Daily Updates: December 2023

Daily Updates: December 2023

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*** MSK = Moscow Standard Time

December 31, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

One person is killed in the latest Ukrainian shelling of the Belgorod region, after Saturday’s attack on the city’s center claimed the lives of 24 civilians, including four children. Russian forces responded by targeting military sites in Ukraine. Distressing images from central Gaza where at least a dozen people have been reportedly killed by Israeli bombing raids, with Palestinian officials sounding the alarm over an escalating humanitarian catastrophe. Renowned Australian journalist and Julian Assange supporter John Pilger has died at the age of 84. Russian diamonds are forever as India reportedly urges the G7 to delay the ban on Russian diamonds, to protect jobs in a sector vital to the country. — Back to top

December 31, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Distressing images from central Gaza where at least a dozen people are reportedly killed by Israeli bombing raids. Palestinian officials sound the alarm over an escalating humanitarian catastrophe, while pro-Palestinian protests mobilize across Western countries, as the devastating Israeli war on Gaza enters a 13th week. The Serbian president directly addresses pro-Western protesters, who want the results of the recent parliamentary election scrapped. — Back to top

December 30, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Nine civilians, including one child, have been killed in a Ukrainian attack on the Russian city of Belgorod with forty-five more wounded as a result of the strike which occurred right before New Year celebrations in Russia. The Serbian pro-Western opposition holds a rally in Belgrade, with protesters calling for the results of the Parliamentary election, won by the incumbent president’s party, to be annulled. Disturbing images from southern Gaza as the Palestinian Red Crescent posts footage of its staff evacuating the injured from the site of yet another Israeli strike on Khan Yunis. Grief-stricken civilians mourn their loved ones, who are among the twenty plus reported victims of IDF bombs in central Gaza, including many youths. — Back to top

December 30, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Disturbing images from southern Gaza as the Palestinian Red Crescent posts footage of its staff evacuating the injured from the site of yet another Israeli strike on Khan Yunis. Grief-stricken civilians mourn their loved ones, who are among the 20-plus reported victims of IDF bombs in central Gaza, including many children. That’s as the United Nations slams the IDF for attacking a humanitarian aid convoy in Gaza, as well as accusing Israel of obstructing the delivery and distribution of supplies to civilians. — Back to top

December 29, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Three Palestinians are reported killed in the latest IDF air strike on the Maghazi refugee camp, which comes after Israel admitted it was wrong to have killed more than 80 people in that area in an earlier attack. As the death toll in Gaza surpasses 21,000, a Christian pastor in Bethlehem says Western powers have enabled Israel to kill with impunity. Several people are believed to have been tortured and killed at a pineapple farm owned by US food giant Del Monte in the East African nation of Kenya. — Back to top

December 29, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

An air strike on the southern Gazan city of Rafah reportedly leaves at least 20 dead and dozens more injured. Locals have been digging through the rubble in search of survivors coming as a UN official calls the Israeli operation the “monstrosity of our century.”. Nearly a thousand Israelis rally for the safe return of hostages from Gaza as others call for an immediate ceasefire. One of the protesters says the country’s authorities are forcibly cracking down on demonstrations of support for Palestinians. President of Venezuela orders defensive drills to be held, in response to a UK warship being deployed to South American waters amid a regional, territorial dispute. US food corporation Del Monte is embroiled in scandal after several people are suspected to have been killed at a plantation the group owns in Kenya. — Back to top

December 28, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Fifty people are reported killed in the latest Israeli attacks on Gaza, as the southern city of Khan Yunis is hammered with air strikes. The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 21,000, with another 55,000 injured. A doctor in the southern city of Rafah speaks about how local residents are struggling to survive. Russia’s top diplomat asserts that while Western powers wage a hybrid war against his country, it has only become stronger. — Back to top

