War latest news. Moscow, shooting at Crocus City Hall: over 60 dead and 145 wounded. Isis claims the attack. Attackers on the run

146 people were injured in the attack in the concert hall near Moscow. Tass quotes the ministry of the Moscow region.

The Russian National Guard completed an inspection in the car parks of the Crocus City Hall and reported that no explosives or devices were found. This was reported by Ria Novosti.

REUTERS/Yulia Morozova

The US had warned Russia of the risk of attacks by Isis-K, the Islamic State .of Iraq and the Levant. This was reported by CNN citing informed sources. According to the New York Times, however, the US embassy in Moscow had warned Washington on 7 March that it was 'monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to attack major events in Moscow, including concerts'. The alert, which according to the US newspaper's sources was linked to today's attack, claimed that attacks could take place within 48 hours.

Isis has claimed the armed attack in Moscow. Isis fighters "attacked a large gathering... on the outskirts of the Russian capital Moscow," the group said in a statement posted on Telegram.

"The horror of the massacre of innocent civilians in Moscow is unacceptable. The Italian government's firm and total condemnation of this heinous act of terrorism. I express my full solidarity with the people affected and the families of the victims". This was written in a note by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

All mass and entertainment events in Russia's federal cultural institutions are cancelled for the next few days. The Ministry of Culture told Tass. "A terrible and incomprehensible tragedy in Crocus City Hall. Condolences to the families and friends of the victims. We mourn with you. A speedy recovery to the victims. Mass and entertainment events in federal cultural institutions are cancelled for the next few days,' the ministry's press service said.

REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

The car of the commando who attacked Moscow's Crocus City Hall this evening is in the car park in front of the concert hall and could be mined. The Nexta media writes this without citing sources, adding that the vehicle has been isolated and that the National Guard is inspecting the car park with dog units.

REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

"The images reaching us from Moscow are terrible. Our thoughts are with the victims and the injured, and with the Russian people,' the French Foreign Ministry wrote on X, adding that 'full light must be shed on these heinous acts'.

Prince Harry and Meghan have sent their 'health and recovery' wishes to Catherine, Princess of Wales, after she announced a cancer diagnosis on Friday. CNN reports. "We wish Kate and family health and recovery, and hope this can happen in privacy and peace," the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a note.

There are also children among those injured in the shooting and fire that broke out at the Crocus City Hall concert hall, Russian state news agency Ria reports. Andrey Vorobyov, governor of the Moscow region, wrote on his Telegram account that five people are in serious condition. The presence of children among those injured in the concert hall attack in Moscow was also confirmed by Ksenia Mishonova, commissioner for children's rights of the Moscow region. "There were children in the theatre, there are injured," said Mishonova, quoted by the Interfax news agency.

(AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)

The car of the commando who attacked Moscow's Crocus City Hall this evening is in the car park in front of the concert hall and could be mined. The Nexta media writes this without citing sources, adding that the vehicle has been isolated and that the National Guard is inspecting the car park with dog units.

AP Photo)

"What a nightmare in Crocus. Condolences to the families of the victims and best wishes for the recovery of the injured. All those involved in this crime must be found and sentenced". Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny, writes this on X.

REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

"The EU is shocked and horrified by the reports of a terrorist attack in Moscow's Crocus City Hall" and "condemns any attack against civilians". EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano writes this on X. "Our thoughts are with all Russian citizens affected," he adds.

REUTERS/Yulia Morozova

Eyewitnesses told Tass that security measures for entering and leaving Moscow had been tightened. Meanwhile, passenger checks in the metro have been increased. "Enhanced passenger control is in place," the Russian transport department wrote on its Telegram channel.

The Russian National Guard, Rosgvardia, said it was hunting the concert hall assailants in Moscow, who then allegedly managed to escape. This was reported by Tass.

In light of the terrorist attack on the Moscow concert hall, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called an extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council for tomorrow morning. This was reported by the media in Belgrade.

If Washington has any information about the terrorist attack in Moscow, it must share it with Russia immediately, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on her Telegram channel, quoted by Tass. "What reasons do Washington officials have to say that someone is not involved in the tragedy? If the United States has or had reliable data about it, this data should be immediately shared with the Russian side." The spokeswoman thus commented on the White House statement on Ukraine's non-involvement in the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall in Moscow. "And if it has no information, the White House has no right to pronounce acquittals against anyone."

"Vladimir Putin was informed about the terrorist attack on the Crocus town hall in the first minutes after the incident" of the terrorist attack in Moscow. This was said by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov quoted by Ria Novosti. The Russian president 'gave all necessary instructions in connection with the emergency,' he added.

Russia will kill Ukrainian leaders if they are involved in the Moscow bombing. Former president and current Russian Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev says this. "If it is established that terrorists of the Kiev regime were behind it ... they will all have to be found and killed mercilessly. Including the leaders of the state that committed such atrocities," Medvedev said on his Telegram channel.

