For today, links to articles from Substack, Indian Punchline, Reuters, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.)— MCM

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FROM APRIL 17  A military solution to a political problem, by Seymour M. Hersh | Substack  It’s time now to applaud the brilliance of the Pentagon planning staff and the operational officers who did what America assured Iran’s religious and military leadership it could do . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 18  Israel grapples with its ‘Suez moment,’ by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  Iran did not attack Israel. Iran instead retaliated to a blatant attack by Israel against its sovereignty in violation of international law and the UN Charter, which was tantamount to an act of war. More important, Iran’s retaliation . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 19  Israel’s Iran attack carefully calibrated after internal splits, U.S. pressure, by Samia Nakhoul, Parisa Hafezi and James Mackenzie | Reuters  DUBAI / JERUSALEM — Israel’s apparent strike on Iran after days of prevarication was small and appeared calibrated to dial back risks of a major war, even if the sheer fact it happened at all shattered a taboo of direct attacks that Tehran broke days earlier. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 19  Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7, by Nicole Winfield | AP  CAPRI, Italy — The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received “last minute” information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn’t participate in the apparent attack, officials said. READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Israel and Iran’s apparent strikes and counterstrikes give new insights into both militaries, by Ellen Knickmeyer | AP  WASHINGTON — Israel demonstrated its military dominance over adversary Iran in its apparent precision strikes that hit near military and nuclear targets deep in the heart of the country, meeting little significant challenge from Iran’s defenses and providing the world with . . . READ MORE . . .

First, links to reports from National Public Radio, Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their initials or names below. (GAZA and DIPLOMACY entries are HERE and HERE.)  — MCM

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House set to vote on aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Reported by Scott Simon and Claudia Grisales | NPR  The U.S. House is poised to vote on a series of bills that would give additional aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The funding for Ukraine is causing divisions among House Republicans. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Ukraine needs at least seven Patriot air defence systems, Zelenskiy tells NATO, by Tom Balmforth and Yuliia Dysa | Reuters  KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told NATO members on Friday that Ukraine needed a minimum of seven Patriot or other high-end air defence systems to counter Russian air strikes, exhorting them to step up their military assistance for Kyiv. In . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Russia says it downs 50 Ukrainian drones overnight, two civilians killed. From Reuters.  MOSCOW — The Russian defence ministry said today its air defence intercepted and destroyed 50 Ukrainian drones overnight, repelling one of the largest such attacks on Russia during the conflict in Ukraine. Russian officials said two civilians were killed and a fuel depot was . . . READ MORE . . .

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As Russia edges toward a possible offensive on Kharkiv, some residents flee. Others refuse to leave, by Samya Kullab | AP  KHARKIV, Ukraine — Russia seemingly exploited air defense shortages in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, to pummel the region’s energy infrastructure and terrorize its 1.3 million residents. Officials say nearly 200,000 city dwellers remain without power, while . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 19  Russian missile barrage on Ukraine city kills 18, by Anna Malpas and Ania Tsoukanova | AFP  Rescuers were removing mountains of rubble on Thursday from the site of a lethal Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s historic city of Chernihiv, where at least 18 people were killed in an attack that has prompted fresh pleas for allies to boost Kyiv’s overstretched . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 19  Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast kill 7, including children, injure 35, by Abbey Fenbert and Kateryna Denisova | The Kyiv Independent  Russian forces attacked Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with missiles Thursday morning, killing at least seven people, including two children, and injuring at least 35 others, local authorities reported. Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak said . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 19  ‘No region in Ukraine endures hell like Donetsk Oblast,’ governor says of Russia’s war, by Alexander Khrebet | The Kyiv Independent  Local authorities in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk Oblast have stopped assessing the damage of Russia’s war. Daily barrages of attacks make doing so both futile and extremely dangerous. The oblast’s governor, Donetsk oblast Governor Vadym Filashkin, said . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 19  Russia not to go for settlement on Ukraine based on ‘Zelensky formula’ — Lavrov. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia sees no need to resolve the Ukraine crisis on the basis of the slightly edited so-called “ZelenskY formula,” which is being promoted by the West, as this is thimblerigging and a scam, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with . . . READ MORE . . .

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

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U.S. vetoes Palestine U.N. membership as Russia walks out, by Joe Lauria | Special to Consortium News  The United States on Thursday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution granting Palestine full membership in the United Nations. Western media has incorrectly reported Thursday’s vote as one to determine Palestinian statehood. Palestinian statehood was recognized by the U.N. General Assembly in November 2012 when it was given non-member, Observer State status. The resolution, sponsored by . . . Click HERE to read and watch session.