December 28, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Disturbing images from southern Gaza, where Israeli air strikes kill at least 20 people and wound many more. The Turkish President compares Israeli killing of civilians with the actions of Nazi leadership, adding that Western partners are complicit in the horrors unfolding in Gaza. An 18-year-old Israeli is jailed for refusing to join the IDF, claiming violence is not the answer. His friend says that anyone who rejects taking up arms for Israel is accused of treachery. And, the funeral of an Iranian Islamic revolutionary guard corps commander killed in an Israeli airstrike is underway. We report live from Tehran later in the program. — Back to top

December 27, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

The world is changing and it is unstoppable. India’s foreign minister meets with his Russian counterpart here in Moscow, emphasizing that the majority of the global population no longer trusts the collective West. The death toll in Gaza surpasses 21,000 as Israel conducts an air strike on a UN-operated school at the al-Maghazi refugee camp. With the majority of hospitals in Gaza damaged or destroyed, we hear from a Red Cross representative about the daily challenges. As ongoing protests in Belgrade echo the western-sponsored 2014 Maidan coup in Kiev, a former head of Serbian state intelligence tells us that his country must preserve its independence. — Back to top

December 27, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

The Indian Foreign Minister praises bilateral ties between New Delhi and Moscow, as he gears up to meet his counterpart Sergey Lavrov as part of his 5-day trip to Russia. As 80 bodies of Palestinians killed by the IDF are returned to Gaza, local authorities accuse Israel of stealing organs from the dead. As Israeli bombing raids cause multiple casualties in the southern city of Khan Yunis, the World Health Organization labels the situation in hospitals catastrophic. And, while the Israeli Prime minister boasts of an all-seeing eye, evidence emerges of Israeli friendly fire on October 7th. We hear from an investigator who offers his take on what truly happened that day. — Back to top

December 26, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Moscow says the much-hyped Ukrainian counteroffensive has been a complete failure as the Russian military takes the key city of Maryinka in the Donetsk Republic. A reporter for RT finds an 11-year-old girl’s diary under the rubble after she was killed in an Israeli air strike on a refugee camp in Gaza. With relatives of the hostages still held by Hamas losing patience, the Israeli prime minister vows to continue the war until the end. And, a series of attacks over the weekend in central Nigeria claims the lives of 113 people and leaves hundreds more wounded. — Back to top

December 26, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

The death toll from an Israeli air strike on a refugee camp in Central Gaza rises to at least 106. With relatives of the hostages still held by Hamas losing patience, the Israeli prime minister vows to continue the war until the end. No mincing her words: a member of the European Parliament slams the EU President for aiding and abetting Israel in its war on Gaza. That, as the casualties mount daily, now surpassing over 20,000. Russian forces take control of the key city of Maryinka, located in the Donetsk Republic. We report from the remains of the battleground. — Back to top

December 25, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Russia’s ambassador to Serbia says President Alexander Vucic has proof that the overnight protests in Belgrade were orchestrated by the West as officials draw comparisons with the 2014 Maidan coup in Ukraine. Authorities say at least 70 people are killed in an Israeli air strike on a refugee camp in central Gaza. The Palestinian Red Crescent society says the destruction inflicted on the region is unprecedented. A local pastor in Bethlehem condemns Western powers for allowing Israel to commit atrocities in Gaza without consequences. — Back to top

December 25, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

At least 70 people are killed in a single Israeli air strike on the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza according to local authorities. We hear from a survivor of the attack. Northern Gaza is shattered and destroyed as the IDF withdraws from the Beit Lahia refugee camp near the Israeli border, leaving a wasteland behind. Palestinians formerly detained by Israeli security forces in Gaza recall their experience behind bars, claiming they endured torture at the hands of the IDF. — Back to top

December 24, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

As Israeli strikes leave a trail of destruction in Gaza. Two hundred people are reported killed across the enclave on Saturday, including an aid worker and his family from the United Nations. As the Palestinian death toll tops 20,000, we report from the West Bank where Christmas is cancelled, with calls to end the bloodshed in its place. In a chilling report by human rights watchdog Euro-med, IDF soldiers stand accused of carrying out a field-style execution of Palestinian men, with eyewitness testimony reportedly backing up the claim. — Back to top

