs Zelensky's peace plan to pump resources out of Ukraine — expert

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Deadline for sale of Exxon stake in Sakhalin-1 extended until January 2027 — decree

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