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BOEING 777 CRASH IN DONBASS

UN Security Council holds closed-doors meeting on Boeing crash resolution

Russia has submitted a draft resolution for Boeing crash investigation with UN Security Council in opposition to the draft resolution already submitted by Australia

Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin

© EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

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Ukraine unable to ensure safe access to Boeing crash site — Malaysian transport minister

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The Australian draft resolution

According to French Ambassador to the UN Gerard Araud, the Australian draft resolution touches upon the issue of “access to the crash site” of the Malaysian Boeing.

The Australian document support efforts to carry out “a thorough and independent investigation of the incident in accordance with the ruling principles of the international civil aviation”. The document demands that militias in eastern Ukraine “abstain from any acts” that may hamper the intactness of evidence, as well as “immediately provide a safe, complete and unhindered access” for the investigators to the crash site.

The Australian draft resolution affirms that the airliner had been downed and demands to bring those guilty to justice. Another key point is the call to all states and forces in the region to refrain from aggression towards civil planes.

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Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 crash in eastern Ukraine

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Malaysia United Nations Accidents UN Security Council Vitaly Churkin Boeing 777 crash in Ukraine

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Ukraine intensifies shelling of Kremennaya fourfold due to Russian successes — expert

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Shelling on Donetsk decreases as frontline shifts — DPR head

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Ukrainian deserters abroad are hunted through Interpol — parliament member

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Vitaly Naumkin is certain that Syria will be able to eliminate to some extent the failures that stemmed from the fact the previous regime was unable to use the resources, because the Americans would not let it

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CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

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Russia continues special military op because Ukraine refuses talks — Kremlin

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Fyodor Lukyanov emphasized that Robert Fico, just like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has also visited Russia, is driven by the interests of his country and first of all "is accountable to his own citizens, and not the European Commission"

Germany's new chancellor may lead the West in standoff with Moscow — expert

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Keeping deaths of Russian journalists secret turns into global disgrace for West — MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the report by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity for 2022-2023, failed to mention the numerous targeted killings of Russian journalists and military correspondents by the criminal Kiev regime

Gazprom expects EBITDA above $27.9 bln in 2024 — Deputy CEO

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Georgia became inconvenient for 'friends' after rejecting Ukrainian scenario — official

According to Kakha Kaladze, the country faced unprecedented pressure because of this

New US administration does not guarantee solution of Ukrainian crisis — expert

Ivan Timofeyev recalled that even during his first presidency, which proceeded in more favorable geopolitical conditions and without a personnel crisis, Trump pursued a hardline approach in relations with Russia

Russia’s FPV drone Gortenzia with fiber-optic cable control used in military operation

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Russian embassy refutes reports on Sudan’s refusal to host Russian base

Some Western media outlets reported earlier, citing anonymous Sudanese intelligence sources, that Khartoum had allegedly annulled an agreement with Moscow on placing a Russian naval logistics support base due to potential US sanctions

US engages Pentagon contractors who worked in Ukraine in Senegal — top brass

According to Major General Alexey Rtishchev, Washington is using African countries' economic problems in the health sector to build up its military and biological research

Russian expert suspects Ursa Major sank due to act of sabotage

Alexander Stepanov remarked that such attacks are virtually impossible to identify and track down

Roscosmos, NASA synchronize timeframes for completion of ISS — CEO

There are plans to start conducting manned flights to the new Russian Orbital Station about the same time when Russia exits the ISS program, chief executive of the Russian state space corporation Yury Borisov noted

Tajikistan satisfied with development of relations with Russia — President Rakhmon

According to Emomali Rakhmon, the year 2024 was very beneficial for both countries

Russian warship shoulders responsibility for rescue operation after cargo ship sinks

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Russia evacuates 4,000 Iranian fighters from Syria at their request — Putin

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Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 380 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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FACTBOX: What to know about Ursa Major shipwreck in Mediterranean Sea

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AI can help generate personalized cancer vaccines in an hour — Russia’s vaccine chief

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Transneft restarts oil intake by rail for export shipments in Far East

This route of shipments to the port was not operated since 2016

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The Israel Defense Forces said in the early hours on Tuesday that a missile launched from Yemen had been intercepted before entering Israel’s airspace

Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

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Kremlin announces countries to become BRICS partners from January 1