The FBI has informed passengers of the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max on which an in-flight security door exploded that they may be victims of a crime. "We are contacting you because we have identified you as a possible victim of a crime," a specialist from the bureau's Seattle office wrote in letters passengers received this week.

"This case is currently being investigated by the FBI," the missive continues without indicating the possible crime. In recent days, the Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation into whether the panel's outburst violated the terms of a 2021 agreement that allowed Boeing to avoid prosecution for misleading the regulatory authorities that certified the 737 Max.

"The images of the terrible attack on innocent people in the Crocus City Hall in Moscow are horrific. It must be clarified quickly what was behind it. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the families of the victims". The German Foreign Ministry writes this on X.

Russian channels on Telegram reported that four members of the commando that attacked the Moscow concert hall (out of five in total, apparently) managed to escape. The FSB, Tass later reported, confirmed that the services are carrying out 'search and investigation operations' into the incident.

The Ukrainian presidency of Volodymyr Zelensky said it "had nothing to do" with tonight's terrorist attack in Moscow. "Let us make it clear, Ukraine has absolutely nothing to do with these events" in Moscow, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said. "Ukraine has never used terrorist methods of warfare," he added. For Kiev "it is important to conduct effective combat operations, offensive actions to destroy the Russian regular army" and end the invasion, the official said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "condemns in the strongest terms today's large-scale missile and drone attacks by Russia against cities and towns in Ukraine, including against civilian, energy and other critical infrastructure". This was communicated by the spokesperson of the Glass Palace. According to reports, 'the attacks killed and injured many civilians and caused severe damage, including to the Dnipro hydroelectric power plant in the Zaporizhzhia region, leaving more than one million Ukrainians without access to electricity and water in Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia'. Guterres, the spokesman pointed out, "is appalled by the continuing killings and destruction and stresses once again that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law, are unacceptable and must end immediately".

A representative of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RRK), among the paramilitary groups loyal to Ukraine responsible for armed incursions into Russian Ukrainian regions, denied any involvement of the group in the Moscow concert hall shooting. "Of course we have nothing to do with this," a representative of the group told Novaya Gazeta Europe.

"The Farnesina and the Italian embassy in Russia are monitoring the situation in Moscow following the attack at Crocus City". This was written on X by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding that Minister Antonio Tajani "is following the evolution" and inviting "for any emergency or signalling to contact our Crisis Unit".

All public, sporting and cultural events were cancelled for the weekend in Moscow after the armed attack on the Crocus concert hall. This was announced by the mayor of the Russian capital, Sergey Sobyanin, according to Interfax reports. Meanwhile, security measures have been tightened at Moscow airports and railway stations.

Tajani: 'No news of Italians involved in the Moscow attack at the moment'

The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defence Ministry says the terrorist attack in Moscow is 'a deliberate provocation by the Putin regime'. This was stated by Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda. "This is a deliberate provocation by Putin's special services, which the international community had warned against," he said. "The Kremlin tyrant started his career with this and wants to end it with the same crimes against his own citizens."

On 7 March the US embassy in Moscow warned of possible terrorist attacks within 48 hours, especially in crowded concert venues.

At least 40 people are reported to be dead and about a hundred injured in an attack still in progress in a shopping centre and concert hall in Moscow. This was written by Novaja Gazeta, referring to several attackers in camouflage in action. About 200 people are reportedly still inside the targeted building where a large fire broke out.

The Russian Prosecutor General explained that unidentified individuals in camouflage broke into Moscow's Crocus City Hall and started shooting before the concert scheduled for this evening began. This was reported by Tass. Meanwhile, the Russian Federal Security Service FSB confirmed that people were killed and injured during the attack.

"There is no sign at the moment of Ukrainian or Ukrainian involvement in the shooting in Moscow," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

"We do not encourage Ukraine to strike Russia internally, nor do we help it to do so," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

Rome, 22 Mar (LaPresse) - "The entire international community" should condemn the terrorist attack that took place in the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Moscow. This was said by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, quoted by Ria Novosti.

It is unclear at the moment what the motive was for the attack, which reportedly claimed numerous victims. In a video, at least four men can be seen entering the building and opening fire in cold blood.

Firefighters evacuated nearly 100 people from Moscow's Crocus City Hall, which was attacked by an armed commando this evening. This was reported by the Russian Emergencies Ministry, adding that rescue operations are underway for people on the roof of the building.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called tonight's shooting at Moscow's Crocus City Hall 'a bloody terrorist attack'. Tass reports.

More than fifty ambulances were sent to Moscow's Crocus City Hall after the attack that claimed several lives. This was announced by the Russian Health Ministry, as reported by Tass. The concert hall is located in the north-western suburbs of the city of Moscow.

A group of people are still trapped in the concert hall near Moscow where the shooting took place. Tass reports.

