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Putin wishes Happy New Year to several former presidents, prime ministers

When serving as president and prime minister, Putin had many conversations with these colleagues, sharing friendship with many of them

© Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

MOSCOW, December 30. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent wishes of Happy New Year and Merry Christmas to several former heads of states and governments as well as statesmen, the Kremlin reported Wednesday.

The Kremlin clarified that the wishes were communicated to ex-Prime Ministers of Japan and Italy Shinzo Abe and Silvio Berlusconi, former US President George Bush, former Presidents of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, ex-Prime Minister of Italy and former President of the European Commission Romano Prodi, ex-President of France Nicolas Sarkozy, former Prime Minister of France Francois Fillon, ex-President of Finland Tarja Halonen, former King of Spain Juan Carlos I and former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder.

When serving as president and prime minister, Putin had many conversations with these colleagues, sharing friendship with many of them.

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Russian air defenses eliminate 59 Ukrainian drones over various regions overnight

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Parliamentarians, members of the Constitutional Court, and foreign diplomats attended her inauguration

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Pentagon has nothing to announce on possible talks between Russia, US defense chiefs

Belousov and Austin had a phone call on July 12

Hostilities in Ukraine to end in 2025 — Hungary’s Orban predicts

The Hungarian prime minister recalled that America and Europe spent about 300 billion euros on the war in Ukraine

Russian scientists have lots of new ideas in nuclear sphere — researcher

Mikhail Kovalchuk also reiterated that for a long time, Russia has been and remains a guide for other countries in the sphere of developing technologies, including space

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

Russian language taught in 4,500 schools in Tajikistan

Putin said 72 Russian teachers currently work in Tajikistan's schools, and next year their number will increase to 80

Passenger plane crashes near Kazakhstan's Aktau — Emergencies Ministry

According to the statement, the information about the injured is being clarified

Shopping mall in Russia’s North Caucasus city of Vladikavkaz catches fire after explosion

Regional head Sergey Menyailo said that the blast had killed a woman inside the building

Armored vehicle with Israeli commanding officers blown up in West Bank

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

Europe should support Sino-Brazilian initiative on Ukraine — Swiss newspaper

The article’s author believes that Russa’s absence during the peace conference in Burgenstock, Switzerland, was 'a crucial mistake'

Putin, Rakhmon converse briefly ahead of bilateral talks

The leaders had a warm greeting, hugged each other, exchanged a couple of phrases and proceeded to the hall, where the bilateral negotiations started

Georgian court extends Saakashvili's arrest in border crossing case

Judge Mikhail Jinjolia explained that there remained a risk Saakashvili might escape or commit a new crime, so the motion to cancel the arrest was rejected

Four GLONASS navigation satellites ready for launch — Roscosmos head

Yury Borisov added that over the past year, Roscosmos has expanded its Earth remote sensing constellation by introducing high-resolution observation satellites, including a Resurs-P satellite and a Kondor radar imaging satellite

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

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

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

Putin bestows order upon Hermitage director general

The head of the State Hermitage Museum now has the full set of Orders for Merit to the Fatherland

Germany's new chancellor may lead the West in standoff with Moscow — expert

At the same time, Oleg Bondarenko said, without affordable energy resources, the decline of the German economy will continue with no chance of stopping in the foreseeable future

Pope Francis opens Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica

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Russia’s FPV drone Gortenzia with fiber-optic cable control used in military operation

The design bureau added that the drone is also equipped with a universal payload attachment system

Israeli military conducts operation in Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza

The Israeli Defense Forces stated that civilians, medical personnel and patients had been evacuated from the area ahead of the operation

Kremlin announces countries to become BRICS partners from January 1

According to Yuri Ushakov, the confirmations of readiness to become a BRICS partner country have been received from Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan

Greece continues to ship munitions to Ukraine en masse — website

According to the report, the people of Greece witnessed the passage of convoys of Greek and foreign-made trucks transporting containers, mainly with shells, to Balkan states and Poland, and eventually to Ukraine

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

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Syria’s new authorities rename hospitals named after ex-president’s family members

Some of them were named after Bashar Assad’s brother Bassel, who died in a car crash in 1994

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Joint exercises aimed are another important aspect of the effort to boost the organization’s defense potential, Imangali Tasmagambetov said

Russia’s Velikiye Luki submarine dives to depth of 100 meters as part of tests

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Almost 440,000 Russians sign up for military service this year — Medvedev

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Putin to hold informal CIS summit in St. Petersburg

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At least 21 killed in post-election violence in Mozambique

Pascoal Ronda suggested that the opposition probably joined forces with Islamic terrorists

Pakistani forces attack Afghan province just across border

Taliban-controlled Afghan Defense Ministry condemned the attack, saying it violated international law and didn’t represent a solution to any issue

Deployment of Moldovan troops to Transnistria to violate settlement accords — expert

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Former Austrian minister names 4 suspect countries in connection with Nord Stream sabotage

Asked what countries could be behind the attack, Karin Kneissl replied that, like in an Agatha Christie novel, "there are many suspects in this imaginary room"

More than 20 countries show interest in BRICS — Kremlin aide

Yury Ushakov noted that uncontrolled expansion of the association would break its backbone

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

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Biden considers new sanctions against Russian energy sector — The Washington Post

According to the newspaper’s sources, possible options also include revoking the license that allows banks to handle transactions with Russian energy resources

Qatar has not mediated between Russia, new Syrian authorities; ready for this role

