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Explosion reported near US Consulate in Iraq’s Erbil

There have been no immediate reports of casualties or the cause of the blast, Iraq’s Alsumaria TV channel reported

CAIRO, June 8. /TASS/. A blast has occurred near the US Consulate in Iraq's northern city of Erbil, Iraq’s Alsumaria TV channel reported on Wednesday, citing a security source.

There have been no immediate reports of casualties or the cause of the blast.

Seismologists count 515 aftershocks after earthquake in Tibet

Up to 95% of cases of ongoing seismic activity in the area of the city of Shigatse were tremors with a magnitude of less than 3.0

North Korea test-fires newest intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile on January 6

According to KCNA, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the test launch of the country's cutting-edge ballistic missile

Liege court to consider whether EC President is immune to corruption charges

The court hearing on January 6 will be held upon an address of the EU office of prosecutor

US announces sanctions against Hungarian cabinet official

Neither statement provides any proof

Russia’s Su-35S fighter hit stronghold of Ukrainian forces in Kursk region

As the ministry noted, the strike from the Su-34 was carried out using universal planning and correction modules

Trump's special envoy for Ukraine Kellogg postpones visit to Kiev

Keith Kellogg is expected to visit Ukraine after the US president-elect takes office; the date of the visit has not yet been set

State of emergency declared in Petrozavodsk after household gas explosion

Four people were injured and residents were evacuated, Head of Karelia Artur Parfenchikov said

Moldova offered no help to Transnistria in resolving energy crisis, president says

He pointed out that, previously, the authorities of Transnistria have repeatedly asked Moldova to reject economic pressure measures

Talks on settlement in Gaza Strip continue, but remain difficult — Qatari Foreign Ministry

"As for expectations, we cannot set a specific timeframe. An agreement will be reached when it is reached," spokesperson Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari said

Russia hopes Armenia won’t follow in Ukraine’s footsteps — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov said Russia is determined to develop relations with Armenia

Russian air force takes down Ukrainian MiG-29 — top brass

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, it was taken down by combat aviation

Turkey continued to cooperate with Russia, Iran even in most difficult situations — Fidan

He said this on the air of the CNN Turk television channel, answering a question about Ankara's relations with Moscow and Tehran in light of the situation in Syria

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

Kiev ready to conflict settlement talks in late January

Secondly - Europe, then the talk with Russians can take place, Vladimir Zelensky said

Over 15,000 Ukrainian troops engaged in Kurakhovo, says Russian top brass

Control over Kurakhovo hinders supplies to Ukrainian troops

Gas price in Europe falls below $500, first time since December 27

The total price decline since the beginning of the day reached about 2%

Death toll from Tibet earthquake rises to 126

At the same time, 188 others are injured, Xinhua reported

Bombs with power of 13 kilos of trotyle found in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria

An active accomplice of bandits was detained in the search operation and gave confessing testimony

Ukrainian losses in Kursk area amount up to 485 troops in 24 hours

Ukrainian attempt to break through in Kursk area thwarted

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

Death toll in Tibet earthquake rises to 95

А 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck in the Tibet Autonomous Region on the border with Nepal

Switzerland ready to act as mediator in settlement of Ukraine — Swiss President

Earlier, the Swiss Foreign Ministry told TASS that the country's authorities were participating in the preparation of negotiations on establishing a ceasefire in Ukraine

Lavrov to hold big press conference on January 14 — Russian Foreign Ministry

The conference will be on the results of 2024

Diplomat calls on top German diplomat to stop speculating about Russian bases in Syria

Commenting on the top German diplomat’s statement that Russia should refuse from having military bases in Syria, Maria Zakharova noted

Trump says ‘it was always understood’ that Ukraine can’t join NATO

Trump said Moscow had consistently opposed Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO

‘Not a snowball’s chance in hell’ that Canada will become part of US — PM

US President-elect Donald Trump earlier said many Canadians are allegedly in favor of their country becoming the 51st US state