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Ukraine, Israel aid back on track as House pushes toward weekend votes, by Stephen Groves, Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking | AP  WASHINGTON — With rare bipartisan momentum, the House pushed ahead today on a foreign aid package of $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and humanitarian support as a coalition of . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 18  Gaza cease-fire resolutions roil U.S. local communities. Reported by Jim Zarroli | NPR  Across the country, well over 100 cities and towns have passed resolutions demanding a cease-fire. They include college towns that typically skew progressive, but also some big cities such as . . . Click HERE to read and, later, listen.

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FROM APRIL 18  U.S. vetoes widely supported resolution backing full UN membership for Palestine, by Edith M. Lederer | AP  UNITED NATIONS — The United States vetoed a widely backed U.N. resolution Thursday that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for Palestine, a goal the Palestinians have long sought and Israel has worked to prevent. The vote in the 15-member Security Council was . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 18  U.S. stops UN from recognizing a Palestinian state through membership, by Michelle Nichols | Reuters  UNITED NATIONS — The United States on Thursday effectively stopped the United Nations from recognizing a Palestinian state by casting a veto in the Security Council to deny Palestinians full membership of the world body. It . . . READ MORE . . .

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

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Ukraine, Israel aid back on track as House pushes toward weekend votes, by Stephen Groves, Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking | AP  WASHINGTON — With rare bipartisan momentum, the House pushed ahead today on a foreign aid package of $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and humanitarian support as a coalition of . . . READ MORE . . .

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G7 pledges swift aid for Ukraine, seeks to calm Middle East, by Crispian Balmer and Angelo Amante | Reuters  CAPRI, Italy — Group of Seven major powers pledged today to bolster Ukraine’s air defences to counter increasingly deadly Russian attacks and told China to stop supporting Moscow’s military industry if it wanted . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 18  Ukraine’s prime minister on how U.S. aid could make a difference on the frontlines. Reported by Andrew Limbong | NPR Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says it is crucial for Congress to pass a $60 billion aid package to successfully defend itself against Russ  Click HERE to listen and read.

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Peoples Dispatch, Reuters, ScheerPost, Middle East Monitor, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Consortium News; others are accessible by click on their initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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House’s Ukraine, Israel aid package gains Biden’s support as Speaker Johnson fights to keep his job, by Stephen Groves, Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking | AP  WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Wednesday he strongly supports a proposal from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Before potential weekend voting, Johnson was facing . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 16  Google employees lead sit-ins protesting the company’s complicity in genocide. From Peoples Dispatch.  Google workers led sit-ins at the office of Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian in Sunnyvale, California, and Google’s New York City headquarters on Tuesday in protest against Google’s complicity in the Israeli genocide of the Gaza Strip, through Project Nimbus, the tech giant’s contract with the Israeli government and military. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for Reuters report.

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Google fires 28 workers after office sit-ins to protest cloud contract with Israel. From AP. Google has fired 28 employees involved in protests over the tech company’s cloud computing contract with the Israeli government, according to statements from the company and campaigners. The workers . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 16  Canceling the valedictorian, by Max Jones | ScheerPost  The University of Southern California’s cancellation the commencement speech of its 2024 valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, garnered attention from national and international media. Andrew T. Guzman, the provost, announced the university’s decision to cancel the speech on April 15, citing . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel has arrested more than 5,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October. From Middle East Monitor. The Israeli army has arrested more than 5,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since last October, the government media office in the enclave said on Wednesday. This brings close to 10,000 . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel is engaged in conflicts on 3 separate fronts: Hamas, Hezollah and Iran. Reported by A Martínez and Greg Myre | NPR  Israel is fighting Hamas in Gaza, with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and now directly with Iran. How are the conflicts linked, and how does it intend to handle all three at once? Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM APRIL 16  Could the Russians seize Congress? by Patrick Lawrence | Special to Consortium News  In late January Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat who served as House speaker for far too long, asserted that the F.B.I. should investigate demonstrators demanding a ceasefire in Gaza for their ties . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Consortium News; other articles are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (GAZA entry for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Ukraine strikes Russia’s military airfield in Dzhankoi, Crimea, by Kateryna Zakharchenko | Kyiv Post  Ukrainian military intelligence said today that Kyiv “destroyed or critically damaged” four launchers of Russia’s most powerful air defense system – the S-400 – in its early Wednesday morning attack on Russia’s Dzhankoi military airfield in occupied Crimea. The attack took out . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for Kyiv Independent report.

