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Middle East conflict

Families of hostages say only 4 of 28 abducted to be returned from Gaza on Monday

"The mediators must ensure that the terms of the agreement are respected and ensure that Hamas is punished for this violation," the Israeli NGO Forum of Hostages and Missing Persons said

TEL AVIV, October 13. /TASS/. The remains of only four out of 28 captives will be returned from the Gaza Strip on Monday, contrary to prior agreements, the Israeli NGO Forum of Hostages and Missing Persons said.

"This is a blatant violation of the agreement by Hamas. We expect that the government of Israel and the mediators will take immediate action to amend this blatant injustice," the statement posted on the organization's X page reads.

"We will not abandon a single hostage. The mediators must ensure that the terms of the agreement are respected and ensure that Hamas is punished for this violation."

Earlier on Monday, 20 Israelis who had been held hostage there since October 2023 were released in Gaza. All of them returned to Israel, after which there were no living prisoners left in the enclave. The ceasefire agreement also provides for the return of the remains of 28 abducted Israelis who died in captivity.

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Palestine Israel

National defense system guarantees territorial integrity — Maduro

President Nicolas Maduro stressed that the authorities of Venezuela have all the required resources and mechanisms to protect the country’s sovereignty

IN BRIEF: Ukrainian army carries out drone strike on civilians in Kherson Region

According to preliminary reports, over 24 people, including a child, were killed, and another 29 people, among them five kids, suffered injuries

Zelensky, in impotent rage, decided to take it out on civilians — Russian MFA

The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case over a terrorist act

Trump criticizes George Clooney's acquisition of French citizenship

The US leader pointed out that France is "in the midst of a major crime problem because of its absolutely horrendous handling of immigration"

Putin believes rumors of his 'palace' were used in scheme to brainwash Russians

Putin says the palace he allegedly owns doesn’t belong to him or his relatives

Over 8,300 Aeroflot passengers celebrated New Year in flight

On the night of December 31 to January 1, Aeroflot operated 42 festive flights

Battlegroup South downed eight Ukrainian drones over day — spokesman

Battlegroup Spokesman Vadim Astafyev added that 26 dugouts and shelters of the Ukrainian army were also destroyed

Zelensky will have to hide for rest of life, Medvedev predicts

"The stinking Kiev bastard is trying to derail the settlement of the conflict", Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman said

Ukraine is playing Russian roulette by attacking Putin's residence — magazine

Valeurs Actuelles notes the complete lack of response from Kiev's European allies

Kiev did not make suspect in Trump assassination mercenary, deeming him 'off' — newspaper

According to the sources, Ryan Wesley Routh tried to join the Ukrainian Foreign Legion, but was rejected

Ukrainian army launches over 80 drones at Russia’s Belgorod Region in past day

A drone strike on a car near the Krasivo farming community in the Borisovsky District left a man injured; he was taken to the hospital in serious condition

FACTBOX: Celebrities who passed away in 2025

In 2025, a great many well-known politicians, statesmen, scientists and cultural figures passed away

Kim Jong Un wishes Happy New Year to soldiers serving in Russia

The North Korean leader called on the KPA soldiers to remain brave

Turkey continues to be top supplier of tangerines to Russian market

Top suppliers of tangerines to Russia also include South Africa, China, Egypt, and Morocco

Zelensky wouldn't dare to attack Putin's residence without direct order — ex-PM

Nikolay Azarov also stressed that the target had been chosen deliberately

Double tax convention between Russia, the UAE become effective

The agreement will promote mutual attraction of investments

IN BRIEF: Key takeaways from Vladimir Putin's New Year's address to Russian people

TASS has compiled the head of state's key statements from his New Year’s address

Israel intends to disarm Hamas in 2026 — Chief of General Staff

Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir emphasized that 2026 will be a crucial year for shaping security realities for the state of Israel

Putin hears report on Ukrainian strike on Khorly — Kremlin spokesman

According to Dmitry Peskov, "the regional governor briefed the head of state on the investigative actions and also announced that as the investigative team's work progresses and the bodies of the dead are being identified, and information and names will be published on the regional administration's website"

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

Drone attack on cafe, hotel in Kherson Region kills at least 24 people

The governor pointed out that the attack had come right about midnight

FACTBOX: New Year holidays in Russia

According to a government decree, the New Year holidays in 2025–2026 will last 12 days — from Wednesday, December 31, 2025, to Sunday, January 11, 2026

