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Middle East conflict

Bodies of two Israeli hostages brought back to Israel from Gaza — PM’s office

According to Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, one of the hostages, Ilan Weiss, was a member of the emergency squad at Kibbutz Be'eri on the border with the Gaza Strip

TEL AVIV, August 29. /TASS/. The bodies of two hostages who were abducted during the October 7, 2023 on Israel have been brought back to Israel from the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.

"In an IDF (Israel Defense Forces - TASS) and ISA (Israeli Security Agency - TASS) operation in the Gaza Strip, the body of Ilan Weiss, of blessed memory, which had been held by the murderous Hamas terrorist organization, has been brought back to Israel. Also returned in the operation were the remains of another deceased hostage whose name has yet to be released for publication. The remains are now being identified at the Institute of Forensic Medicine," it said.

According to Netanyahu’s office, Ilan Weiss was a member of the emergency squad at Kibbutz Be'eri on the border with the Gaza Strip. "He was murdered on 7 October 2023 as he went out to defend the kibbutz; his body was taken hostage," it said, adding that his wife Shiri and daughter Noga "were taken hostage and released from captivity in November 2023."

"The campaign to return the hostages is ongoing. We will neither rest nor be silent until we bring all of our hostages back home, the living and the deceased," Netanyahu was quoted as saying.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7, 2023, when militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian movement Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing residents of border settlements and taking hostages. In response, Israel initiated a military operation in the Palestinian enclave to dismantle Hamas' military and political structures and free all hostages.

In March, 2025, the Israeli military resumed military operations in Gaza, breaking the ceasefire deal that had been reached in January. Several rounds of Qatar-, Egypt-, and the US-brokered talks were futile.

According to the latest data from the Israeli side, radicals continue holding 48 hostages in the Gaza Strip, with 20 of them being reportedly alive.

Rodriguez’s envoy visits US for high-level meetings — WP

According to the newspaper, Felix Plasencia, who previously served as the Bolivarian republic’s foreign minister, has visited Washington for consultations with senior US officials

Top Russian diplomat meets with UN secretary-general in New York

"Present-day geopolitical situation and emerging trends were discussed" and "the most pressing issues on the international agenda, including the situation in the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict zone were examined," the Russian Foreign Ministry said

China urges US to abandon idea of attacking Iran — deputy envoy to UN

Sun Lei emphasized the need for a team effort of all parties to maintain international peace and security

Russian troops liberating Zakotnoye expand zone of control southeast of Krasny Liman

This will speed up the formation of the southern flank, Igor Kimakovsky noted

Azerbaijan has begun gas supplies to Austria and Germany — SOCAR

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic did not disclose the timing or volume of deliveries

German court believes Nord Stream explosions were ordered by Ukraine — media

Germany's Federal Court of Justice ruled that Sergey K. should remain in custody

Inflation in Russia total 5.59% as of 2025 year-end — Economy Ministry

In monthly terms, consumer price growth rates declined to 0.32%

Putin said he was impressed by specimens of driverless systems

Issues of accelerated development of the national industry of driverless and autonomous technologies are on the meeting agenda, the president said

RusChemAlliance files action against Germany’s Linde — court

The Arbitration Court of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region registered the claim on March 1

Moldovan PM says would vote for unifying with Romania

Numerous political parties in Moldova have for decades been advancing the idea of unification with Romania

All districts in Kupyansk controlled by Russian troops — Battlegroup West

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov listened to the report of the battlegroup commander and inquired about the situation around Kupyansk

Kiev promised victory, but US now starts to realize it was deceived — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, the Washington administration is now "beginning to ponder on the question of where their money went," because "the Kiev regime promised" that aid worth $100 billion will secure them victory on the battlefield

Russian paratroopers advancing in four localities in Zaporozhye Region — governor

The fighting is heavy, but Russian soldiers are confidently advancing, Yevgeny Balitsky said

Brent prices drop below $73 per barrel first time from November 1

WTI futures with the settlement in December plunged by 1.36% to $69.42 per barrel

Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass area, Zaporozhye Region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 370 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy ammunition depot over the past day, the ministry reported

Russian, Saudi foreign ministers call for settling crises in Middle East

Sergey Lavrov and Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud "discussed the further development of Russian-Saudi relations with a focus on the implementation of the agreements reached following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official visit to Riyadh in December 2023"

UK rejects French, Italian calls to restore diplomatic ties with Russia — newspaper

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said London needs "evidence" that Moscow "actually wants peace"

Trade tensions between China, US gradually easing — Chinese customs

Spokesperson of the Chinese General Administration of Customs Lyu Daliang said that China is the third-largest export destination for US goods, and the third-biggest source of imports