Un fermo immagine della sparatoria al Crocus City Hall, Mosca, 22 marzo 2024. In un video postato da Novaya Gazeta Europa si vedono gli assalitori - almeno quattro - alla sala da concerti Crocus City Hall di Mosca che avanzano e sparano a sangue freddo su alcune persone che cercano di ripararsi in un angolo poco fuori dall'ingresso, in un centro commerciale, e poi entrano.

In a video posted by Novaya Gazeta Europa, the assailants - at least four of them - at the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Moscow can be seen advancing and firing in cold blood at a number of people trying to take cover in a corner just outside the entrance, in a shopping centre, and then entering.

Russian forces fired ballistic missiles at the Odessa oblast this evening, causing fire, but no casualties. The Russians 'launched what probably look like Iskander M missiles from the temporarily occupied Crimea trying to destroy infrastructure in the oblast. A fire broke out at the affected site in the Odessa district, but was quickly extinguished. No one was injured,' Oleh Kiper, head of the Odessa oblast military administration, was quoted by Ukrainska Pravda as saying.

At least 12 people were killed and 35 injured in a shooting at Crocus City Hall, the largest concert hall in Moscow, where three armed men in camouflage entered and started shooting. Local media reported this. The Tass news agency writes that the attackers allegedly used machine guns. Ria Novosti states that the gunmen also ''threw a grenade or firebomb, setting off a fire'' that is still ongoing. Hundreds of people were present in the concert hall at the time of the attack and many were evacuated.

According to reports from the Russian emergency services, an explosion occurred during the show hosted at Moscow's Crocus City Hall, where an attack took place this evening. This was reported by Tass. According to Russian media reports, a concert by the rock band Picnic was scheduled. The roof of the building is on fire and is in danger of collapsing while there are still people inside.

According to media reports, at least 12 people were killed and 35 wounded in the shooting at the concert hall in Moscow. This was reported by Baza relayed by several Russian media including Novaya Gazeta and Moscow Times. An evacuation of the building is in progress, reports Tass.

La colonna di fumo si alza sopra la sala concerti del Crocus City Hall a seguito di una sparatoria, alla periferia di Mosca. REUTERS/Stringer

The US shares Israel's goal of defeating Hamas and ensuring its long-term security, but a military operation in Rafah "is not the way to do it". This was said by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, before leaving Israel, the last stop on his sixth tour of the Middle East since the start of the war. "You risk killing more civilians, wreaking even greater havoc on the delivery of humanitarian assistance, further isolating Israel in the world, and jeopardising its security and long-term position," Blinken said. "An integrated humanitarian, military and political plan is really needed," Blinken added.

In a meeting in Tel Aviv with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the US commitment to Israel's security and the lasting defeat of Hamas, including at Rafah. In addition, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, Blinken discussed efforts to reach an agreement for a ceasefire of at least six weeks that would secure the release of hostages and allow for an increase in humanitarian aid. Blinken also stressed the need to protect civilians in Gaza and to increase and sustain humanitarian assistance, including through land and sea routes, and briefed the War Cabinet on its consultations in Jeddah and Cairo on efforts to achieve lasting peace and security for Israel, the Palestinian people and the broader region.

Negotiations for a prisoner exchange and a truce in Gaza "are moving forward, there should be progress in the hours ahead". US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this after meeting with Benyamin Netanyahu in Israel. "We will do our best to bring the hostages home, the negotiators are working hard," he added.

REUTERS

"On the UN resolution we gathered strong support but there was a veto from Russia and China. We showed the sense of urgency related to the ceasefire leading to the hostages' return home but it is unimaginable that some countries did not want to follow our lead. However, there is strong support and determination from many countries to reach a ceasefire to release the hostages". This is how US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, leaving Tel Aviv, commented on the Security Council's halt to the US resolution due to the veto of China and Russia.

"Julian, if he is not saved, risks ending up like Navalny": his wife, Stella Assange, said this today in Perugia. She did so, speaking to ANSA on the sidelines of the Federico Caffè awards ceremony. "Julian and Navalny are in the same position, both are political prisoners and that is why I also criticised Ursula von der Leyen who only defended Navalny," the WikiLeaks founder's wife said again. 'Over these years,' she continued, 'I have been scared for Julian's life, there were signs that made me fear for him'.

Further reading / Assange, US considers whether to drop charges

A 'mass grave' with at least 65 bodies has been discovered in southwestern Libya. This was reported by the International Organisation for Migration in a note. "The circumstances of their death and nationality remain unknown, but it is believed that they died while being smuggled across the desert," the IOM adds. This latest tragedy highlights the urgent need to address the challenges of irregular migration through a coordinated response to migrant smuggling. Without regular routes for legal migration, such tragedies will continue to be a feature along this route'.

