US influence fading as new powers rise - Russian Intel chief

"It must be said that the former hegemon represented by the United States of America is gradually degenerating, losing control. And at the same time, new powerful, authoritative players, which already have great potential, the potential for development, the potential and ability to ensure security and stability in the world, are emerging," Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergei Naryshkin told Sputnik.

The situation in the world will not be calm in 2025, Naryshkin also said, adding that it largely depends on the common sense and endurance of regional and global players.

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🇭🇺🇸🇰Hungary is ready to supply gas to Slovakia amid the termination of Russian fuel transit through Ukraine, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.

Earlier on January 1, Russia's Gazprom announced that it no longer has the technical or legal ability to transit gas through Ukraine following the expiration of a five-year contract.

As a result, the price of natural gas in the European market has increased by 20%.

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THROWBACK TO 2008: Heightening mortality rates will bring BIG BENEFIT - Gates at WEF in Davos

Population in the developing countries can be reduced with diseases, setting "high expectations", Bill Gates said at a World Economic Forum event in 2008.

“And a number of the other ones [diseases], we have things in the pipeline,” he said.

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🚨Kremlin confirms Lex Fridman's request for Putin interview

While the American podcaster announced plans to visit Russia for this purpose, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified there are no current agreements or immediate plans for the interview.

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❗️Russian troops have liberated the settlement of Solyonoe in the Donetsk People's Republic, Russia's Defense Ministry announced

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❗️Russia does not agree with Trump's statement on the role played by the Soviet Union in WWII — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov refuted the US president's claim that Russia only helped the US to win in the Second World War, as it was the USSR that paid the greatest price in the fight against fascism.

At the same time, Peskov recalled that the US's aid during World War II was a business, they received payments for lend-lease trade, which ended only under Putin.

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❗️Russian forces hit critically important Ukranian gas and energy facilities that supplied the military-industrial complex, the Russian Defense Ministry has said.

🇷🇺🪖 More statements from the Russian MoD daily briefing on the special military operation:

◻️ Ukrainian forces lost up to 530 soldiers in the area of responsibility of Russia's Zapad Battlegroup;
 
◻️ Ukrainian losses amounted to 280 in the area of responsibility of Russia's Yug Battlegroup;
 
◻️ Due to the actions of Russia's Sever and Dnepr Battlegroups, Ukrainian troops lost up to 100 soldiers;
 
◻️ Ukrainian losses amounted to 180 militants as a result of the actions of the Vostok Battlegroup;

◻️ Russian air defense systems shot down 29 Ukrainian drones.

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🇨🇳⚓️ China’s naval power surging past US – NATO chief

"The ships they [China] are now building are now bigger than the navy of the US has and much better at least quality wise at the same level," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said during a Q&A session at the World Economic Forum (WEF).

China’s industrial production is currently six times faster than that of the United States, the secretary general added.

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📹 NATO hides troop transfers under civilian flight cover – Ukrainian PoW

“We crossed the border, and an hour later we were at the airport—if I'm not mistaken, Rzeszow [Polish airport], where we were waiting to board. It was a British Armed Forces military flight disguised as a civilian [flight]. We flew to Britain, near London, and there we were at the hub — some kind of logistics center of the British Armed Forces,” captured Ukrainian border guard Alexander Bychko tells Sputnik.

Upon arrival, Ukrainian soldiers were issued clothing, helmets, and body armor before being sent to the Warcop Training Area, he notes.

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