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Ukraine air defense: G7 ministers seeking urgent support, by Crispian Balmer and Angelo Amante | Reuters  CAPRI, Italy — Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven major powers warned today that Ukraine risked being defeated by Russia unless it received more air defences, as Kyiv urged a change in Western strategy towards the war. Ukraine faces . . . READ MORE . . .

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House’s Ukraine, Israel aid package gains Biden’s support as Speaker Johnson fights to keep his job, by Stephen Groves, Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking | AP  WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Wednesday he strongly supports a proposal from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Before potential weekend voting, Johnson was facing . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kremlin says U.S. aid for Ukraine won’t change military situation. From AFP. Russia said today that fresh U.S. aid for Ukraine will not change the dynamics on the battlefield, as Washington gears up for a crucial weekend vote on long-stalled military funding for Kyiv. READ MOKRE . . .

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Russia reports downing 5 Ukrainian military balloons in Kyiv’s latest apparent war innovation. From AP. Russian air defenses downed what authorities described as five Ukrainian balloons overnight, the defense ministry in Moscow said today, as the sides kept up long-range strikes that have . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian drone attack damages four houses in Russia’s Voronezh. From Tass. TASS — Four houses were damaged in Russia’s Voronezh as a result of a Ukrainian drone attack on the city, Gov. Alexander Gusev said. “City services will today . . . READ MORE . . .

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At least 50,000 Russian troops have been killed in Ukraine, media probe finds. From NPR. An investigation by BBC Russia and independent Russian media outlet Mediazona finds Russia has suffered at least 50,000 casualties since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM APRIL 17  How Ukraine is keeping the power grid running amidst war with Russia. Reported by Jenna McLaughlin | NPR  An international team found a creative solution to help keep Ukraine’s lights on amidst Russian attacks. That same solution could help everyone from the military to commercial pilots. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM APRIL 16  Could the Russians seize Congress? by Patrick Lawrence | Special to Consortium News  Desperate to get Congress to authorize $60.1 billion in new aid to Ukraine, Capitol Hill warmongers charge that those objecting to this bad-money-after-bad allocation are . . . READ MORE . . .

Links to reports from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and USA Today; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM APRIL 17  NPR suspends editor who criticized his employer for what he calls an unquestioned liberal worldview. From AP.  NEW YORK — National Public Radio has suspended a veteran editor who wrote an outside essay criticizing his employer for, in his view, journalism that reflects a liberal viewpoint with little tolerance for contrary opinions. Uri Berliner, a . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 17  NPR editor Uri Berliner resigns with blast at new CEO. Mary Louise Kelly of NPR talks with colleague David Folkenflik about Berliner’s resignation after 25 years over differences with Katherine Maher, CEO since January, and others at the network. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM APRIL 17  NPR editor Uri Berliner resigns after essay accusing outlet of liberal bias, by Emily DeLetter | USA Today  A senior business editor at National Public Radio has resigned after writing an essay for an online news site published last week accusing the outlet of a liberal bias in . . . READ MORE . . .

For now, links to reports from the Associated Press, Middle East Monitor, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and, via Popular Resistance, the Cradle and CNN, and to commentary from the Capitol Hill Citizen; 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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UN appeals for $2.8 billion to help 3 million Palestinians in desperate need of food and other aid, by Edith M. Lederer | AP  UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations appealed for $2.8 billion on Tuesday to provide desperately needed aid to 3 million Palestinians, stressing that tackling looming famine in war-torn Gaza requires not only food but sanitation, water and health facilities. Andrea De Domenico, the head of . . . READ MORE . . .

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UN: More than 10,000 women killed in Gaza. From Middle East Monitor. The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women on Tuesday announced the deaths of more than 10,000 women in the Gaza Strip, which has been suffering a devastating Israeli war for more than six months. “Women who have survived,” the authority said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Gaza’s IVF embryos destroyed by Israeli strike, by Saleh Salem, Andrew Mills and Imad Creidi | Reuters  When an Israeli shell struck Gaza’s largest fertility clinic in December, the explosion blasted the lids off five liquid nitrogen tanks stored in a corner of the embryology unit. The impact of that single . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel-Hamas talks on Gaza truce ‘stalling’: mediator Qatar. From AFP. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas to secure a truce in Gaza and a release of hostages have stalled, Qatar’s prime minister said today. READ MORE . . .

