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US Senate approves Lynne Tracy as new US Ambassador to Russia

US President Joe Biden nominated Tracy to head the US diplomatic mission in Russia in September

WASHINGTON, December 21. /TASS/. The US Senate on Wednesday backed Lynne Tracy’s nomination as US envoy to Russia, according to a C-SPAN TV live broadcast.

Voting is ongoing, but Tracy has already received enough votes to receive the post.

US President Joe Biden nominated Tracy to head the US diplomatic mission in Russia in September.

At the end of November, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on her nomination, Tracy said that she agreed with the sanctions policy toward Moscow and supported further tightening of anti-Russian restrictions. She said that she would prioritize the release of Americans in Russian custody.

Tracy then stressed that further dialogue between Moscow and Washington on new arms control agreements would be possible once Russia allowed US experts to resume inspections under New START. In addition, she expected to expand channels of communication between Moscow and Washington.

Tracy is the first woman who will serve as US envoy to Russia. On December 7, the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations recommended to approve her nomination.

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

Gas supplies to household consumers suspended in Transnistria

The authorities in both Moldova and Transnistria have declared emergencies

FBI confirms death of hit-and-run driver in New Orleans

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation is working with partners to look into the details of this terrorist attack

Houthis-controlled capital of Yemen subjected to airstrikes — TV

According to Al Masirah, two strikes were carried out on the complex, where the rebels' defense ministry is located

Durov explains blocking of Russian media’s Telegram channels by EU laws

He also noted that "all Western media Telegram channels remain freely accessible in Russia

Europe to lose up to 30% of gas import from Russia after Ukrainian transit stops

Without the Ukrainian route, Russia's gas traffic to the EU will slump to 39 billion cubic meters per year, Alexey Bobrovsky, the director of the Institute for the Study of World Markets, predicts

Trump’s Greenland comments could be part of policy of countering Russia and China — media

Trump’s transition team did not respond to a TASS request for comment

Over 1 mln members of Ukrainian armed forces killed or wounded since start of special op

Data obtained from the Russian defense ministry’s daily bulletins and other open-access information from its officials indicates that Kiev lost some 595,000 troops as killed or wounded in action in 2024

Trump to pay his last respects to Jimmy Carter

US President-elect told reporters that he had received an invitation to attend the funeral

Russian doctors not recommended to use hypnosis in tobacco addiction treatment

At the same time, it is advised to use drug treatment and psychotherapy

Monthly minimum wage in Russia to rise to $226.4 in 2025

The statutory monthly minimum wage is the minimum salary of Russians before deducting personal income tax

Russian diplomat highlights Moscow’s main achievement of past years

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that "developments at home are more important to us"

Russia lodges protest about Estonia’s plans to rebury Soviet servicemen — Foreign Ministry

"This act will certainly get a response," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized

Putin orders Accounts Chamber to analyze National Projects implementation

The relevant assignment was given in conclusion of the meeting of the Council for Strategic Development

Ukrainian authorities close electricity market trading data

The Market Operator is responsible for organization of trading in electric power and electricity supply

Critical infrastructure suffers damage in Kiev-controlled part of Kherson Region

Meanwhile, Ukrainian media outlets have reported several explosions in Kiev

Belarus’ presidential election enters first day of campaigning

Under the commission’s guidelines, candidates will have the opportunity to publish their election programs in national newspapers, including Respublika and Zviazda, and appear on national television and radio

Belarus assumes chairmanship of EAEU

According to Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, digitalization should fully support the functioning of the EAEU's single domestic market

Putin congratulates foreign leaders on New Year and Christmas

The list did not include the leaders of the UK, Germany, the US, France, Japan, and other large states unfriendly to Russia

UN agency points to record-high number of Israeli settlers-related incidents in West Bank

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs pointed out that some 160,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, had been killed or injured in Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023

FACTBOX: New Year’s key traditions reviewed

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

Ukrainian army lost over 445 servicemen in Kursk Region over day

"Losses of the Ukrainian armed forces totaled more than 445 servicemen; an armored personnel carrier, thirteen armored combat vehicles, and twenty-two motor vehicles were destroyed," the ministry said

