Gaza, 9-16-24

For today, links to three reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, and Middle East Eye; others 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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Israeli airstrikes kill 16 in Gaza, including 4 children, Palestinians say. From AP. Palestinian officials say Israeli airstrikes killed 16 people in the Gaza Strip today, including five women and four children. A strike flattened a home in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central . . . READ MORE . . .

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UNRWA chief: Gaza polio vaccination coverage has reached 90%. From Reuters. DUBAI — Polio vaccination coverage in Gaza has reached 90%, the head of the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency said today, adding that the next step was to ensure hundreds of thousands of children got a second dose at the end of the month. The campaign to . . . READ MORE . . .

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Palestinian health ministry releases detailed list of more than 34,000 people killed in Gaza. From Middle East Eye. The Palestinian health ministry has released a document giving details on more than 34,000 people killed in Gaza between 7 October and 31 August 2024. The name, age, gender, ID number are given in the list, which covers the majority of the more than 41,000 . . . READ MORE . . .

Ukraine, 9-16-24

For today, links to ten reports: from the Moscow Times, Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Tass, the Kyiv Independent, National Public Radio, and the Kyiv Post; 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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Putin orders Russian army to increase troop size by 180K. From the Moscow Times. President Vladimir Putin signed a decree today increasing the number of soldiers in the Russian military by 180,000, bringing the total number of active servicemen to 1.5 million for this upcoming winter. The decree, which takes effect Dec. 1 . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Ukraine says Russian drone barrage injures one in Kyiv region. From Reuters. KYIV — A Russian overnight drone barrage injured one person and damaged five homes in Ukraine’s Kyiv region, the regional authorities said today. Governor Ruslan Kravchenko reported no damage to . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia says it retakes two villages in its western Kursk Region. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Russia said on today its forces had retaken control of two villages in its western Kursk region from Ukraine, continuing what Moscow says is a significant counter-offensive there. Russian forces have been battling Ukrainian troops . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 14  Ukraine renews calls on the West to approve long-range strikes on Russian territory. From AP. KYIV — Ukraine made a new call Saturday on the West to allow it to strike deeper into Russia after a meeting between U.S. and British leaders a day earlier produced no visible shift in their policy on the use of long-range weapons. READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 15  Deadly shelling in Ukraine’s Pokrovsk as Russia inches closer. From AFP. Russian shelling killed one person in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk on Sunday, local authorities said, as Moscow’s troops inched closer to the key logistics hub. READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s battlegroup West repels 8 counterattacks, inflicting roughly 600 enemy casualties. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia’s battlegroup West has repelled eight attacks by Ukrainian assault teams in the past day, inflicting roughly 600 enemy casualties, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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The Russian targets that could be on Ukraine’s long-range missile strike list, by Nate Ostiller and Chris York | The Kyiv Independent  Ukraine’s hopes have been buoyed in recent weeks that its Western allies will finally allow their long-range weapons . . . READ MORE . . .

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Inside the U.S. city churning out Ukrainian weapons. Reported by Mansee Khurana | NPR  SCRANTON, Pennsylvania — The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant has ramped up production of 155 millimeter howitzer artillery rounds since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The plant makes weapons for Ukraine and Taiwan, but cannot give specific . . . Click HERE to listen, and to read article.

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Ukraine’s HUR special forces target Russian drone base in Syria, by Kateryna Zakharchenko | Kyiv Post  Special forces from the Khimik group of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence attacked a Russian military base in Syria Sunday morning, according to a Kyiv Post source in military intelligence. The operation took place on the southeastern . . . READ MORE . . .

 

9/11 truth, 9-16-24

Links to an interview from Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth, a news item from the Berkshire Eagle, and a news item from CNN; other information is accessible by clicking on the organizations’ full or abbreviated names below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.)— MCM

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FROM SEPT. 9  Jill Stein: ‘The story is not over’ on 9/11. From AE911Truth.  Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein talks with Andy Steele about lack of government transparency — regarding the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and a host of other concerns — and “the mystery of U.S. foreign policy and all the intrigue that surrounds it.” Click HERE for intro and video of interview.

