For now, a link to a letter to petition Congress. — MCM

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An open letter to members of the United States Congress, by Bruce Fein and Ralph Nader | Nader.org  We are writing to exercise our First Amendment to petition Congress for redress of grievances.  We are urging Congress to end the United States’ unconditional, close, and continual military and intelligence support of Israel in its ongoing physical destruction of 2.3 million Palestinians residing in Gaza. The United States is responsible for genocide under any plain reading of the Genocide Convention. Congress commands plenary power over the foreign policy of the United States. On August 16, 1973, it employed the power of the purse to . . . READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

Below is a link to an article from Scheer Post. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE. A 9/11 TRUTH entry for late Nov. 28 is HERE.)

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Reflections on the deep state’s media watchdog tool, by John Kiriakou | Scheer Post  In early November, the leadership and board of Consortium News, the independent news site, filed a major lawsuit against the federal government and NewsGuard Technologies, Inc.  NewsGuard at first glance looks like a media watchdog organization, a group that seeks to keep misinformation and disinformation out of the mainstream. That notion is quickly dispelled, however, as soon as one takes a look under the hood. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, Tass, and the Grayzone; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE. A MEDIA entry is HERE. A 9/11 TRUTH entry for late Nov. 28 is HERE.) — MCM

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NEWER  Mediators look to extend truce in Gaza on its final day, with one more hostage swap planned, by Najib Jobain, Samy Magdy and Melanie Lidman | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — International mediators appeared to make progress today on extending the truce in Gaza, encouraging the territory’s Hamas rulers to keep freeing hostages in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners and further respite from Israel’s air and ground offensive. It will otherwise expire within a day. Israel has welcomed the release of dozens of hostages in recent days and says it will . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Israel, Hamas seek new deal to extend Gaza truce on final day, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Mohammed Salem and Maayan Lubell | Reuters  GAZ A / JERUSALEM — Israel and Hamas were negotiating through mediators today over another potential extension of the Gaza truce, with hours left to reach a deal before fighting was due to restart after a six-day pause. It was reported that families of Israeli hostages were informed today of the names of those due to be released later in . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  The fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas has entered its 6th day. Reported by Leila Fadel and Brian Mann | NPR  The hostage-for-prisoner exchange is expected to continue today. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is dire and the military situation volatile. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Hamas and Israel exchange more hostages for prisoners on fifth day of temporary cease-fire, by Wafaa Shurafa, Jack Jeffrey and Lee Keath | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Hamas and Israel released more hostages and prisoners under terms of a fragile cease-fire that held for a fifth day Tuesday as international mediators in Qatar worked to extend the truce and the United States urged Israel to better protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza if it follows through . . . READ MORE . . .

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Exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Hamas’ hostages continues through ceasefire. Reported by Tom Bowman | NPR  Hamas freed 12 more hostages it seized in its deadly assault on Israel on Oct. 7. This comes as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas enters its fifth day. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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UN secretary-general says humanitarian pause in Gaza not a solution. From Tass. UNITED NATIONS — The humanitarian pause in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict zone is not a solution, and the United Nations continues to insist on a ceasefire and immediate release of all hostages, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said. “The truce was a step in the right direction, it was a symbol of hope, but it doesn’t solve the key problems we face. That is why we have been insisting . . . READ MORE . . .

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Hamas senior official invites Elon Musk to visit Gaza. From Reuters. A Hamas senior official on Tuesday invited U.S. billionaire Elon Musk, owner of the X social media platform, to visit the Palestinian Gaza strip to see the extent of destruction caused by the Israeli bombardment. “We invite him to visit Gaza to see . . . READ MORE . . .

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Musk says not yet ready to visit Gaza on Hamas invitation, says it’s too dangerous. From Tass. NEW YORK — U.S. entrepreneur Elon Musk said on his X social network he was not yet ready to visit the Gaza Strip, because the situation there “seems a bit dangerous right now, but I do believe that a long-term prosperous Gaza is good for all sides.” READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Israeli tank gunner reveals orders to fire indiscriminately into kibbutz, by Wyatt Reed and Max Blumenthal | The Grayzone / Popular Resistance  Revelations that Israeli troops were ordered to open fire indiscriminately on Israeli communities come as the country’s security services make desperate efforts to control the narrative of the Gaza war. Following a temporary ceasefire arrangement which . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Tass, the Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE. A MEDIA entry is HERE. A late 9/11 TRUTH entry for Nov. 28 is HERE,) — MCM

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Ukraine says Russian strikes hit coal mine and private homes, four killed. From Reuters. Russian attacks on Ukraine on Tuesday hit residential buildings, private houses, and a coal mine, killing four and injuring at least 10 people, Ukrainian officials said. Among those reported killed were a 63-year-old man and a 7-year-old girl. READ MORE . . .

