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Court fines Spotify $102,000 for refusal to localize data in Russia

The musical service was fined six million rubles

MOSCOW, February 5. /TASS/. The Judicial District No. 422 of the Tagansky District Court of Moscow slapped the Sweden-based musical streaming servie Spotify with the fine of ten million rubles ($102,000) for refusing to localize personal data of Russians, the court told TASS.

"The Justice of the Peace Judicial District No. 422 recognized the musical streaming service Spotify as liable under Part 8, Article 13.11 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (breach of personal data legislation of the Russian Federation) and ruled to set the administrative penalty of ten million rubles," the press service said.

The musical service was fined six million rubles ($61,230) due to the repeated refusal to localize personal data of Russians in fall 2023.

US spy strategy in the Himalayas could have also been aimed at Soviet Union — expert

Recent reports by The New York Times revealed that during a covert operation in 1965, the CIA installed a SNAP-19C nuclear generator on Mount Nanda Devi’s summit to monitor Chinese missile activity

Kremlin has not seen text of EU leaders' statement on guarantees to Kiev

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EU could lose global credibility if Mercosur deal fails — European Commissioner

The main critics of the deal are European farmers, particularly beef, poultry, and dairy producers

Russia will not agree to deployment of Western troops in Ukraine in any form — MFA

Russia is open-minded in terms of what decisions might be made, Sergey Ryabkov noted

Berlin talks offer no clarity on Ukraine security guarantees — Bild

The paper’s Deputy Editor-in-Chief and correspondent Paul Ronzheimer noted that the official statements differ significantly from behind-the-scenes conversations

Ukraine’s NATO membership 'out of question,' EU foreign policy chief admits

Kaja Kallas emphasized the need for tangible security guarantees

Russian troops liberate Peschanoye community in Dnepropetrovsk Region over past day

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,480 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

European countries note progress in Ukrainian conflict settlement

The EU leaders "appreciated the strong convergence between the United States, Ukraine and Europe"

Hungary will not let EU to send military mission to Ukraine — top diplomat

"This will escalate the conflict to a degree that we cannot foresee, and will put Hungary and its people into a serious danger," Peter Szijjarto stressed

Kupyansk is under Russian army’s control — Battlegroup West

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Russia appreciates US push to resolve Ukraine conflict — senior diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, the sides were inches away from what he called a complete conclusion of the efforts in 2022

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The owner is willing to surrender Kuzya if professional care is ensured

Germany agrees on ten-point plan to expand military cooperation with Kiev — media

The German government also plans to build a sort of alliance with its European partners to jointly purchase weapons for Ukraine

EU prepares for war with Russia, forces Serbia to choose sides — ex-premier

Aleksandar Vulin said that freedom reigns supreme in Serbia, but that’s not the case in the EU

EU believes corruption scandal may force Zelensky to accept deal — media

According to Politico, Kiev must agree to these terms immediately; otherwise, the next US proposal would be less favorable

Russian exports to the US up 35% in 2025 — AmCham

The US business invested about $100 bln during 25 years in Russia, the AmCham President said

Russia hopes Iran will ratify convention of Caspian Sea status by August 2026 — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister recalled that all other Caspian littoral states have ratified the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea

Russia never wavered in its support of Iran in JCPOA talks — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that Moscow has tried to work with the Europeans to persuade Washington to return to compliance

EU youth seek to turn bloc into ‘United States of Europe’ — Politico

Support for the EU among Europeans has reached a record high in polls, the newspaper noted

Putin renews ban to supply oil, oil products under price ceiling until June 30, 2026

The ban was effective until the end of 2025

EU leaders want to drag all of Europe into war with Russia — Hungarian top diplomat

Peter Szijjarto noted that Budapest intends to "stay away from this"

Ukraine carries out four attacks on Donetsk People’s Republic in past day

Two civilians were reported injured

EU’s 19 packages of sanctions on Russia weaken European economy — Italian official

