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

{{newsPoint.title}}

{{newsPoint.title+ ' '}}

{{newsPoint.subtitle}}

Republican Johnson retains his post as US House Speaker

US media speculated earlier that problems with Johnson’s reelection to the post or his failure to win it could tell negatively on US President-elect Donald Trump’s positions as he had voiced full support to his candidature

WASHINGTON, January 3. /TASS/. Republican Mike Johnson has been reelected Speaker of the US House of Representatives by a thin margin on a first ballot, according to a C-SPAN live broadcast.

Johnson, 52, a Louisiana Republican, who took the House speakership in 2023 after the ouster of Kevin McCarthy (California Republican), won support of 218 House members to lead the 119th Congress. Initially, three House Republicans opted to support other party-mates for the post but following a short consultation, two of them switched to support him.

US media speculated earlier that problems with Johnson’s reelection to the post or his failure to win it could tell negatively on US President-elect Donald Trump’s positions as he had voiced full support to his candidature.

After the November 5, 2024 elections, Republicans retained control of the House of Representatives having won 220 seats, while Democrats secured 215 seats. However, Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, vacated his seat in the House in mid-November.

Republican Donald Trump defeated his Democratic rival, current US Vice President Kamala Harris, in the November 5 presidential election. Apart from that, the Republican Party took control of the Senate and is also expected to gain a majority in the House of Representatives. Trump’s inauguration is set for January 20, 2025.

Middle East conflict

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

Former Austrian minister names 4 suspect countries in connection with Nord Stream sabotage

Asked what countries could be behind the attack, Karin Kneissl replied that, like in an Agatha Christie novel, "there are many suspects in this imaginary room"

Russian passenger plane make emergency landing at Sharm El Sheikh

There were 236 passengers aboard

Rosatom to continue consultations with IAEA head on Zaporozhye NPP in 2025 — CEO

IAEA is the only organization from the UN umbrella that has not in any way limited the activities of either Russia or the Rosatom state corporation, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev said

Pentagon chief to take part in meeting on Western weapons supplies to Kiev in Germany

Lloyd Austin will visit Germany on January 7

Trump picks Fox New journalist Tammy Bruce for US Department of State Spokesperson

Bruce will succeed US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller

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

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

Sevastopol declares regional emergency after oil spill reaches city’s shoreline

According to the Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev, he appointed himself in charge of a task force to deal with the situation

World's oldest verified living person dies in Japan at 116

Now the oldest person in the world is 116-year-old Brazilian citizen Inah Canabarro Lucas

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

Air defenses take down Ukrainian projectile in Russia’s borderline Kursk Region

Russian units have repelled two Ukrainian counterattacks over 24 hours

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

Five journalists reported wounded in Ukrainian drone attack

The car was attacked by a Ukrainian FPV drone

Rosatom to build Europe’s safest nuclear power plant in Hungary – CEO

The company is about to pour first concrete as part of the construction, the Russian company’s Director General Alexey Likhachev said

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

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

Russia designs Titan rifle for commandos

The rifle is reliable with precise and dense fire

Russian forces carry out strikes on Ukrainian military airfield infrastructure

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the strikes have been carried out in 137 districts

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

Ukraine’s daily losses in Battlegroup West operational zone exceed 550 troops

According to the battlegroup’s spokesman Ivan Bigma, five Ukrainian counterattacks were repelled during the day

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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

Israel awaits Hamas’ nod to conclude hostage deal — TV

According to Israel’s Channel 12, one of the main obstacles to concluding the deal is Hamas’ refusal to name the hostages to be released during the first stage

FSB eliminates Ukrainian military intel agent plotting terror attack in Zaporozhye Region

In the private home, the FSB operatives found an object resembling a Makarov pistol, a grenade trigger and an improvised explosive device

One of injured Russian reporters says attack hit them after they brought aid to church

The person, Svetlana Larina, editor-in-chief of the Bloknot Donetsk news organization, was injured in the attack

Ukraine may lose Odessa and access to Black Sea if it refuses to negotiate — Musk

"It was a tragic waste of life for Ukraine to attack a larger army that had defense in depth, minefields and stronger artillery," american entrepreneur said