December 24, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

As Israeli strikes leave a trail of destruction in Gaza, two hundred people are reported killed across the enclave on Saturday, including a UN aid worker and his family. As the Palestinian death toll tops twenty thousand, we report from the West Bank where Christmas is cancelled, with calls to end the bloodshed in its place. In a chilling report by human rights watchdog Euro-med, IDF soldiers stand accused of carrying out a field-style execution with testimony from eyewitnesses of the alleged massacre. — Back to top

December 23, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

The UN head sounds the alarm over a hunger disaster in the embattled Palestinian enclave, while accusing Israel of obstructing the distribution of humanitarian aid. A Red Cross and Crescent official tells RT that Gazans are facing an epidemic of highly infectious diseases without access to life-saving treatments. Russia slams the US rejection of a ceasefire for Gaza, as the UN Security Council passes a heavily watered-down resolution to at least boost aid deliveries to civilians. — Back to top

December 23, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

The United Nations’ head sounds the alarm over a hunger disaster in the embattled Palestinian enclave, while accusing Israel of obstructing the distribution of humanitarian supplies. Russia slams the US rejection of a ceasefire for Gaza, as the UN Security Council passes a heavily watered-down resolution, to at least boost aid deliveries to civilians. Thousands rally across the world in solidarity with the Palestinians – as global outrage grows over Israel’s relentless assault. — Back to top

December 22, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

As the death toll in Gaza surpasses 20,000, Israeli forces say they plan to expand their ground offensive with a new push into central Gaza. A Geneva-based NGO says it has testimony that dozens of elderly people were executed by the IDF for refusing to leave their homes. An Israeli real estate company ignites outrage by saying it plans to build new homes in war-torn Gaza. An RT correspondent speaks with the firm’s owner, who says Israeli should annex the region. — Back to top

December 22, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

More casualties in the northern Gazan city of Jabalia as the Palestinian Red Crescent accuses Israel of also raiding an ambulance center there. The UN says the entire, 2.3 million population of Gaza, faces a hunger crisis. We hear from a Palestinian mother – one of many – who’s struggling to feed her infant. ‘Surrender or die’ is the message to Hamas from Israel’s Prime Minister, after ceasefire talks collapse, and the IDF steps-up its ground invasion of Gaza. — Back to top

December 21, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Relatives mourn the victims of the latest Israeli shelling on the city of Rafah, where at least 12 Palestinians were killed, as the UN labels Israeli attacks on Gaza’s health system ‘sadistic.’ Israeli forces kill at least 11 unarmed men in front of their relatives in Gaza City, according to information received by the UN. RT speaks with the Palestinian Red Crescent spokesperson. And Angola is reportedly set to withdraw from OPEC after rejecting a new output quota last month. — Back to top

December 21, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

In southern Gaza, at least twelve people are killed as an Israeli strike hits near a hospital in Rafah, with rescue and relief efforts being hindered by communications outages. Also in the enclave’s south, Israel expands its evacuation order for Khan Yunis neighborhoods, which comes as the Red Crescent organization accuses the IDF of targeting hospitals, with 55 people reportedly killed in the city on Wednesday. France jails a former Rwandan doctor for almost a quarter of a century over his role in the 1994 genocide, following years of accusations by the East African nation that Paris itself helped enable the Hutu killing of a reported 1 million Tutsis. — Back to top

December 20, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Sons and husbands were killed in cold blood by IDF soldiers in front of surviving victims in civilian field-style executions, according to testimonies obtained by human rights watchdog Euro-Med. In central Gaza, at least 13 civilians are dead following an Israeli airstrike on a residential building, a shelter for many displaced Palestinians, as a UNICEF spokesperson hits out at the West for staying silent. Russia’s foreign minister slams U.S. interference in global political processes, warning its actions cause nothing but death and destruction. And more than 60 protesters are arrested in the Capital Hill Building calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, with the demonstrators also demanding that U.S. foreign aid to Israel be blocked. — Back to top