Illegal migrants must leave Russia or legalize their status until April 30 — decree

The deportation requirement will not be applied to foreigners, who want to stay on legal grounds and have met several preconditions

OPEC+ plans to continue voluntary oil output cuts of 2.2 mln bpd in Q1 2025

According to the new oil output restoration schedule published on the OPEC website, the production increase is planned for the period from April 2025 to the end of September 2026

Moscow condemns Israel’s disproportionate strikes on Yemen — Russia’s UN envoy

Information in the media that the IDF air force attack on Yemeni ports was planned in advance is alarming, Vasily Nebenzya emphasized

Russians would ask for success in special military operation, survey reveals

The survey results show that more than half of Russians follow the tradition of making a wish as the New Year’s chimes strike

Azerbaijan toughens rules of stay for Russian citizens

Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov has signed a decree on the matter

No major incidents during New Year celebrations in Russia

A total of 41,300 law enforcement officers were involved in ensuring law and order, along with members of the National Guard and public organizations, as well as representatives of private security companies

FACTBOX: It’s all about the tree: How Russia celebrates New Year

The main New Year’s tree celebration takes place in the State Kremlin Palace

Ukrainian troops leave their positions in Shevchenko near Krasnoarmeysk

"The Ukrainian military has abandoned its positions in Shevchenko. They could not withstand the onslaught of our troops and combined strikes," the sources told TASS

Income tax for Russian oil pipeline operator Transneft to be 40% from 2025

It is reported that the company will abide by the decision of the principal shareholder but expects an involuntary cut of the investment program due to money shortage

FACTBOX: 2024’s biggest natural disasters

From February 1 to 5, wildfires killed at least 137 people in Chile's Valparaнso region, with 200 more reported missing

Putin approves Russia’s development goals by 2030

The Cabinet is to finalize and approve an integrated plan for achievement of national development goals for the period by 2030 and in the longer term by 2036 by February 15 of this year

Chinese embassy tells US to stop smearing Beijing in cybersecurity affairs

The comments came after the New York Times reported on Monday that the US Treasury Department accused China-related hackers of breaching its electronic systems

Musk praises Russian mathematician Perelman for proving crucial theorem

Grigory Perelman proved the Poincare conjecture in 2002-2003 and turned down a $1 million prize awarded to him

Gas price in Europe rises to maximum in a year in anticipation of Ukrainian transit halt

Since the beginning of the day the price has risen by more than 4%

Ukraine attacks 13 residential areas in Russia’s Belgorod Region in past day

According to regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, the attacks damaged 15 private houses, four apartment buildings, five cars, three garages and a powerline

India, Pakistan exchange lists of nuclear facilities, inmates

India and Pakistan often arrest each other’s nationals, particularly fishermen, for crossing the unmarked border

Gas supply by Gazprom for Europe through Ukraine totals 37.2 mcm via Sudzha

The contract on Russian gas transit via Ukraine expires at the turn of 2024

FACTBOX: It’s all about the tree: How Russia celebrates New Year

TASS has prepared this factbox with background information on the history of Russia’s traditional New Year’s celebration

Houthis claim to have downed US drone over Yemen

According to the movement’s military spokesman Yahya Saria, this is the second MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle destroyed over Yemen in the past 72 hours

Baku demands Moscow admit guilt, punish those responsible for AZAL plane crash

Russian, Azerbaijani presidents hold telephone conversation on Aktau plane crash

Investigators of Azerbaijan Airlines crash to release findings within 30 days — official

The Kazakh Transport Ministry earlier announced that it sent flight recorders from the plane to the Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center in Brazil

Russian gas transit through Ukraine stops completely — gas operators

Russia’s gas giant Gazprom said that Kiev’s refusal to extend a gas transit deal with Moscow had forced the Russian company to stop gas transit on January 1

Upgraded T-90M tank to enter service soon

The first consignment will be enough to rearm one battalion

Ukraine loses up to 1,050 troops in all areas of special military operation in past day