The final go-ahead for the Nature Restoration Act has been postponed until a later date. Noting the absence of a qualified majority in support of the agreement already reached with the Eurochamber, the Belgian presidency of the EU Council decided today to withdraw the item without discussion at the meeting of ambassadors at Coreper and not to put the dossier on the agenda of the EU Environment Council on Monday.

"Germany's position is known: we are not a fan of these ideas'" German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this when meeting the press at the end of the European Council, asked in particular about Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas's proposal to create a common European debt of EUR 100 billion to strengthen defence.

Further reading / Meloni and Tajani push for common defence with Eurobonds but decisions are postponed until after the European elections

"I told" Blinken that "there is no way to defeat Hamas without going to Rafah and eliminating the rest of the battalions. And I told him that I hope we will do it with the support of the United States, but if it is necessary we will do it alone." Thus Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu at the end of his meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. "I told him that I really appreciate the fact that for more than five months we have been fighting together against Hamas. I also told him that we recognise the need to evacuate the civilian population from war zones and of course to take care of humanitarian needs as well and we are working towards that end."

EPA/GOVERNMENT PRESS OFFICE

In today's meeting with the Israeli war cabinet, Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a serious warning to Israel, according to the Israeli website Walla, which quotes an unspecified source with knowledge of the conversation. Blinken, according to the source, said: 'You must prepare a clear plan (for the post-Hamas era, ed.) or you will be bogged down in Gaza. Continuation of the war without a clear goal for the next day, Biden's envoy added, would endanger Israel's security and its international status.

There was 'very significant' damage to a Ukrainian hydroelectric power plant hit by eight Russian missiles. This was stated by Kiev sources.

"There are two deeply cynical reasons behind this veto: first, Russia and China do not want to condemn Hamas for the 7 October attacks. They also simply do not want to see a text drafted by the United States adopted'. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said this after the failure in the Security Council of the US resolution on the Gaza truce (read below, ndr). "We know full well that behind all the rhetoric, Russia and China are not doing anything diplomatically for lasting peace or sincerely contributing to humanitarian efforts," she added.

L’ambasciatride statunitense alle Nazioni Unite Linda Thomas-Greenfield. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Russia and China vetoed in the UN Security Council the US-drafted resolution on the Gaza ceasefire that 'determines the imperative of an immediate and prolonged ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides, allow delivery of essential humanitarian assistance, and alleviate humanitarian suffering'. The text received 11 votes in favour, 3 votes against (Algeria plus a veto from Russia and China), and one abstention, Guyana.

In a meeting focused entirely on the crisis in the Middle East on the sidelines of the EU Council, the prime ministers of Spain, Ireland, Malta and Slovenia in a joint declaration said they were "ready to recognise the Palestinian state" and would do so "when this brings a positive contribution" to the situation. In the text, the 4 countries called for "an immediate ceasefire, including the unconditional release of hostages and a massive increase in aid to Gaza". "We agree that only the two-state solution can bring lasting and stable peace" to the region, the 4 European leaders added.

"It is imperative" to complete the mission in Gaza, "including Rafah, and dismantle the Hamas terrorists following the 7 October massacre". War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a meeting between the two. Gantz added that "Israel will continue to allow humanitarian solutions for the civilian population in Gaza, making sure that aid does not fall into the hands of Hamas".

The Ukrainian government responded to rumours published by the Financial Times (read below, ndr) that the US had asked Kiev not to strike Russian refineries and energy infrastructure. "These are legitimate military targets," said Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna, according to whom Ukraine is "achieving its goals" with "very successful operations" conducted on Russia's territory. "We understand the appeals of our American partners," Stefanishyna said, speaking at the Kyiv Security Forum. "At the same time, we are fighting with the capabilities, resources and practices we are discussing today," the deputy premier concluded.

Brazil crossed the 2 million dengue case threshold in 2024. According to data from the Ministry of Health, the country recorded 2,010,896 cases in the first 11 weeks of this year, while the number of confirmed deaths exceeded 600. This is the highest case figure recorded since 2000, when tracking of the fever began. The previous record was in 2015, when 1,688,688 cases were recorded. This was reported by the newspaper O Globo. The ministry's estimate is that Brazil will record 4.2 million cases this year. Also according to available data, 682 people have died of dengue fever and another 1,042 deaths are under investigation.

The US has asked Ukraine not to strike Russian oil refineries or other energy infrastructure, explaining that such attacks would have the effect of driving up global oil and energy prices. This was reported by the Financial Times, which cited three sources informed of the facts that the US fears a further escalation of the conflict. Another fear of Washington is that should Ukraine continue to strike at Russian facilities, including those far from the border, the Kremlin could retaliate by striking at infrastructure that the West relies on. This includes, for example, the Cpc pipeline, which transports oil from Kazakhstan to the global market via Russia. Western companies, including ExxonMobil and Chevron, use the pipeline, which Moscow briefly closed in 2022.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak before Congress. "I would love for him to come and speak in a joint session of Congress," he said in an interview with Cnbc. "We will definitely extend the invitation," he added. The announcement comes on the heels of Netanyahu's video-linked speech before Republican senators, after Dem Senator Leader Chuck Schumer had attacked him heavily, calling him "an obstacle to peace" and evoking the need for new elections.

