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Defending champ Sabalenka to face China's Qinwen Zheng in 2024 Australian Open final

In the final, Aryna Sabalenka will defend her title against Qinwen Zheng, who earlier in the day breezed past Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska 6-4; 6-4

SYDNEY, January 25. /TASS/. Defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus has reached the final of the tournament in Melbourne again this year.

In her semifinal match, which lasted one hour and 40 minutes, the 2nd-seeded Sabalenka cruised past 4th-seeded American opponent Coco Gauff in straight sets, taking her down with a final score of 7-6 (7-2); 6-4.

"It was an incredible match," the tournament’s official website quoted Sabalenka as saying.

"She's a great player, always tough battles against her. I think the key was that I was able to stay focused, no matter what, no matter what the score was, I just keep trying my best, keep fighting for it."

"It feels unbelievable… It’s tough to explain my feelings right now," she added.

In the final, Sabalenka will defend her title against Qinwen Zheng, who earlier in the day breezed past Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska 6-4; 6-4.

Zheng was understandably giddy about reaching her first Grand Slam final: "It feels unbelievable," she said.

"I’m super-excited to have such a great performance today and arrive in the final. That’s my dream since I was a kid."

"The final will be really competitive," the Chinese player added speaking about her upcoming match against the reigning Australian Open champion.

Sabalenka, 25, is currently ranked 2nd in the WTA (the Women's Tennis Association) Rankings and boasts 13 WTA tournament titles. Her lone Grand Slam win was at last year's Australian Open.

Qinwen Zheng, 21, is currently 15th in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Rankings and has won two WTA titles. Zheng’s previous best result in a Grand Slam was when she reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 US Open.

The 2024 Australian Open tournament is being played on hard courts at Melbourne Park on January 14-28 and has a purse of $57.8 mln in prize money up for grabs. The opening tournament of the annual Grand Slam series in Australia marks its 112th edition this year. Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka are the reigning Australian Open champions in men’s and women’s singles, respectively.

Newly minted Russian citizen Santos could suit up for national football team — coach

The Brazilian-born defender has scored seven goals and served up 33 assists in his 198 match appearances with Zenit St. Petersburg FC

Two US military bases in Syria come under missiles attacks — TV

According to tAl Mayadeen, at least two attacks targeted a military facility near the Conico gas field in the Deir ez-Zor governorate in a span of one hour

IAEA chief urges Iran to find diplomatic solution on nuclear program

Rafael Grossi acknowledged that the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear program, which the US later abandoned, had become an "empty shell"

Over 1,000 dead seals found on Caspian coast in Kazakhstan

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US hegemony ambitions led to global problems starting with Belgrade bombings — lawmaker

According to Vyacheslav Volodin, "it is very important to objectively assess the events that took place 25 years ago"

More countries understand reasons for conflict in Ukraine didn’t arise overnight — Lavrov

Russia’s top diplomat pointed to many years of efforts in Ukraine to eradicate the Russian language in education, news media and culture, and to the recent law that bans the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Russian forces destroy Ukrainian Stryker armored vehicle in Kharkov Region

The strike’s accuracy and efficiency were confirmed by data-recording equipment in real time

Russian emergencies chief visits Cuba

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Russian troops secure supply route to Plekhovo in Kursk Region — commander

It is reported that fighting in the settlement itself is taking place at the moment

Ukraine aims to call up 1 mln people in eastern areas by end of 2024 — official

According to the plan, 360,000 people are to be mobilized in October; 325,000 and 300,000 in November and December, respectively

Russia for the first time displays Su-57 jet at China show

Su-57 multirole fifth-generation fighter jet was designed to destroy all air, ground, and water surface targets, monitor the airspace at major distances from deployment bases, make adversary headquarters, command posts and control systems inoperative

Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

Nikolay Patrushev agreed that Trump, when he was still a candidate, "made many statements critical of the destructive foreign and domestic policies pursued by the current administration"

Death toll from Israeli strikes on Lebanon nears 3,300 — health ministry

As many as 88 civilians received wounds during the past day, bringing the overall number of those wounded up to 14,222, including 1,280 children

Defense enterprises in Ukraine hiding their employees from mobilization

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Russian engine maker unveils cutting-edge aircraft engine

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Trump appoints Florida Rep. Mike Waltz National Security Advisor