Over 500,000 Ukrainian troops killed or wounded in action in 2025

Besides, Russian forces destroyed 19 Ukrainian warplanes, over 50 missile systems, more than 67,000 drones, and over 6,500 tanks and other armored combat vehicles in 2025

Russian gas exports to Europe via TurkStream pipeline reach record levels in 2025

The previous peak of 1.68 billion cubic meters was recorded in October 2025

Russia’s Aerospace Forces down Ukraine’s Su-27 fighter jet

In addition, Russian air defenses downed a smart bomb and 250 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles

About 40 people killed in explosion at Swiss ski resort

According to the paper, at least 100 people have suffered injuries

Russia-EU relations may change under new European Commission — diplomat

"I don’t think that the Russia-EU dialogue is lost forever," Vladislav Maslennikov said

Putin orders to expand security belt on border with Ukraine in 2026

"This is a very important task," the Russian president said

Russia downs 168 Ukrainian UAVs over regions overnight — Defense Ministry

61 of them were destroyed over the territory of the Bryansk Region

Ukraine loses 32 dugouts and 10 drones during day from actions of battlegroup South

Russian forces also destroyed two enemy UAV control points

Trump sees diminishing leverage for Kiev as settlement stalls — expert

According to Peter Kuznick, the US leader "even restrained his usual penchant for saying how 'perfect' meetings are and how much was achieved"

Photos, videos point to firework sparkers as cause of fire in Crans-Montana

According to the newspaper, photos and videos show several people hold large champagne bottles over their heads, with firework sparkers attached to them, sparks reached ceiling at a certain point of time and sound-proof acoustic panels caught fire

Venezuela ready to discuss fight against drug trade, investments with the US — Maduro

Nicolas Maduro pointed out that US allegations against Caracas regarding insufficient struggle against production of drugs are groundless

Russian Su-34 bomber strikes Ukrainian manpower, equipment by glide bombs

After receiving a confirmation from reconnaissance about the target destruction, the crew safely returned to its airfield of departure, the Russian Defense Ministry said

Dmitriev calls Europeans 'poor' after von der Leyen’s promise

"President of the European Commission promises to work even harder on Western civilization’s suicide in 2026," Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev said

Fire destroys 150-year-old church building in Amsterdam

There is a danger of the building collapsing

TASS publishes footage from scene of Ukrainian attack on hotel, cafe in Khorly

Footage from the tragedy’s aftermath has been released by the agency, depicting the extent of the destruction

Air defenses intercept 64 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions overnight

Twenty of them were destroyed in the Samara Region

Ukraine takes part in NATO Article 5 response drills for first time ever

Around 1,500 civil and military specialists took part in maneuvers all over Europe

Death toll in Ukraine’s attack on Khorly in Kherson Region rises to 27 people

Thirty-one people, among them five minors were taken to medical institutions with injuries of various severity, Russian Investigative Committee Spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said

Kiev spends Western funds on civilian killings, Russian diplomat says

Earlier, Kherson Region Governor said that a drone attack on a cafe and a hotel had killed 24 people and left another 50 injured

Fourteen drones destroyed in Tula Region — governor

Nobody was injured, Governor Dmitry Milyaev said

Canada's support for Ukraine example of strategic helplessness — Russian ambassador

"Ottawa is a hostage to its own political decisions," Oleg Stepanov said

Over 100,000 consumers left without power in Ukraine’s western Volyn Region

Air raid sirens went off in the region last night; local media outlets reported explosions in the town of Lutsk

Bulgaria should support efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine — president

Rumen Radev noted that 2025 brought the first hopes for ending the conflict

Kiev prepared for attack on cafe in Khorly in advance — expert

Military expert Vitaly Kiselev condemned the attack, describing it as "not just a terrorist act but a tragic reflection of the 21st century’s brutal realities"

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

Attack on Putin's residence was guided by NATO systems, expert says

Andrey Marochko believes that disrupting negotiations on a peace settlement of the conflict was Kiev's primary aim in the attack

FACTBOX: Major aviation disasters of 2025

At least 12 such incidents were recorded during the year, including two involving big passenger jets

Every third Russian decorates their New Year’s tree with Soviet toys – poll

Experts also found that 75% of respondents confirmed that their families still preserve tree decorations from previous generations

