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Middle East conflict

Houthis say they attacked Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport

According to the Houthi spokesman, the operation was completed "successfully"

DOHA, August 1. /TASS/. The Houthis from Yemen's rebel Ansar Allah movement have delivered a missile strike on Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, the movement’s military spokesperson Yahya Saree said.

"The missile forces <…> conducted a military operation and delivered a strike on the Lod airport (Ben Gurion Airport - TASS) with the use of a Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile," he told the Houthi-controlled Al Masirah television channel.

According to the Houthi spokesman, the operation was completed "successfully."

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said earlier in the day that the Israeli military had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen. Sirens sounded in some areas in Israel. No casualties or damage were reported.

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Due to raids in Ukrainian parliament, less than 30 deputies present during session

NABU earlier reported exposing deputies who systematically received unlawful benefits for voting

Ukrainian soldiers ignore pressure to celebrate Catholic Christmas — military expert

According to Adnrey Marochko, the majority of Ukrainian servicemen continue to consider rescheduling of the Christian holiday an act of blasphemy

Russian troops to isolate large Ukrainian logistics center after liberating Kosovtsevo

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Russian troops liberate eight communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

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Trump threatens Democrats with 'last Christmas' in light of Epstein case

The US leader also noted that Democrats will "have a lot of explaining to do" when their involvement in US financier scandal becomes known

Moscow-Tokyo relations crucial for global security — Japanese MP

Muneo Suzuki also noted that ties between Japan and Russia are important for the national interests of both nations

Russia rescued Ukrainians abandoned by Kiev in Sumy Region — human rights commissioner

Russian troops brought them to a safe place in Belgorod

Zelensky says US has proposed 15-year settlement agreements

In his words, there are some "technical things" that need to be further discussed

Russia plans to upgrade nuclear triad through 2036 — Kremlin

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Moldova could help stabilize gas supplies to Transnistria — ex-Moldovan president

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As Leonid Ivlev stressed, the rhetoric from the Kiev regime does not advance peace negotiations

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Recruitment offices for the four PMCs will be established in nine French cities

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Igor Dodon highlighted recent warnings from Western officials, noting that Moldova has faced increasing scrutiny

Russia-US agree to maintain dialogue on Ukraine after Dmitriev’s trip to Miami — Kremlin

Negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement took place in Miami on December 20 and 21

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Russia supplies another batch of Su-30SM2 fighters to Belarus — Defense Ministry

Deputy Commander of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Forces, Chief of Aviation Colonel Alexander Belyaev said these aircraft will soon undergo technical inspection at the air base

Risk of nuclear conflict not eliminated, Russia ready to negotiate — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov said that contacts with the US now intensified, "there is a businesslike, substantive conversation, but great efforts are needed to move further away from this edge"

Kupyansk under control of Battlegroup West — Russian defense ministry

TASS has compiled the main information about the situation in the special military operation zone over the past 24 hours

Kiev steps up attacks on Russia using NATO arms — military expert

Andrey Marochko suggested that Kiev had intensified the number of strikes against Russia using NATO-supplied weapons due to increased ammunition deliveries from alliance countries

Energy System of East sets absolute power consumption record

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At the same time, weapons are being supplied "both to the units involved in the special military operation and to the armed forces as a whole," the Russian president added

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DPRK leader sends New Year greetings to Russian president — KCNA

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Russia’s retail trade turnover up 2.5% YOY in 11M 2025 — statistics

Retail sales in November 2025 gained 3.3% annually to 5.22 trillion rubles ($66.1 bln)

Russia develops Yunost-82 unmanned sub able to circumnavigate the globe

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Belarus designates combat patrol areas for Oreshnik missiles — senior military official

According to Pavel Muraveiko, work to coordinate combat crews’ actions is currently underway

Liberation of Kosovtsevo brings area of over 23 sq km under control — security forces

Guardsmen of the 37th Brigade of the 36th Army of the Battlegroup East advanced 4 km inland and 6 km along the front on the western bank of the Gaichur River