Driverless systems to substitute low-skilled labor — Putin

Growth of labor productivity, increase of quality of life of people are meant, Putin noted

Gazprom to bring gas supplies to China via Power of Siberia to maximum ahead of schedule

Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller and CNPC Chairman of the Board of Directors Dai Houliang held a working meeting in Beijing on Friday

BRICS naval maneuvers finish in South Africa

Operational command of the drill was carried out by the Chinese Navy

Leonid Boguslavsky: Our team is bound to become a legend

The owner of the RTP Global venture capital firm in a TASS special project Top Business Officials

Russia may resume electricity exports to China at Beijing’s request — Energy Ministry

According to the statement, a key priority for Russia remains the accelerated provision of electricity to the dynamically developing economy of the Far East

Relocation of major transport companies to regions discussed — Transport Ministry

No specific decisions have been made so far, Andrey Nikitin said

IN BRIEF: Threats to 'abduct' Putin,' Greenland: statements by Russian Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova said all issues around Greenland should be resolved within the framework of international law

Gazprom notes active gas withdrawal from Ukrainian underground storage facilities

Gas reserves in the sole underground gas storage of the Baltic States dropped below 40% on January 15, the Russian gas major added

Surgutneftegas oil production to remain at 2024 level due to OPEC+ deal

Russia’s oil output is currently limited by the OPEC+ agreement

Putin, Netanyahu discuss situation surrounding Iran — Kremlin

The Russian president outlined fundamental approaches favoring the intensification of political and diplomatic efforts to ensure stability and security in the region

Ukraine needs to make 'painful concessions' to achieve peace — Czech president

Petr Pavel did not say which concessions he was referring to

Russia needs sovereign AI technologies — Putin

The plan of their creation and rollout will be discussed shortly with participation of domestic high-technology business, Putin added

Russian troops liberating Zhovtnevoye straighten frontline at Orekhovo — DPR official

Igor Kimakovsky called Orekhovo one of the largest enemy hubs in this section of the front

Lavrov, Belarusian ambassador hail intensive top-level bilateral contacts

Alexander Rogozhnik is completing his mission to Russia after being appointed chair of the Vitebsk Region Executive Committee

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

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 1,345 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the week, the Defense Ministry reported

AfD leader questions expediency of Kiev support amid evidence of Nord Stream involvement

Der Spiegel reported on Thursday that the German Federal Supreme Court considers it "highly likely" that the explosions were carried out "on the orders of a foreign state"

Trump getting Nobel medal doesn't confer Peace Prize to him, laureate center says

The comment came amid news that Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gave her medal to US President Donald Trump

Ex-top Austrian diplomat reveals what BRICS needs to do to counter US policies

"BRICS has no mechanisms," Karin Kneissl noted

Russian strategy points to extremists’ attempt to fuel ethnic tensions

According to the document, in order to achieve their goals, extremists "assist destructive forces in infiltrating government agencies and local government bodies" to promote the ideas of separatism

IN BRIEF: Russian forces expand buffer zones, disrupting enemy plans, senior general says

Russian forces liberated around eight localities and took more than 300 square km of land under control in the first two weeks of January

IN BRIEF: Relations with US, negotiations with Ukraine: Putin comments on Trump's words

Russia "has never refused to communicate with the United States," but contacts have been interrupted by Washington

Iran accuses foreign intelligence agencies of involvement in riots

According to the statement, the CIA, British intelligence agencies, Israel’s Mossad and the Saudi Arabia intelligence "played an obvious role in the riots and violence."

Proposal on 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine needs to be discussed — upper house speaker

Valentina Matviyenko stressed that if the mobilization campaign continues and is weapons continue to be supplied, this will not be a ceasefire

Attempt to 'kidnap' Putin fraught with disastrous outcome for initiator — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova referred to a comment by Defense Secretary John Healy during his January 9 visit to Kiev, where he said that he would like to kidnap Putin to "bring the Russian president to justice"

Kiev’s terrorist methods horrify even residents of Ukraine — official

Artem Zhoga called the Ukrainian regime criminal in nature

Russian foreign ministry advises Russian citizens not to travel to Moldova

"Moscow continues to record numerous episodes of discrimination, ungrounded harassment and undue treatment of Russian citizens in Moldova by the Moldovan authorities," the ministry said

Syrian president issues decree protecting Kurds’ rights

The Kurdish language is recognized as official and can be taught at schools in Kurdish-populated areas

Finland opens probe into three German snow trekkers who trespassed border into Russia

According to the Finnish Border Guard, the adventurists crossed the border in Paljakka in northeastern Finland’s Kuusamo "out of curiosity"

