{{dayPoint.date | date : 'd MMMM yyyy'}}

{{newsPoint.title}}

{{newsPoint.title+ ' '}}

{{newsPoint.subtitle}}

Turkish artillery shells four settlements near Syria’s Raqqa, reports say

There were no immediate reports on possible casualties

MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. Turkish artillery shelled four settlements near Syria’s Raqqa, Kurdish Rudaw TV channel reported Monday.

According to the report, four villages near Ayn Issa, northwest of Raqqa, were shelled by the Turkish Armed Forces. There were no immediate reports on possible casualties.

The shelling reportedly obliterated the Al Saqr restaurant, located on the M-4 highway between Aleppo and Latakia.

Since mid-March, Russia and Turkey jointly patrol the M-4 highway. The sides intend to establish a safety corridor along the route.

Tags

Crisis in Yemen

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

Russia designs Titan rifle for commandos

The rifle is reliable with precise and dense fire

Kiev ready to conflict settlement talks in late January

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

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

Armenia to drop ‘cognac’ use for its products by 2043 — Acting Deputy PM

Armenian producers are proactively discussing new names to substitute for the word

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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

US commercial satellites surveyed Russia’s Engels airstrip ahead of Kiev’s strike attempt

Earlier, it was reported that, on Monday morning, Kiev attempted to strike the two airstrips with Soviet-made jet drones in order to disable Russian long-range aviation planes

Germany’s Scholz dismisses plans to meet with Putin as untrue

Scholz said he would hold another phone conversation with Putin only when he has confidence that 'it will make any use'

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

Decision to allow use of long-range weapons against Russia is ‘insane’ — Maduro

"The American imperialism has entered a phase of madness and revenge," the Venezuelan president noted

Venezuelan parliament invites Maduro to assume third presidential term

The inauguration and taking of the oath will take place at noon at the Federal Legislative Palace

Roscosmos achieved significant progress in several major projects in 2024 — CEO

Yury Borisov announced that throughout next year, Roscosmos will continue working on the development of projects such as creating multi-satellite clusters, new launch vehicles, and Russia’s future orbital station

Ukrainian drone attacks Zaporozhye NPP center housing world’s only reactor hall simulator

The press service of the ZNPP noted that Ukrainian attacks at the nuclear facility were in direct violation of the principles of nuclear safety established by the International Atomic Energy Agency

Moscow demands UNESCO to respond to murder of Russian journalists — MFA

Zakharova recalled that on January 4, as a result of a targeted drone attack by militants of the Kiev regime, Izvestia freelance correspondent Alexander Martemyanov was killed

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

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

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

Poll reveals what Russians think about office love, polyamory

It is noted that opinions are changing not only about relationships with colleagues, but also about romance between a subordinate and a supervisor

Situation at Zaporozhye NPP under full control in terms of nuclear technology — Rosatom

Director General of Russia nuclear corporation Rosatom Alexey Likhachev noted that despite the ongoing shelling of both the coastline and the territory of the nuclear power plant, the city of Energodar is being revived

Congress approves Trump’s victory in US Presidential election

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

Syrian development help prevent regional war — Syria’s new leader

Ahmed аl-Sharaa expressed hope for building strategic relations with Lebanon

Russian forces liberate village of Dachenskoye in DPR

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

Police computer systems at German airports suffer outages — Bild

According to the WDR broadcaster, passengers at Dusseldorf Airport have been forced to wait for about two hours, while entry from countries outside the Schengen area is not currently possible amid the outages

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

North Korea made first missile launch this year — Japan Coast Guard

This is the first missile launch by Pyongyang this year

Nornickel CEO calls on Russian athletes to stay competitive amid isolation

"Maintaining competitive skills is key. Therefore finding good sparring partners is important for tactical reasons," he added

Russia intends to lift restrictions on oil product exports in the future — Deputy PM

Alexander Novak noted that gasoline production in Russia exceeds the level of demand in the country by approximately 10%, so some of it needs to be exported

