⚡️ The funeral of Benedict XVI will take place on January 5; the ceremony will be led by Pope Francis

❗️The Russian MoD’s briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️Russian Forces eliminated more than 50 Ukrainian servicemen, as well as destroyed two armored combat vehicles and three pick-up trucks near Kupyansk;

▪️Russian servicemen eliminated up to 140 Ukrainian troops, as well as destroyed five tanks, seven armored combat vehicles and four pick-up trucks near Krasny Liman;

▪️Russian troops eliminated more than 80 Ukrainian servicemen, as well as destroyed two armored carriers, four armored vehicles and three pick-up trucks near Donetsk;

▪️The Russian Army eliminated up to 50 Ukrainian troops, as well as destroyed three infantry combat vehicles, two armored combat vehicles and five pick-up trucks in the Zaporozhye region;

▪️Russian Forces hit 75 Ukrainian artillery units at their firing positions;

▪️The Russian Army destroyed five US-made AN/TPQ- 50 radar stations in the DPR;

▪️Russian troops destroyed two Ukrainian artillery ammunition depots in the DPR and in the Zaporozhye region;

▪️Russian Forces destroyed four US-made M777 artillery systems in the DPR;

▪️The Russian Army destroyed a Czech-made "Dana" self-propelled howitzer in the LPR;

▪️Russian Air Forces shot down two Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters in the DPR;

▪️Russian air defenses destroyed Ukrainian UAVs

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🇿🇦 A vagrant lion on the run was caught on camera outside the town of Musina on the Pont Drift road in Limpopo province, South Africa.

🦁 It is yet to be known what led to the animal roaming along the road. A Twitter user suggested: "He’s not lost - We are in his yard."

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❗️ Key statements from Putin's New Year address:

▪️The president noted that the past year was a year of pivotal events laying the foundation for the future and independence of Russia.

▪️He stated that truth is on the side of Russia, which protects its people in its historical territory.

▪️Vladimir Putin reminded that the Western elites had for years assured everyone of their peaceful intentions, including in the Donbass, but in fact supported the neo-Nazis.

▪️The president thanked the participants of the special operation for their fortitude and courage, saying “millions of people are with you in heart and soul.”

▪️Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that Russia will overcome all difficulties, and keep the country great and independent.

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Greek citizens living on the island of Crete are concerned over high energy prices while also blaming the European Union for mismanaging its energy policy, leading, in their opinion, to the current situation, according to the people surveyed by Sputnik.

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⚡️An update from Russia's MoD:

▪️On December 31, as a result of the negotiations with Kiev, 82 Russian soldiers were released. They were in mortal danger in captivity;

▪️All released Russian troops are provided with the necessary medical and psychological assistance;

▪️Released Russian troops will be delivered to Moscow by military planes for treatment and rehabilitation.

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Heading to the US: Four Human Skulls Discovered in Mexico Airport Luggage

Four human skulls have been found in a package at Queretaro Intercontinental Airport in Mexico. The gruesome content was discovered through a regular X-ray inspection. The destination of the package was Manning, South Carolina.

The transfer of human remains requires a special warrant from health authorities which was not obtained, reports have indicated.

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US Keeps Building Advanced Radar on Palau to Keep Eye on China Amid Growing Tensions

In 2020, Palau encouraged the US to build a military base on the island to deter China, which the Pacific nation accused of "ongoing destabilizing activities."

The construction of the US Air Force's advanced Tactical Mobile Over-the-Horizon Radar (TACMOR), which is underway on the Pacific island of Palau, reflects Washington's "growing vigilance" in the Pacific, and could be critical for monitoring "Chinese activities", according to the American press.

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The Western price cap on Russian oil as well as Moscow's retaliatory ban on oil supplies to countries that adopted it will not be as significant for global oil markets as the potential recession crisis or other issues with global supply, experts told Sputnik.

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🇷🇺Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday presented a state award to Sergei Surovikin, the general in charge of Russia's military operation in Ukraine.

▪️Surovikin was awarded the Order of St. George, third class, for his courage, bravery and dedication. Mikhail Teplinsky, commander of the Russian Airborne Troops, also received a high military award from the Russian President.

▪️On October 8, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu appointed Surovikin as the commander of the Russian Joint Group of Forces in the zone of a special military operation.

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The withdrawal of Turkish troops from Syria requires steps in the political process, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday.

💬"Steps must be taken in the political process for our troops to leave. If there are voids, terrorist organizations should not fill them," Cavusoglu said as quoted by a local newspaper.

Earlier in the day, the Syrian media reported citing sources that Ankara had agreed to withdraw its troops from Syrian territory after the defense ministers of Turkey, Syria and Russia met in Moscow on December 28.

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❗️North Korea has reportedly launched a ballistic missile toward Sea of Japan.

🥴Top 4 statements by Western politicians on Ukraine joining NATO

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🌞 Sputnik presents you the review of the year 2022 in the world and in Africa

It was marked by many events, both joyful and sorrowful. But we can definitely say that this year will be remembered

🎬 To remind us of these moments, we have made a recap of some the most important events of 2022 for both the continent and the world

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‼️Air raid warning issued in Kiev-controlled Zaporozhye - authorities

📹WATCH: Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers New Year address to the nation.

👉Check it out

‼️Three people injured in Ukraine's shelling of Volodymyrivka - DPR

US electric car maker Tesla experienced its worst annual stock decline of 65% in 2022, US business media reported.

According to the media, Tesla stock fell 65% from the start of the year, or over $700 billion in market value, despite the company’s shares trading 1.12% up by the end of the 2022 last trading session on Friday.

On December 29, US media reported, citing a company-wide email, that Tesla CEO Elon Musk told his employees that there was no need to be bothered by a slump in the electric vehicle maker’s shares, which were down 42% in December.

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‼️Air raid alerts go off across Ukraine - ministry data

📹WATCH: Russian and Belarusian servicemen attend unit cohesion course in Belarus as part of joint combat training (video courtesy of Russia’s MoD)

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Digitalization Brings Kenyans ePlatform to Pay for State Services Online

The outgoing year has seen the reawakening of several massive volcanoes, with one of them - Fagradalsfjall off the coast of Iceland – being dormant since the 13th century.

"Most of the volcanic eruptions we see are from chambers of molten rock that are perhaps five to seven kilometers (three miles to four miles) down," Clive Oppenheimer, professor of volcanology at Cambridge University, said.

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