Il primo ministro israeliano Benjamin Netanyahu. (Leo Correa / POOL / AFP)

Seventy-one per cent of Palestinians ''consider the attack launched on 7 October by Hamas against Israel to be correct'': this is one of the results of an opinion poll conducted in early March in the West Bank and Gaza by Khalil Shikaki's Palestinian Center for Policy and Surevy Research (Pcpsr). Three quarters of Palestinians,'' the researcher says, ''think that the offensive has brought the Israeli-Palestinian issue back to the centre of attention after having been ignored for years regionally and internationally. Satisfaction with Hamas and Yihia Sinwar remains very high, while satisfaction with al-Fatah and President Abu Mazen remains very low,'' he adds. The poll (conducted among 1,580 people) revealed, among other things, that 94 per cent of Palestinians think Israel has committed war crimes, while only 5 per cent believe Hamas has also committed them. Sixty-four per cent think that Hamas will emerge victorious from the war and 59 per cent are convinced that it will continue to rule in Gaza. Forty per cent are convinced that a permanent ceasefire will be agreed between Israel and Hamas. On the political level, al-Fatah leader Marwan Barghuti (who is serving a life sentence in Israel) remains the most popular political leader and 84 per cent want Abu Mazen to resign. In the event of a general election, Hamas would garner 34 per cent of the vote: ''a sharp decline compared to the December 2023 poll,'' notes Shikaki, ''in which it was favoured by 43 per cent. Al-Fatah would only get 17 per cent of the vote. Even the new NPC premier Mohammad Mustafa does not gather significant support so far, according to the poll.

A first group of Ukrainian air pilots completed basic training in the UK. This was announced on Twitter by the British Ministry of Defence, adding that the pilots will continue their training in France before trying their hand at F-16s.

Un F-16 in volo.(AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Russia added the 'international LGBT movement' to the black list of 'terrorists and extremists'.

"The seven sorrows of Mary are similar to the painful story of so many mothers who today are forced to flee to find a safe haven for their children, under the bombardments, where everything around has been destroyed: mothers who have no food to feed their children, or who search among the rubble for their little ones". This was said by the Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land, Father Ibrahim Faltas, presiding over the celebration, at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, at the altar where the wooden half-bust statue of Mary, donated in 1778 by Maria la Pia, Queen of Portugal, is located. Fra Ibrahim Faltas, during his homily, therefore wished to emphasise the connection between Mary's pain and the pain of all mothers. "His thoughts went to the mothers of Gaza, whose suffering the vicar has seen and known at first hand, especially in Italy, where he has recently helped numerous sick children in Gaza," the Custody reports.

The Russian Ministry of Defence has announced that 'a massive attack was carried out with air, sea, land weapons and long-range high-precision drones against energy facilities, the military-industrial complex, railway junctions, arsenals, deployment sites of the Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries'. This is reported by Ria Novosti, which points out that all the targets of Moscow's raids were achieved.

Attacks on energy facilities launched overnight by the Russian army on the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv caused blackouts in the country's second largest city and disrupted air warning systems. The regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov, announced that the police would inform residents of possible air raids from Moscow through loudspeakers and walkie-talkies and that alerts would be sent to mobile phones. The city, in eastern Ukraine, is without electricity, and partly without water and heating, as mayor Igor Terekhov is quoted by Rbc-Ukraine,

Vigili del fuoco lavorano sul sito di un’infrastruttura energetica critica colpita da un attacco missilistico russo fuori Kharkiv, Ucraina, il 22 marzo 2024. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova

The number of people killed overnight in the powerful Russian bombardment of seven Ukrainian regions has risen to five. The local administration stated that 'the death toll from the missile attack on Zaporizhzhia has risen to three people', bringing the number of casualties across the country to five.

Russia is creating a new troop group with more than 100,000 soldiers and may attempt to launch a new offensive during the summer. This was stated by the commander of the ground forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Pavlyuk, as reported by Rbc Ukraina. "We do not know the Russian plans completely. We only know the data according to which they are creating groups of more than 100,000 men," said General

Brazil surpassed the 2 million dengue case threshold in 2024, a historical record, according to a report published by the Ministry of Health. The country recorded 2,010,896 cases, including those confirmed and those under investigation, with an incidence rate of 990.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, the ministry's monitoring team reported. There are 682 confirmed deaths and another 1042 are under investigation. According to the authorities, Brazil has not recorded such a high number of cases in a single year for more than two decades.

