Sometime in the 1950s a history teacher sought to reassure his students that World War III would not be be fought with nuclear weapons; rather, he said, the weapons would be economic. The first item below is the beginning of a column in today’s Berkshire Eagle by James Brooke, a semi-retired foreign correspondent who recently moved back to the United States from Ukraine, that lends itself to that prediction. Second and third, the beginnings of Reuters and Associated Press summaries from late this morning EDT, both linked to other stories. Fourth, a TeleSUR report linked to others from the news service. — MCM
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War in Ukraine threatens food security across the globe, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle The Russia-Ukraine war is taking Black Sea grain out of world markets, causing what Goldman Sachs calls the biggest disruption to global grain markets in half a century. With Ukrainian and Russian wheat and corn bottled up in port terminals and farm silos, the biggest victims are the biggest customers: countries from Middle East and North Africa. A decade ago, from Tunisia to Syria, high food prices fueled protests known as the Arab Spring. Today, as Lebanon’s wheat supplies dwindle, the price of black market flour has increased by 1,000 percent. In Egypt, dependent on Ukraine and Russia for 81 percent of its wheat imports, authorities plan to spend an extra $1 billion this year to subsidize bread. . . . After the end of communism 30 years ago, Ukraine and Russia adopted western farming methods and private land ownership. Yields soared and both countries became . . . Eagle subscribers can READ MORE . . .
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Red Cross trying again to escort evacuation convoy out of Ukraine’s Mariupol, by James Mackenzie | Reuters * People escaping from Mariupol describe ordeal * Ukraine official sees heavy battles ahead * Pope Francis implicitly criticises Putin * Missiles hit Ukrainian cities | ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine — The Red Cross was renewing efforts to evacuate civilians in a convoy from the besieged port of Mariupol on Saturday as Russian forces looked to be regrouping for fresh attacks in southeast Ukraine. Encircled since the early days of Russia’s five-week old invasion, Mariupol has been Moscow’s main target in Ukraine’s southeastern region of Donbas. Tens of thousands of civilians are trapped there with . . . READ MORE . . .
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Zelenskyy: Mines in wake of Russian retreat keep Kyiv unsafe, by Nebi Qena and Yuras Karmanau | The Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine — As Russian forces pull back from Ukraine’s capital region, retreating troops are creating a “catastrophic” situation for civilians by leaving mines around homes, abandoned equipment and “even the bodies of those killed,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Saturday. Ukraine and its Western allies reported mounting evidence of Russia withdrawing its forces from around Kyiv and building its troop strength in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian fighters reclaimed several areas near the capital after forcing the Russians out or moving in after them, officials said. The visible shift did not mean the country faced a reprieve from more than five weeks of war or that the more than 4 million refugees who have fled Ukraine will return soon. Zelenskyy said he expects departed towns to endure . . . READ MORE . . .
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Europol Deploys Teams in Countries Around Ukraine. From TeleSUR. The European Police Agency (Europol) on Friday reported on the deployment of forces in countries bordering Ukraine under the argument of fighting the passage of criminals and terrorists. In order to protect the countries of the community bloc and Ukrainian refugees from criminal threats, and at the request of those countries, Europol now has agents in Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Moldova, and soon in Hungary, according to a statement from the Netherlands-based agency. According to United Nations data, more than four million people have left Ukraine since late February, following the special military operation deployed by Russia in that country. That figure represents about one-tenth of the population of that nation and constitutes the largest exodus in Europe since World War II (1939-1945). . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM LATE YESTERDAY: WHO IS ROLAND ANGLE?