Italian deputy prime minister and minister of transport and infrastructure Matteo Salvini emphasized that sanctions brought European economies to their knees, leading to more expensive energy for Italians

Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard digitalization boosted output by 70% — Patrushev

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Finnish politician calls EU 'bankrupt' over plans to use Russian assets

Armando Mema emphasized that the EU is not doing "one thing right" and the bloc "should respect Belgium’s sovereignty" and its decision to refuse to transfer the assets to Ukraine

EU continues blacklisting companies, individuals

Seventeen individuals and four legal entities were added to the list in total

Contacts with US on Ukraine drive Russia's stance home to Americans — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister emphasized that Washington has started to understand what needs to be done to achieve a lasting and long-term settlement of the conflict

EU membership to provide no security guarantees to Ukraine — top Hungarian diplomat

The Hungarian government has repeatedly stated that it will not allow Ukraine's fast-tracked accession to the EU, as it would ruin the European economy and spark a direct armed conflict with Russia

US demands Ukraine give up territories in exchange for security guarantees — media

According to US officials, Washington expects that "Russia would accept such an arrangement in a final deal, as well as permit Ukraine to join the European Union"

EU 'light years' away from seizing Russian assets, Polish PM says

Donald Tusk said that it won’t come to any fundamental decisions at the European Council meeting

'Coalition of Willing' prepares plans to deploy troops to Ukraine — British PM

Keir Starmer stated that the prior question is whether a just and lasting peace can be achieved

Russian compatriots among victims of terrorist attack in Australia — foreign ministry

"Moscow strongly condemns the barbaric extremist attack, as a result of which 15 innocent civilians, including a ten-year-old girl, were killed and dozens were injured," Maria Zakharova stated

Russian troops liberate Peschanoye, gain foothold at Gaichur River — security sources

During the liberation of the settlement, servicemen of the 36th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Army of Battlegroup East destroyed more than two platoons of Ukrainian army personnel from the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade

German authorities rapidly preparing for full-scale conflict with Russia — envoy

"Berlin has chosen the path of destroying the unique bilateral interaction formats built by generations of predecessors," Sergey Nechayev noted

US conducts strikes on three drug-carrying vessels in Pacific Ocean — Pentagon

A total of eight men were killed during these actions

FACTBOX: What we know about attack on school in Moscow Region

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Kiev ready to hold elections, renounce NATO aspirations — media

Bild reported that Kiev is allegedly also ready to "freeze" the current line of engagement but refuses to withdraw its troops from the entire Donbass territory

IAEA should remain impartial regarding Iran — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also said that Moscow will encourage the resumption of Iran-IAEA cooperation

Russia tests prototype of Ariadna non-satellite navigation system — NTI Fund

The NTI Fund specified that, unlike other domestic solutions and foreign analogues, the technology offers precise positioning of up to 15-20 cm

US-Ukraine negotiations continue in Berlin, Zelensky says

The US delegation includes special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and the American leader's son-in-law, entrepreneur Jared Kushner

Sixth Russia-China media forum kicks off in Beijing

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Sergey Ryabkov noted that "Russia's special military operation was inevitable because things were developing in a very wrong direction"

Hungarian, Polish foreign ministers exchange heated remarks on Russian assets online

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Russia, Iran have huge potential for trade growth, it needs to be stimulated — Lavrov

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Strong wind gust knocks down Statue of Liberty replica in Brazil

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Assad did not coordinate his approaches with Russia before resignation — Lavrov

Our efforts were collaborative, involving other international partners, primarily Iran and Turkey, noted Lavrov

Kiev lying about battlefield situation to influence US peace plan — source

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Russian Foreign Minister also noted that the situation around Russia’s frozen assets made it clear that "stealing is in the Europeans’ blood"

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The White House views the December 14-15 talks in Berlin as positive

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UNGA passes Russia-initiated resolution against glorification of Nazism

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Florida man sanctioned by EU for pro-Russia social media posts

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Iran’s top diplomat sets off for meeting with Lavrov in Moscow — ambassador

The agenda includes a wide range of political issues and economic projects, Kazem Jalali said