Trump's statements on Panama Canal, Greenland not productive — expert

As the expert added, all statements by President-elect Trump are perceived by members of his future administration, members of Congress, and those who voted for him as "priorities and promises"

Greenland will benefit from joining the US, Trump believes

The US President-elect also confirmed that his son, Donald Trump Jr., will travel to the island "to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights"

Congress approves Trump’s victory in US Presidential election

The meeting was attended by US Vice President-elect James David Vance

Ukrainian projectile shot down over Russia’s borderline Kursk Region

On the morning of January 6, the regional headquarters reported a Ukrainian projectile shot down in the skies over the Kursk Region

Qatar doesn’t plan to ship gas to Europe via Syria, Turkey — MFA

According to Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesman Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari, Doha is currently focused on preserving stability in Syria and "meeting the needs of the Syrian people"

No current plans for Putin’s meeting with Scholz, Trump — Kremlin

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has refuted the claims of German Bundestag Roderich Kiesewetter

Trump praises ‘great’ reception for his representatives in Greenland

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said earlier that Greenland is not for sale and it is up to its residents to determine the island’s future

Ukraine loses up to 49,800 servicemen since beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction

Sever fighters in the Kursk region have also defeated formations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Kazachya Loknya, Kubatkin, Lebedevka, Nikolskoye, Sudzha, and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Russia warns Japan of countermeasures over military drills — MFA

The Japanese side "was told that provocative military activity next to the Far Eastern borders of our country, conducted also in cooperation with extra-regional countries - NATO members - is categorically inadmissible"

Newest B-19 armored vehicles with Epokha combat module used during Zapad-2021 drills

The newest B-19 armored vehicles, equipped with the Epokha combat module, feature a 57-mm autocannon, Kornet anti-tank guided missiles, and the new Bulat missile system, designed for the elimination of emplacements and lightly armored vehicles

Israeli troops kill 50 Palestinians over past day — media

According to Al Jazeera, all the incidents have injured people, but their number has not been specified

Putin expresses condolences to Xi Jinping over Tibet earthquake

The Russian president said that his country "shares the grief of those who lost their loved ones as a result of this natural disaster and wishes a speedy recovery to all those affected"

Trump says he wants to hold talks with Putin within six months

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov on January 5 denied reports that Putin's meetings with Trump and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz were in the works

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

Yemeni Houthis claim strike at US aircraft carrier in Red Sea

According to the movement’s military spokesman Yahya Saree, during the Houthi strike, the US aircraft carrier group was preparing to attack the Houthi-controlled Yemeni territory

No answer from JD Vance if Trump plans to have phone call with Putin

On December 16, Trump said during the first press conference after his election victory that he plans to stay in contact with Putin in order to settle the conflict in Ukraine

Russia designs Titan rifle for commandos

The rifle is reliable with precise and dense fire

Russia’s Utair plane lands in Moscow after malfunction of engine stabilizer

Prosecutors are looking into the incident

Almost ruled out: experts on Nord Stream 2 pipeline’s launch during Trump’s presidency

According to Alexey Belogoryev, Research Director at the Institute for Energy and Finance Foundation, the relaunch of the Nord Stream gas pipeline is much easier to do than it was with its initial putting into operation

South Korean police receives right to arrest president

The warrant expires on January 6

At least 53 killed, 62 injured after devastating earthquake hits Tibet — Xinhua

The natural calamity destroyed numerous buildings and the local authorities launched search and rescue operations, according to the news agency

Residents of Moscow donate over $3.51 mln to charity in 2024

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin noted that with the help of the mos.ru charity service, Muscovites sent over $694,812 to non-profit organizations

Trump's coming to power won’t affect international military aid to Ukraine — Pentagon

The Pentagon spokesman expressed confidence that Western countries' work to strengthen Ukraine's military capabilities "will continue one way or another"