Pentagon refrains from announcements on more security assistance for Ukraine

Earlier, White House National Security Council Communications Advisor John Kirby told reporters they can expect additional security assistance announcements "with respect to Ukraine" in coming days

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

Lavrov to hold big press conference on January 14 — Russian Foreign Ministry

The conference will be on the results of 2024

US creating NATO bases in Ukraine under guise of training centers — Belarusian president

"Unfortunately, the Ukrainian authorities don't care a bit about their own people and they don't hear our concerns," Alexander Lukashenko noted

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

Austrian chancellor announces he will step down soon as coalition talks fall through

Karl Nehammer also promised to step down as head of the People's Party and ensure an orderly transition

Number of Palestinians killed in Gaza since October 2023 surpasses 45,800

The local Health Ministry agency also insisted that, over the past 24 hours, 88 Palestinians have died in Israeli strikes on the embattled enclave while 208 have been injured

Biden intends to sell eight billion dollars worth of weapons to Israel — news outlet

Washington will provide Israel with air-to-air missiles for fighter jets and attack helicopters, artillery shells, small-diameter bombs, additional JDAM ammunition kits, 500-pound bombs, and other munitions, Axios reported

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

At least 66 Palestinians killed in Israeli army attacks on Gaza — Al Jazeera

Israeli forces carried out 30 attacks across the Gaza Strip on Saturday

US may face bankruptcy if situation with national debt does not change — Musk

The US national debt for the first time climbed above $36 trillion on November 15

Russian troops advance near Krasnoarmeysk highway in DPR — security forces

The security forces added that only a little more than two kilometers remain before the road is completely under Russian control

Kazakh leader calls Russia invincible, Ukraine trying to withstand with West’s help

Astana favors talks on settling the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict but does not insist on its mediation in the process, he said

Russian paratroopers destroyed three Ukrainian tanks by drones

Russian paratroopers destroyed vehicles in Kursk region

Law enforcers clash with military at South Korean impeached President Yoon’s residence

Law enforcers were blocked by the military upon the execution of their order to detain impeached President Yoon, Yonhap reported

Experts forecast moderate gas price growth in 2025, then a decline in 2026-2027

Finam analyst Sergey Kaufman forecasts a moderate increase in Europe's average gas price to $420 per 1,000 cubic meters

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

Russia to travel to Iran, UAE, Egypt on BRICS educational mission in 2025

According to Diana Kovela from the BRICS Youth Council, the need to travel across BRICS countries on an educational mission was formulated in the Kazan Declaration following the group's latest summit

Two Palestinians arrested by Israeli troops in West Bank — WAFA

According to the news agency, Israeli occupation forces arrested two young men and took them to a refugee camp in the eastern part of Hebron

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

Kazakh president discusses SCO at meeting with organization's chief

According to the press service, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stressed the importance of further improving the organization's activities, strengthening ties with international associations, as well as promoting the SCO initiative "On World Unity for a Just Peace, Harmony and Development"

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

Blinken doesn’t believe US, Russia close to direct conflict with each other

According to US Secretary of State, Americans don’t want the United States to engage in wars

Gas supplies to household consumers suspended in Transnistria

The authorities in both Moldova and Transnistria have declared emergencies

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"

Mobilization campaign makes Ukrainians see state as enemy — retired colonel

According to Oleg Starikov, common citizens increasingly seek to stay away from people in military uniform

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'

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

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

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

Russia strikes Ukraine’s military-industrial sector, mercenaries’ sites over week

Russian air defenses down Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet, 559 UAVs over week

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

Russian air defenses down Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft — Defense Ministry

According to the ministry, a total of 651 aircraft have been destroyed since the start of Russia’s special military operation

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

Russian MFA comments on Blinken’s remarks about Ukraine

Russia has been talking about including supplies of US and UK weapons to Ukraine for many years, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said

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

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

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

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

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

German lawmaker says Scholz could travel to Russia before February 23

A German cabinet spokesperson told TASS that the report was not true

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

Yemen’s Houthis claim to have conducted missile attack on power station near Tel Aviv

Earlier, the Israeli army reported intercepting a missile crossing from Yemen

St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport faces temporary flight restrictions — aviation agency