Now, Jake Sullivan serves as the US National Security Advisor

US intelligence agencies must prevent new attempts on Trump’s life — Kremlin aide

Trump survived two assassination attempts this year, one during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July, when a sniper shot at him, grazing his ear, and a second in September, when a radical supporter of aid to Ukraine opened fire near Trump’s Mar-o-Lago residence in Florida

Russian troops destroy fourth US-made Abrams tank in Ukraine operation

The reconnaissance teams managed to get to the damaged vehicle, inspect it and retrieve all the necessary equipment

Russian forces steadily advance on Boguslav direction — Belousov

The Russian Defense Minister congratulated the command and the personnel of the 153rd Armored Regiment with the liberation of the settlement of Kolesnikovka

Russian lower house passes third reading of bill banning child-free propaganda

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German president approves date for snap parliamentary election

"Based on a current assessment," Steinmeier "considered February 23 as a realistic date for new elections," a presidential spokeswoman told journalists

Trump to reverse Biden’s executive orders in first week in office — press secretary

According to Karoline Leavitt, the 94 executive orders that Joe Biden signed in his first week in office led "to a border crisis and the economic crisis"

Houthis attack two US destroyers — Pentagon

Earlier, the Houthi movement’s military spokesman Yahya Saree said that the rebels had delivered rocket and drone strikes on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea

France to hand over six Mirage 2000-5 jets to Ukraine — lawmaker

Frank Giletti asked to speed up the commissioning of previously ordered Rafale planes to the armed forces

Japan remains ready to sign peace treaty with Russia — top diplomat

After Tokyo imposed anti-Russian sanctions over the situation in Ukraine, Russia halted consultations with Japan on a peace treaty

Thailand receives invitation to become BRICS partner country — diplomatic source

The BRICS group was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining it in 2011

Ukraine issue gets more attention at UN after Trump’s election win — Russian diplomat

"People started actively commenting behind the scenes, making forecasts about where things could go now," Dmitry Polyansky noted

Ukraine’s troops south of Kurakhovo caught in pincers — military sources

Small groups of Ukrainian soldiers have been trying to leave the communities, but all roads are under the Russian army’s fire

Press review: UK and French leaders discuss Ukraine as the dollar continues to climb

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, November 12th

Russia demonstrates Il-76MD-90A(E) airlifter to 11 foreign customers this year

The latest modification is distinguished by new equipment, including a glass cockpit, modern PS-90A-76 engines, a modified wing and reinforced chassis

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Medvedev suggests that Elon Musk launch campaign to amend US Constitution

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Group plotting violent coup detained in Kyrgyzstan — interior ministry

According to investigators, the suspects, using a national sports match as a cover, planned "to call for violence, advance anti-constitutional demands, and destabilize the situation"

Medvedev warns that EU behavior in struggle with Russia fraught with 'bad scenario'

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Ukrainians play 'radio games' with Russian recon to spread disinfo on attacks — LPR expert

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Russia, China reach historic level of economic cooperation — lawmaker

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US delivers strikes on infrastructure of pro-Iranian militants in Syria — CENTCOM

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Hezbollah reports over 100 Israeli troops eliminated in south Lebanon since October 1

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Italian producer announces two collaborative projects with Russia

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Russia, China sign cooperation memorandum — Xinhua

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US State Department insists DPRK troops engaged in Russia’s borderline Kursk Region

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Ukrainian General Staff reports difficult situation along entire frontline

It also acknowledged the supremacy of the Russian army in equipment and personnel

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Konstantin Kosachev also emphasized that talking to Russia in the language of ultimatums "is not only counterproductive, but also short-sighted, especially for Germany"

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Over 3,800 people cross into Syria from Lebanon in past day — Russian military

As many as 3,849 people crossed Syria’s border from Lebanon

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Russian Security Council secretary meets with senior Chinese official

The meeting involves consultations on security, justice and public order

Mi-171A3 helicopter draws interest from partners in China — Russian Helicopters

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US to continue arms supplies to Israel — news portal

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Ukraine offers up to 750,000 dollars to Russian pilot for hijacking helicopter — TV

The correspondent also reported that the Ukrainian intelligence officer obtained the phone number of the pilot's wife and persuaded her to leave Russia before the helicopter was hijacked

