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Middle East conflict

Over 14,700 students killed in Israeli attacks on Palestine since October 2023

As many as 111 public schools and 60 universities have been destroyed

RABAT, April 29. /TASS/. More than 14,700 students have been killed and more than 24,700 have been wounded in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and West Bank since October 7, 2023, the Palestinian ministry of education said.

"As many as 14,649 students have been killed and 23,936 more have received injuries in the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, 135 students have died and 830 have been wounded," the WAFA news agency quoted it as saying.

Apart from that, according to the ministry, Israeli attacks on Gaza and the West Bank killed 880 teachers and lecturers and left 4,247 others injured.

As many as 111 public schools and 60 universities have been destroyed. Serious damage has been done to 352 schools and 20 universities.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 after militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise incursion on Israeli territory, killing many Israeli kibbutz residents living near the Gaza border and abducting more than 240 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave.

On March 18, Israel resumed hostilities in the Gaza Strip and delivered a series of strikes on Hamas targets, thus cutting short the ceasefire that had been in place in the enclave since January 2025. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office explained the move by Hamas' rejections of proposals advanced after talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff. It claimed that the goal of the operation was to release all of the Israeli hostages. Hamas placed responsibility for this latest spiral of escalation in Gaza on Israel and the United States.

Kiev’s desire to discuss only ceasefire causes concern — Russian diplomat

"A ceasefire that will not be a part of a long-term solution will naturally not satisfy the Russian side," Rodion Miroshnik said

US seeks to revive NATO-Russia council to aid security dialogue around Ukraine — Bloomberg

Dialogue between Russia and NATO was officially suspended in 2021

World waits for Zelensky’s negotiating team to join Istanbul talks — Zakharova

It’s been nearly 24 hours that the Russian delegation has been in Istanbul, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman wrote

Russian troops liberate two communities in Donetsk region over past day — top brass

Battlegroup West units liberated the settlement of Torskoye and Battlegroup Center units liberated the settlement of Novoaleksandrovka through active operations

West frightened by arrival of Russian delegation in Istanbul — Russian Foreign Ministry

"It’s high time for the West to cease this hysteria, regain composure, and bring their puppets in Kiev to the negotiating table," Maria Zakharova concluded

Merz says new package of Russia sanctions finalized, to be adopted on May 20

The sanctions, he said, would take effect immediately

Trump says ready to come to Istanbul on May 16 for talks on Ukraine

According to the US leader, it is still unclear whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would travel to Turkey to take part in the talks

Trump likely to return to US following his Middle Eastern tour

Talking to journalists in the United Arab Emirates, the US leader indicated that he is likely to return to Washington

Zelensky believes Trump put more pressure on Ukraine than on Russia

Zelensky, who had previously rejected a ceasefire proposed by Russia, says that "it is necessary to put pressure on the side that does not want to put an end to the war"

Germany currently has no plans to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine — chancellor

In his words, the delivery may take a lot of time and preparations, because special training is required for operating these missiles

Europe plays critical role in Ukraine settlement efforts — Rubio

US Secretary of State made the remarks at talks with UK, Italian, French and German top diplomats in Antalya, Turkey on the sidelines of a NATO Informal Foreign Ministers Meeting

Russian Guardsmen destroy 15 Ukrainian attack drones in Kherson, Zaporozhye Regions

The downed Ukrainian UAVs were handed over to the competent agencies for examination

First draft standards for Islamic banking may appear in late 2025 — ARB

According to Anatoly Kozlachkov, head of the Association of Russian Banks, the bill on partnership financing, already submitted to the State Duma assumes that it is the ADB that will be engaged in standardization

Date, venue of possible Putin-Trump meeting not set yet — Rubio

Previously, US President said progress in the Ukrainian peace process will depend on whether he will have a chance to talk to Russian leader in person

No clarity yet if Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, US will hold four-way talks in Istanbul

Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oncu Keceli said the city will host teams from the US, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Ukraine, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov; Russia, led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky; and Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan

Russia aims to discuss broader settlement, not just ceasefire, at Ukraine talks — diplomat

Russia has repeatedly expressed the opinion that a ceasefire regime can be achievable only when a unified settlement strategy has been built, Rodion Miroshnik said

Switzerland joins EU ban for companies to do business with 6 airports, 5 ports in Russia

As the Swiss authorities claim, this is because these types of infrastructure are allegedly "used for the transport of drones, missiles and goods to support" Russia in the conflict against Ukraine

EU puts itself in economic hell with false Russia threat narrative — MFA

"The EU invents this so-called Russian threat because spreading this narrative distracts the attention of their citizens from the disastrous situation in their own economies," Maria Zakharova noted

Saudi delegation to take part in St. Petersburg International Economic Forum — ambassador