Russia harvested 139.4 mln tons of grain in 2025

Grain threshing gained 10.7% year on year

Russian detained in Donetsk for inciting murder of military personnel, strikes on Moscow

It has been established that she proactively established contact with representatives of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry on Telegram and, on their assignment, carried out photography of Russian military equipment

German customs involved in legal arbitrariness against Russians — Foreign Ministry

According to Maria Zakharova, Germany has de facto been turned into a territory of lawlessness for people of a certain nationality, in this case, citizens of Russia

Special op experience, work of defense industry sector: Putin's statements

The president noted that the Russian defense-industrial complex is operating steadily, providing the armed forces with the necessary equipment

Almost all Ukrainian brigade deserts — Russia’s security forces

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Syrian Interior Ministry reports eight fatalities in Homs mosque explosion

No radical group has so far declared responsibility for the attack

Japanese MP, who visits Moscow, notes Russia’s might

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KVN drones destroy Ukrainian equipment worth two German armies — Ushkuynik

According to CEO Alexey Chadayev, after the invasion of the Kursk Region, the Ukrainian armed forces "were unable to carry out a single successful attack with the mass use of mechanized military equipment"

Ukrainian government may declassify data on uranium reserves

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed US support to diplomatic efforts of its partners in the region - the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia

Russia would like to see friendly Ukraine, senior diplomat says

Sergey Ryabkov did not rule out that Ukraine can be a sovereign state post the conflict

Putin discusses AI development with Russian Security Council members

The Russian leader pays serious attention to the topic of artificial intelligence

Russian diplomat talks Ukrainian conflict settlement with Turkish ambassador — MFA

According to the statement, the parties also discussed key issues of mutual interest, regarding the international and regional agendas

Ukrainian army pulls forces toward key cities in Donbass — DPR official

Igor Kimakovsky noted that the Ukrainian military was building fortifications and preparing a line of defense in these areas

Russian forces destroy company of Ukrainian soldiers by FAB bomb in Dnepropetrovsk area

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Deployment of Oreshnik was response to West’s aggressive moves — Belarus' defense minister

Only time will reveal how this will influence the broader situation, Viktor Khrenin added

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Sergey Ryabkov said it is necessary to conduct an in-depth analysis of the results of the meetings in Florida

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According to the sources, the measure is based on the principle of reciprocity

West uses sanctions to cling to fading dominance — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova emphasized that unilateral coercive measures represent a serious obstacle to establishing a just and equitable multipolar world order

'Coalition of the willing' to discuss Ukrainian settlement in January — newspaper

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Russian man wins over $400,000 in lottery after guessing every number wrong

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Russia has plan in place in case frozen assets are seized — Novak

It will be implemented if such cases arise, the Russian deputy prime minister added

Talks with US on Ukraine result-oriented, Moscow not backing down from its position — MFA

According to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the understanding that has developed in Anchorage is being implemented through contacts

Silver prices set new record on Comex today

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Press review: Zelensky peace plan is no-go for Russia and Trump puts on peacemaker hat

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, December 25th

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Russian strategic bombers fly over neutral waters of Barents, Norwegian seas

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Nigerian TV says US strike aimed at IS hits area that hasn't seen terrorists in decade

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Belarus will judge US security policy by concrete actions — defense ministry official

"Actions speak louder than words," Pavel Muraveiko

Russia open to contacts, but Europe is not interested in that — senior Russian diplomat

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Unemployment in Russia falls to 2.1% in November, statistics service says

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Trump says Zelensky’s peace plan means nothing without his approval — Politico

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IN BRIEF: Russia’s key foreign policy results of 2025 summarized in statements from MFA

Unfriendly nations had to acknowledge that it is impossible to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia

The Cure’s member Perry Bamonte dies aged 65

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European leaders, Zelensky, Trump to hold phone call on December 27 — Reuters

According to his information, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will also take part in the discussion

Russian car market to decline by 19% in 2025 — first deputy PM

Denis Manturov said the market volume is about 1.45 mln vehicles across all segments