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33,899 Palestinians killed in Israel’s Gaza offensive since Oct. 7, health ministry says. From Reuters. DUBAI — Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 33,899 Palestinians and wounded 76,664 since Oct. 7, the Palestinian enclave’s health ministry said today. In the past 24 hours . . . READ MORE . . .

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Iran attack puts Israeli Rafah invasion on ice. From the Cradle / Popular Resistance  Israel was on the verge of launching a ground offensive on the Gazan city of Rafah but delayed the campaign after Iran launched a massive retaliatory attack on Israel over the weekend, CNN reported on Monday. Citing Israeli sources, CNN reported . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel delays Rafah offensive plans amid heated debate over response to Iranian attack, sources say, by Jeremy Diamond | CNN  TEL AVIV  — Israel was set to take its first steps towards a ground offensive on the Gaza city of Rafah but delayed that campaign after Iran’s weekend attack on their country, which has sparked a heated debate in the war cabinet over . . . READ MORE . . .

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Senate slaughter shame and Sanders, by Russell Mokhiber | Capitol Hill Citizen  By a two-thirds margin, Americans are more inclined to support a member of Congress who supports a cease-fire in Gaza and they are less inclined to support a member of Congress who opposes a cease-fire. That’s the key finding . . . READ MORE . . .

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Collectively Congress is a weapon of mass destruction, by Ralph Nader | Capitol Hill Citizen  As an operating legislative institution, given enormous constitutional authority, Congress has the originating power for good or bad, on a scale unmatched by any counterpart in other countries. The paradox is that . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

First, links to reports from the Kyiv Post, the Associated Press, the Moscow Times, and the Kyiv Independent; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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Russian missile attack on Chernihiv leaves 14 dead, over 60 injured, by Julia Struck | Kyiv Post  Russian troops launched three missile attacks on the border сity of Chernihiv today, hitting nearly the center of the city and resulting in the loss of at least 14 lives. “The enemy launched three . . . READ MORE . . .

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Facing a Republican revolt, House Speaker Johnson’s plan for U.S. aid to Ukraine, allies uncertain, by Lisa Mascaro | AP  WASHINGTON — Defiant and determined, House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed back Tuesday against mounting Republican anger over his proposed U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other allies, and rejected a call to step aside or risk a vote to oust him . . . READ MORE . . .

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50K Russian soldiers confirmed killed in Ukraine – independent tally. From the Moscow Times. Over 50,000 Russian soldiers have been confirmed killed in Ukraine since the start of the Kremlin’s invasion over two years ago, according to an independent tally conducted by the BBC’s Russian service and the independent Mediazona . . . READ MORE . . .

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Source: Ukraine strikes radar station in Russia’s Mordovia Republic, by Kateryna Denisova | The Kyiv Independent  Ukrainian drones attacked a military unit in the city of Kovylkino in Russia’s Mordovia Republic, hitting the Konteiner radar station today, a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said. READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, and Consortium News; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli tanks push back in northern Gaza, warplanes hit Rafah, say residents, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  Israeli tanks pushed back into some areas of the northern Gaza Strip today which they had left weeks ago, while warplanes conducted air strikes on Rafah, the Palestinians’ last refuge in the south of the . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel must stop settler attacks on Palestinians, UN human rights office says. From AP. Israeli security forces “must immediately end their active participation in and support for settler attacks on Palestinians,” the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said today. The statement follows a wave of settler attacks on Palestinian towns and villages in the West Bank triggered by . . . READ MORE . . .

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UN commission accuses Israel of obstructing Oct. 7 probe. From Reuters.  GENEVA — A UN-mandated commission of inquiry that probes violations of international human rights law today accused Israel of obstructing its efforts to collect evidence from the victims of the attack by Hamas in southern Israel on Oct. 7. “So far as the government of Israel . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 15  Revolt in northern England: No ceasefire, no vote, by Joe Lauria | Special to Consortium News  BLACKBURN, England  A rebellion is brewing in England, particularly in the north, where voters are fed up with the similar, repressive policies of both the Labour and Conservative parties, in particular when it comes to Gaza. A surge of independent candidates for local council elections . . . Click HERE for text and videos.