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Russia says frigate hits Ukraine’s military infrastructure with cruise missiles. From Reuters. — A frigate of the Russian Black Sea Fleet launched an attack with four cruise missiles on Ukraine’s military infrastructure, Russia’s defence ministry said early today. The ministry said on Telegram, “The crew of a frigate of the Black Sea Fleet received a task of launching a strike with Kalibr cruise missiles in the shortest possible time against . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says spy chief’s wife is being treated for poisoning with heavy metals, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — The wife of Ukraine’s intelligence chief has been diagnosed with heavy metals poisoning and is undergoing treatment in a hospital, a spokesperson for the agency said Tuesday. Marianna Budanova is the wife of Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the military intelligence agency known in Ukrainian as GUR for short. No more details were provided. READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Ukraine suspects Russia poisoned spy chief’s wife. From AFP.  Ukraine said Tuesday it believed Russia had poisoned the wife of its military intelligence chief in an apparent assassination attempt targeting the heart of Kyiv’s leadership. Marianna Budanova, who is an advisor to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko, was hospitalized after . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces advancing on Ukrainian town from all sides. From Reuters. Russian forces are intensifying their drive to capture the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, trying to advance on all sides after weeks of fighting, the town’s top official was quoted as saying on Monday. Russian troops have been pressing land and air-based attacks on Avdiivka since mid-October as the . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Russian troops liberate Artyomovskoye community in DPR — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated the community of Artyomovskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a general briefing. “In the direction of . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Russian air force bombs Ukrainian marines bridgehead, Kyiv forces retaliate with grenade-toting drones, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  Russian Air Force bombers are dropping long-range glider bombs and intensifying air strike missions as part of a campaign to demolish Ukrainian Marines entrenched on the left bank of the Dnipro River, but Kyiv’s forces were holding back Kremlin ground assaults with their own artillery and swarms of civilian drones converted into flying bombs, official and open sources said today. READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Stoltenberg: Ukraine’s ability to implement reforms during war is impressive, by Nate Ostiller | The Kyiv Independent NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a press conference in Brussels today he was impressed by the pace of Ukraine’s reforms, as well as the commitment of the Ukrainian government and people to implement them in the midst of the full-scale war. He spoke during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, also attended by Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. READ MORE . . .

Below, a link to an interview in German with English subtitles and transcript, assembled by the founder and president until September 2021 of Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth; his website is accessible by clicking on its address. (Today’s GAZA and UKRAINE entries are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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German PhD structural engineer, physics professor & explosives expert Max Ruppert — out of the 9/11 closet, on stage! Presented by Richard Gage | richardgage911.org  I’ve been collecting architects and engineers for the last 18 years, but had never come across a structural engineer who’s also a professor of physics and an explosion expert — and who was willing to speak the truth about 9/11. Well, in Germany, Maximillian Rupert, professor at the Technical University of Ingolstadt, came out of the 9/11 closet this month on Markus Langemann’s public platform Club der Klaren Worte — “Club of Clear Words.” He says . . . Click HERE for video and transcript.

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (UKRAINE entry and a 9/11 TRUTH entry for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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NEWER  Truce in Gaza is extended as Israel faces pressure to spare civilians when it resumes offensive, by Tia Goldenberg and Samy Magdy | AP  TEL AVIV — A truce between Israel and Hamas entered its fifth day today, with the militant group promising to release more hostages to delay the expected resumption of the war. The sides agreed to extend their truce through Wednesday, with . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Gaza health officials say thousands of civilians were killed in ‘evacuation’ areas. Reported by Ruth Sherlock | NPR  After the war with Hamas began, Israel warned Palestinians in north Gaza to flee to south. Families fled homes in north Gaza for the south — only to find their lives are still in danger. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Nearly 60 journalists and media workers killed since start of Israel-Hamas war. Reported by Fatima Al-Kassab | NPR  The Committee to Protect Journalists says nearly 60 journalists and media workers have been killed since the Israel-Hamas war began, it’s the deadliest period since CPJ began gathering data in 1992. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Temporary ceasefire in Gaza extended ahead of another exchange of hostages. Reported by Brian Mann | NPR  The temporary ceasefire in Gaza has been extended, as Israel and Hamas swap additional hostages and prisoners. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Who is Yahya Sinwar? Reported by Daniel Estrin | NPR  Hamas leader Yahiya Sinwar is believed to have masterminded the Oct. 7 attacks and led Hamas negotiations on hostages. Daniel Estrin questioned him at two press conferences in recent years. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, Reuters, and Tass, followed by commentary, via ScheerPost, from John’s Substack; other articles are accessible by clicking on their sources’ names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date and a 9/11 TRUTH entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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NATO chief ‘confident’ U.S. will keep arming Ukraine. From AFP. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said today he was “confident” the United States would keep up weapons deliveries to Ukraine, despite a political blockage in Washington. The United States has . . .  READ MORE . . .