Ukraine retreating fast, delaying peace to result in lost territories — entrepreneur

"The simplest path to peace in Ukraine is to go back to the draft deal signed in Istanbul," David Sacks said

Russia supports new UNSC draft resolution on Gaza — envoy

Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya noted that Resolution 2735 was only a tool to gain time for Israel

Czech intelligence warns of crime surge after Ukraine conflict ends

More than 380,000 people, mostly women and children, have fled Ukraine to the Czech Republic since February 24, 2022

Ukraine imposes sanctions on maintenance services of two Moscow airports

The decree, which lists a total of 63 legal entities, sets the restrictions for a period of 10 years

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African countries realized that "this pressure contradicts their own national interests", Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said

Hezbollah says it attacked Israeli airbases near Haifa, Tel Aviv

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Dmitry Peskov described the Washington Post and Reuters reports about the alleged telephone conversation as "the most remarkable example of the quality of the information that is published nowadays, sometimes even by quite respected outlets"

Talks between Putin, Trump before inauguration possible — Kremlin

The United States Presidential Inauguration will be held on January 20, 2025

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Markus Reisner noted that many of the Ukrainian units on this section of the frontline are understaffed by 50%

Ukraine admits to mismanagement of military personnel

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Police say Russian-made drone without explosives fell down in Moldovan territory

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Russia’s Rubikon unmanned technology center team destroys Ukrainian armor in Kursk area

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Medvedev characterizes Great Britain as eternal adversary of Russia

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Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation fighter debuts at Airshow China

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Israeli foreign minister says preparations underway for annexing some West Bank areas

"2025 should be the year of Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria," Bezalel Smotrich said

Israel reports eliminating most of Hezbollah arms production sites near Beirut

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Units of the battlegroup continued offensive operations, defeating Ukrainian formations in the areas of the settlements of Daryino, Leonidovo, Malaya Loknya, Nikolayevo-Daryino and Novoivanovka

US military strikes car carrying Houthi rebel leaders — TV

According to the source, the US also carried out strikes at Houthi military targets in this area

Lukashenko calls for support to developing nations in accessing green technologies

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What we know about massive Ukrainian drone attack on Russian regions

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Top Russian security official hails strategic cooperation with China

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Houthis say they attacked US aircraft carrier in Arabian Sea

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Sergey Shoigu arrived in China on a working visit on Monday

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UAC delivers Su-57, Su-35S fighter jets

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Combat experience distinguishes Su-57 among fifth-generation fighters

The Russian Defense Ministry said it excellently performed in combat

Russian advances, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Units of Russia’s Battlegroup North have continued their offensive, defeating Ukrainian formations near several settlements in the Kursk Region

Russian PM to attend UN Climate Change Conference in Baku

The greater part of Mikhail Mishustin’s visit will be devoted to Russian-Azerbaijani ties

Trump to end NATO’s obsession to get on Russian territory — White House ex-strategist

Steve Bannon noted that Trump’s MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement seeks to completely cut funding to Ukraine. According to Bannon, Europe, including Italy, will follow Trump’s lead, and, if "they [Europe and Italy] truly believe what they have been saying in recent years, they should be ready to pay"

Dagestani deminer holds stronghold on his own for several weeks

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Trump may be set to change US course on global conflicts, Russian envoy believes

Alexander Lavrentyev also pointed to the potential withdrawal of US troops from Syria

Russia keeps building defense capacity despite conflict in Ukraine — Polish general

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Detentions, blocking of roads: what is known about situation in Abkhazia

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Moldova expresses displeasure about Georgian prime minister’s comments

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Lavrov to lead Russia’s delegation to G20 summit in Brazil

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Africa goes through second 'awakening,' now from neocolonial oppression — Lavrov

"Africa no longer agrees to remain a source of raw materials that are bought and exported mainly to the West," he said

54 countries vote against resolution on combating ne-Nazism

116 countries, including Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Serbia, and Syria, supported the document

First S-550 air defense systems enter service in Russia — source

The source described the new system as "an absolutely new and unrivalled mobile system of strategic missile defense"

Russian forces strike Ukrainian military airfields, energy sites over past day

It is reported that the Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 765 personnel, an armored personnel carrier, a motor vehicle and two 122mm D-30 howitzers