Chinese envoy sees Moscow, Beijing supporting each other on key issues

"Russia understands and supports China’s position on Xizang-related issues, and it supports China’s efforts toward peace, stability, prosperity and development in Xizang," Zhang Hanhui stated

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

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

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

Russian Navy put in service about 30 ships, submarines in 2024, commander says

According to the Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, reinforcements of more ships and weapons will keep coming in 2025

Strategic partnership treaty between Russia, North Korea submitted to Russian legislature

The treaty, which was signed in Pyongyang on June 19, 2024, has been posted to the legislature’s database

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

Russian radio technical troops detected, tracked over 2 mln aerial objects in 2024

These include more than 600,000 foreign aircraft

US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention

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

Ukrainian attempt to break through in Kursk area thwarted

Iran bans Motorola phones following deadly explosions in Lebanon — media

Many online retailers have already removed the devices from their product listings or changed their status to "out of stock," the website notes

Kiev’s attack on Kursk Region failed to divert Russian forces from Donbass — diplomat

"Kiev didn’t make it a secret that they intended this step to improve their own negotiating positions in the future, which Mikhail Podolyak, an adviser to the chief of staff at Zelensky's office, stated on August 8 without any hesitation," Maria Zakharova stressed

Russia says its Su-34 jet launched glide bombs at Ukrainian strongpoint in Kursk Region

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

Pope Francis condemns Ukraine’s attack on Donetsk market — Union of Old Believers chief

"Pope Francis strongly condemns the strikes on Donetsk and strongly calls for talks," Leonid Sevastyanov, chairman of the World Union of Old Believers, said, adding that the pontiff thinks that conflict in Ukraine has reached a deadlock

UK to send 2,600 troops, 730 vehicles to NATO drills in Bulgaria, Romania

According to the ministry, the UK military "will be in command of all of NATO’s land forces in the exercise

Russian Tsar’s daughter might have escaped 1918 execution

Leading Russian historian says there is evidence that Grad Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna might have escaped execution in 1918, lived up to 83 years and died in the US under the surname of Manahan

Russian agency investigates causes of engine failure in Ural Airlines A321 jet in Egypt

According to the statement, the investigation will comply with the Russian rules of investigating air accidents

Mi-28NM helicopter thwarts rotation of Ukrainian troops in Kursk border area

The department noted that the army aviation pilots destroyed armored vehicles and personnel of the Ukrainian troops

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

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

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

Syria may take four years to organize elections — new authorities

"Before any real elections, we need to hold a general census," Ahmed Sharaa pointed out

German MP Kiesewetter removes post that suggested Scholz-Putin meeting may be coming soon

Scholz himself dismissed Kiesewetter’s claims as "untrue" and "extremely indecent"

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

Several groups of Ukrainian soldiers ambushed in southern DPR — sniper

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

Russia to take proportionate steps, if US missiles appear in Japan — MFA

"Tokyo can get a clear idea what these steps will be like by studying Russia’s updated principles of nuclear deterrence policy," Maria Zakharova stressed

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

Slovakia sees Russia’s readiness for peace, ready to host talks — Fico’s party

On December 26, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, is not against Slovakia becoming a platform for talks on Ukraine

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

Putin to traditionally attend Christmas service — Kremlin

The Kremlin official noted that additional details will be provided later

Police computer outage at German airports resolved — daily

Earlier on Friday, police computer systems suffered almost four hours of outage at airports across Germany

FACTBOX: What is known about Ukrainian drone attack on Russian reporters in DPR

TASS has assembled the main information about the incident

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

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

Sentencing of Russian citizen Vinnik in US postponed until June 2025

Vinnik has entered a plea deal in the US, and pleaded guilty in May

US journalist Tucker’s interview with Lavrov to be published early on Dec. 6 — diplomat

Maria Zakharova earlier said that the interview with Russia’s top diplomat turned out to be "very interesting" and it included questions regarding the present-day relations with the United States, Ukraine as well as other issues

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.