Abdulrahman bin Suleiman Al-Ahmed confirmed that his country intends to strengthen cultural ties with Russia and invest in fostering people-to-people connections

Putin chaired meeting ahead of Istanbul talks with Ukraine last evening — Kremlin

According to Peskov, apart from the team of negotiators, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, Viktor Zolotov, the chief of Russia’s National Guard Service, Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu

Islamic banking should be made a permanent instrument in Russia — lawmaker

Extending the law on partnership financing, aka Islamic banking, for only three years may scare off potential investors, said the head of the State Duma Committee on Financial Markets Anatoly Aksakov

Zelensky's legitimacy and Istanbul talks: Key statements from Miroshnik

Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador at Large on Kiev’s War Crimes noted that Kiev's position that only a truce can be discussed in Istanbul is incompatible with Moscow's approach

Zelensky-Erdogan talks last little under three hours

The talks included both a one-on-one meeting and expanded talks with delegations

Volunteers from Russia’s North Caucasus killed in Gaza

Five members of the Insan charity foundation were killed during the bombing of the Jabaliya refugee camp

NATO should not confuse its defense with Ukraine's defense — Szijjarto

Hungarian Foreign Minister expressed the view that NATO should refrain from providing military assistance to Ukraine, instead concentrating on preventing the escalation of the conflict

Kremlin denies possibility of Putin's presence at talks in Turkey

The Russian delegation is headed by Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky

Russia sees prospects in trade cooperation with Afghanistan — Industry and Trade Ministry

The country has great resource and logistics potential, Vasily Osmakov said

Ukraine fails to turn Istanbul talks into show — Russian diplomat

Rodion Miroshnik noted that the start of the negotiations has already been postponed by 24 hours

Six prototypes of bird flu vaccine to undergo preclinical trials in Russia

The country’s chief sanitary doctor Popova sees no need to launch industrial production of such prototypes, because the spillover event

Staff successfully ensures safety of Zaporozhye nuke plant despite unstable energy supply

Since May 7, the plant’s own needs have been filled by a single 750 kV line, the ZNPP’s director of communications, Yevgeniya Yashina, said

Number of Palestinian refugees and displaced persons exceeds 7 million — Abbas

Palestinian President said it on the occasion of Nakba, the date marking the Arab defeat in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war

Indian premier notes Russian-made S-400 air defense system’s role during escalation

Narendra Modi also praised domestically made Akash missile systems

Kiev government lost hundreds of millions purchasing weapons — FT investigation

It is based on leaked governmental documents and dozens of interviews with officials responsible for arms procurement, as well as arms traders and detectives

Ukrainian troops prepare for battles for Sumy, try to hold Yunakovka — security forces

They are building up several defense lines

US representative to attend Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul — Rubio

When asked about the format of Friday’s talks, US Secretary of State said he planned to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and with the Ukrainian delegation

Putin extended Russia’s 2021-2025 defense plan by 2 years

The defense plan for 2021-2025 was introduced on November 12, 2020

Over 110 killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza in past day — Al Jazeera

The TV channel reported that on Thursday, the Israeli troops carried out massive air strikes on the region’s three largest medical facilities

US to decide on meeting between Trump, Putin after talks on Ukraine — Rubio

The only way to achieve a breakthrough in a peaceful settlement in Ukraine will be direct negotiations between US and Russian leaders, he said

Russia holds successful meeting with Turkish foreign minister — Medinsky

The Russian delegation explained in detail its position on Ukraine, head of the Russian delegation, Presidential Aide said

Talks with Ukraine aimed toward lasting peace, head of Russian delegation says

"The delegation is seeking to find constructive solutions and find common ground," Vladimir Medinsky said

Cuban president says his visit to Russia was fruitful

Miguel Diaz-Canel said the Cuban delegation visited Russia "to express solidarity and support to a friendly country, a fraternal nation"

Yemeni Houthis report missile strike on Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv

There were no reports of casualties or damage inflicted by falling missile fragments

Zelensky approves list of Ukraine’s delegation members for talks with Russia in Istanbul

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the delegation

White House expects Putin-Trump meeting to take place very soon

Commenting on whether Trump planned to attend the Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul, the White House official replied: "No, because we need to have all the parties decide"

US has no plans of giving up role of mediator on Ukraine — Rubio

He added that his country was not going to be "chasing this around the world anymore"

Gaza should get Palestinian leadership after conflict — UAE foreign minister

Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan is convinced that the current Palestinian authorities are "very much fed up with the current situation" and "they want an end to this war"

IN BRIEF: Lavrov calls Istanbul talks 'intriguing,' urges pan-Eurasian unity

"Everyone, of course, is talking about Ukraine right now due to the intrigue that is unfolding in Istanbul," the Russian foreign minister said