If the EU decides to expropriate the proceeds from Russian capital frozen in Europe to be used for the benefit of Kiev, this will have 'very serious consequences for those who made such decisions and for those who implement them'. This was said by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. "We have heard statements from Brussels," Peskov added, quoted by the Ria Novosti news agency, "that the proceeds from capital do not belong to anyone. This is not true, they belong to the owners of the capital, and to think that they do not belong to anyone is absurd."

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz summoned the Turkish deputy ambassador for "a stern rebuke" for the words of President Erdogan who called for "God to destroy and make miserable" PM Benyamin Netanyahu. "You who support the child-burners, murderers, rapists and mutilators of the bodies of Hamas criminals," Katz said addressing Erdogan, "you are the last one who can talk about God. There is no God who will listen to those who support the atrocities and crimes against humanity committed by your barbaric friends of Hamas. Shut up and shame on you!"

The meeting between Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has begun with a focus on the war situation in Gaza. This was announced in an official statement. Immediately afterwards Blinken will see the War Cabinet.

"We entrust to our Lord a certain person called (Benjamin) Netanyahu. May God destroy him and make him miserable." This was stated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as reported by Yeni Safak.

The European Commission has formalised its proposal to introduce increased duties on imports of cereals, oilseeds and agricultural by-products from Russia and Belarus. The measures, announced yesterday by President Ursula von der Leyen, will be on the table of EU leaders today. The duties, points out EU executive vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis, 'will make imports of these products commercially unviable'. Depending on the specific product, the duties imposed will either increase to EUR 95 per tonne or be 50%.

Russia 'is at war because Western participation turns a special military operation into a war'. This was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov as reported by Tass.

Una foto scattata durante una visita a Enerhodar organizzata dal ministero della Difesa russo mostra una vista generale della centrale nucleare di Zaporizhzhia a Enerhodar, nell’Ucraina sudorientale. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

More than 1 million citizens across Ukraine were left without power after Russian air strikes overnight against energy facilities. The Guardian reports. The raids affected around 700,000 residents in the Kharkiv region, at least 200,000 each in the southern Odessa and south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk regions, and 110,000 in the Poltava region, according to Oleksiy Kuleba , deputy head of the presidential administration.

Russian security forces arrested seven citizens accused of being pro-Ukrainian partisans. Ria Novosti reports. Seven Muscovites who 'were planning to set up a cell of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RoK)' were arrested and a machete, eight knives and pepper spray were found in their possession, according to a statement by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation FSB.

Blackouts are being recorded in several cities in Ukraine following the massive raids conducted by Russia in recent hours. Kharkiv, for example, is almost completely in the dark, where more than 15 attacks on energy facilities have been counted. "All emergency services are already operational," assured the head of the regional military administration, Oleh Synehubov, while the mayor, Ihor Terekhov, let it be known that due to the lack of power there are water problems. News of blackouts, reports the Kiev Post, also came from Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih, where there were missile and drone attacks. 'Critical infrastructure has been hit, leading to the implementation of emergency shutdown programmes in the city,' said Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Kryvyi Rih Defence Council. Most of Kamianske, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, is without electricity, according to Mayor Andrii Bilousov. In the Sumy region, missile attacks against the power grid led to the temporary implementation of emergency shutdown programmes in some districts. Also in the Lviv region, a drone attack targeted an energy plant in the Stryi district, causing a fire that firefighters are extinguishing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will have a rare private meeting in Beijing next week with the corporate heads of US giants in order to send the message that the economy is a priority for Beijing after years of putting national security first. The meeting, writes the Wall Street Journal, is scheduled to take place on Wednesday after the China Development Forum. Although the list of participants is still evolving, it appears that at present it includes Chubb's number one Evan Greenberg, the chairman of the National Committee for US-China Relations Stephen Orlins, and the head of the US-China Business Council Craig Allen. The event is seen as a follow-up to last November's San Francisco dinner by the US business community where participants paid up to $40,000 for a seat at Xi's table. Analysts say the companies are likely to stress to the Chinese leader the impact that tensions between the two countries have on trade relations and express their desire for a stabilisation of ties. Other issues on the table are data transfer regulations, remaining market access barriers, government procurement and subsidies. On the Chinese side, however, there is a willingness to tackle the decline in foreign investment and the exodus of foreigners. Official figures show that last year foreign investment flows into China fell by 8% to around $157 billion, the first decline in 10 years. Xi's event will reinforce the message that China has a plan of action for multinationals. On Tuesday, Beijing promised a smooth transfer of data between company headquarters and operations in China, and said it would avoid repeated and irregular inspections. Top US corporate leaders are in Beijing for the China Development Forum, a meeting where they engage with Chinese politicians. This year's forum is notable for the huge number of participants from the US, the largest so far. About 40 per cent of the more than 85 business leaders in Beijing this year are from American companies.