December 20, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

A so-called ‘New Guantanamo’ as a European human rights group calls for an international probe into the alleged torture and execution of Palestinian detainees at an Israeli army camp. An Israeli air strike razes-to-the-ground a residential area in southern Gaza. The US State Department says it’s scraping the barrel for cash-strapped Ukraine, as Kiev demands more money to keep its war effort going amid a dwindling stream of aid from the West. Donald Trump accuses President Biden of being a threat to democracy, with the remarks coming after the Republican frontrunner is banned from contesting next year’s US election in the state of Colorado by a local court. — Back to top

December 19, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

The Russian president accuses the West of containing Moscow through its hybrid war in Ukraine, pledging Russia will achieve the goals of its military operation. Raids on the Jabalia refugee camp see at least 13 people killed in bombings. This brings the death toll of the past two days there to 120, according to local health officials. Survivors are struggling with their grief. Testimonies gathered by Human rights monitor, Euro-med, confirm Palestinian civilians were subject to torture while in IDF detention. Media outlets share their own evidence. — Back to top

December 19, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Several civilians are reportedly killed by Israel’s latest strikes on the southern-most Gazan city of Rafah with the Palestinian death toll reportedly edging towards twenty thousand. Bombing raids on the Jabalia refugee camp see at least 110 people killed over the past two days, according to local health officials. Survivors are grief-stricken. Israel’s defense chief hails Washington’s unwavering support for the war, as he hosts his American counterpart for talks on the continuing onslaught of Gaza. As Israelis campaign for the return of the remaining hostages held by Hamas, some fear it might not happen, pointing out that several abductees were seized by the militants years before October 7th, with Israel still unable to free them. — Back to top

December 18, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

IDF strikes hit a maternity ward in southern Gaza, killing one child and wounding several others, as the death toll in the region is approaching 19,000. Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war against the people of Gaza. Saudi academic Mansour Almarzoqi believes Israel is deliberately blocking humanitarian aid supplies to the embattled enclave. An Israeli senior official says the IDF should destroy the entire Gaza Strip, completely removing all residents and making it look like the former Nazi death camp Auschwitz. Egypt’s incumbent president, el-Sisi, wins re-election, with authorities saying he received almost 90 percent of the vote. — Back to top

December 18, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

IDF strikes hit a UN shelter and a maternity ward in southern Gaza, killing at least six civilians including a child. We hear from a witness. In the north of the enclave, Israeli air strikes are reported to have killed nearly 90 Palestinians in a residential area. Paris lawmakers slam Israel, calling IDF strikes ‘murderous madness’ as a French government worker is killed in a private residence in Gaza. Not only is the Jewish community suffering from Hamas, but Bedouin Muslims as well, who await the release of several members still held Hostage by the militant group. — Back to top

December 17, 2023 (18:00 MSK)

Russia’s President Putin says the country cannot compromise its sovereignty amid Western attempts to sow discord. That’s the message during a rally of the country’s ruling party. Three Israeli strikes reportedly hit the southern Gaza city of Rafah in the early hours Sunday, killing two and wounding several others.  French lawmakers condemn Israel over the killing of a French government worker, who was in a private residence during an IDF attack on Gaza. And, the Israeli military admits it mistakenly killed three captives in Gaza who were waving white flags. The killing of the hostages has sparked public outrage. — Back to top

December 17, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Three Israeli strikes reportedly hit the densely populated southern Gaza city of Rafah this Sunday morning, killing two and wounding several more. Family members of hostages still held by Hamas take to the streets of Tel Aviv to urge the government to secure their release. It follows the IDF admitting it mistakenly killed three captives who were waving white flags. As the war in Gaza takes a heavy human toll, people around the world call on their leaders to push for a permanent ceasefire. And covering every aspect of Russian affairs, President Putin highlighted the country’s sovereignty during his marathon ‘end of year’ Q-and-A session, while weighing in on the host of challenges the world faces today. — Back to top