Trump labels Ukraine crisis as ‘a Biden fiasco,’ sees chance of escalation

Trump said Russia wouldn’t have started its special military operation if a more competent leader than Biden had been at the helm of the US

Russian forces liberate village of Dachenskoye in DPR

The ministry specified that the adversary has lost up to 535 troops

Baku and Yerevan to hold another round of border talks in January — Azerbaijani President

It may take place in January

Zyuganov set to unite all opposition forces

Zyuganov sees potential allies in the Just Russia and the LDPR

US ‘quietly’ supplied weapons to Ukraine before Russia’s operation started, Blinken says

Washington supplied "things like Stingers, Javelins", US Secretary of State said

Ukraine must comply with EU deal and continue gas transit from Russia — Szijjarto

The Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that he had discussed the current situation on the phone with the Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanar

Seismologists count 515 aftershocks after earthquake in Tibet

Up to 95% of cases of ongoing seismic activity in the area of the city of Shigatse were tremors with a magnitude of less than 3.0

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

Solidarity with Africa now cornerstone of China's diplomacy — MFA

Wang Yi emphasized that Beijing's commitment to developing relations and promoting cooperation with African countries "is not weakening, but only strengthening," regardless of shifts in the international situation

Lavrov expresses condolences to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi over earthquake in Tibet

Earlier, the US Geological Survey reported that a magnitude 7.1 earthquake had struck the Tibet Autonomous Region on the border with Nepal

Russian Armed Forces destroy over 8,000 Ukrainian soldiers over week in LPR

Battlegroup West units thwarted 35 counterattacks of the adversary from December 28, 2024 to January 3, 2025, defense expert Andrey Marochko said

Four Ukrainian drones wiped out over Kursk, Belgorod regions

"Two drones each have been downed over the Belgorod and Kursk regions," the ministry said in a statement.

Rosatom to build Europe’s safest nuclear power plant in Hungary – CEO

The company is about to pour first concrete as part of the construction, the Russian company’s Director General Alexey Likhachev said

Hamas agrees to free 34 hostages during first stage of deal with Israel — TV

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that the list was not prepared by Hamas but handed over by Israel last summer

US reports first human death caused by avian influenza

"The patient was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions," according to the statement

President Putin congratulates Russians with Orthodox Christmas holiday

"During the Christmas season we clearly feel with all our heart how important for us are parental, family traditions that are being handed down from generation to generation," Vladimir Putin said

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

Chad’s president indignant at Macron’s comments about Africa — report

Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno was reacting to the French president's remarks on the decision of Chad and several other French-speaking African countries to break off military cooperation with Paris

United States supports Syria’s transition of power to form new government — Blinken

"The Secretary also emphasized the need for the international community to facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance throughout Syria and thanked the Saudi government for providing aid to the Syrian people," the high-ranking US official said

Zelensky uses foul language, blames West for not providing help

In his opinions, Western partners were to attempt to "intimidate" Moscow by sanctions and arms supplies to Kiev even before February 24, 2022

Putin orders "special service regime" in Russia’s deterrence force

Russian President stressed that the Western countries were also taking unfriendly actions against Russia in the economic sphere

Washington views Canada’s PM Trudeau as ‘stalwart friend’ of US — official

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre added that the US would "stand with" all people of Canada as they elected a new leader

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

Lately, the Ukrainian side has also indicated "signals about some accords," which cannot be perceived seriously, he added

Putin to traditionally attend Christmas service — Kremlin

The Kremlin official noted that additional details will be provided later

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

Trump blames Biden for conflict in Ukraine

Trump also said his term will start in a world engulfed in conflict

Russia manages situation in Ukraine, while West in big trouble — US political scientist

According to John Mearsheimer, Russia has become much stronger over the past two to three years because it has managed to become "a truly sovereign country"

Car bomb blast kills kickboxing champion in Kyrgyzstan

Several versions are being looked into, the main being a terrorist attack, police said