One person was killed and eight injured in the Russian attack in the night on the Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia. This was stated by Ivan Fedorov, head of the Zaporizhzhia regional military administration, as reported by Unian. "Today, at 4 a.m., the enemy started hitting our civilian infrastructure in the city of Zaporizhzhia and the Zaporizhzhia region," he said on live TV, "traffic through the Dnipro hydroelectric power plant is blocked and some critical infrastructure has been damaged. Rescuers and all services are currently at work'. According to Fedorov, the Russians fired almost 20 missiles at the city in a few hours.

"I would like the European Council to be a peace council, i.e. to study and decide on all useful strategies to achieve peace in Ukraine, Gaza and the Red Sea. To do this sometimes also requires the use of force. I mean: it is necessary to help the Ukraine to prevent a victory for Russia, because Moscow has violated international law so it cannot pass the law of the strongest. So helping Ukraine is needed to then sit at the peace table. If Kiev is defeated there is no longer a peace table'. So said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to Agora on Rai 3.

Il ministro degli Esteri Antonio Tajani durante il suo intervento al Nuclear Energy Summit a Bruxelles, 21 marzo 2024. ANSA / ALESSANDRO DI MEO

'In Brussels there is an atmosphere of war, a language of war and a logic of war'. This is what Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Kossuth radio's Good Morning programme. According to Orban, 'we are now at a point where NATO countries are being urged to intervene militarily in the Russian-Ukrainian war. And if a country enters into an armed conflict with Russia, it could threaten a world war'.

Il primo ministro ungherese Viktor Orban arrives al Consiglio europeo a Brussels (Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP)

The Russian army shelled the Dnipro hydropower plant, traffic on the road bridge of the dam was blocked, Mariupol mayor's advisor Pyotr Andryushchenko reported, adding that a Russian missile hit a trolleybus full of workers crossing the dam, dozens of people were injured. The head of the Zaporizhzhia police department Ivan Fedorov told national TV that 'since 4am, the Russians have been hitting civil infrastructure, causing a lot of damage', Ukrainska Pravda reports. (

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, is on the brink of a blackout: during a Russian missile attack in the early hours of the morning the external airline connecting the plant with the unified energy system of Ukraine was disconnected. This was reported by the Kiev atomic energy company Energoatom, quoted by Ukrainian media. "Such a situation is extremely dangerous and threatens an emergency situation. If the last line of communication with the power grid is interrupted, the plant will find itself in another blackout,' said Petro Kotin, head of Energoatom.

Un vigile del fuoco spegne un incendio divampato a Kiev in un palazzo colpito da un attacco russo (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

"The Russian army launched in the night the biggest attack on Ukrainian energy facilities since last year," Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko said on social media, as reported by Kiev media. "The aim is not only to damage, but to try again like last year, to cause a collapse of the country's energy system. Power generation plants, transmission and distribution systems have been hit and damaged in the eastern, north-eastern and central regions. There are blackouts in several regions. It has been a difficult night," said

A joint statement issued by a group of foreign ministers from Arab countries called for the "removal of all Israeli-imposed barriers" to humanitarian aid reaching the Gaza Strip in order to "address the dire needs of more than two million Palestinians suffering from famine". "The ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates jointly called for the opening of all border crossings between Israel" and the Palestinian enclave "to allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance," a Cairo statement read. Arab foreign ministers met yesterday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the Egyptian capital to discuss the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Aiuti paracadutati a Gaza (Photo by AFP)

Military aircraft have been deployed in the skies over Poland following tonight's Russian missile attacks on Ukraine, the Polish Armed Forces announced. "Intense activity is underway by the Russian Federation's long-range aviation relating to missile attacks by Tu-95, Tu-22 and Mig-31 aircraft against objects located on the territory of Ukraine," Poland's Armed Forces Operations Command says on its X account, adding that "all necessary procedures have been initiated to ensure the safety of Polish airspace" and "the situation is constantly being monitored". "We warn that ;;Polish and allied aircraft have been activated, which may result in increased noise levels, especially in the southeastern part of the country," the note warns citizens.

Former Brazilian national team and A.C. Milan player Robson de Sousa, known as Robinho, was arrested by the Brazilian Federal Police after Supreme Court judge Luiz Fux rejected the request by the athlete's defence to suspend the execution of the nine-year sentence for rape, imposed by the Milan court and which, according to the Brazilian judiciary's decision, will be served in the South American country. The athlete, who was at his villa in Guaruja, on the Paulist coast, was taken to the Federal Police headquarters in Santos, where he will be transferred to prison at the end of the formalities.

Yesterday, Friday 21 March, Russian forces struck 11 communities in Sumy oblast - in north-eastern Ukraine - in 51 separate attacks. In the past 24 hours, at least 273 explosions were reported in the region. This was reported by the Sumy oblast military administration, cited by The Kyiv Independent.

