First, a link to a report from the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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FROM APRIL 25  A U.S.-led effort to bring aid to Gaza by sea is moving forward. But big concerns remain, by Julia Frankel, Lolita C. Baldor and Jon Gambrell | AP  JERUSALEM — The construction of a new port in Gaza and an accompanying U.S. military-built pier offshore are underway, but the complex plan to bring more desperately needed food to Palestinian civilians is still mired in fears over security and how the humanitarian aid will be delivered. The Israeli-developed port . . . READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

First, a link to a report from Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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FROM APRIL 25  U.S. and allies aim to help Ukraine bolster defenses after aid gap, by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali | Reuters  WASHINGTON — The United States hopes its new deliveries of weaponry will help Ukraine rebuild defenses and refit its forces as it recovers from a gap in U.S. assistance, but it does not expect Kyiv to launch large-scale offensive operations against Russian forces in the near term, a U.S. defense official said on Thursday. The U.S. will on Friday host a virtual meeting . . . READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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NEWER  U.S., 17 other countries urge Hamas to release hostages, end Gaza crisis, by Steve Holland and Doina Chiacu | Reuters  WASHINGTON — The United States and 17 other countries will call on Hamas today to release hostages as a pathway to end the crisis in Gaza, a senior U.S. administration official said. The official called the joint statement an extraordinary display of . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Israeli strikes in Rafah kill at least 5 as ship comes under attack in the Gulf of Aden. From AP. Palestinian hospital officials said Israeli airstrikes on the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip killed at least five people. In central Gaza, four people were killed in Israeli tank shelling. A ship traveling in the Gulf of Aden came under attack today, officials said, the latest . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 24  Another ex-State Department official alleges Israeli military gets ‘special treatment’ on abuses, by Ellen Knickmeyer | AP  WASHINGTON — A former senior U.S. official who until recently helped oversee human-rights compliance by foreign militaries receiving American military assistance said Wednesday that he repeatedly observed Israel receiving “special treatment” from U.S. officials when it came to scrutiny of allegations of Israeli military abuses of Palestinian civilians. READ MORE . . .

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Israel says Rafah assault looms; massive Gaza airstrikes end weeks of relative calm, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Dan Williams | Reuters  CAIRO / JERUSALEM — Israeli warplanes pounded the northern Gaza strip for a second day on Wednesday in a fierce assault that has shattered weeks of comparative calm, and Israel said it was moving forward with plans for an all-out assault on Rafah in the south. READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s war and security cabinets continue planning for military operation in Rafah. Reported by Leila Fadel and Aya Batrawy | NPR  In response to Israel’s vow to expand its ground offensive to the southern Gaza city of Rafah, residents and refugees consider whether they will attempt to flee. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Hamas official says group would lay down its weapons if a two-state solution is implemented, by Abby Sewell | AP  ISTANBUL — A top Hamas political official told The Associated Press the Islamic militant group is willing to agree to a truce of five years or more with Israel and that it would lay down its weapons and convert into a political party if an independent Palestinian state is established along pre-1967 borders. Khalil al-Hayya spoke Wednesday amid a . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 24  Israel’s Netanyahu says ‘more has to be done’ to stop pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. campuses. From Middle East Monitor. “What’s happening in America’s college campuses is horrific,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded statement on Wednesday accusing “anti-Semitic mobs” of taking over leading universities. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 24  Shot by Israeli troops while getting aid, a boy in Gaza fights for his life. Reported by Rob Schmitz and Anas Baba | NPR  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Nimer Saddy al-Nimer is 12. His first name means “Tiger” in Arabic. Wavy locks of sandy brown hair rest just above his large brown eyes. He’s . . . Click HERE to read and listen.

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A hostage video is out of one of the Americans being held by Hamas in Gaza. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR  Hamas has released a video of one of the Americans held hostage in Gaza, the first such move since the October 7 attack. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For now, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Tass, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from the Kyiv Post; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (GAZA entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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Ukraine is putting pressure on fighting-age men outside the country as it tries to replenish forces, by Jill Lawless and Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Ukraine worked today to get much-needed new supplies of weapons and ammunition from a huge U.S. aid package to its eastern front line. Ukraine is also seeking to reverse the drain of potential soldiers from the country, announcing . . . READ MORE . . .–   –   –

Russia says it may downgrade ties with U.S. if its assets are confiscated. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Russia is considering downgrading the level of its diplomatic relations with the United States if Western governments go ahead with proposals to confiscate its frozen assets, state news agency RIA quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying today. The G7 group of nations . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia says its battlegroup West seized better positions. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia’s battlegroup West has taken control of better positions and inflicted firepower damage on the troops and equipment of five Ukrainian brigades, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a daily bulletin. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 24  Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say, by Lolita C. Baldor and Tara Copp | AP  WASHINGTON — Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday. Long sought by Ukrainian leaders, the . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 24  More U.S. aid will help Ukraine avoid defeat in its war with Russia. Winning is another matter, by Jill Lawless and Samya Kullab | AP  KYIV — A big, new package of U.S. military aid will help Ukraine avoid defeat in its war with Russia. Winning will still be a long slog. The weaponry in the $61 billion military aid package should . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 24  What Congress’ $60 billion of military aid for Ukraine could mean for the battlefield. Reported by Greg Myre | NPR  Congress has approved $60 billion in military aid for Ukraine. Here’s a look at what it it’s likely to include and how it might reshape the battlefield. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Ukraine’s supreme commander is betting on drones, patience and discipline, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  Ukraine’s strategy of military counterpunching and making the Kremlin pay in blood for every meter gained seems to have become less crisis management, and more the basic structure of the Syrsky plan. On Feb. 8 Gen. Oleksander Syrsky took over the Armed Forces of Ukraine under siege, replacing . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

A link to commentary from the International Center for 9/11 Justice; other articles are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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The Johan Galtung approach to taboo topics, by Marilyn Langlois | ic911  Johan Galtung’s consistent goal was positive peace, not just the absence of war but presence of dignity, uplift and self-determination for all people, where inevitable conflicts can be . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Middle East Monitor, and National Public Radio, to commentary from the Middle East Media Research Institute and the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, to an interview from ScheerPost, and to an op-ed article from the Wall Street Journal; other postings are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and a 9/11 TRUTH entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM APRIL 23  Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote, by Mary Clare Jalonick, Stephen Groves and Farnoush Amiri | AP  WASHINGTON — The Senate has passed $95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debatE over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars. The bill passed the Senate on an overwhelming 79-18 vote late Tuesday after the House had . . .  READ MORE . . .

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UN rights commissioner slams Israel’s killing of women, children in Rafah. From Middle East Monitor. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, on Tuesday deplored the Israeli raids on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, saying the killing of women and children “is something that goes beyond warfare.” On Saturday evening, Israel carried out . . . READ MORE . . .

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Students at Columbia continue their pro-Palestinian protests. From NPR. Officials at Columbia University will continue to talk with student protesters after the deadline to clear out passed. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM APRIL 23  It began with defiance at Columbia. Now students nationwide are upping their Gaza war protests, by Karen Matthews and Nick Perry | AP  NEW YORK — What began last week when Columbia University students refused to end their protest against Israel’s war with Hamas had turned into a much larger movement by Tuesday as students across the nation set up encampments, occupied buildings and ignored demands to leave. Protests had been . . . READ MORE . . .

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As protests consume college campuses, where’s the line between safety, free speech? Michel Martin of NPR speaks with Daniel Diermeier, Chancellor of Vanderbilt University, about campus protests, free speech and student safety. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Germany will resume working with UN relief agency for Palestinians after a review. From AP. Germany said today it plans to follow several other countries in resuming cooperation with the UN relief agency for Palestinians in Gaza after the publication of an independent review of its neutrality. READ MORE . . .

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World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says, by Sylvia Hui | AP  LONDON — The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gazaand Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned today in its annual report. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 18  What China’s embrace of Hamas means for U.S. national security—and how the Iranian attack on Israel, supported by China, exposes it as a supporter of terrorism, by Steven Stalinsky | Middle East Media Research Institute   Since Oct. 7, the Israeli high-tech industry has encountered difficulties in importing components from China that have both civilian and military uses, while Hamas was found to be using advanced Chinese weapons, including cartridges and rifle sights, automatic grenade launchers . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 18  Landless Brazilians & Gaza, by Vijay Prashad | Tricontinental Institute for Social Research / Consortium News  Brazilian landless workers, who live on settlements and encampments of the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST), gathered roughly 13 tonnes of food to send to Palestinians in Gaza between October and December 2023. MST cooperatives across the . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 22  The moral depravity of Western imperialism. Max Jones and Diego Ramos of ScheerPost talk with Michael J. Brenner, professor emeritus of international affairs at the University of Pittsburg, some days before the interview was posted, on domestic and international aspects of U.S. foreign policy,  particularly as it pertains to Israel. Click HERE for video and transcript.

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FROM APRIL 17  Ukraine and Israel: moment of truth, by President Joe Biden | The Wall Street Journal  If Congress passes military aid for Ukraine and Israel, we’d send military equipment from our own stockpiles, then use the money authorized by Congress to replenish those stockpiles—by buying from American suppliers—investing in America’s industrial base, buying American products made by American workers, supporting jobs in nearly 40 states, and strengthening our own national security. We’d help our friends while helping ourselves. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for an account from Politico.

For today, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Post, the Associated Press, Reuters, the Kyiv Independent, and Tass, and to commentary from the Wall Street Journal; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date and a 9/11 TRUTH entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Ukraine attack drones strike Russia energy sites. From AFP. Ukraine launched attack drones at oil facilities in western Russia early today, defense sources in Kyiv confirmed, in the latest aerial assault by Kyiv aiming to dent Russian military logistics. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine regains position near Chasiv Yar as Russia intensifies offensive. From Kyiv Post. Chasiv Yar, a city in the Donetsk region 17 kilometers (11 miles) west of Bakhmut and some 36 kilometers (22 miles) southeast of the Ukrainian stronghold of Kramatorsk is now . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 23  UK puts its defense industry on ‘war footing’ and gives Ukraine $620 million in new military aid, by Vanessa Gera and Sylvia Hui | AP  WARSAW — The UK prime minister said Tuesday the country is putting its defense industry on a “war footing” by increasinG defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade, and pledged to send arms worth 500 million pounds ($620 million) to Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 23  Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote, by Mary Clare Jalonick, Stephen Groves and Farnoush Amiri | AP  WASHINGTON — The Senate has passed $95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debatE over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars. The bill passed the Senate on an overwhelming 79-18 vote late Tuesday after the House had . . .  READ MORE . . .

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Russia to push Ukraine further back if Kyiv gets long range U.S. missiles, says Kremlin. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Russia will need to push Ukrainian forces further back and expand what it regards as a “buffer zone” if Kyiv takes delivery of advanced longer-range ATACM guided missile systems from the United States, the Kremlin said today. The White House last October said it had . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM EARLIER ON APRIL 23  Pentagon set to send $1 billion in new military aid to Ukraine once bill clears Senate and Biden, by Lolita C. Baldor and Aamer Madhani | AP  WASHINGTON  — The Pentagon is poised to send $1 billion in new military aid to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Tuesday as the Senate moved ahead on long-awaited legislation to fund the weapons Kyiv desperately needs to stall gains being made by Russian forces in the war. READ MORE . . .

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Yermak: ‘I can tell you for sure—there will be more Patriots,’ by Chris York | The Kyiv Independent  More Patriot air defense systems are on their way to Ukraine “for sure,” Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak said today. Ukraine is facing a shortage of . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s population is nosediving. Can anything be done? by Kateryna Zakharchenko | Kyiv Post  Over the past few years, Ukraine’s population has dropped by millions, Ukrainian Minister of Social Policy Oksana Zholnovych said Monday at the Demographic Future of Ukraine forum, where she delivered a report with strategies for . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 23  Top Swiss diplomat reiterates need for Russia’s involvement in resolving Ukraine issue. From Tass. GENEVA — A peace procesS in Ukraine is impossible without Russia, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said Tuesday. READ MORE . . .

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World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says, by Sylvia Hui | AP  LONDON — The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gazaand Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned today in its annual report. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 17  Ukraine and Israel: moment of truth, by President Joe Biden | The Wall Street Journal  If Congress passes military aid for Ukraine and Israel, we’d send military equipment from our own stockpiles, then use the money authorized by Congress to replenish those stockpiles—by buying from American suppliers—investing in America’s industrial base, buying American products made by American workers, supporting jobs in nearly 40 states, and strengthening our own national security. We’d help our friends while helping ourselves. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for an account from Politico.

For today, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio, and to commentary via ScheerPost and from Australia; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli strikes intensify across Gaza, pounding the north, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  Israeli strikes intensified across Gaza today in some of the heaviest shelling in weeks, pounding the north from where the Israeli army had previously drawn down its troops, residents said. Strikes by air and shelling from tanks on the ground were also reported in  . . . READ MORE . . .

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UN rights chief ‘horrified’ by mass grave reports at Gaza hospitals, by Emma Farge | Reuters  GENEVA — UN rights chief Volker Turk said today he was “horrified” by the destruction of the Nasser and Al Shifa medical facilities in Gaza and reports of mass graves containing hundreds of bodies there, according to a spokesperson. Bodies were also reported at the Al Shifa site following . . . READ MORE . . .

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Tent compound rises in southern Gaza as Israel prepares for Rafah offensive. From AP. Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press appear to show a new compound of tents being built near Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip as the Israeli military continues to signal it plans an offensive on the city of Rafah. The military said it was not involved in the tent construction. READ MORE . . .

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Even before a planned Israeli ground offensive, airstrikes have made Rafah unsafe. Reported by Aya Batrawy and Anas Baba | NPR  Israel has intensified its airstrikes on Gaza’s southern city of Rafah. Palestinians say most of those killed are women and children. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Review of UN agency helping Palestinian refugees found Israel did not express concern about staff, by Edith M. Lederer | AP  UNITED NATIONS — An independent review of the neutrality of the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees found that Israel never expressed concern about anyone on the staff lists it has received annually since 2011. The report says UNRWA has . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 21  Palestinians as ‘the others,’ by Ralph Nader | nader.org / ScheerPost  Throughout history, military empires have reduced their victims, their subjugated, and their abducted to a state of “the others.” The political and mass media institutions usually follow suit. Such is the case . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel is turning hospitals into mass graves while the West fixates on ‘antisemitism,’ by Caitlin Johnstone | caitlinejohnstone.com.au  Wherever there’s an opportunity to focus the narrative on what feelings are being felt by a politically convenient population, the western press fall all over . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Reuters, Tass, the Kyiv Post, and the Kyiv Independent; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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A Russian strike on Kharkiv’s TV tower is part of an intimidation campaign, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a Russian missile strike that smashed a television tower in Kharkiv was part of the Kremlin’s ongoing effort to intimidate Ukraine’s second-largest city, which in recent weeks . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine will receive $61 billion in U.S. aid. Is it enough to repel spring offensive? Michel Martin of NPR speaks with former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst about how this latest round of U.S. aid will affect the situation in Ukraine — on and off the battlefield with Russia. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Ukraine launches military charm offensive as conscription flags, by Dan Peleschuk | Reuters  DNIPRO, Ukraine — As Ukraine’s efforts to conscript enough men to fight Russia are stymied by public scepticism, defence officials and military units are embarking on a multi-pronged charm offensive to recruit a citizens’ army to resist the invasion. This . . . READ MORE . . .

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Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu. From Tass. MOSCOW — Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense and anti-ballistic missile defense troops and this figure will rise to 85% in the next two years, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said today. This year . . . READ MORE . . .

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Special Ops reportedly destroy Russian T-72 Tank, eliminate at least 11 soldiers. From Kyiv Post. The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces says several pieces of Russian heavy equipment were destroyed during the week, including a T-72 tank, 11 Russian soldiers were eliminated. Operators of first-person-view drones from the . . . READ MORE . . .

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Over 20,000 Russian troops trying to storm Chasiv Yar; Budanov says Ukraine to face ‘difficult situation’ from mid-May, by news desk and Elsa Court | The Kyiv Independent  Around 20,000 to 25,000 Russian soldiers are trying to storm Chasiv Yar and the settlements in the city’s outskirts, the Khortytsia Group of Forces’ spokesperson, Nazar Voloshyn, said on national TV on Monday. Chasiv Yar lies around 10 kilometers . . . READ MORE . . .

A link to an essay from Resilience; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE,) — MCM

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Earth isn’t just where we’re from, by Richard Heinberg | Resilience  Start Trek—along with a heap of other science fiction novels, movies, and comic books—promoted the idea that we humans are destined to colonize the rest of our solar system, then other star systems, the galaxy, and beyond. That was an understandable conclusion to draw, given . . . READ MORE . . .