More than half of Americans assess Trump’s first year in office negatively

55% of those polled think that Donald Trump’s policy has worsened the economic situation in the country

New ranking shows where Russian students want to work

The IT industry remains the top choice among young people

Cargo turnover at Russian seaports in 2025 down by 0.4% yoy to 884.5 mln tons

The Association of sea trade ports reported that dry cargo transshipment volume totaled 441.7 million tons, while liquid bulk cargo transshipment volume amounted to 442.8 million tons

Air defenses destroy 25 Ukrainian UAVs over three Russian regions

Bryansk Region Governor Alexander Bogomaz said on his Telegram channel that the Ukrainian UAV attack had caused no casualties or damage

Russia lags behind some countries in terms of autonomous transport — Putin

"Certain countries have reached full sovereignty in producing all the components for autonomous equipment," the head of state noted

Israeli defense minister confirms military continues demolishing buildings in Gaza

Israel Katz stated the goal is to "destroy the deadly underground terrorist infrastructure that Hamas built beneath the homes of Gaza residents and all the buildings above them in order to eliminate threats to the residents of the Negev and the State of Israel"

World heading toward chaos due to West's actions — MFA

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed to "the West’s destructive activities, both in its own countries and abroad, aimed at dismantling the basic principles of morality"

FACTBOX: Who is running in the Russian presidential election

Four candidates will vie for the top office

Annual inflation slows down to 5.59% in December 2025 — statistics

In monthly terms, consumer prices gained 0.32%

Russia demonstrates Il-76MD-90A(E) airlifter to 11 foreign customers this year

The latest modification is distinguished by new equipment, including a glass cockpit, modern PS-90A-76 engines, a modified wing and reinforced chassis

Unacceptable to use blackmail, threats when talking to Cuba — Russian MFA

Moscow is concerned about escalating tensions around Cuba, Maria Zakharova said

Russia awaited in global driverless system markets — Putin

There is a need to scale up exports of advanced products and reach global markets in order to create the really strong and cost efficient industry of driverless systems, he noted

Passenger air traffic in 2026 to remain at 2025 level, though growth not ruled out

Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin said that more than 108 mln passengers were carried by air in 2025

Trump claims Iran has canceled 800 scheduled hangings

Unrest in Iran began on December 29 after street protests triggered by a sharp fall in the Iranian rial exchange rate

French politician labels Ukrainian actions in Donbass as genocide

Fabrice Sorlin said he had been regularly visiting Donbass for humanitarian purposes since 2017

Trump threatens countries opposing US plans on Greenland with tariffs

The United States needs Greenland for national security, the US president noted

Russian international reserve up $0.5 bln over week — Central Bank

According to data of June 20, reserves totaled $687.2 bln

Russian-Serbian counter-terrorism exercise kicks off in Serbia

The exercise will involve about Russian 200 troops and 11 pieces of equipment from the Western Military District’s special operations unit

Russia’s defense chief inspects Battlegroup West in special military operation area

Battlegroup West troops are advancing in all the four frontline areas of their operation on a broad front of over 320 km, Battlegroup West Commander Colonel General Sergey Kuzovlev reported to Andrey Belousov

Rodriguez’s envoy visits US for high-level meetings — WP

According to the newspaper, Felix Plasencia, who previously served as the Bolivarian republic’s foreign minister, has visited Washington for consultations with senior US officials

Russian stock indices up as trading on Moscow Exchange opens

The MOEX index accelerated its growth and amounted to 2,810.22 points, while the RTS index reached 933.15 points

Situation in Middle East: Putin holds telephone talks with Netanyahu, Pezeshkian

The Russian president confirmed the readiness of the Russian side to "continue appropriate mediation efforts and foster constructive dialogue with the participation of all interested states"

China set to cooperate rather than dominate, Putin believes

He also emphasized that there is no tension between Moscow and Beijing regarding their relations with Central Asian nations

Ukrainians building up air defenses near Donetsk — LPR officer

According to Andrey Marochko, the hardware Ukrainian security forces are using to strengthen their air defenses is mostly Soviet-made, but there are also Western systems

IAEA announces localized ceasefire for repairs on power line to Zaporozhye nuke plant

This will enable repairs to begin on the last remaining backup power line to the ZNPP

Venezuela not humiliated by US military aggression, defense chief says

Vladimir Padrino Lopez emphasized that the honor of Venezuela’s national armed forces "remains unwavering"

Cuban officer downs US helicopter during US operation in Caracas — Cuban president

Cuban servicemen offered fierce resistance to the prevailing enemy, Miguel Diaz-Canel said

NATO countries engaged in full-fledged war against Russia — Medvedev

According to him, the alliance is "fully engaged" in the Ukrainian conflict

Attack on Iranian nuclear facilities ruined trust in 'global nuclear family' — Rosatom CEO