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Europe works against US in Ukraine peace process — Lavrov

"Europe is using the Ukrainian crisis to assert themselves, to put a spoke in the United States wheel in its quest to seek a just settlement," the Russian foreign minister said

Kiev, Europe anticipate ‘deep, wrong’ revision of US peace plan — Russian senior diplomat

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Direct strike by Western sanctions cost $100 bln for US business — AmCham

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Russia to support Iran’s efforts toward settling crisis with IAEA, West — Lavrov

"The Iranian nuclear program was dismantled, despite the fact that it was endorsed by the UN Security Council resolution," Sergey Lavrov pointed out

US insists on complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbass during talks — AFP

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No concessions from Russia, dialogue with US: statements by Russian senior diplomat

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Seven EU countries against expropriation of Russian assets — news outlet

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EU blacklisted forty vessels said to carry Russian oil — Kallas

The European Union intends now to sanction tankers without waiting for approval of huge sanction packages, the EU top diplomat noted

Trump sues BBC for defamation over edit of his speech — agency

According to the news agency, the US leader requested at least $5 billion in damages

Turkish warplanes take down drone over Black Sea — defense ministry

The Turkish Ministry of Defense did not specify where exactly the drone came from

Ukrainian MP points out Umerov has not been back to Ukraine since start of US talks

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Four drones jammed over Russia’s Smolensk Region — governor

Emergency personnel are working at the site where debris came down

Romanian expert considers EC decision to confiscate Russian assets 'illegal'

"Freezing such assets is illegal under both European and international law," Adrian Severin noted

Gazprom highlights untypically low gas reserves in European UGS for December

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Berlin says no plans for direct dialogue with Russia

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EU gets ready for war with Russia, wants military plants in Ukraine — Hungarian minister

Brussels claims that it will be "investment into Europe’s security," but, from Hungary believes "there's no logic in this"

Belarusian leader dismisses allegations of Maduro’s involvement in drug trafficking

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The consequences of EU actions to span multiple generations — Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban noted that the EU can agree to establish a joint borrowing fund to finance Ukraine, considered to be a "wonder weapon", and this decision would not even require a unanimous consensus of the member countries

US, Europe to provide security guarantees to Kiev in case of truce — German chancellor

Friedrich Merz stressed, however, that the parties would need to discuss the details

Hungary won’t contribute a single penny to EU's Ukraine financing plan — Szijjarto

According to the Hungarian foreign minister, EU leaders want to raise over 200 billion euros for Ukraine

Moscow to assess EU leaders' statement on guarantees to Kiev once it sees text — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that Moscow has only seen media reports about the joint statement by EU leaders on security guarantees for Kiev

US Treasury rejects Xtellus' offer to buy Lukoil foreign assets — Reuters

Earlier, Xtellus had offered to organize a swap of Lukoil securities held by U.S. investors in a cashless deal to return them to Lukoil in exchange for the Russian company's global assets

Merriam-Webster names 'slop' as word of the year

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US takes 'sober' stance in dialogue with Russia — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov stressed that "everyone on both sides is guided exclusively by national interests, national security interests, national economic interests"

FSB detains 10 Russians blackmailed by Ukraine security agencies to stage sabotage acts

The citizens were persuaded to cooperate with false security services, under the threat of being charged with treason, for which the maximum sentence is life imprisonment, for financing the Ukrainian armed forces

At Berlin talks, Zelensky refuses economic zone in Donbass, troop withdrawal — newspaper

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Italy softens language in Ukraine bill to get it passed ahead of EU summit — paper

According to the newspaper, the government also "encrypted" certain obstacles to approving a form of "reparation loan" to Kiev at the expense of frozen Russian assets

Trump says Ukraine 'already lost territory'

Donald Trump also added that the US is working with Europe on the security guarantee

US can resolve all issues with Venezuela peacefully — Belarusian president

Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that he had raised the Venezuela issue at a recent meeting in Minsk with US Special Envoy for Belarus John Cole

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