Trilateral meeting between Turkey, Russia, Ukraine slated for Friday in Istanbul

The source added that "it is still unclear whether a four-party format meeting, involving the US, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey, will be held"

Berlin's silence over video showing Merz, Macron is telling — MFA

Maria Zakharova noted that the Elysee Palace had immediately labeled the news as fake, but had not asked the Kiev regime to stop spreading false information

Lavrov calls Zelensky "nothing man" for demanding Putin come to Istanbul

The Russian foreign minister recalled that Zelensky made some statements demanding that Putin attend in person

Evidence galore Europe wants no peace in Ukraine — Lavrov

According to Sergey Lavrov, after the United States scaled back support for Ukraine and started prioritizing non-European areas of American foreign policy, Europe decided to look out for itself

Reports that Russia, Ukraine’s meeting in Istanbul kicked off not true — TASS source

Earlier, a TASS source said that there was no understanding yet as to when Russia and Ukraine will start their talks as Kiev has not yet articulated its stance

China’s army ready to bolster strategic ties with Russia for sake of stability — top brass

Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Bin added that Chinese-Russian cooperation was becoming more substantive

GECF lowers estimate for global gas demand growth in 2025 to 1.9% from 2% — report

The GECF attributed the revision of the forecast by a decrease in gas production volumes in Eurasia

Top US diplomat says Ukrainian conflict cannot be solved militarily

Marco Rubio noted that the situation around the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict remained complicated

Russian troops breaching Ukrainian defenses near Krasnoarmeysk in Donetsk region — expert

According to Andrey Marochko, the Russian troops are moving at quite a fast pace towards Dobropolye

Representatives of all of Kiev's intelligence agencies arrive in Turkey — Zelensky

"Ukraine has a delegation at the highest level," Vladimir Zelensky said

Commanders in special op zone briefed Putin on frontline developments, says Kremlin

"The battlegroup commanders attended the meeting in order to report on the situation on various axes on the line of combat engagement," Dmitry Peskov said

Russian diplomat accuses Ukraine of trying to prevent peace talks from happening

Ukraine has derailed all the agreements that have been reached over the past 11 years, Rodion Miroshnik said

Russia’s Deputy PM calls for investments in new regions

The tax base in Donbass and Novorossiya has grown significantly in recent times, Marat Khusnullin said

Islamic banking underused as tool for international cooperation — Finance Ministry

Partnership financing should be utilized more for this purpose, Alexey Yakovlev said

Ukraine loses another F-16 fighter jet — Air Force

According to the Air Force, the pilot was quickly found and evacuated; his condition is satisfactory

German Chancellor says no plans for certification of Nord Stream 2 pipeline

Currently, Nord Stream 2 does not have an operating license, Friedrich Merz said

Moscow says Ukraine needs to step away from microphone, come to negotiating table

"No matter how loud these NATO benchwarmers shout from the sidelines, in order to take a shot on goal, the Ukrainian national team needs to take the field," Maria Zakharova said

Russian delegation to Istanbul to make statement for media soon

Vladimir Medinsky will make a statement at 5:30 p.m. Moscow time

Turkish foreign minister starts meeting with Russia’s negotiating team in Istanbul

In Istanbul, May 16, there will be a US delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Ukrainian delegation headed by the defense minister, a Russian delegation headed by Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan

Russia’s prerogative is to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine — Lavrov

According to the Russian top diplomat, this requires eliminating the root causes of the conflict

Idea of 30-day ceasefire based on cheating, Crimea’s head says

"Practice shows that Kiev is completely unable to respect any agreements," Sergey Aksyonov noted

Ukraine gets smaller every time Kiev disrupts talks — diplomat

Maria Zakharova recalled Sergey Lavrov's words that Ukraine would have kept a part of Donbass if the agreements reached at the April 2022 talks in Istanbul had been implemented

Kiev's delegation in Turkey lacks experience negotiating political deals — Russian envoy

Rodion Miroshnik that some of the Ukrainian delegates in Istanbul have a rather "questionable background"

Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul to start on May 16 — source

Last night, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the lineup of the Russian delegation and experts for talks with Kiev

Russian forces destroy 50 Ukrainian troops, 20 military vehicles in Kharkov region

Live-recording equipment at the western borders of the LPR enabled Russian forces to uncover amassments of Ukrainian military hardware and troops in the settlement of Druzhelyubovka

Putin outlined Russian delegation’s negotiating position at yesterday’s meeting — Kremlin

The Russian delegation has been waiting in Istanbul since this morning for Ukrainian representatives, who have not yet arrived, Dmitry Peskov pointed out

Two foreign tourists attempting to take pictures detained at Baikonur cosmodrome

The two men from the Czech Republic were trying to sneak to the Buran rocket

Russia’s stance at Ukraine negotiations shifted due to changes on ground — Zakharova