Canada's opposition leader vows to prevent his country from joining the US

Pierre Poilievre also claimed that in the future he intends to ensure the complete security of Canada's borders

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

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 25th

Putin attends Orthodox Christmas service at Church of St. George the Victorious in Moscow

As a rule, Putin celebrates Christmas outside Moscow, while on Easter he usually goes to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior

Former Armenian defense minister detained in Moscow

Arshak Karapetyan has been put on the international wanted list under a number of articles of the Criminal Code, law enforcement bodies told TASS

Russia’s freshly launched satellite transmits images of US, China, UAE

Data obtained from satellites in the Resurs-P series are used to study natural resources and monitor pollution and environmental degradation, water protection areas and natural reserves

FACTBOX: Orthodox Christian world celebrates Christmas

On January 7, Christmas is celebrated by the Russian, Georgian, Jerusalemite, Polish and Serbian Orthodox churches, the Athos monasteries in Greece, as well as the Eastern Catholic Church and the Old Believers

Several groups of Ukrainian soldiers ambushed in southern DPR — sniper

According to the Russian serviceman, four troops were captured and the rest retreated

Reuters: Alaska sues US government over restrictions on oil development

The agency notes that the Alaskan authorities were dissatisfied with the decision of the US administration made last December to limit the development of oil and gas leases in the state

Ukraine to fall within 12-18 months without US aid — expert

According to Robert Kagan, an American political analyst, if Ukraine falls, it will be hard to present it otherwise than as a failure of the United States and its president

Ukrainian forces partially pushed back from Kurakhovo power plant in DPR

Combat for the plant’s administrative building is underway.

Trump says Putin wants to hold talks with him on Ukraine

Trump declined to say when the meeting could take place

Serious conflict between Israel, Turkey possible — Russian expert

"It’s important to note that the primary development in this context is the markedly increased role of non-Arab states in the region, particularly two key players," Vitaly Naumkin said

Russia says its Su-34 launched glide bombs at Ukrainian armored vehicles in Kursk Region

Upon receiving confirmation from reconnaissance personnel that the Ukrainian manpower and military vehicles were destroyed, the crew safely returned to the airfield of departure

Pentagon unveils NATO plans on granting military assistance to Ukraine until 2027

The Pentagon representative said that eight "capabilities coalitions" have been created within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group

Range of Russian EMP weapons increased to 10 km — sources

Фn electromagnetic pulse lasts a fraction of a second and reaches the target almost immediately, travelling with the speed of light

No comments from Kremlin spokesman about Putin’s alleged apology for Lavrov’s remarks

During the press conference, reporters noted that the Israeli Prime Minister’s office told about Putin’s apologies in its statement, published after the phone call between the two leaders, while the Kremlin did not

Putin shows initialed draft agreement with Ukraine to African leaders

"This draft agreement was initialed by the head of the Kiev negotiation team. He put his signature there. Here it is," the Russian president said

French politician Jean-Marie Le Pen dies at 96 — AFP

On the day of his death the founder of the National Front party was in a medical facility in Garches

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

Russian diplomat summoned to Moldovan Foreign Ministry after statement on energy crisis

According to the spokeswoman, such statements negatively affect the relations between Chisinau and Moscow

Gas reserves in UGS facilities in Europe fall below 70%.

The withdrawal rate since the beginning of the heating season is about 30% higher than the average for the past five years, according to data from GIE

Russian forces hit infrastructure of military airfields, weapons depots in 164 districts

Russian air defense systems downed 6 HIMARS projectiles and 50 unmanned aerial vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Russia’ special operation has every chance to reach Transnistria — French expert

Regis Chamagne added that Ukrainian men were now being chased on the streets and sent to fight 'as cannon fodder'

Russia finalizing development of strike systems — Putin

The head of state warned that in case of materialization of US plans Moscow will drop the memorandum on deployment of small and medium range strike assets