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Middle East conflict

Over 42,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza Strip since October 2023

According to the enclave’s health ministry, "45 Arabs have been killed and 130 more people have been injured in the past 24 hours alone as a result of raids and bombardment by Israeli forces"

CAIRO, October 9. /TASS/. More than 42,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the Israel-Palestinian conflict escalated in October 2023, the enclave’s health ministry said on its Telegram channel.

"The number of victims of Israeli aggression to date has reached 42,010, with 97,720 people injured," the ministry reported. According to it, "45 Arabs have been killed and 130 more people have been injured in the past 24 hours alone as a result of raids and bombardment by Israeli forces."

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants staged a surprise attack on Israeli territory from Gaza, killing residents of Israeli border settlements and taking over 250 hostages, including women, children and the elderly. Hamas described its attack as retaliation for the aggressive actions taken by Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. In response, Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians before the crisis, launching air strikes on Gaza as well as some parts of Lebanon and Syria before starting a ground operation in the Palestinian enclave.

Middle East conflict

Four people killed in Israel’ strike on Khan Yunis in Gaza Strip — TV

According to Al Jazeera, the air raid targeted a residential house

Russian embassy slams US vice president’s remarks about Putin as outrageous

According to the statement, "such a boorish language has become a habit among the current so-called American statesmen"

Argentina, Chile suspended lithium supplies to Russia — official

According to deputy department director of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade Vladislav Demidov, Russian companies are preparing to start lithium feedstock mining in Russia but the paperwork on licenses for their operation should be expedited

Russian embassy urges US to think about risks of Ukrainian chemical terrorism

According to the diplomatic mission, intelligence data indicates that "Ukraine plans to stage a series of anti-Russia provocations"

Putin launches serial assembly of Lada Aura via videoconference

The car based on the Vesta model was first presented last summer

Iran ready to respond with force to potential Israeli attack — media

Iranian Ambassador to Turkey Mohammad Hassan Habibollah Zadeh pointed out that those not directly involved in the conflict "should not participate in Israel's attacks or aggression against Iran"

Trump refuses from holding another round of debates with Harris

According to the US ex-President, "there is nothing to debate"

Liberation of western DPR could collapse Ukraine’s defenses up to Dnieper River — adviser

According to Igor Kimakovsky, Russian forces have almost encircled Kurakhovka and Selidovo

Ramstein group meeting likely to take place in Brussels on October 17 — source

It is reported that the possibility to hold consultations at the working level is currently under consideration

Israel’s bills banning UNRWA activities cause concern — Russian diplomat

Vasily Nebenzya stressed that such a move would constitute a violation of the UN Charter and "will have the most negative consequences"

Ukraine’s NATO membership impossible, most members understand it — top Hungarian diplomat

Peter Szijjarto said most of his NATO counterparts share his opinion in private conversations behind closed doors

Impossible to assess environmental damage of Nord Stream detonation, German official says

Bettina Hoffmann admitted that a lot of methane was expelled into the water, but, in her opinion, it did not cause long-term damage to the environment

Lebanon shells Israel’s north, firing some 90 projectiles

According to the army press service, settlements in the Upper and Western Galilee, as well as the southern part of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights came under attack

Israel to retaliate Iranian actions by attacking military targets — newspaper

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, key ministers, army and intelligence chiefs decided to focus on "Iranian military facilities," the source told the newspaper, adding that the decision could be changed

Share of national currencies in payments within CIS over 85% — Putin

This figure continues growing, the Russian leader noted

Foreign mercenaries in Ukraine will not have POW status — Russian military

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov warned that all foreign mercenaries, detained in Ukraine, would be brought to justice on criminal charges

Pantsir-S on round-the-clock duty in Kursk region — Russian Defense Ministry

The crews constantly change positions

Ukraine expects conflict to be over no later than 2025 — Zelensky

Zelensky stated that by November Ukraine expected to prepare a document that would be presented at a new conference on the settlement in the country, but did not specify when this event was planned to be held

Avtovaz starts sales of updated Lada Vesta with ESC

The car also has such options as side airbags, three-level heated front seats, a rear-view camera with dynamic trajectory lines

Putin presents highest state award to Belarusian president

The Russian leader signed a decree on awarding the order to Lukashenko on August 30, when the Belarusian leader turned 70

Ukraine pulls back troops to western outskirts of Dzerzhinsk — security agencies

According to the report, there is currently a mop-up operation ongoing, targeting the remaining pockets of resistance in the center of Dzerzhinsk

IRGC confirms destruction of numerous Israeli F-35s in Iranian missile strike

It was earlier reported that more than 20 Israeli Air Force F-35 aircraft were hit during an IRGC missile strike on Israel