Arrest warrant against Korean President to be extended — news agency

"We are thinking of writing an application to court for extension of the arrest warrant today. We plan to listen to the position of the National Office of Investigation and submit the application," the agency said, citing high-ranking CIO official

Putin’s contacts with Russia’s friends, including Vucic, promptly coordinated — Kremlin

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said earlier that the US will soon prepare sanctions against NIS and that he plans to send a request for a conversation with the Russian president for January 25-27

FACTBOX: New Year’s key traditions reviewed

Russia has celebrated New Year and Christmas with decorated fir trees since Peter the Great’s reign

Finland eyeing return of antipersonnel mines to inventory — president

Finland became the party to the Ottawa Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention in 2012

North Korea probably launched intermediate-range missile — news agency

The launch was from the Pyongyang area towards the Sea of Japan, according to South Korea

CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

According to Alexander Stepanov, strikes are systematic efforts to gradually wipe out the military capabilities of Ukraine

Putin and Trump could meet in Bratislava in August — Slovakia's foreign minister

Slovakia's Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak said that both leaders were invited to take part in the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising in Bratislava in August

Israeli air force attacks over 100 military targets in Gaza Strip

According to IDF, over the weekend, Hamas fired a number of projectiles from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli territory

Russian stock market switches to decline after opening higher on Friday, yuan grows

The yuan slowed its growth to 13.764 rubles

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

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

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'

Nuke plant in Russia’s Voronezh region operating normally in wake of drone attack attempt

The conditions for safe operation of power units of the Novovoronezhskaya NPP have not been violated

Amman, Ankara coordinate efforts on repatriation of refugees to Syria — Foreign Minister

He noted that Jordan and Turkey as Syria’s neighboring states welcome the transitional political process in the Arab republic and would like to see stability restored there

Two more oil spills detected off Anapa, Crimea in Russia's Black Sea waters

The Marine Rescue Service has started to collect the oily mixture, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said

Kremlin points to a wide range of countries to host negotiations on Ukrainian conflict

Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Moscow respects the peacekeeping efforts of various countries

Russia not satisfied with Trump team’s proposals on Ukraine — Lavrov

At the same time, Lavrov noted that Moscow has not received any official signals from the United States on the Ukrainian settlement at the moment

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

Control over Kurakhovo hinders supplies to Ukrainian troops

Fishing boat overturned in Japan — TV

Seventeen crewmembers were managed to be found during the rescue operation, with two of them died, NHK said

FIB hopes new IOC president will help Russian teams return to international tournaments

The IOC’s tenth president will be elected at an upcoming session scheduled to be held in Greece in March 2025

Up to 200,000 deserters in Ukrainian army, Verkhovna Rada MP says

Ukrainian troops are leaving their duties, as "bone-tired by the constancy of war, they are psychologically and emotionally scarred," the article reads

Health Ministry of Gaza reports 41,900 deaths over year of conflict in enclave

During the year, 97,303 people in Gaza sustained various degrees of injuries

Hamas yet to give list of hostages to be released, Israeli PM’s adviser tells TASS

"Israel has not received any names of abducted citizens at the [resumed] negotiations," the Israeli prime minister’s adviser Dmitri Gendelman said

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"

Group of Syrian law enforcement officers ambushed in Tartus, 14 killed — minister

Previously, nine law enforcement officers were killed by gunfire during an operation to detain a high-ranking former officer of the previous government

Ukrainian forces partially pushed back from Kurakhovo power plant in DPR

Combat for the plant’s administrative building is underway.

UN Secretary General's office reacts to attack on Russian reporters in DPR

The UN opposes any attacks on journalists, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, Farhan Haq

Free trade agreement with EAEU of great importance for Serbia, says deputy PM

Last year, Serbia’s trade with the EAEU countries reached 3.4 billion euro, with exports standing at 1.1 billion euro and imports - 2.3 billion euro