NEW YORK, February 8. All 10 people aboard the Bering Air plane that crashed in Alaska on Thursday were killed, the Associated Press reported, citing the US Coast Guard.

It is unclear yet what caused the accident. The plane was traveling from Unalakleet to Nome with nine passengers and a pilot when it went missing.

#NBC reported the plane’s debris were found 34 miles (55 kilometers) southeast of Nome.

This is the third serious plane crash in the US in less than two weeks. On January 31, a Learjet 55 medical flight crashed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The accident killed at least 7 people and 19 others were hospitalized.

On January 29, an American Airlines jetliner and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided near Washington, DC’s Ronald Reagan Airport, killing 67 people.

Trump says he has no plans to deport Prince Harry.The issue of Prince Harry’s US visa arose after the publication of his memoir, in which he admitted to past illegal drug use.

US President Donald Trump has ruled out deporting Britain’s Prince Harry from the United States, the New York Post reports.

"I don’t want to do that," Trump told the newspaper. "I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible."

The issue of Prince Harry’s US visa arose after the publication of his memoir, in which he admitted to past illegal drug use.

Trump told the GB News media outlet in March 2024 that he would take "appropriate action" if it turned out that Prince Harry had lied to get a US visa. US laws require visa applicants to declare any history of drug use.

Jens Stoltenberg appointed Norway's new Finance Minister
The reason for the collapse of the ruling coalition was the Center Party's non-alignment with the allies' energy policy and their plans for rapprochement with the EU, of which Norway is not a member

Arab nations reject Trump’s suggestion to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan

Congo says 773 dead in weeklong fighting as military tries to repel Rwanda-backed rebels

On Tuesday midday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held their first conversation of the year via video link. While the online meeting lasted more than 90 minutes, its open portion was less than 10 minutes long. The two leaders focused on bilateral relations and their future development.

The relationship between #Russia and China is self-sufficient and not subject to global trends, Putin stated, while Xi remarked that, in 2025, his country is preparing to elevate its relations with Russia to a higher level. The two heads of state also held a thorough discussion on international matters, including the Ukraine situation, the Kremlin reported. Putin informed Xi that Moscow is ready to engage with the new US administration on this issue.

Experts suggest that after Donald #Trump’s swearing-in, global politics is becoming even more unpredictable. Now, with a new US president bursting with new ideas and reassessing decisions made by his predecessors, China will continue to exemplify stability in its foreign policy direction, reliability, and predictability, according to Alexander Lomanov, deputy director of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of World Economy and International Relations, who spoke with Izvestia.

#Russian troops liberate Zapadnoye community in Kharkov Region over past day
Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 40 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility in the Kharkov Region over the past day, the ministry reported

Free Syrian Army deploys heavy #weapons to frontline with Kurds — newspaper.

Currently, Turkey is not preparing for a direct military operation against Kurdish forces in Syria, but is not dismissing such an option either

#ANKARA, The Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) has deployed heavy weaponry on the frontline with Kurdish armed formations in Syria as part of preparations for a possible military operation, the Turkiye newspaper reported, noting that the Turkish army is also considering resolving the conflict with Kurds by force.

The FSA has reinforced positions in several areas in the Aleppo, Hasakah, and Raqqa provinces. The Free Syrian Army command noted that it had bolstered its units in these regions, which are now fully combat-ready. Armored vehicles and additional military personnel have been deployed on the frontline.

Currently, Turkey is not preparing for a direct military operation against Kurdish forces in Syria, but is not dismissing such an option either. According to the news outlet, the leadership of the Turkish Defense Ministry and the General Staff has earlier reviewed the units of the armed forces and special forces serving in the regions bordering Syria. These troops will be deployed in the event that it is decided to carry out a military operation.

Earlier, Ankara presented an ultimatum to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its affiliated People's Defense Units (YPG) operating in Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan noted that his country demands that these organizations lay down their arms and cooperate with the new Syrian administration. At the same time, foreign militants, as well as the heads of the PKK and YPG must leave Syria. Fidan noted that the new Syrian authorities are working on this issue, but should there be no response from the PKK to the calls to settle the situation, a military operation would become a "legitimate choice."

#Russian troops liberated eight communities in the Kharkov area and the Donbass region over the week in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.

"Battlegroup West units liberated the settlements of Kalinovo in the Kharkov Region and Terny in the Donetsk People’s Republic in active operations… Battlegroup South units liberated the settlement of Yantarnoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic as a result of decisive operations… Battlegroup Center units kept advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and liberated the settlements of Shevchenko, Peschanoye, Ukrainka and Slavyanka in the Donetsk People’s Republic… Battlegroup East units liberated the settlement of Nesckuchnoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic as a result of active operations," the ministry said in a statement.
Russia strikes Ukrainian military airfields, army, mercenaries’ sites over week

Russian troops delivered eight strikes by precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), hitting Ukrainian military airfields, army and mercenaries’ deployment sites over the week, the ministry reported.

"In the week of January 11-17, the Russian Armed Forces delivered eight combined strikes by precision weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles, hitting critical gas supply sites of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure supporting the operation of the Ukrainian military-#industrial sector, #weapons depots, a fuel base and the infrastructure of military airfields. In addition, the strikes targeted the assembly and storage facilities of unmanned aerial vehicles and uncrewed boats, and also the temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries," the ministry said.
Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts over 2,225 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 2,225 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 10 enemy tanks in in the Kursk area and the Kharkov Region over the week, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units continued destroying Ukrainian armed formations on the territory of the Kursk Region. They liberated the settlements of Aleksandriya, Leonidovo, Russkoye Porechnoye and Kruglenkoye as a result of active offensive operations. Combat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and artillery struck manpower and equipment of an armored brigade, four mechanized brigades and three air assault brigades of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and two territorial defense brigades," the ministry said.

During the week in the Kharkov direction, Battlegroup North units inflicted casualties on formations of a mechanized brigade and a motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian army and two territorial defense brigades, it said.

Only technical level of communication between US, #Russia — Kremlin
The New York Times earlier reported citing sources that US President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin had allegedly been maintaining indirect secure channels of communication since February 2022.

There has been only a technical level of communication between the US and Russia, rather than a proper political dialogue, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a question by TASS.

"As you know, there are certain channels of communication between Washington and Moscow, through both military and diplomatic lines. But these are rather technical contacts, with political dialogue or dialogue at the highest level not taking place," he said.

The New York Times earlier reported citing sources that US President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin had allegedly been maintaining indirect secure channels of communication since February 2022.