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FROM SEPT. 12  Retired Pittsfield firefighter’s daughter-in-law honors fallen 9/11 heroes with 110 Flight Climb Memorial. Staff report from The Berkshire Eagle  PITTSFIELD, Massachusetts — At 9:03 a.m. Wednesday, Kaetlyn Tedesco started her climb on the cardio machine at the Planet Fitness gym on Merrill Road. But it wasn’t your typical workout. She started exactly at 9:03 a.m. on Wednesday, the time the second World Trade Center was hit by a hijacked plane on Sept. 11, 2001. She also . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 11  Around the nation, firefighters in full gear walked up 110 flights of stairs to honor those who died in 9/11, by Andrea Diaz | CNN  At exactly 8:46 a.m. every September 11 — the moment when the first hijacked plane struck the Twin Towers in 2001 — firefighters around the nation begin their ritual. In stadiums, public buildings and, in some cases, on the StairMasters at their gyms, the first responders . . . READ MORE . . .

Gaza, 9-15-24

For today, links to seven reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, the Anadolu Agency, Middle East Monitor, Agence France-Presse, and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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FROM SEPT. 12  Could the Palestinians get UNGA membership? by Michelle Nichols | Reuters  UNITED NATIONS — When Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas travels to New York for the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations this month, he will for the first time be seated on the floor of the General Assembly among other U.N. member states. READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 14  An American activist killed by Israeli fire is buried in Turkey as Israel strikes Gaza, by Wafaa Shurafa and Andrew Wilks | AP  ISTANBUL — Aysennur Ezgi, a Turkish-American activist who was killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank, was laid to rest on Saturday in her hometown in Turkey with thousands lining the streets and anti-Israeli feelings in the country rising from a conflict that . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Anadolu Agency.

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FROM SEPT. 14  Israeli army issues orders to evacuate areas in northern Gaza Strip. From Middle East Monitor. Anadolu Agency reports that the Israeli army on Saturday issued new evacuation orders for Palestinians in large areas of the northern Gaza Strip, in preparation for attacking the area under the pretext . . . READ MORE . . .

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Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says death toll at 41,206. From AFP.  GAZA STRIP: The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said today that at least 41,206 people have been killed in the war between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, now in its 12th month. READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 12  At least quarter of Gaza wounded have ‘life-changing injuries’: WHO. From AFP.  GENEVA: The World Health Organization said Thursday that at least a quarter of those hurt in the war raging in Gaza have suffered “life-changing injuries”, many requiring amputations and other “huge” rehabilitation needs. READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 13  Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was killed by direct Israeli hit, autopsy report indicates, by Ragip Soylu | Middle East Eye  ANKARA —  An autopsy report prepared by the Palestinian Authority suggests that Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old Turkish–American activist, was directly shot in the head by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank, according to three forensic experts who reviewed the dossier. The report . . . READ MORE . . .

Ukraine, 9-15-24

For today, links to seven reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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FROM SEPT. 14  NATO military committee chair, others back Ukraine’s use of long range weapons to hit Russia, by Lolita C. Baldor | AP  PRAGUE — The head of NATO’s military committee said Saturday that Ukraine has the solid legal and military right to strike deep inside Russia to gain combat advantage — reflecting the beliefs of a number of U.S. allies — even as the Biden administration balks at allowing Kyiv to do so using American-made weapons. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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FROM SEPT. 14  Russia threatens Ukraine, West as long-range strikes decision looms. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Russian officials threatened the West on Saturday with an uncontrolled escalation of war and Ukraine with the destruction of Kyiv as Western leaders discussed whether to allow Ukraine to use their weapons for strikes deep into Russian territory. READ MORE . . .