Two settlements liberated: situation in Kursk Region

Units of the battlegroup North continued offensive operations and liberated the settlements of Novaya Sorochina and Pokrovsky in the Kursk Region

Zelensky needs to initiate talks with Russia, Ukrainian lawmaker says

Alexander Dubinsky is confident that Western leaders will put indirect pressure on the Ukrainian president

Ukraine ‘slowly losing’ in conflict, EU crisis may consequently worsen — media

Among the most severe consequences for the EU the magazine names the influx of refugees

Stoltenberg could face life imprisonment for his crimes — lawyer

"We are talking about very serious charges," Philippe Vanlangendonck pointed out

Israel seeks to wage major war to sway US election — Iranian Foreign Ministry

According to Spokesman Esmail Baghaei, the US's security agencies are falsely accusing Iran of trying to interfere in Washington's internal affairs

Zelensky says his 'victory plan' aims to strengthen Ukraine’s military might

The Ukrainian president also said that he plans to meet with the leaders of the UK, Germany, Italy and France in the upcoming days and present them with Ukraine’s "victory plan"

Seizure of Kursk NPP by Ukrainian troops fraught with recurrence of Chernobyl — delegation

Europe would have faced an environmental and humanitarian disaster, acting head of the Russian delegation to the Vienna Yulia Zhdanova said

US national Trevor Reed convicted in absentia in Russia of mercenary activities

Trevor Rowdy Reed took part in fighting against Russian troops in the Donetsk People’s Republic

NATO's eastern flank ramps up defense spending to Soviet-era levels — Bloomberg

Defense officials in eastern NATO member states emphasize that after upgrading military equipment, their countries faced a lack of skilled personnel

Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded for work with proteins

While Baker has designed an entirely new kind of proteins, Top7, "that was unlike any other protein," Hassabis and Jumper have developed an AI model called AlphaFold2, which enabled them to predict the structure of over 200 million proteins identified in other living organisms

West’s financial policy makes keeping reserves in their currencies risky — minister

According to Siluanov, the dollar will still be able to maintain its popularity as a payment unit in the coming years, but BRICS nations are already expanding the use of national currencies

Putin did not talk to Trump after Trump’s presidential term expired — Kremlin spokesman

The claims about potential contacts between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump first emerged in the excerpts from a book by veteran US investigative journalist Bob Woodward, presented by CNN

Israel to retaliate so suddenly that Iran won't have time to realize anything — minister

Yoav Gallant reiterated that the Iranian attack did not damage the Israeli Air Force's capabilities

Discord messenger blocked in Russia for violation of laws — regulator

Discord was included into the register of social networks, which obliged it to find and block unlawful content on its own

Russia’s Erika Andreeva advances at 2024 WTA Wuhan Open after defeating her sister Mirra

Erika Andreeva, 20, is ranked 70th in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Rankings

EU ambassadors agree on mechanism for 35 billion euro loan to Kiev — EU Council

The 35 billion euro loan from the EU should be part of the G7 credit line, which is expected to total 50 billion dollars or 45 billion euros

Second pilot dies of heart attack after emergency landing

The Aeroflot plane, en route from Moscow to Anapa, landed at Platov International Airport at 9.57 a.m.

Discord deals with blocking in Russia, Turkey — company

"We are aware of reports of Discord being unreachable in Russia and Turkey. Our team is investigating these reports at this time," the notice reads

Iran warns Persian Gulf states against any assistance to Israel — Reuters

"The message emphasized the need for regional unity against Israel and the importance of securing stability," the source added

Israeli army reports destruction of 500 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

Among the targets destroyed were tunnels, military observation posts, weapons depots and other infrastructure

Putin launches third power unit of Udarnaya TPP

The first and second units were commissioned on March 1 and April 1, respectively

Lavrov to take part in East Asia Summit in Laos

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that the EAS is both a mechanism of the ASEAN and a key element of ASEAN-based multilateral dialogue and cooperation in the region

Iran, its allies working toward pact to counter potential US, Israeli attack

The authors of the bill argue that Iran’s Security Council should be in charge of considering applications to join the Pact of Resistance

Some 3,000 Ukrainian troops may be trapped near Seversk in DPR — expert

"We have recently received information that we broke the line of defense and approached Serebryanka and Grigorovka, so it could be said that the fight for these settlements has already started," Andrey Marochko said

Russia has proof of US’, UK’s involvement in sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines — diplomat

The publication of the evidence will depend on how the situation around the investigation unfolds, Maria Zakharova said