Zelensky works for MI6, Russian official believes

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Customs transfer $73.3 bln to Russian budget

The target is 97% delivered for the time being, the press service of the customs authority said

Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies announce exposure of criminal group in parliament

The agencies promised to disclose details later

Putin holds meeting on state armament programs, defense industry development

The event took place in the Kremlin

Over 200,000 personnel desert from Ukrainian army in 2025

Kiev currently characterizes the strength of its armed forces at about 800,000

South Korea asks UN chief to visit North Korea — agency

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac met with the UN chief in New York on December 18 to discuss cooperation between South Korea and the United Nations, as well as regional problems

Google plans to move obsolete servers out of Russia — RBC

The case in point are the servers used as part of the Google Global Cache system that expedites the content delivery for users

West does not believe Ukraine can win without external assistance — United Russia official

Andrey Klimov believes that even with ongoing Western assistance, Ukraine will not achieve its military objectives

Zelensky to call referendum for Trump’s plan if he is not satisfied — Axios

Vladimir Zelensky plans to agree on a framework agreement with the US leader to end the conflict

Israeli artillery shells eastern areas in Syria’s al-Quneitra — agency

No information about casualties among civilians was immediately available

Senior Russian diplomat rejects deadlines for resolving Ukraine conflict as inappropriate

No artificial deadlines will help here, Sergey Ryabkov said

Authorities discussing establishment of Islamic bank in Russia — lawmaker

Anatoly Aksakov said that he expects this work to be completed next year

EU loan to Kiev won’t hinder Russia's strengthening of its position — senior diplomat

EU countries decided to provide Ukraine with 90 billion euros in 2026-2027

Russia, US close to settling Ukraine conflict, final push needed — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov said that it "depends on the other side's political will, especially since Kiev and its sponsors, particularly in the EU, who are not interested in an agreement, have redoubled their efforts to torpedo it"

Those who expect to defeat Russia in open conflict deeply mistaken — senior diplomat

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Sweden better apologize for detaining Russia's Adler vessel — Foreign Ministry

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Russia’s public catering turnover up 8.7% YOY in 11M 2025 — statistics

The turnover had an uptick by 8.2% in annual terms to 377.2 bln rubles ($4.8 bln) this November, Russian Federal State Statistics Service reported

Putin thanks Russian emergencies ministry personnel working in special operation zone

"Under fire, you restore critical infrastructure, deliver humanitarian assistance to civilians, and clear areas of explosive hazards," the president said

Rutte pushes back against idea that EU can only rely on itself for defense

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recalled decisions made at the NATO summit in The Hague this summer, where alliance members agreed to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035

US says more progress reached on Ukraine in two weeks than in year — news outlet

Axios' source said that Washington is ready to submit a document to the US Senate for ratification that will outline security guarantees for Ukraine similar to NATO Article 5

Somaliland says ready to boost ties with Israel after recognition of independence

"Somaliland welcomes and appreciates Israel’s historic and principled decision to recognize its sovereignty and independence," the self-proclaimed republic said in a statement

Putin notes multiple growth in production of weapons in demand in special operation zone

"The production of armored vehicles has increased by 2.2 times, of light armored vehicles (infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers) by 3.7 times, and military aircraft by 4.6 times," the Russian president said

Russian army destroys Ukraine's underground bunkers in Zaporozhye Region

Zaporozhye Region Governor Yevgeny Balitsky stressed that the seizure of Gulyaipole would pave the way for the liberation of the entire Zaporozhye Region

Trump says he expects to speak with Putin soon

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Last of world-famous Dionne quintuplets dies at age 91 — New York Times

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US combat drones attack Nigeria’s Sokoto State — TV

According to the Punch newspaper, a missile strike targeted the village of Offa in Kwara State some 500 kilometers from Sokoto

Trump receives box of red caviar from Russia's Far East

The caviar reportedly made such a "strong impression" on Steve Witkoff that he was given an entire box to deliver to President Trump