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Syrian army units leave downtown Damascus — media

According to Al Jazeera, the militants seized control of several government facilities in the city center, including the Syrian state television building

DUBAI, December 8. /TASS/. Syrian army units have withdrawn from the city center of Damascus amid the advance of militants from terrorist groups, the Al Jazeera TV channel reports.

According to it, the militants seized control of several government facilities in the city center, including the Syrian state television building.

Earlier, Al Jazeera reported that militants had entered Damascus, while Al Hadath TV claimed that the Syrian capital had fallen under the control of militant groups.

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Termination of Russian gas transit by Kiev contradicts its plan to join EU — Szijjarto

Ukraine, which is a candidate for joining the EU, is obliged to keep energy supply routes, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade noted

US reports first human death caused by avian influenza

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Trump's statements on Greenland should be assessed after he takes office — MFA

He has not yet taken office, Maria Zakharova noted

Trump says Putin wants to hold talks with him on Ukraine

Trump declined to say when the meeting could take place

United States supports Syria’s transition of power to form new government — Blinken

"The Secretary also emphasized the need for the international community to facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance throughout Syria and thanked the Saudi government for providing aid to the Syrian people," the high-ranking US official said

Kamala Harris' Los Angeles home placed in evacuation zone due to wildfire — media

The vice president is currently in Washington

Russian forces hit infrastructure of military airfields, weapons depots in 164 districts

Russian air defense systems downed 6 HIMARS projectiles and 50 unmanned aerial vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

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'

Polish MFA reports shutdown of country's consulate general in St. Petersburg

According to a TASS correspondent in St. Petersburg, Polish and EU flags were removed from the flagpoles on the building

Chad’s president indignant at Macron’s comments about Africa — report

Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno was reacting to the French president's remarks on the decision of Chad and several other French-speaking African countries to break off military cooperation with Paris

Lavrov expresses condolences to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi over earthquake in Tibet

Earlier, the US Geological Survey reported that a magnitude 7.1 earthquake had struck the Tibet Autonomous Region on the border with Nepal

Solidarity with Africa now cornerstone of China's diplomacy — MFA

Wang Yi emphasized that Beijing's commitment to developing relations and promoting cooperation with African countries "is not weakening, but only strengthening," regardless of shifts in the international situation

Russia to expand gas supplies to Central Asia and consider India pipeline — experts

Gas supplies to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline could surpass the design capacity of 38 billion cubic meters in 2025

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The political council of the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party reminded that as long as the fighting in Ukraine persists, there will always be efforts to establish a "second front" in Georgia

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

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

Zelensky uses foul language, blames West for not providing help

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Russia warns Japan of countermeasures over military drills — MFA

The Japanese side "was told that provocative military activity next to the Far Eastern borders of our country, conducted also in cooperation with extra-regional countries - NATO members - is categorically inadmissible"

Reuters: Alaska sues US government over restrictions on oil development

The agency notes that the Alaskan authorities were dissatisfied with the decision of the US administration made last December to limit the development of oil and gas leases in the state

Putin orders "special service regime" in Russia’s deterrence force

Russian President stressed that the Western countries were also taking unfriendly actions against Russia in the economic sphere

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

Russian army captures 18 Ukrainian servicemen west of DPR's Kurakhovo

Russia’s army also destroyed a tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, seven pickup trucks, two artillery pieces and an ammunition depot

Kiev ready to conflict settlement talks in late January

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

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The Pentagon representative said that eight "capabilities coalitions" have been created within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group

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According to Alexander Khizhnyak, the friendly policy will strengthen the image of the republic as a peaceful state and a source of sound initiatives

Chisinau's block of power supplies to Transnistria is mockery — Foreign Ministry

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Canada's opposition leader vows to prevent his country from joining the US

Pierre Poilievre also claimed that in the future he intends to ensure the complete security of Canada's borders

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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

Death toll from Tibet earthquake rises to 126

At the same time, 188 others are injured, Xinhua reported

Termination of Russian gas transit by Kiev contradicts its plan to join EU — Szijjarto

Ukraine, which is a candidate for joining the EU, is obliged to keep energy supply routes, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade noted

Press review: Putin discusses EU gas supplies and Russia open to Ukraine talks with Trump

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Ukraine must comply with EU deal and continue gas transit from Russia — Szijjarto

The Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that he had discussed the current situation on the phone with the Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanar

Death toll in Tibet earthquake rises to 95

А 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck in the Tibet Autonomous Region on the border with Nepal

US ‘quietly’ supplied weapons to Ukraine before Russia’s operation started, Blinken says