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UK Foreign Minister Lammy plays down Putin threats. From AFP. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy today accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of “bluster” over his warning that letting Ukraine use long-range weapons to strike inside Russia would put NATO “at war” with Moscow. READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 14  ATACMS restrictions subject of ‘intense consultations’ between Ukraine and allies, Sullivan says. From The Kyiv Independent.  Allowing Ukraine to use ATACMS to strike targets deep inside Russia is the subject of “intense consultations,” U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, said in Kyiv Saturday. He reiterated that no decision . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 13  Zelensky announces 49 Ukrainian POWs returned to Kyiv. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Friday that 49 Ukrainian POWs had been returned from Russia. He did not clarify whether it was part of an exchange with Russia, as is usually the case, but. . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian aviation defeats reserves of seven Ukrainian brigades in Sumy Region. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian operational-tactical aviation and missile forces have defeated reserves of seven brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 11 settlements of the Sumy region within 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

Gaza, 9-14-24

For today, links to five reports: from the Anadolu Agency, Reuters and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date, so far, and a DICKINSON entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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4 children among 19 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on northern, southern Gaza Strip. From Anadolu Agency. ANKARA — At least 19 Palestinians, including several women and children, were killed today in Israeli attacks targeting areas in both the northern and southern Gaza Strip, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for report from AP and Middle East Eye.

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FROM SEPT. 13  European, Muslim countries meet in Spain eyeing schedule for Palestinian statehood, by Belén Carreño | Reuters  MADRID — Spain, hosting a high-level meeting on Friday of several Muslim and European countries on ways to end the Gaza war, called for a clear schedule for the international community to implement a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. READ MORE . . .  

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FROM SEPT. 13  How a strip of land in Gaza that borders Egypt has become an obstacle to a cease-fire, by Joseph Krauss | AP  A narrow strip of scrubland and sand dunes on the Gaza side of the border with Egypt has emerged as a major obstacle in talks aimed at halting the Israel-Hamas war and freeing scores of hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . . . READ MORE . . .

Ukraine, 9-14-24

For today, links to eight reports: from Agence France Presse, the Anadolu Agency, the Kyiv Independent, the Associated Press, Reuters, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date and a DICKINSON entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Russia, Ukraine swap 206 POWs in UAE-brokered deal. From AFP. Russia said today it swapped 103 Ukrainian soldiers held captive for an equal number of Russian POWs in an exchange deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates. The Russian troops freed in today’s swap were captured during . . . READ MORE . . .

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Putin will not prevail in Ukraine war: Biden, by Diyar Guldogan and Gizem Nisa Cebi | Anadolu Agency  WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not prevail in his war with Ukraine. “The United States is committed . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S., UK voice concern about Iran providing lethal weapons to Russia, by Diyar Guldogan | Anadolu Agency  WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed concern about Iran providing lethal weapons to Russia, the White House said Friday. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for related report.

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Ukraine’s long-range missile strike hopes on hold once again but encouraging signs remain, by Chris York | The Kyiv Independent  Ukraine’s hopes of being allowed to use Western-supplied long range missiles to strike deep inside Russian territory were put on hold once again on Friday in meetings between U.S. President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Washington. READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 13  U.S. hits Russian state media with sanctions for raising money for Moscow’s troops in Ukraine, by David Klepper | AP  WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department announced new sanctions on Russian state media Friday, accusing a Kremlin news outlet of working hand-in-hand with the Russian military and running fundraising campaigns to pay for . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 13  Putin’s options for Ukraine missiles response include nuclear test, experts say, by Andrew Osborn and Mark Trevelyan | Reuters  LONDON — Vladimir Putin’s options to retaliate if the West lets Ukraine use its long-range missiles to strike Russia could include striking British military assets near Russia or, in extremis, conducting a nuclear test to show intent, three analysts said. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian forces lost up to 520 troops in Battlegroup West zone of responsibility. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 520 servicemen in the Battlegroup West’s zone of responsibility in one day, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

Dickinson, 9-14-24

A poem by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886). It didn’t make Dr. Oliver Tearle’s “ten of the best” poems by her, HERE, but he surely had it in mind. The Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts, sent it out this week to promote a festival later in September. Tearle’s analysis is HERE. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Tell all the truth but tell it slant —
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth’s superb surprise
As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind —
Link

Gaza, 9-13-24

For today, links to 10 reports: from the Reuters, Associated Press, Middle East Eye, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Hamas chief Sinwar thanks Hezbollah in letter to Nasrallah. From Reuters. BEIRUT — Hamas chief Yehya Sinwar thanked the leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah for his group’s support in the conflictwith Israel, Hezbollah said toiday, in the first reported message since Sinwar became Hamas leader in August. The Iran-backed Hezbollah . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from AP.