Russian air defenses downed seven HIMARS and Uragan rockets and 66 Ukrainian drones in the past day, according to the Russian Defense Ministry’s bulletin

Ukrainian army hit hospital in Kherson Region again

Attacks did not result in new casualties, Alekseenko added

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

German lawmaker slams Ukrainian diplomat for demanding more weapons

According to Sevim Dagdelen, Friedrich Merz, Economic Minister Robert Habeck and current Chancellor Olaf Scholz 'will probably continue to burn German taxpayer money in Ukraine'

Houthis declare missile strike against Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv

The movement also attacked a power plant located in the vicinity of Jerusalem

Russia's newest Su-57 fighter jet superior to China's new J-35 — test pilot

Sergey Bogdan emphasized that the newest Russian fighter was a "magnificent platform for a future generation of configurations, just as the Su-27 aircraft in its heyday"

Ukraine’s 2014 coup was CIA’s political mistake — Putin

The Russian president noted that the US agency had achieved its goal of changing the government but failed to see what it would evolve into

Russian Cabinet to expand duties on products from unfriendly countries

Higher rates of duties are also introduced for individual kinds of meat and fish, canned ready food made of vegetables, fruits and nuts, confectionery, pasta, and soft drinks

Putin issues orders to draft Basics of State Language Policy by June 1

Also, the Russian president instructed to develop and submit to the State Duma a federal law "On the languages of the Peoples of the Russian Federation" until May 1

Foreign aid to Ukraine a money laundering scheme, head of Chechnya says

Ramzan Kadyrov noted that there is no need to worry about hostilities currently happening on Russian territory

Houthi movement strikes US aircraft carrier — spokesperson

The US forces were preparing a "major strike" against the Yemen’s territory

Russian troops liberate Novoelenovka settlement in Donetsk People's Republic

At the same time, the Russian Armed Forces hit energy facilities of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, airfields, storage depots, command posts, and launch sites for attack drones over the day

INTERVIEW: US applies Ukrainian scenario to pressure China — Lavrov

"We do not make assumptions about the plans of the future US administration", Russian Foreign Minister said

Kyrgyzstan takes the CSTO chairmanship from Kazakhstan

It is reported that Kyrgyzstan plans to host an international conference on cybersecurity in 2025

Russian Standard Bank expert sees the average dollar-to-ruble rate at 110 rubles in 2025

Geopolitical situation, the rhetoric of sanctions, the Bank of Russia’s monetary policy, as well as the situation with budget spending, will continue to have the greatest impact on the rate of the national currency in the coming year

Oreshnik missile systems still few, but they are enough — Putin

According to the head of state, the system's serial production has begun

Dollar exchange rate surges by almost 6% surpassing 111 rubles on Forex

The euro exchange rate is trading above 109 rubles

Biden announces around $2.5 bln in aid for Ukraine

The American president also said the US Department of Defense is in the process of delivering hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds and thousands of missiles to Kiev

Court issues warrant to detain impeached South Korean president — agency

According to the agency, it has not yet made a decision about its next moves regarding the president

Ukrainian drones destroyed in North Ossetia, Crimea — Russian Defense Ministry

"On December 31, air defense assets on duty destroyed seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles from 08:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Moscow time," the ministry said

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un wishes to Putin, Russia that 2025 be year of ‘great victory’

The North Korean leader said he was sending the wishes on behalf of himself, the Korean people and all the service personnel of the country’s armed forces

Russian forces liberate DPR’s Novotroitskoye — top brass

The battlegroup East has eliminated up to 170 Ukrainian servicemen over the past 24 hours, the military emphasized

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

Putin congratulates Nepomnyashchy upon victory in World Blitz Chess Championship

The Russian president wished the chess player strong health, success and good fortune in 2025

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

Putin addresses Russians with New Year's greetings from Kremlin

Putin's New Year's address will be shown before midnight local time in all time zones

Thoughts of millions of Russians are with special military operation fighters — Putin

He recalled that in their honor, as well as in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War