Rolf to launch production of cars in Russia in 2026-2027 — Rolf Group

According to owner Umar Kremlev, the plant will build cars from start to finish

IDF claims elimination of Hezbollah militia member in Syria

According to the press office, the Israeli Air Force attacked and eliminated Azam Jahout

Russian troops gain better positions along front line in Kamenskoye — politician

Russia’s forces are advancing in two directions at a time

Ukrainian army starts using FPV drones to attack individual soldiers — Russian sapper

Ukrainian drones are often used for remote mine-laying

Russian forces strike Ukrainian army’s fuel supply sites over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 650 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy ammunition depot in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Hundreds of factories opened in Russia, industrial production growing — Putin

The Russian president also noted that it is necessary to expand the volume and range of products manufactured on the basis of Russian technologies

Russian forces destroy two Ukrainian armored vehicles in Kharkov Region by FPV drones

It is reported that after an analysis of reconnaissance data received, the Russian military command made a decision to strike both armored vehicles of the Ukrainian army

Russian forces advancing in over ten areas in Kursk Region — commander

According to Apty Alaudinov, military is making visible progress

Western Balkans should join EU, no consensus on other candidates — Orban

The Hungarian prime minister emphasized the importance of Serbia’s accession to the EU

Romania notifies Russia of imminent closure of its consulate general — diplomat

According to Maria Zakharova, this step on the part of Bucharest is conditioned by Russia's decision "to denounce the bilateral intergovernmental agreement on the opening of the mentioned consular institution"

Russia virtually has no unemployment, labor productivity should be increased — Putin

According to the Russian president, the opening of new high-tech production facilities is "a step in the absolutely right direction"

Defense contractor delivers new batch of Su-34 bombers to Russia’s Aerospace Forces

The bombers have undergone a series of ground and flight tests

Russian national football team to play two friendlies next month

The Syrian Football Association confirmed to TASS earlier that the country’s national team had been training to play a friendly match against the Russian national side

Ukraine may start using French fighter jets next year — minister

Sebastien Lecornu specified that the aircraft will have new equipment, in particular air-to-ground combat capabilities

West gives Kiev license to destroy Ukrainian people — Russian delegation to HRC

Ilya Barmin drew attention to the "instrumentalization of the subject of technical assistance to countries in the field of human rights by the delegations of the US, the UK, Germany, France and other European countries"

Around 220 projectiles reportedly fired at Israel from Lebanon on October 9 — IDF

A massive missile attack on the city of Kiryat Shmona near the border killed two locals

Lavrov arrives in Laos to take part in 19th East Asia Summit

The top Russian diplomat is expected to speak at the summit on Friday, October 11

Kalashnikov launches series production of VTOL drones — company

The State Transport Leasing Company is the main customer of such drones, the press service noted

Russian aircraft target construction site of Ukrainian stronghold in Zaporozhye Region

"The fortified area in the Orekhov District, where they are digging in and installing concrete structures, will not help the enemy," Vladimir Rogov said

Ukraine topic 'fading' at UN, no desire to resolve conflict there — senior diplomat

According to Sergey Vershinin, the UN General Assembly’s 79th session "widely discussed ultimatums for Russia, including Zelensky's so-called peace formulas, which are obviously unacceptable"

Desertion epidemic reaches massive proportions in Ukraine — journalist

Accoridng to Vladimir Boiko, the total number of deserters now stands at 170,000 people

Russia offers safe haven for people trying to escape Western liberal ideals

Under the document, such foreign nationals will have the right to apply for temporary residence in Russia "outside the quota approved by the Russian government and without providing documents confirming their knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and basic laws"

Press review: Putin takes meetings in Kremlin and Russia's ace in the hole for peace talks

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, October 9th

Discord fined $37,750 for violating law on self-regulation

Since February 2021, Russia has had a law on self-regulation of social networks, which requires platforms to independently identify and block illegal content

Russia repels enemy attacks, hits reserves, Kiev loses troops: situation in Kursk area

Russia’s battlegroup North continued offensive operations and defeated the Ukrainian troops near Daryino, Lyubimovka, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novy Put and Plekhovo

US journalist describes Russia’s liberation of Ugledar as "major setback" for Kiev

In Stavros Atlamazoglou opinion, now the Ukrainian military will have to ensure that the Russian forces don’t take advantage of the fall of Ugledar "and create an operational breakthrough in the wider area"

Putin, Lukashenko talk after award ceremony — Kremlin

The two heads of state communicated for several hours

Russian paratroopers storm Ukrainian strongholds, liberating Kursk Region’s Pokrovsky

The Russian Defense Ministry quoted servicemen as saying that "the enemy troops were frightened, abandoned their positions, even dropped their documents"

