International Atomic Energy Agency

Russia stepped up its missile and drone attacks against Ukraine on Wednesday, killing students and other civilians, in a violent follow-up to dueling high-level diplomatic missions aimed at bringing peace after 13 months of war.

Armed militias in eastern Libya said they had found about two and a half tonnes of uranium ore that had been declared missing by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the BBC reported on Friday.

About 2.5 tons of natural uranium have disappeared in Libya, announced the UN nuclear agency, AFP reported.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, told the organization's member states that inspectors on Tuesday found that 10 barrels containing uranium ore concentrate "were not available as previously announced" at the site in Libya

Late last month, as part of its monitoring of Iran's nuclear program, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported trace amounts of uranium at 84% enrichment. That's important, because 90% enrichment is required to produce a nuclear weapon.

A top Iranian diplomat insisted Wednesday that the Islamic republic was willing to cooperate over its atomic programme, even as western powers slammed a "dangerous nuclear escalation".

France on Thursday warned of the "unacceptable risk for nuclear safety and security" from power cuts at a major Ukrainian power plant, after a Russian missile strike left it running on diesel generators.

"France has taken note and is concerned over information of a new disconnection (from the grid) at the Zaporizhzhia plant," foreign ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre said.

Day 376 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

A five-story residential building was hit in the shelling of Mykolaiv by Russian forces, Mayor Oleksandr Senkevich announced.
According to him, the upper two floors of the building were completely destroyed, reports Ukrinform. Rescuers are on the ground.

Zelensky's address on Telegram Grossi repeated the request for the demilitarization of Zaporizhzhia

Ukrainian forces continued their counter-offensive in the north-east of the country, while Russian forces are strengthening, claims the British military intelligence service.

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

Zelensky does not plan negotiations with Putin