December 16, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Israeli media reports the IDF has admitted the hostages it said its soldiers shot by mistake in Gaza were actually waving a makeshift white flag. Meanwhile, families of hostages held by Hamas express outrage on the streets of Tel Aviv. RT reports from the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank where twelve people were killed in a deadly IDF raid. Yet another scandal in Washington as a gay porn video filmed in a Senate office goes online, reportedly involving a Democrat congressional aide. And Nigeria’s Supreme Court reinstates terrorism charges against a British citizen who led a popular separatist movement against the West African country’s government. — Back to top

December 16, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Protests spark in Tel Aviv as Israel admits it mistakenly killed three hostages held by Hamas in Gaza after wrongly identifying them as militants. A cameraman is killed and correspondent wounded as an Al-Jazeera crew is hit by an Israeli strike on Khan Yunis. Israeli soldiers violently attack a photojournalist from Anadolu news agency, who was on assignment in the area. — Back to top

December 15, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Several Palestinians in Gaza are reported dead in the latest Israeli air strikes on the south of the region bringing the death toll to nearly 19,000 people since the war began two months ago. While children are particularly affected by the fighting, a Palestinian organization is providing them with much-needed psychological assistance. As the US electoral season is in full swing, a new poll suggests that more than 20 percent of Americans who used mail-in ballots during the previous presidential election have admitted to voter fraud. — Back to top

December 15, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Hungary blocks 50 billion euros in aid to Ukraine, slamming the EU’s decision to open accession talks with Kiev. The IDF launches strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which now remains the only destination for humanitarian aid trucks bound for the region. Also, we have an exclusive interview with Russia’s ambassador to the UN, who has just returned from the Rafah checkpoint on the Egypt-Gaza border. — Back to top

December 14, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Russia’s President Putin conducted his ‘end of the year’ Q&A session for four hours, answering questions ranging from domestic issues to international challenges. Death and despair in southern Gaza, as IDF bombs pummel residential areas of Rafah and Khan Yunis, which Israel previously called safe zones. That’s as a UN official says Gaza seems no longer habitable. In the West Bank city of Jenin, at least eight Palestinians are killed during an IDF raid, which lasted more than a day. — Back to top

December 14, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Bombshell developments on Capitol Hill as the US House of Representatives votes to authorize an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden. In Gaza, locals accuse Israel of carrying out a series of executions at a school in the north of the enclave, after bodies are discovered at the site. It was being used to house refugees. Israelis rally outside parliament in Jerusalem demanding the return of their relatives from Hamas. Over 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza. We visit the family of one of them. — Back to top

December 13, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

All rules of war have been broken according to the UN Relief and Works Agency, as it confirms to RT that Israeli forces have destroyed a UN school in northern Gaza, adding that over 146 of its facilities have been demolished since war began. Twenty Palestinians are killed and dozens more wounded, including many children, as Israeli forces intensify attacks on Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. The House Speaker rebuffs the President’s request for another 60 billion dollars to Ukraine as Joe Biden gives Vladimir Zelensky a 200 million consolation instead. — Back to top

December 13, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

More than 150 countries at the UN vote for an immediate ceasefire. The US and Israel are among the few nations to oppose the move. Thousands are forced to flee to a makeshift camp on the Gaza coastline, designated a ‘safe zone’ by Israel, but some of the displaced question how they can survive there. In the United States, the House Speaker in Congress pushes back the President’s request for another 60 billion dollars to Ukraine as Joe Biden gives Vladimir Zelensky a 200 million consolation instead. — Back to top

December 12, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

IDF blows up the UNRWA school in the northern Gaza where it is reportedly found Hamas infrastructure. Four people are killed during an Israeli military raid on the West Bank city of Jenin. Qatar’s Prime Minister warns that an entire generation of Arabs could turn on Israel, as a result of its brutal bombing of Gaza. Meanwhile, in the US a Republican Senator makes it clear there’ll be no red carpet for Ukraine’s President on Capitol Hill as Zelensky heads to the White House to ask for more money for his war machine. — Back to top