Future of Ukrainians being decided 'overseas,' Russian diplomat says

Maria Zakharova emphasized that the United States was using Ukraine as a tool in its geopolitical manipulations

Putin highlights danger emanating from Neo-Nazis in Ukraine in talk with Scholz

As it was pointed out, official Kiev "is not fulfilling its promises to stop this barbarity: the number of such instances has been growing in recent days"

Israeli airstrike kills 4 residents of settlement in Mount Lebanon’s region

As the agency reports, 10 other people were injured and later taken to hospitals

Oil and gas revenues of Russian budget increase by 49.4% in 9 months

The ministry noted that such an increase in oil and gas revenues was mainly due to the rise in prices for Russian oil

Israel fears full-scale conflict with Iran — newspaper

Israel is likely to give up the idea of striking nuclear sites in Iran, the Jerusalem Post said

Russia ready for possible hurdles during Nord Stream 2’s operation — diplomat

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced earlier that the pipelaying operation for the first string of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was successfully completed

Israel undermining UN resolutions that granted it UN membership — Russian diplomat

According to Vasily Nebenzya, there is a paradoxical situation

Avtovaz plans to produce 8,000 Lada Aura cars per year starting from 2025

The car based on the Vesta model was first presented last summer

Ukrainian experts assess damage to Kiev Hydroelectric Power Plant as critical

It is also noted that the import of electricity, provided from abroad to cover the deficit of the energy system, will not cover the need

Group of Iranian lawmakers asks Security Council to authorize creation of nuclear weapons

Since 2003, a fatwa by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has outlawed the production of nuclear weapons as contradicting Islam

Putin sets task of expanding output of products based on Russian developments

"Including through creating and expanding demand for domestic products - for those goods that we can and should produce ourselves, at home, in Russia, meeting both domestic needs and [the needs] of the world market," the Russian president said

Press review: West's new NATO angle for Kiev and Putin plans powwows with regional bigs

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, October 8th

Croatian summit declaration on Ukraine includes Zelensky’s 'peace plan' — news outlet

The Dubrovnik declaration consists of 17 provisions, which, according to the Nova.rs news outlet, will be discussed by the participants of the summit before signing

EU ambassadors agree on sanctions against Moldovan opposition, including Gutsul — source

The sanctions, which include asset freezes and travel bans, will come into force next week after being approved by the EU Council

Mobilized Ukrainian welder cuts hole in border bridge

He fled to Hungary, Ukrainian journalist Vitaly Glagola said

Over 308 people injured by Ukrainian attacks on Kursk Region

According to Pavel Alimenko, the region has sufficient accommodation sites, medicines, medical supplies, and basic goods

Russia’s Mir payment system launched in Nicaragua, so far through one ATM

Russian Trade Representative in Nicaragua Petr Pankratov reported that payment by Mir card in Nicaragua, which can now be found in many places in Cuba, is a question of the future

Situation tense as fire continues to rage at Crimean oil depot — mayor

According to Igor Tkachenko, municipal services and utility providers are assisting the fire brigades in every possible way, providing them with hot meals and places to rest and supplying them with firefighting materials and equipment

Nuclear test ban organization says Iranian seismic event looks like earthquake — diplomat

A 4.5-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Iran’s province of Semnan southeast of the capital Tehran on October 5

Moldova uses conflict in Ukraine to put pressure on Transnistria

Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that the conflict in Ukraine, which closed its border with Transnistria, "seriously disrupted logistics, complicated the fulfillment of obligations to foreign partners, limited supplies to the republic, and deprived it of some markets"

Russian watch factory to help Paris restore clock of Notre Dame Cathedral

The Horloge Notre-Dame Association expressed gratitude to Russian "friends for participating in this wonderful business"

Four people killed in Israel’ strike on Khan Yunis in Gaza Strip — TV

According to Al Jazeera, the air raid targeted a residential house

Response measures to be in effect as soon as West approves long-range strikes — Lavrov

Commenting on Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s remark that the upcoming October 12 Ramstein-format meeting of the contact group on military aid for Kiev will become special, and the entire next week will become "historic in many ways," the top Russian diplomat noted that he "does not follows their meetings"

New EU sanctions against Russia illegitimate — Foreign Ministry

According to Maria Zakharova, the West no longer needs any reason to impose sanctions

At least four wounded in Israeli strike on industrial area in Syria — TV

The attack was followed by fire

West hopes to pull Ukraine into NATO in exchange for territories — MFA

"The West forgets that one of the main reasons for the start of the conflict was its obsessive wish to drag Ukraine into the alliance, to turn it into a springboard for confrontation with Russia," Maria Zakharova recalled