Five children taken to hospital following Ukrainian attack on Kherson Region

Meanwhile, the Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal investigation based on Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code, committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko announced

NATO’s activity at borders of Russia, Belarus fraught with direct military clash — envoy

This situation persists because many in Europe exploit the false factor of the Russian threat to consolidate the NATO/EU ranks around the continued military support for Ukraine, Head of the Russian delegation at talks in Vienna on military security and arms control Yulia Zhdanova said

Russia to maintain continuity in key areas of cooperation within CSTO — Lavrov

"Given geopolitical tensions, we set ourselves the goals of further consolidating CSTO member states, strengthening allied ties, and deepening coordination on key international issues," the minister noted

FACTBOX: New Year’s key traditions reviewed

The custom of decorating Christmas trees dates back to biblical myths

FACTBOX: Kremlin’s New Year magic begins with century-old fir

On December 23, Russia’s main New Year tree was set up in the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square, fully decorated and ready for the holidays

Russia hails Moldovans’ striving for sovereign development — embassy

"Russia doesn’t interfere into Moldova’s domestic affairs, respects its sovereignty, neutral status and territorial integrity," the statement reads

Ukraine under Zelensky has no right to exist as a state — Medvedchuk

The leader of the Other Ukraine movement Viktor Medvedchuk stressed that "the Ukrainian people should determine their future"

Russia to retaliate Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia’s actions against Russian embassies — MFA

On December 30, the charges d'affaires of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia were summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, where they were presented with a strong protest

Russia to provide decoded data from Ukrainian drone to US — Defense Ministry

According to the ministry, Russian intelligence officers examining the navigation system of one of the Ukrainian drones shot down during the attack managed to extract the file containing flight plan data

Russia calls upon OHCHR to publicly condemn Kiev’s terrorist attack

Russian Permanent to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva Gennady Gatilov emphasized that "concealing this tragedy would be tantamount to open complicity and participation"

US to analyze intel about attack on Putin’s residence — UN envoy

AccoSuch Kiev’s actions would be "reckless or not helpful," Matthew Whittaker said

34 drones downed when approaching Moscow at New Year night, January 1

This was reported by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin

Kiss traffic jams goodbye: Siberian mathematicians solve rush-hour gridlock mystery

Siberian researchers have put together a mathematical model of the Russian city of Krasnoyarsk’s transport network and used it to analyze the city’s traffic

Ukraine to face inevitable retaliation for attack on Kherson Region — Medvedev

In his view, Banderites must be eliminated wherever they are, be it Ukraine or Europe

Ukraine’s 201 UAVs shot down over Russian regions in 7 hours

51 of them were neutralized over the territory of the Belgorod Region

Attempts continue to expand Ukraine conflict to entire Europe — newspaper

Selvi believes that the forces supporting Ukraine are plotting to set Turkey and Russia against each other

Actual death toll in Gaza is ten times as high as officially reported — UN

According to special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, if this figure is verified, some 380,000 of them are children under five

US may agree on normalizing relations with Russia in 2026 without EU participation — Orban

Orban believes that while the West previously managed to demonstrate unity, "that is now over"

Dmitriev asks whether Western media cover tragedy in Kherson Region

Kirill Dmitriev wrote this on the X, making a repost of a blogger that wrote about the terrorist attack in Khorly

Six children listed on Ukraine’s database of unwanted persons on New Year’s Eve

This is not the first time that children’s personal data has been published on the Mirotvorets website

Africa to become world leader in economic growth in 2026 — IMF

Despite the influx of foreign investment, some countries, such as the Central African Republic, will remain among the least electrified on the planet

FIB Executive to study IOC recommendations on Russians’ access to tournaments

Although the FIB Congress agenda was finalized and published prior to the IOC's communication, Adamfi confirmed that the Executive Board will deliberate on this issue at its next meeting

Putin's New Year's address lasted 3 minutes 20 seconds

It became one of the shortest New Year's addresses of the president

Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York city mayor

The ceremony was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James

Russian diplomat slams Kiev’s attack on civilians in Kherson Region as act of terrorism

The countries for whom international humanitarian law still has a meaning should make a proper legal and political assessment of this inhumane act

FACTBOX: Cities awarded Russia’s New Year’s capital title

Ryazan has taken on the title of the New Year’s capital for the second time during the project’s existence