Alexey Likhachev believes that the situation has changed dramatically

US, Ukraine 'not on same page' on some issues in peace talks — Zelensky

Vladimir Zelensky continues to insist that Ukraine field 800,000 soldiers while admitting that Kiev cannot afford such an army

US should account for nuclear potential of entire West, not only China’s — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Russia respects the position of China, which does not see the need for its inclusion in the treaty

WhatsApp to be completely blocked in Russia this year — lawmaker

Andrey Svintsov said this is because WhatsApp is owned by Meta, recognized as the extremist company in Russia

Russian, Chinese intelligence agencies increase cooperation in all areas — intel chief

Sergey Naryshkin said that this interaction is expanding year by year

US may soften port dues for Chinese ships — WSJ

Authorities now want to peg dues to the ship capacity, thus reducing payments for vessels of smaller size

Driverless truck fleet in Russia to reach 920 units by end of 2028

To date, 95 vehicles were manufactured, which are engaged in commercial transportation on M-11 Neva highway and the Central Ring Road

Attempt to cross Russian border by armed group thwarted in Bryansk Region

The current situation in the area is stable and is fully controlled by the Bryansk Region’s operations headquarters

Senior Russian legislator slams US fund's suit for 'tsarist debts' as legal aggression

Previously, Noble Capital RSD initiated legal proceedings demanding $225.8 billion based on alleged obligations under sovereign bonds issued during the Russian Empire

Merz calls Russia 'European country,' hopes to achieve balance in relations

The Chancellor said his comment was not because he was in the east of Germany

Agriculture Ministry expects grain harvest in Russia to grow in 2026 compared to 2025

According to preliminary data by the Federal Statistics Service, the grain harvest in Russia in 2025 amounted to 139.4 million tons in net weight

Binance cryptocurrency exchange bars sanctioned individuals, legal entities from Russia

"Binance sticks to global rules on sanctions and fully observes restrictions against individuals and legal entities and countries, against which international sanctions have been imposed, thus denying access to the Binance platform to such parties," the press service said

London is again trying to boost its authority at Kiev’s expense — senior legislator

"London seems to have entered the race for dominance within the 'warmongers’ camp,' effectively closing the 'window of opportunity' for Europe to reclaim its sovereignty," Leonid Slutsky said

Contract for electricity supplies from Russia to China remains in effect — Inter RAO

The parties are currently actively exploring opportunities for electricity trade

Trump says no one convinced him not to strike Iran

Unrest in Iran began on December 29 after street protests triggered by a sharp fall in the Iranian rial exchange rate, and spread to most major cities. Authorities reported the deaths of 40 law enforcement officers

Bank of Russia sells yuan worth $130.9 mln with settlement on January 15

The volume of currency sales on the domestic market with settlement on January 14, 2026, also amounted to $130.9 mln

Transnistrian military concerned over provocation at peacekeeper post

According to Belayakov, the post between the settlements of Cosnitsa and Vadul lui Voda was repeatedly crossed by a local, who shouted insults towards the peacekeepers and was filming on camera, which is prohibited at this location

EU leaders tell Europeans fairy tales about Ukrainian victory — Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban stressed that the calculations of European politicians advocating the continuation of military action against Russia "do not correspond to reality"

Ukrainian troops in Kursk Region will be destroyed, if refuse to surrender — Medvedev

The politician noted that the coming hours will show whether the Kiev regime will use the chance to save its soldiers

Kremlin welcomes signals from Rome, Paris, Berlin regarding dialogue with Moscow

Dmitry Peskov noted that it was necessary to talk to Russia

Introduction of driverless solutions is necessity, not fashion — Putin

Bringing autonomous driverless solutions into life is certainly not the fashion, Putin stressed

Karin Kneissl: Greenland Could Become the 51st US State

Press review: Trump pressures Denmark as US business signals Arctic ties with Russia

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, January 16th

Witkoff announces US demands for Iran on diplomatic settlement

The US Special Presidential Envoy mentioned nuclear enrichment as one of four issues

Exhumation of Soviet soldiers in Lvov 'degradation bordering on savagery' — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister emphasized that despite the OSCE's declared commitment to defending and protecting human rights as one of the organization's fundamental aims, Western countries maintained a deathly silence while watching the actions of the Kiev regime

Poland to transfer MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine during the year

Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said this requires a government decision, as well as Ukraine’s transfer of UAV production and countermeasure technologies to Poland

Gas reserves in UGS in Europe down below 90%

Gas withdrawal from UGS facilities in EU countries amounted to 504 mln cubic meters on November 19, according to GIE