December 12, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Distressing images emerging from the West Bank city of Jenin, where several people are reported dead following an IDF raid on the Palestinian region. While in Gaza several people are killed in a central district of the strip with locals scrambling to sift through ‘Israeli-bombing-raid-rubble’, in a race against time to rescue survivors. More than a dozen civilian casualties are reported in overnight IDF strikes on cities in southern Gaza, as the enclave’s death toll continues to climb. And Russia pushes for more humanitarian aid to Gaza, as a UN Security Council delegation visits the Rafah border checkpoint in Egypt. — Back to top

December 11, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

A historic ruling by India’s Supreme Court will see the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir fully incorporated into the country, with elections to be held there within nine months. Israeli forces continue operations around Jabalia refugee camp as displaced Palestinians are pushed further south, where bombing intensifies. The Jordanian Prime Minister calls out Israel’s impunity, stressing the value of Palestinian lives. — Back to top

December 11, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Israeli strikes claim dozens of lives in southern Gaza, where the IDF is dropping leaflets urging civilians to flee the area, but locals ask, where else is there to go? A ghost town in northern Gaza that once sheltered thousands of refugees — we report from the Jabalia encampment, which has been under relentless IDF fire for over two months. Russia condemns Washington’s recent veto of a UN ceasefire resolution for Gaza as Joe Biden’s top diplomat defends the US move, citing an ongoing threat posed by Hamas. And official concerns about US military funds running low and polls showing Americans being increasingly fed up with sponsoring foreign wars overshadow a scheduled White House meeting between the presidents of the US and Ukraine. — Back to top

December 10, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Injured children are rushed to hospital in central Gaza, after an Israeli strike obliterates a large residential building, leaving dozens trapped beneath the rubble. Leaked IDF videos allegedly showing captured Hamas prisoners cause fury online amid questions over their authenticity and allegations of staging. The UN Chief admits the Security Council’s failure to end the war, after the US vetoes a ceasefire resolution there. And speaking to RT, a prominent pan-African political figure sees links between what Africans have endured and the suffering of Palestinians over what he calls ‘Western colonization’. — Back to top

December 10, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

As the reported death toll in Gaza surpasses 17,500 people, the south of the enclave, previously considered a safe zone, comes under renewed Israeli bombardment. Showing signs of physical abuse, Palestinians who have been detained by the IDF describe the interrogation methods used on them to uncover alleged links to Hamas. While in Israel, emotions run high as protesters and relatives of the remaining Hamas hostages take to the streets of Tel Aviv, urging the government to focus on bringing back their loved ones. And Vladimir Putin is warmly welcomed in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where he travelled this week for talks, defying Western claims of Russia’s isolation. — Back to top

December 09, 2023 (18:00 MSK)

Dozens of civilians are reportedly killed in the Israeli bombing of southern Gaza, which had previously been considered a safe zone. The US faces global backlash after Washington vetoes a Gaza ceasefire resolution at the UN Security Council. Following the vote – from which the UK abstained – thousands are marching through the streets of London, demanding an immediate truce in the violence. — Back to top

December 09, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

The IDF takes the fight with Hamas to all parts of Gaza, with losses mounting on both sides. Israel reports hitting over 400 targets, some in the south of the enclave, where thousands of displaced civilians are sheltering. The US and Israel face backlash at the UN Security Council after Washington vetoes a ceasefire resolution, as Palestine says more than 17,000 Gazans have already been killed. Vladimir Putin confirms he will be running for a third consecutive, and fifth overall, Presidential term next year. — Back to top

December 08, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Vladimir Putin confirms he will be running for re-election in 2024. If successful, it would be his third consecutive term as Russian President and fifth overall. Dozens are killed and wounded in an Israeli attack on a residential building located near the Palestine Red Crescent Society Headquarters in Gaza’s Khan Yunis. Indian police are on high-alert after a US-based Sikh separatist leader publishes a threat to the country’s Parliament. It comes amid Washington leveling accusations that New Delhi targets Sikh nationalists. — Back to top