Washington supplied "things like Stingers, Javelins", US Secretary of State said

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

Control over Kurakhovo hinders supplies to Ukrainian troops

Washington views Canada’s PM Trudeau as ‘stalwart friend’ of US — official

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre added that the US would "stand with" all people of Canada as they elected a new leader

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"It’s important to note that the primary development in this context is the markedly increased role of non-Arab states in the region, particularly two key players," Vitaly Naumkin said

Baku and Yerevan to hold another round of border talks in January — Azerbaijani President

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Ukraine loses over 290 troops in Kursk Region over past day

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Trump blames Biden for conflict in Ukraine

Trump also said his term will start in a world engulfed in conflict

Several groups of Ukrainian soldiers ambushed in southern DPR — sniper

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Russia manages situation in Ukraine, while West in big trouble — US political scientist

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Turkey establishes state-run Cybersecurity Directorate — decree

The headquarters of the department will be located in Ankara, employing 135 people

US announces sanctions against Hungarian cabinet official

Neither statement provides any proof

Trump praises ‘great’ reception for his representatives in Greenland

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said earlier that Greenland is not for sale and it is up to its residents to determine the island’s future

Armenia not considering removal of Russian military base — Foreign Ministry

Ararat Mirzoyan noted that Armenia requires an EU civil mission to monitor the situation on the border with Azerbaijan until the delimitation process is fully completed

Switzerland ready to act as mediator in settlement of Ukraine — Swiss President

Earlier, the Swiss Foreign Ministry told TASS that the country's authorities were participating in the preparation of negotiations on establishing a ceasefire in Ukraine

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

Russia finalizing development of strike systems — Putin

The head of state warned that in case of materialization of US plans Moscow will drop the memorandum on deployment of small and medium range strike assets

Greenland will benefit from joining the US, Trump believes

The US President-elect also confirmed that his son, Donald Trump Jr., will travel to the island "to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights"

Russia’s Su-35S fighter hit stronghold of Ukrainian forces in Kursk region

As the ministry noted, the strike from the Su-34 was carried out using universal planning and correction modules

Ukraine to fall within 12-18 months without US aid — expert

According to Robert Kagan, an American political analyst, if Ukraine falls, it will be hard to present it otherwise than as a failure of the United States and its president

Trump's special envoy for Ukraine Kellogg postpones visit to Kiev

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Turkey continued to cooperate with Russia, Iran even in most difficult situations — Fidan

He said this on the air of the CNN Turk television channel, answering a question about Ankara's relations with Moscow and Tehran in light of the situation in Syria

Russian forces liberate village of Dachenskoye in DPR

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

Putin attends Orthodox Christmas service at Church of St. George the Victorious in Moscow

As a rule, Putin celebrates Christmas outside Moscow, while on Easter he usually goes to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior

Trump's statements on Panama Canal, Greenland not productive — expert

As the expert added, all statements by President-elect Trump are perceived by members of his future administration, members of Congress, and those who voted for him as "priorities and promises"

Trump's coming to power won’t affect international military aid to Ukraine — Pentagon

The Pentagon spokesman expressed confidence that Western countries' work to strengthen Ukraine's military capabilities "will continue one way or another"

French politician Jean-Marie Le Pen dies at 96 — AFP

On the day of his death the founder of the National Front party was in a medical facility in Garches

Russia hopes Armenia won’t follow in Ukraine’s footsteps — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov said Russia is determined to develop relations with Armenia

Qatar doesn’t plan to ship gas to Europe via Syria, Turkey — MFA

According to Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesman Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari, Doha is currently focused on preserving stability in Syria and "meeting the needs of the Syrian people"

Israeli troops kill 50 Palestinians over past day — media

According to Al Jazeera, all the incidents have injured people, but their number has not been specified

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

Ukrainian attempt to break through in Kursk area thwarted

Residents of Moscow donate over $3.51 mln to charity in 2024

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin noted that with the help of the mos.ru charity service, Muscovites sent over $694,812 to non-profit organizations

Trump says he wants to hold talks with Putin within six months

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov on January 5 denied reports that Putin's meetings with Trump and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz were in the works

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

Trump labels Ukraine crisis as ‘a Biden fiasco,’ sees chance of escalation

Trump said Russia wouldn’t have started its special military operation if a more competent leader than Biden had been at the helm of the US

Diplomat calls on top German diplomat to stop speculating about Russian bases in Syria

Commenting on the top German diplomat’s statement that Russia should refuse from having military bases in Syria, Maria Zakharova noted

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

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

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

West does not rule out Ukrainian defense collapse soon — Russia’s intel agency

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