Ucraini costruiscono fortificazioni sulla linea di difesa della regione di Kharkiv (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

The Palestinian news agency Wafa says that at least eight people died and several others were injured in an Israeli air raid that hit a house in the town of Al-Nasr, northeast of Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, in the early hours of today. The victims also include three children and three women, according to local sources quoted by Wafa. Raids are also reported in Deir El-Balah, in the centre of the Palestinian enclave. The death toll in the Gaza Strip since 7 October stands at around 32,000 dead and at least 74,188 injured, according to the local Hamas-run Ministry of Health.

A North Korean delegation of the Workers' Party has arrived in Beijing, the first stop of a mission that, in addition to China, includes Vietnam and Laos: it is led, the state agency Kcna reported, by Kim Song-nam, director of the party's International Department, and was welcomed on Thursday at the Capital International Airport by the assistant head of the Chinese Communist Party's similar department. The Kcna did not provide details on the purpose of the trip, but it would appear to be aimed at strengthening ties between Pyongyang and countries that share socialist ideology. For Kim, however, it is the first known foreign mission since 2021, when he was tasked with managing affairs with socialist countries. Kim, who worked as an interpreter for the 'eternal president' and founder of North Korea, Kim Il-sung, and his son Kim Jong-il, is known as an expert on China. This year marks the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations. Pyongyang has declared 2024 the 'year of North Korea-China friendship', a designation first introduced in 2009 to mark 60 years of the relationship. On Thursday, Kim met with Wang Huning, one of the seven members of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee, and Liu Jianchao, minister of the party's international liaison department, according to the website of the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang. Wang, number 4 in the Communist hierarchy, expressed China's willingness to promote ties with North Korea and proposed that the two nations work together to create a 'peaceful and stable external environment'. In response, Kim expressed confidence that the two countries can promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields. Kim's trip came as North Korea appears to be resuming its diplomatic activities with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) after years of closing its borders to contain the Covid-19. Laos plans to host the Asean Regional Forum and other related meetings, holding the annual rotating chairmanship in 2024.

About 15 explosions were heard last night in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, followed by power cuts and the outbreak of fires, mayor Igor Terekhov reported, quoting local media. Outbreaks are also reported in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia. Yesterday, it was the capital Kiev that was woken up in the middle of the night by the explosions: the Ukrainian army claimed to have destroyed all 31 missiles fired by the Russian forces, the debris of which fell on buildings causing 13 injuries. (

US officials told CNN that in early March, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed a stern message to Qatar: tell Hamas to respect an agreement on Israeli hostages and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if it does not want to be expelled from Doha, where senior members of the Palestinian Islamist movement are based. According to CNN sources, the message was delivered by Blinken to Qatar's premier and foreign minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani at a meeting in Washington on 5 March. US officials say Qatar understood the message and accepted it without much resistance. Doha has not commented on the specific meeting, but assures that it is exerting enormous pressure on Hamas. It is unclear whether Qatar issued the warning to Hamas leaders, CNN points out. Hamas established a political office in Doha in 2012, where senior members of the group are permanently based. As a result, Qatar plays a crucial role in the region between the Palestinian Islamist movement and other countries. Doha is a key partner for Washington in efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. (

China believes that reconciliation in Ukraine is one of the most urgent goals to be achieved at this time. "We believe that restoring peace is the most urgent task, the most urgent thing to be done," said Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui, meeting with foreign diplomats and journalists in Beijing after his second overseas mission to help resolve the conflict, which took him earlier this month to Russia, Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and to Brussels to meet with EU counterparts.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will arrive in Israel later today to urge a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, ahead of a key UN Security Council vote on a draft US resolution calling for an "immediate" ceasefire. 'The Times of Israel' reports. Washington said it will submit a draft to the Security Council for a vote today on the need for an "immediate ceasefire as part of a hostage deal". After talks in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Blinken will arrive in Israel in the coming hours. It will be his sixth trip to the region since the war began with Hamas' attack on Israel on 7 October. "The negotiators continue to work. The gap is narrowing and we continue to push for an agreement in Doha. There is still hard work to get there. But I still believe it is possible," Blinken said in the last hours.

"Up to 6 a.m. local time (11 p.m. Italian time on Thursday) today, 36 Chinese fighter planes and 6 warships were detected operating around Taiwan. Thirteen of the aircraft entered Taiwan's Northern and Southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone. The armed forces monitored the situation and deployed the appropriate forces to respond'. This is stated on the X account of Taiwan's Ministry of Defence.

Soldati completano la leva obbligatoria a Taichung, Taiwan REUTERS/Ann Wang

The Russian army attacked energy infrastructure in the city of Kharkiv overnight, causing at least 15 explosions and multiple power outages throughout the city. This was written by 'The Kyiv Independent'.

Around 5 a.m. local time (4 a.m. Italian time), the governor of the Kharkiv oblast, Oleh Syniehubov, reported that Russia had carried out 15 attacks against Kharkiv's energy facilities and that the city was almost completely without electricity.

The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, had previously announced that residents were experiencing interruptions in the city's water supply due to blackouts at local pumping substations.