Spokesman for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari noted that the emirate continued to maintain relations with Russia and stressed that they were positive

Another US fighter jet narrowly avoided friendly fire in Red Sea — Fox News

According to the report, the plane crew had to perform several maneuvers to dodge it

New US administration does not guarantee solution of Ukrainian crisis — expert

Ivan Timofeyev recalled that even during his first presidency, which proceeded in more favorable geopolitical conditions and without a personnel crisis, Trump pursued a hardline approach in relations with Russia

Top German officials pressured by Biden to strengthen anti-Russian coalition in EU — Dodik

"Now we see the outcome: a Europe burdened with numerous problems and struggling to determine how to establish relations with the Trump administration," the president of the Republika Srpska said

United Kingdom’s defense expenditures up by 14% in past decade — The Times

According to the article, Iran’s military budget grew by 57%, China’s - by 60% and Russia’s - by 34% in the reported period

Scientists detect five powerful M-class solar flares

A ten-minute-long solar flare classified as M4.7 was recorded in X-rays in sunspot group 3932

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US ramping up biological warfare presence in Africa — Russia’s top brass

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CIS and the nearest Russian neighbors, Southeast Asia, Persian Gulf countries, Africa, Latin America and Iran are among other destinations for Russian exports

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Alexander Stepanov remarked that such attacks are virtually impossible to identify and track down

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Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 380 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

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Russian warship shoulders responsibility for rescue operation after cargo ship sinks

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Russian embassy refutes reports on Sudan’s refusal to host Russian base

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According to Karin Kneissl, in some households, people are already paying more for electricity and heating than for their rent

Serious conflict between Israel, Turkey possible — Russian expert

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Over 20 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza — TV

Eight people were killed in Israel’s raid on the West Bank city of Tulkarm

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He expressed hope that the US president-elect will be able to achieve a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine in a "relatively near term."

Assassination attempt on defense executive thwarted near Moscow — FSB

The attackers’ activities were coordinated by Ukrainian special service agents through foreign internet messengers, as evidenced by data retrieved from seized communication devices, the FSB added

IN BRIEF: What is known about sinking of Ursa Major cargo ship in Mediterranean Sea

According to reports, fourteen crew members were rescued and two are missing

Roscosmos, NASA synchronize timeframes for completion of ISS — CEO

There are plans to start conducting manned flights to the new Russian Orbital Station about the same time when Russia exits the ISS program, chief executive of the Russian state space corporation Yury Borisov noted

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Denis Pushilin noted that shelling in Donetsk’s Kirovsky and Petrovsky districts is expected to diminish further once Kurakhovo is liberated

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Putin notes importance of cooperation between Russian, Tajik regions

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Transneft restarts oil intake by rail for export shipments in Far East

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Syria’s Interior Ministry calls on members of former regime to hand over their arms

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Russia continues special military op because Ukraine refuses talks — Kremlin

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Russian forces gain control over road between Gulyaypole, Velikaya Novosyolka — official

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Initiative along entire frontline in Russian forces’ hands — Polish general

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Mercenary from Norway faces criminal charges for incursion into Kursk Region

The investigation has found that Ocherkhadzhiyev personally participates in the armed conflict as a mercenary on Russian territory

Ukrainian deserters abroad are hunted through Interpol — parliament member

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Azerbaijan Airlines operated passenger plane that crashed in Kazakhstan

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Situation with gas supplies from Russia to Europe difficult — Kremlin

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Russia not to deviate 'one bit' from its main conditions in talks on Ukraine — speaker

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Over 150 spontaneous graves found in Popasnaya in LPR

Around 250 people are still staying in the city

Group of foreign mercenaries taken out in Velikaya Novosyolka in Donbass region

The military said that a conversation in a foreign language was intercepted by radio intelligence before visual control over the group was established

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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

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

Putin travels to St. Petersburg for informal CIS summit

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Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

Russian Defense Ministry identifies over 30 more people connected to US biolabs in Africa

The Major General noted that among these individuals are: servicemen of the US Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, employees of regional branches of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, disease control and prevention centers in Africa, as well as members of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Indian envoy discuss schedule of political contacts

The sides also touched upon "a number of regional issues, as well as the cooperation between Russia and India within the BRICS format"

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

Gazprom expects EBITDA above $27.9 bln in 2024 — Deputy CEO

Gazprom will show strong results by key metrics as of the end of this year, the senior executive noted

Damascus warns Iran against sowing chaos in Syria — foreign minister

Iran should not interfere in Syria's internal affairs, the minister of foreign affairs in Syria’s transitional government Asaad Hassan al-Shibani said

Turkey’s, US defense chiefs discuss Syria, security issues

A conversation took place between National Defense Minister Yasar Guler and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin

Strike on SBU control center response to Russian general’s assassination, expert says

The ministry clarified that Ukraine launched a missile strike against the Kamensky Integrated Plant in the Rostov Region using six US-made ATACMS missiles and four Storm Shadow cruise missiles

Flights from Istanbul, Almaty, Tomsk heading to Kazan diverted to Samara

According to Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport, the temporary restrictions on the work of Kazan airport were introduced early in the morning of December 25

No Russians killed in Magdeburg car attack, information on injured being updated — embassy

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Russian air defenses eliminate 59 Ukrainian drones over various regions overnight

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Russian forces increasing pressure on Ukrainian troops near Belogorovka in LPR — expert

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

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