First, links to reports from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Reuters, and teleSUR; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM

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Xi, Putin hold summit in Uzbekistan as Ukraine war dominates. From AP. BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and leaders from India and Central Asia gathered today in Uzbekistan for a summit of a security group formed by Beijing and Moscow as a counterweight to U.S. influence. The meeting Friday of the eight-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization is overshadowed by Putin’s attack on Ukraine and strains in China’s . . . READ MORE . . .

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Xi-Putin meeting will happen on the sidelines of a security forum in Uzbekistan. Reported by Steve Inskeep, Emily Feng and Charles Maynes | NPR  The leaders of China and Russia join other world leaders for meetings at the Eurasian summit — dealing with security and trade. Top of the agenda: regional security and Russia’s war in Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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Ukraine’s Zelenskiy sees damage in recaptured towns; Russia strikes city water system, by Tom Balmforth | Reuters  * Russian missiles attack Kryvyi Rih water system, Ukraine says * Dam repair works underway, floods receding -Krivyi Rih official * Zelenskiy makes surprise visit to Izium, Ukrainian flag raised * Russian, Chinese navies conduct joint patrols in the Pacific | IZIUM, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said towns and villages recaptured from Russian forces had been devastated, while a major city stepped up efforts today to repair damage to its water system from missile attacks. READ MORE . . .

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German FM urges swift decision on tank delivery to Ukraine. From AP. BERLIN — Germany’s foreign minister is putting pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to decide soon whether to supply Ukraine with advanced tanks as it seeks to reclaim more of its captured territory from Russia. . . . In an interview with daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung published today, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said a decision on delivering modern battle tanks to Ukraine could only be taken jointly by Germany’s governing three-party coalition and its international partners. “But . . . READ MORE . . .

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Other buyers for Russian energy other than Europe – Peskov. From teleSUR. Amid Europe’s efforts to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that other countries are willing to buy Russian energy. “Europe is not the only consumer of natural gas,” he said, speaking about falling demand in the EU, “nor is it the only continent that needs natural gas to sustain rapid growth.” European demand . . . READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED