To begin, links to Associated Press, Reuters, TeleSUR, and National Public Radio reports; click on the news organizations’ names below to access other stories. — MCM
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Ukraine says it repels Russian attack as war grinds in east, by Oleksandr Stashevskyi and Ciaran McQuillan | The Associated Press KYIV — Ukrainian authorities said today that their troops repelled a Russian attack in the east, as Moscow struggled to gain ground in the region that is now the focus of the war even while intensifying its campaign there. Battered by their monthslong siege of the vital port city of Mariupol, Russian troops need time to regroup, Britain’s Defense Ministry said in an assessment — but they may not get it. The city and the steelworks where . . . READ MORE . . .
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Struggling in Ukraine, Russia paves way to sign up over-40s for army, by Mark Trevelyan | Reuters LONDON — In a sign of Russia’s urgent need to bolster its war effort in Ukraine, parliament said today it would consider a bill to allow Russians over 40 and foreigners over 30 to sign up for the military. The website of the State Duma, parliament’s lower house, said the move would enable the military to utilise the skills of older professionals. “For the use of high-precision weapons, the operation of weapons and military equipment, highly professional . . . READ MORE . . .
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The History of NATO’s Expansion in a Nutshell. From TeleSUR. Finland and Sweden today formally submitted their applications to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. This military-political alliance was founded in 1949 to contain the Soviet Union after World War II. Its aim is that through political and military means, member states work together in collective defense and the maintenance of . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia aims to capitalize on controlling the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. Reported by Leila Fadel, Joanna Kakissis and Rachel Treisman | National Public Radio. Russia is consolidating its control of the strategic Ukrainian city of Mariupol, after months of bombardment that Ukrainian officials say killed tens of thousands of civilians. The battle for Mariupol has centered on the Azovstal steel plant in recent weeks. An estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters and several hundred civilians had been . . . Click HERE to read more and listen.
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Finland has officially applied to join NATO and a brewery shows support. Reported by Leila Fadel | NPR Finland has formally applied to join NATO, and a Finnish brewery is helping make the case with a case of beer. The brew is called OTAN, a play on a Finnish expression that means, I’ll have a beer. And it’s also the French abbreviation for NATO. The can features a version of a cartoon knight with NATO’s compass emblem on its chest. So how does it taste? The brewery CEO describes it as security with a hint of freedom. Click HERE to listen and read.
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TO BE CONTINUED