The airport temporarily does not accept and does not dispatch flights

All Ukrainian ATACMS missiles fired at Belgorod Region downed — top brass

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian servicemen will retaliate against these actions of the Kiev regime supported by Western curators

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

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

Israeli troops kill 10 Palestinian journalists over past month — news agency

WAFA pointed out that The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate 'reaffirmed its commitment to defending press freedoms and exposing the crimes of the Israeli occupation in all international forums'

Houthis claim launching hypersonic missile at Israeli power plant

Acccording to movement’s military spokesman Yahya Saree, Ansar Allah have delivered a strike on Orot Rabin

Russia urges Israel to end Gaza hostilities immediately at UNSC meeting

Russia’s Representative at the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya noted that Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian enclave and attacks had caused a humanitarian crisis, damage to medical infrastructure and mass displacements

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'

Pentagon mum on F-16 fighter jet downed in Zaporozhye Region

The US Department of Defense "has no statement or information to provide," a department’s spokesperson said

Israel attacks military facilities in Latakia in Syria

According to the TV channel, Israeli warplanes attacked missile weapons depots

Trump team offers nothing interesting in proposals on Ukraine — Russian envoy

Lately, the Ukrainian side has also indicated "signals about some accords," which cannot be perceived seriously, he added

German legislator calls for launching Nord Stream, as gas flow through Ukraine runs dry

"By stopping the flow of Russian gas to Europe, Ukraine is pushing energy prices even higher," Bundestag member Sevim Dagdelen said

Ukrainian drone attack kills a child in Zaporozhye region — governor

His parents were injured

Russian citizen to take part in Mrs. World final in Las Vegas

A 46-year-old resident of Bogorodsk in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Region Yelena Sekretareva will perform with the ribbon "Siberia"

Russian troops liberate LPR’s Nadiya settlement — top brass

Russian servicemen have also hit the infrastructure of Ukrainian military airfields, an assembly shop and a storage site for attack drones, as well as Ukraine’s manpower and military equipment in 132 areas over the day, the Defense Ministry said

Projectile from Gaza damages Erez Crossing humanitarian corridor — IFD

Due to the fall of the projectile, damage both to the area of the crossing and adjacent to the humanitarian truck compound were identified.

FACTBOX: New Year’s key traditions reviewed

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

Russia says Ukraine lost more than 540 troops, 4 tanks in Kursk area over past day

Since the beginning of hostilities in the Kursk Region, the enemy has lost more than 47,810 troops, the Russian Defense Ministry said

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

Suspect in Las Vegas Cybertruck bombing had no animosity toward Trump — FBI

An FBI spokesman also confirmed that investigators have no indication of a link between the terrorist attacks in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Las Vegas

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

TASS has assembled the main information about the incident

Several groups of Ukrainian soldiers ambushed in southern DPR — sniper

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

US rock star says he wears ring with Russian coat of arms as "truth lives in Russia"

Ex-vocalist of Deep Purple and Rainbow Joe Lynn Turner told TASS he doesn't love the US anymore and will move to Belarus if Alexander Lukashenko lets him do it

Iran confirms acquisition of Russian Mi-28, Su-35, Yak-130 aircraft

The agency said the aircraft were already in Iran and accepted into service

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

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

The outgoing administration of US President Joe Biden seeks to avoid this scenario, making emphasis on "the deliveries of more sophisticated weapons, including longer-range missiles," the press office said

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

Developments in Russia’s Kursk Region: Ukrainian commander under investigation, losses

Investigators started a criminal case against Colonel Pavlo Rozlach, who ordered cluster munitions with poisonous substances to be used in the Kursk Region

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

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

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

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

Third of Ukrainian troops surrender near Lisichansk, LPR’s envoy to Russia says

According to Rodion Miroshnik, the operation to liberate the LPR would be brought to an end as soon as the operation in Lisichansk was finished

Izvestia says its stringer killed in Ukrainian drone attack

The Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked a car with a drone on the Donetsk-Gorlovka highway

Europe not finance establishment of Islamist structures in Syria — top German diplomat

Baerbock and Barrot were the first European foreign ministers to visit Syria following the ouster of former President Bashar Assad