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Tornadoes forecast in the Black Sea region as storm reportedly impacts Russian military operations. From AP. Tornadoes were forecast for the Black Sea region today, a day after a storm that left more than 2 million people without electricity in Crimea, Russia and Ukraine. A think tank said that the weather also impacted Russian military operations. The storm killed at least 14 people in Russia and Ukraine officials said as it toppled trees, tore down power lines and flooded coastal . . . READ MORE . . .

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Chechen leader says he is ready to send another 3,000 fighters to Ukraine. From Reuters. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Monday that another 3,000 of his fighters were ready to go to fight in Ukraine as part of new units of the Russian defence ministry and the Russian National Guard forces. For Kadyrov . . . READ MORE . . .

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‘At what cost?’ Ukraine strains to bolster its army as war fatigue weighs, by Olena Harmash and Tom Balmforth | Reuters  In March 2022, thousands of prospective soldiers lined up at draft offices amid crowds of patriotic countrymen. There are no crowds now, says Antonina Danylevych, who this autumn . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Russian forces wipe out Ukrainian combat drone training center over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian combat drone training center and three radar stations over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today. “The strikes . . . READ MORE . . .

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The myth that Putin was bent on conquering Ukraine and creating a greater Russia, by John J Mearsheimer | John’s Substack / Scheer Post  There is a growing body of compelling evidence showing that Russia and Ukraine were involved in serious negotiations to end the war in Ukraine right after it started on 24 February 2022 (see below). They were facilitated by Turkish President Recep Erdogan and former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and featured detailed and candid discussions on the terms of a possible settlement. By all accounts, these negotiations, which . . . READ MORE . . .

First, links to two reports from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (Today’s GAZA and UKRAINE entries are HERE and HERE.)  — MCM

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The annual climate negotiations begin this week in Dubai. Reported by Michel Martin and Rebecca Hersher | NPR  The stakes have never been higher, as the planet rounds out its hottest year ever recorded. The U.N.’s secretary-general is challenging leaders to get serious about cutting planet-warming gasses. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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The annual international climate meeting kicks off later this week in Dubai. Reported by Michael Copley | NPR  Critics say the annual U.N. climate meetings have become a circus dominated by fossil fuel interests. But a lot of climate activists say they’re still essential gatherings. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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TO BE CONTINUED

First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Next, a link to a report from ScheerPost about a Nov. 25 New York Times report, followed by that report as republished in The Irish Times. Finally for today, a link to commentary by a Britain-based observer. (UKRAINE and CLIMATE entries for today are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Israel and Hamas agree to extend truce for two more days, and free more hostages and prisoners, by Tia Goldenberg, Samy Magdy and Jack Jeffrey | AP  TEL AVIV — Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their cease-fire for two more days past today, the Qatari government said, bringing the prospect of a longer halt to their deadliest and most destructive war and further exchanges of militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The announcement came on the final day of the original four-day truce between . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER   Arab states, EU agree on need for two-state solution to Israel crisis, by Joan Faus | Reuters  BARCELONA — Arab states and the European Union agreed at a meeting in Spain today that a two-state solution was the answer to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, with EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell saying the Palestinian Authority should rule Gaza. He said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel and Hamas complete third prisoner-hostage exchange. Reported by Daniel Estrin | NPR  For a third day, Hamas released hostages and Israel released Palestinian prisoners. Also, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli troops in Gaza. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Hamas, Israel release prisoners; American girl, 4, is freed, by James Mackenzie | Reuters  JERUSALEM — Hamas freed 17 hostages held in Gaza, including a 4-year-old American girl, while Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday, the third day of their truce. The International Committee of the Red Cross said it had successfully . . . READ MORE . . .