December 08, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Mourners bury their loved ones in Rafah, after the Israeli military struck the border city, despite assurances civilians would be safer there. Meanwhile, a video said to show Israel’s mass detentions surfaces from embattled Northern Gaza. Angry scenes at Hanukkah celebrations in Jerusalem, where Israeli right-wingers were allowed to march in the Old City. At the same time, Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem cancel Christmas festivities in solidarity with Gaza. Two firefighters are killed and more than a dozen injured in the line of duty as they come under a Ukrainian missile attack. The US announces military drills with Guyana amid the South American nation’s territorial dispute with neighboring Venezuela, which has only intensified after the discovery of huge oil fields in the disputed region. — Back to top

December 07, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

The red carpet is rolled out for the Iranian president in Moscow ahead of his meeting with Vladimir Putin. The two are set to discuss the situation in the Middle East and strengthen already bold bilateral ties. The Russian President underlines that Moscow believes in a global economic model that is fair, something that he says is disregarded by Western Partners. The southern Gazan city of Rafah comes under Israeli attack, an area of the enclave refugees were ordered to go to by the IDF to allegedly find safety. Amid dire conditions in Northern Gaza where civilians go without clean water, the UN Secretary General says the situation has ‘created appalling human suffering’.Back to top

December 07, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Blasts ring out in the southern Gazan border city of Rafah, as Israel targets an area many Palestinians had fled to for safety. With the west faltering in its attempts to solve the crisis in the Middle East, Vladimir Putin is given a royal welcome during a whistle stop trip to the Arabian Peninsula, defying claims of Russia’s international isolation. President Biden’s multi-billion-dollar aid package for Ukraine and Israel is blocked in the Senate, as Republicans press for tougher border policy at home instead. Anger builds at the COP climate conference, as the biggest polluters are reluctant to help developing nations wean themselves off fossil fuels. — Back to top

December 06, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

The colors of the Russian flag high in the skies above the UAE – Vladimir Putin receives a spectacular welcome during a visit to the United Arab Emirates on his first stop in the Middle East, as his so-called ‘isolation’ is still on the lips of western politicians. Now he heads to Saudi Arabia. The Palestinian authority calls on the UN to stop the relentless attacks on Gaza, saying Israel’s actions are organized terrorism. Under bombardment, some civilians are buried in rubble for days waiting for rescue. Palestinians gather what they can from a UN warehouse as humanitarian aid staff risk their lives in Gaza. We hear from the Palestinian Red Crescent society spokesperson. — Back to top

December 06, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Israel says it has taken its war to the city of Khan Yunis in Southern Gaza, as civilians are forced to flee from the very areas they had previously been assured by the IDF would be safe. Ukraine’s president scraps plans to address US lawmakers as reports emerge of a rift between Washington and Kiev, over the failures of the much-hyped counter offensive against Russia. Niger rips up its defense and security partnership with the EU as the West African nation continues to break its ties with the West. — Back to top

December 05, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Devastating Israeli strikes kill at least 50 at the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza and Khan Yunis in the south according to reports. Israeli tanks reportedly take aim near the Palestinian Red Crescent’s ambulances. It comes as the W.H.O says Israel demands supplies to be removed from medical warehouses within 24 hours. Iran accuses the US of having a hand in Israel-Hamas conflict, as Tehran’s top diplomat visits Moscow for a dialogue between Caspian States. — Back to top

December 05, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

The night sky of southern Gaza is lit up with Israeli bombing, as the IDF vows to unleash the same level of devastation there, as it wrought in the north. That is as the Red Cross sounds the alarm over the scale of violence. But that power comes at a price and it’s one Congress seems increasingly uneasy about paying. And the Cop 28 cop-out — the UN climate conference is mired in controversy, as Western nations demand the global south cut their emissions, while failing to wean themselves off fossil fuels. — Back to top

December 04, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Southern Gaza is bombed by Israel following statements by the IDF that attacks there will be equal to the strikes that leveled the North. The IDF announces that the bypass road located along the coast will be open for civilians to head South, as the previous corridor has turned into a battlefield. A Red Cross spokesperson says there are no safe places left in Gaza. And India’s ruling party reigns supreme in state elections, ousting the opposition in two of the country’s largest regions. — Back to top