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Biden considers new sanctions against Russian energy sector — The Washington Post

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The leaders had a warm greeting, hugged each other, exchanged a couple of phrases and proceeded to the hall, where the bilateral negotiations started

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Russia’s Velikiye Luki submarine dives to depth of 100 meters as part of tests

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Syria’s new authorities rename hospitals named after ex-president’s family members

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Europe should support Sino-Brazilian initiative on Ukraine — Swiss newspaper

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Syria’s Interior Ministry calls on members of former regime to hand over their arms

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US ramping up biological warfare presence in Africa — Russia’s top brass

Major General Aleksey Rtishchev said that branches of the US National Naval Military Medical Center are stationed in Ghana and Djibouti where active work is carried out in natural disease foci, isolation and sequencing of pathogens

Putin bestows order upon Hermitage director general

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Russian drone operators use air ramming to down 4 Ukrainian copters in Kharkov Region

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At least 21 killed in post-election violence in Mozambique

Pascoal Ronda suggested that the opposition probably joined forces with Islamic terrorists

Pakistani forces attack Afghan province just across border

Taliban-controlled Afghan Defense Ministry condemned the attack, saying it violated international law and didn’t represent a solution to any issue

Situation with gas supplies from Russia to Europe difficult — Kremlin

"You have heard the Ukrainian side’s statement and you know the position of the European countries that continue purchasing Russian gas and that consider it necessary for normal operation of their economy," Dmitry Peskov said

Is Gaddafi's gloom prophecy in regard to Europe bound to be fulfilled?

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Mercenary from Norway faces criminal charges for incursion into Kursk Region

The investigation has found that Ocherkhadzhiyev personally participates in the armed conflict as a mercenary on Russian territory

Initiative along entire frontline in Russian forces’ hands — Polish general

According to Waldemar Skrzypczak, Russian troops' daily advances amount to 1-2 kilometers (0.6-1.2 miles)

Georgian court extends Saakashvili's arrest in border crossing case

Judge Mikhail Jinjolia explained that there remained a risk Saakashvili might escape or commit a new crime, so the motion to cancel the arrest was rejected

Sandu takes office as Moldova’s president for her second term

Parliamentarians, members of the Constitutional Court, and foreign diplomats attended her inauguration

South Korea's opposition postpones impeachment proceedings against acting president

The Democratic Party seeks clarification on whether the acting president will appoint new members to the Constitutional Court

IN BRIEF: What is known about sinking of Ursa Major cargo ship in Mediterranean Sea

According to reports, fourteen crew members were rescued and two are missing

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

Over 150 spontaneous graves found in Popasnaya in LPR

Around 250 people are still staying in the city

Qatar has not mediated between Russia, new Syrian authorities; ready for this role

Spokesman for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari noted that the emirate continued to maintain relations with Russia and stressed that they were positive

Putin travels to St. Petersburg for informal CIS summit

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Uzbek president arrive in St. Petersburg to attend CIS, EAEU summits

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Russian Defense Ministry identifies over 30 more people connected to US biolabs in Africa

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Russian scientists have lots of new ideas in nuclear sphere — researcher

Mikhail Kovalchuk also reiterated that for a long time, Russia has been and remains a guide for other countries in the sphere of developing technologies, including space

Press review: Putin outlines Russia's future goals and Tehran faces energy blackout riots

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Indian envoy discuss schedule of political contacts

The sides also touched upon "a number of regional issues, as well as the cooperation between Russia and India within the BRICS format"

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"

Israeli military conducts operation in Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza

The Israeli Defense Forces stated that civilians, medical personnel and patients had been evacuated from the area ahead of the operation

Greece continues to ship munitions to Ukraine en masse — website

According to the report, the people of Greece witnessed the passage of convoys of Greek and foreign-made trucks transporting containers, mainly with shells, to Balkan states and Poland, and eventually to Ukraine

Top German officials pressured by Biden to strengthen anti-Russian coalition in EU — Dodik

"Now we see the outcome: a Europe burdened with numerous problems and struggling to determine how to establish relations with the Trump administration," the president of the Republika Srpska said

Gazprom sets gas price in budget below current prices — Deputy CEO

Key parameters of the budget for 2025 are based on the forecast of macroeconomic indicators of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, Famil Sadygov said