Netherlands set course for militarization in 2025 — Russian Ambassador

The case in point is not only the sharp rise in defense spending but also the systemic integration of the country with strategic and operational planning of NATO, Russian Ambassador to the kingdom Vladimir Tarabrin said

Russian forces destroy two Ukrainian assault groups in Sumy Region

The enemy tried to counterattack near the settlement of Grabovskoye

Cyprus takes over six-month presidency of EU Council from Denmark

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides noted that his country was assuming the EU Council presidency “against the backdrop of acute geopolitical upheaval and unpredictability”

Russian government extends parallel import mechanism through 2026

The list of goods permitted for parallel import will be reduced in categories where Russian manufacturers or companies from friendly countries have largely replaced firms from unfriendly countries, namely in cosmetics, electronics, and light industry, the ministry said

Romania joins program to buy US weapons for Ukraine

Romania will allocate 50 million euro to purchase weapons for Ukraine

Handover of Tomahawks to Kiev to irreparably damage US-Russia ties — diplomat

Moscow is hopeful that Washington will hear its message on the potential supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, Maria Zakharova stated

US kills five people as it attacks drug traffickers' ships anew — The Pentagon

According to the US Southern Command, intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were involved in drug smuggling

EU structures involved in arms supplies to Ukraine to be responsible for consequences

"EU structures and individuals involved in supplies of lethal weapons and fuels to the Ukrainian army will bear responsibility for any consequences of such actions amid the ongoing special military operation," it said

Press review: Russia may revise Ukraine talks post attack and China launches Taiwan drills

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, December 30th

Russia’s Battlegroup West repels three Ukrainian attacks on Kupyansk direction — top brass

Russian forces also struck energy facilities used for Ukraine's military-industrial complex

Trump promises to strive for peace on earth in 2026

The US President didn't answer questions about the CIA's role in the attack on Venezuela or whether American troops would put boots on the ground in Ukraine

Over thousand soldiers desert from Ukrainian army daily — reporter

Accoridng to Ukrainian journalist Vladimir Boyko, this number means the army is gone, and it can no longer be rebuilt

The ones 'doubting' victims in Ukrainian drone attack in Khorly have no conscience

"If there are doubts, these are only in respect of clean habits of the doubters," Official Spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said

EU refuses to believe Kiev's attack on Putin's residence

As EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas asserted, this is "a deliberate distraction" and its aim is to "derail real progress towards peace"

Ukraine lost about twenty fighter jets in 2025

Kiev also lost at least eight Su-27 and ten MiG-29 airplanes over the last year

First list of those killed by Kiev’s drone strike on seaside cafe published

Identification of all other victims will be possible only after a special genetic examination

National defense system guarantees territorial integrity — Maduro

President Nicolas Maduro stressed that the authorities of Venezuela have all the required resources and mechanisms to protect the country’s sovereignty

Battlegroup West destroyed 46 heavy quadcopters — spokesman

Battlegroup servicemen also destroyed twelve unmanned surface vehicles

FACTBOX: Cities awarded Russia’s New Year’s capital title

TASS has prepared this factbox on the project dubbed The New Year’s Capital of Russia

British, EU intelligence behind attack on Kherson Region — Akhmat commandoes' chief says

Lieutenant-General Apty Alaudinov noted that Ukraine is reporting to US President Donald Trump its readiness to sign a peace agreement, while simultaneously taking actions that provoke the Russian side to retaliate

Lukashenko says Slovakia’s PM to visit Belarus

According to the press service of the head of Belarus, Lukashenko noted that he would be glad to see Fico on Belarusian soil to discuss strategic issues of interstate cooperation

Hotel, cafe in Khorly were attacked by large UAVs capable of carrying 15 kg of explosives

According to security officials, the drones must have carried 10-15 kilograms of TNT

Head of Russian delegation in Vienna talks about obscenity of Europeans at OSCE site

Head of the Russian delegation to the Vienna talks on military security and arms control Yulia Zhdanova also noted that "there is a total degradation of the negotiating culture among the Europeans"

Earth to be illuminated by year’s largest Sun on January 3

The difference between the Sun's diameters in January and July will be most noticeable when professional photographs are placed side by side, astronomers noted

More than twenty survivors in Crans-Montana fire had severe burns — TV

The case in point is "very severe injuries" requiring treatment over a long period, Medical Director at the Morges Hospital Wassim Raffoul added