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

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

First requests for pumping Russian gas via Ukraine on January 1 equal zero

Deliveries through the Sokhranovka station were terminated in 2022 at the initiative of Kiev, allegedly due to force majeure

Serbia not joining NATO for obvious reasons, says President Vucic

On March 24, 1999, NATO began a military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Ukraine loses over 46,460 troops since start of fighting in Kursk area

The Russian Defense Ministry also added that Russian forces repelled six counterattacks by Ukrainian assault teams in the past day

Russia bans mining in ten regions from January 1

The ban was introduced in Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachai-Circassia, North Ossetia, Chechnya, Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions

Russian air defenses destroyed 103 Ukrainian drones over day

Ukrainian army lost up to 505 servicemen from Russia’s Battlegroup West actions

Kiev’s newly built host airfields for F-16s to be wiped out before paint dries — experts

It is noted that the Russian Armed Forces will wait until the construction work reaches a certain point and then carry out strikes to destroy what has been built

Expert calculates Father Frost’s time per child in Russia on New Year’s Eve

There are approximately 9,073,878 children aged 5-9 in Russia who may still believe in Father Frost, researcher at the Institute of Computer Sciences and Telecommunications at RUDN University Artur Davtyan said

Two militants killed while preparing terrorist attack against Kadyrov

They had arrived in Grozny on instructions from warlord Doku Umarov

China, Russia move ahead avoiding confrontation — Xi Jinping

According to Chinese President, mutual political trust and coordination of positions between China and Russia "regularly rise to higher levels under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries"

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

More than 70,000 tons of polluted soil gathered in Krasnodar Region

Activities of gathering and removing soil polluted with fuel oil are now underway on the area with the total length of 63 km

More than 1,600 affected birds rescued in Krasnodar Region

"To date, 1,686 birds have been managed to be rescued. Of them, 1,300 ones were transferred for animal rehabilitation centers in several Russian regions," the center informed

Putin’s Munich Speech 15 years later: What prophecies have come true?

Fifteen years ago today, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the Munich Security Conference with a speech that was instantly interpreted as the harshest-ever manifesto since the Cold War era

Russia’s Gazprom stops gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine as transit deal expires

The deal provided for the transit of 40 bln cubic meters of Russian gas through Ukraine annually

China uses opportunities to promote cooperation with Russia — PM

Beijing is ready to cooperate with Moscow and use the consensus reached between the head of two states

Russian units attack Ukrainian troops near Kurakhovo power plant in DPR — republic’s head

"Russian units are also storming the industrial zone and we are also seeing combat in the vicinity of the thermal power plant," he said in a video address published on his Telegram channel

Russia open to talks on Ukraine, agreement must be ironclad — Lavrov

"I would like to particularly emphasize that this can only be about reliable, legally binding agreements which must remove the root causes of the conflict and enshrine the mechanism of the impossibility to violate them," he explained.

Ukrainian forces lose up to 310 servicemen in Russia’s Kursk direction

One infantry fighting vehicle was destroyed, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

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

Haitian people face neocolonial challenges from outside — Russian Foreign Ministry

Russian-Haitian cooperation is based on the principles of friendship, equality and respect for sovereignty, the ministry said in a statement

US Department of Treasury sanctions 2 Russian citizens, Center for Geopolitical Expertise

The restrictions targeted the director of this analytical center, Valery Korovin and Judge Olesya Mendeleyeva

Concern mounts in Netherlands about superbug from Ukraine

According to the report, superbugs are often found in Ukrainian soldiers, who undergo treatment in the country

2025 to see four great celestial events, scientists say

In the spring of 2025, we will also witness a partial solar eclipse

FACTBOX: Celebrities who passed away in 2024

Many well-known politicians, statesmen, scientists and cultural figures passed away in 2024

Russian human rights commissioner reports meeting with Ukrainian counterpart

In exchange, 150 prisoners of war of the Ukrainian armed forces returned home

At least ten dead as vehicle plows into crowd in New Orleans

30 people suffered injuries, the local authorities said