December 04, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

After reducing much of northern Gaza to ruins, Israel says it will now focus its attention on the south, despite having previously told Palestinians to head there for their own safety. Hospital floors become makeshift treatment areas, as doctors struggle to cope with the sheer volume of patients, with at least 700 Palestinians reportedly being killed in a single day of strikes on Gaza. A multi-national East African force pulls out of the Democratic Republic of Congo after Kinshasa questioned its effectiveness and refused to renew its mandate. Ukraine’s President faces the flak from top officials and the relatives of soldiers after the counter-offensive against Russia fails to deliver any tangible results. — Back to top

December 03, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Over 60 Palestinians are reportedly killed in an IDF strike on the town of Khan Younis in southern Gaza the second such attack on the area in two days. Distressing images from central Gaza, where refugee camps have also been struck by the IDF, with at least 15 people reportedly killed overnight. Many children are among the casualties. And as the war in Gaza rages on protests sweep across Europe, with thousands showing solidarity with the Palestinians, while demanding an end to arms shipments to Israel. — Back to top

December 03, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Israeli bombs reduce a large housing complex to rubble in southern Gaza as the area endures multiple strikes since the truce broke down on Friday. A local reporter says medical facilities are in the direct line of fire. Distressing images from central Gaza where refugee camps have also been struck by the IDF, with at least 15 people reportedly killed overnight. Many children are among the casualties. Paris police say the suspect in a deadly stabbing attack near the Eiffel Tower on Saturday claimed he was motivated by the deaths of Muslims in the Palestinian territories and Afghanistan. And as the war in Gaza rages on, protests sweep across Europe, with thousands showing solidarity with the Palestinians while demanding an end to arms shipments to Israel. — Back to top

December 02, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Death and grief spread across Gaza as Israeli bombings return to the enclave. At least 200 people have been killed since Friday, according to Palestinian authorities. A local journalist spoke to us from the territory’s south. As Qatar says it is in talks to mediate a new truce, Israeli officials reportedly say they are prepared to consider it, even as the death toll rises in Gaza, South Africa’s leader brands Israel’s offensive a ‘war crime’. We hear exclusively on the conflict, and other issues, from a former president of the African nation. — Back to top

December 02, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Death and grief spread across Gaza as Israeli bombings return to the enclave. More than 180 people have lost their lives since Friday according to Palestinian authorities. A local journalist spoke to us from the territory’s south. The renewed IDF assault came just minutes after a 7-day ceasefire expired, but Qatar says it is in talks to mediate a new truce, with Israeli officials reportedly saying they are prepared to consider it. Protests in support of Palestinians erupt across the globe, with crowds demanding a permanent ceasefire to end the violence. The death toll rises in Gaza as South Africa urges the International Criminal Court to investigate what it calls Israeli war crimes. We hear exclusively on that, and other issues, from a former president of the nation. — Back to top

December 01, 2023 (17:00 MSK)

Palestine says at least 109 people have been killed and dozens more injured, amid a renewed IDF assault on Gaza. Israel accuses Hamas of violating the truce, which expired on Friday morning. As bombs rain down all across Gaza, some of the survivors share their accounts. Somalia thanks Russia for its first delivery of 25,000 tons of grain in humanitarian aid – saying the assistance has arrived at a crucial moment. Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelensky publicly admits the counter-offensive was a failure. Meanwhile the Russian Defense Minister discloses the human cost of Ukraine’s bungled endeavor. — Back to top

December 01, 2023 (09:00 MSK)

Israel restarts its assault on Gaza after the IDF accuses Hamas of violating the truce that officially expired on Friday morning. Earlier, both sides swapped another group of prisoners. We hear from the mother of a released Palestinian detainee. While a further six hostages freed by Hamas return to Israel, the fate of the remaining captives inside Gaza is uncertain after Israel resumes the war. Violence as well seen again in the West Bank, where two boys are killed in an Israeli raid on a refugee camp. A father of one of the dead children speaks to RT. — Back to top