The diplomat noted that the Ukrainian territory diminishes every time the Kiev regime disrupts the negotiating process

First batch of 2,000 Gepard kamikaze drones arrives for Russian troops

The Gepard features a ‘blind’ takeoff capability to counter enemy electronic reconnaissance and make the crew safe at the launch site

West intends to pit India against China — Lavrov

"This is a policy that Russian President Vladimir Putin recently highlighted again - ‘divide and conquer,’" the foreign minister emphasized

Putin offered precisely direct talks between Russia, Ukraine — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov dismissed the possibility of European countries' participation in the talks

Torskoye community liberated by Russian troops in DPR was Kiev’s fortified area — expert

According to Vitaly Kiselev, the Ukrainian army have been preparing defenses in Torskoye since 2015

Russia, Ukraine won’t hold talks on May 15 due to logistical issues, source tells TASS

According to a TASS reporter, the Russian delegation is heading to the Dolmabahce Palace, a presidential residence

Pentagon does not rule out direct US-Russia conflict if Ukraine crisis escalates

Even though China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran "seek to avoid armed conflict with the United States," their conviction in "Western decline fosters a growing willingness to challenge the United States, General Gregory Guillot, commander of the United States Northern Command, said

Istanbul 2.0 signals a losing game for Zelensky, even if he skips talks — politician

According to Viktor Medvedchuk, Zelensky erred by overestimating his geopolitical role, as he has been a pawn, not a queen as he was told, since the very beginning

Russia delivers around 64 mln tons of grain to 40 Muslim countries in 2024

The primary markets for Russian grain last year were Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Libya

Russian stock indices decline as trading on Moscow Exchange closes

The MOEX index fell by 2.88% to 2,840.05 points

RPL-20, RPL-7 belt-fed hand-held machine guns demonstrated for first time in Russia

"Our goal is to expand our line of products to meet the specific needs of our customers," stated Kalashnikov Concern CEO Alan Lushnikov

Federation Council passes bill denouncing treaty with Ukraine on Sea of Azov, Kerch Strait

According to the explanatory note to the bill, a fundamentally new situation emerged when the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions joined Russia because, now, the coasts of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait come under the sole jurisdiction of the Russian Federation

Poland to ban Dodik from entering its territory — foreign ministry

Earlier, Dodik was banned from entering Australia and Germany

Moscow's rivals scheme to replace power in Russia — foreign intel chief

Sergey Naryshkin added that Russia’s geopolitical rivals are hatching plans, with financial support from the West, to split Russia into multiple parts

Russian Presidential Aide Medinsky’s authority on a par with Witkoff’s — envoy

Vladimir Medinsky will represent Russia’s interests at the Istanbul venue and carry out the directives issued by the president, Rodion Miroshnik said

Russia’s permanent mission slams Baerbock’s nomination as head of UN General Assembly

Dmitry Polyansky said that it was the former German foreign minister who recommended that representatives of Russia and Belarus not be invited to commemorative events of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe

Trump becomes grandfather for eleventh time

Alexander Trump Boulos was born May 15, 2025

Putin set goals for Ukraine talks after conferring with special op commanders — official

The Russian president held a special meeting to prepare the Russian delegation for talks in Istanbul on Wednesday

Trump says progress on Ukrainian settlement depends on his meeting with Putin

According to Donald Trump, the meeting should happen as soon as possible because "too many people are dying"

Russia - Islamic World: KazanForum gathers guests from hundreds of countries

The Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center is hosting an exhibition showcasing the achievements of various countries in different fields

IDF reports striking over 130 targets in Gaza Strip over two days

Ground units continue land operations, eliminating several radicals in the southern part of the embattled enclave and wiping out dozens of military infrastructure facilities belonging to the Gaza-based Palestinian movement Hamas

Russian negotiators in Turkey qualified, vested with full authority — head of delegation

According to Vladimir Medinsky, the Russian delegation is determined to carry out a constructive dialogue aimed at finding a common ground and searching for possible solutions

Merz says presence of FRG military in Ukraine not being considered now

German Chancellor emphasized his preference for Germany to collaborate with European partners on providing security guarantees for Ukraine, rather than taking on a leading European role

Russian negotiators will be waiting for Ukrainian team in Turkey from 10 a.m. on Friday

CSTO to participate in Moscow meeting of high-level security officials

The organization’s delegation at the meeting will be led by the CSTO deputy secretary general

Press review: Russia-Ukraine territorial talks set for Istanbul as EU targets oil tankers

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, May 15th

PREVIEW: Russia-Ukraine talks expected to begin in Istanbul

The Russian delegation, sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was ready for dialogue back on Thursday