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Irregular meals, benches as beds. As freed hostages return to Israel, details of captivity emerge, by Julia Frankel | AP  JERUSALEM — As former hostages return to Israel after seven weeks of Hamas captivity, information about the conditions of their confinement has emerged. The 58 hostages who have so far been freed under a cease-fire deal over the past three days have . . . READ MORE . . .

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Source close to Hamas says group willing to extend truce. From AFP. A source close to Hamas said Sunday the Islamist movement was willing to extend the current truce with Israel in Gaza for two to four days beyond its initial expiry Monday. “Hamas informed the mediators that . . . READ MORE . . .

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Netanyahu positive on possible extension of pause in Gaza Strip. From Tass. TEL AVIV — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after a telephone conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden that he was positive on possible extension of a four-day humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip with the condition of up to ten additional hostages to be released per day. In a video address published by his office, he said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Palestinian militants in West Bank say two ‘collaborators’ executed. From Reuters. RAMALLAH — Palestinian militants in the West Bank said they had killed two men accused of collaborating with Israeli authorities and hung their bodies up as a warning, underlining growing fears of increased radicalisation as the war in Gaza continues. A statement from the Tulkarm Brigades, a group based in the West Bank city of Tulkarm that is associated with the Fatah faction, said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Qatar is the go-to mediator in the Mideast war. Its unprecedented Tel Aviv trip saved a shaky truce, by Isabel DeBre | AP  JERUSALEM — The deal seemed on the verge of unraveling. Hamas had accused Israel of failing to keep its side of the bargain and Israel was threatening to resume its lethal onslaught on the Gaza Strip. That was the point at which . . . READ MORE . . .

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Aid agencies in Gaza would benefit if the truce between Israel and Hamas is extended. A Martínez of NPR speaks with UNRWA director of communications Juliette Touma about how the pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas is impacting the agency’s work with Gaza residents. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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NEWER  New York Times reports Gaza civilians ‘are being killed at historic pace,’  by Max Jones | ScheerPost  The New York Times reported on Saturday that “experts say that even a conservative reading of the casualty figures reported from Gaza shows that the pace of death during Israel’s campaign has few precedents in this century.” Using U.S.-made bombs that weigh 2,000 pounds “that can flatten [apartment towers],” Israel has killed “roughly 10,000 women and children” according to . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  ‘It’s beyond anything I’ve seen’: Gaza civilians are being killed at historic rate, by Lauren Leatherby | The New York Times / The Irish Times  While wartime death tolls will never be exact, experts say that even a conservative reading of the casualty figures reported from Gaza shows that the pace of death during Israel’s campaign has few precedents in this century. People are being killed in Gaza more quickly, they say, than in even the deadliest moments of U.S.-led attacks in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, which were themselves . . . READ MORE . . .

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Second Nakba; same Israeli lies, same Western narrative, by Jonathan Cook | JonathanCook.net / Consortium News / Popular Resistance  History is repeating itself — and every politician and establishment journalist is pretending they cannot see what is staring them in the face. There is a collective and wilful refusal to join the dots in Gaza, even when they point in one direction only. There has been a consistent pattern . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA and CLIMATE entries for today are HERE and HERE. ) — MCM

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Three dead as storm hits Crimea and Russia’s Black Sea coast. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Fierce storms killed three people on the Russian and Crimean Black Sea coast today, with hundreds evacuated. State news agency TASS reported that . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine has a new way to get its grain to the world despite Russia’s threat in the Black Sea, by Hanna Arhirova and Courtney Bonnell | AP  KYIV — More of Ukraine’s grain is getting unloaded from overcrammed silos and heading to ports on the Black Sea, set to traverse a fledgling shipping corridor launched after Russia pulled out of a U.N.-brokered agreement this summer that allowed food to flow safely from Ukraine during the war. Growing numbers of ships are . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  NATO chief says Ukraine inflicting ‘heavy losses’ on Russian forces. From AFP. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said today that Ukraine was still inflicting major losses on Russia, despite Kyiv not managing to regain captured territory. “We see high casualty numbers, and some of the most intense fighting . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces wipe out Ukrainian command post in DPR over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW— Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian command post near the settlement of Krasnoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today. And in the Kupyansk area . . . READ MORE . . .