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FROM SEPT. 12  Blinken says U.S. will keep pressing Israel to spare Gaza humanitarian sites. From AP. The U.S. secretary of state said Thursday that the United States will continue to press Israel to do more to spare humanitarian sites in the Gaza Strip, a day after . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 12  U.S. cites Egypt’s help in Gaza as Washington sends full military aid despite human rights concerns, by Courtney Bonnnell | AP  WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is sending Egypt its full $1.3 billion allocation of military aid, setting aside conditions placed by Congress on some of the money over human rights concerns and citing Cairo’s role as a mediator in the Israel-Hamas war. The State Department said . . .READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Middle East Eye.

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FROM SEPT. 12  Israel names Hamas gunmen it says were targeted in strike that killed UNRWA staff. From Reuters. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military on Thursday named nine men it said were Hamas militants killed in Gaza airstrikes that the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA said had left six of its staffers dead. The military said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was killed by direct Israeli hit, autopsy report indicates, by Ragip Soylu | Middle East Eye  An autopsy report prepared by the Palestinian Authority and dated Sept. 6 suggests that Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old Turkish–American activist, was directly shot in the head by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank, according to three forensic experts . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 12  World must pressure Hamas on Gaza deal, Netanyahu says after group’s statement. From Reuters. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that more pressure should be put on Hamas to accept a new Gaza deal proposal, after the Palestinian militant group said it was only willing to implement a ceasefire free of new conditions. READ MORE . . .

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Gaza economy shrinks to less than a sixth of its pre-war size, UN report says, by Emma Farge and Cecile Mantovani | Reuters  GENEVA — Gaza’s economy has shrunk to less than a sixth of its size when the Israel-Hamas war began nearly a year ago, while unemployment in the occupied West Bank has nearly tripled, a U.N. report said on Thursday, underscoring the challenges of reconstruction. The report described . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 12  The first wave of polio vaccines for more than 550,000 kids is wrapping up in Gaza. From NPR. The WHO and UN are wrapping up the first round of polio vaccinations in Gaza. In just a few weeks, when vaccinators will re-deploy to give kids under 10 the second shot of the two dose regimen. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM SEPT. 12  UK Prime Minister meets with President Biden to talk special relationship and Ukraine. Reported by Willem Marx | NPR  British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is traveling to Washington for meetings with President Biden, largely focusing on foreign affairs and decades-old “special relationship” between the two nations. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM SEPT. 12  Harris or Trump? They are two sides of the same imperialist, settler-colonial coin, by Ramona Wadi | Middle East Monitor  The genocide is not happening because of Oct. 7, but because Israel decided it wanted to ethnically cleanse Gaza, and the cross-border incursion provided an opportune moment to begin in earnest. It is happening because . . . READ MORE . . .

Ukraine, 9-13-24

For today, links to 12 reports: from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and Tass, and to commentary from 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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Russia’s war on Ukraine will top Biden-Starmer meeting agenda. Reported by Teri Schultz and Michel Martin | NPR President Biden hosts the new British prime minister at the White House. They’ll discuss whether to let Ukraine launch western weapons into Russia. If they do, Russia says it will respond accordingly. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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U.S. and British leaders meet as Ukraine pushes to ease weapons restrictions, by Aamer Madhani| AP  WASHINGTON — United States President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are meeting today amid an intensified push by Ukraine to loosen restrictions on using weapons provided by the U.S. and Britain to strike Russia. The talks come amid . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia expels six UK diplomats as tensions rise over Ukraine missiles, by Andrew Osborn| Reuters  Russia’s FSB security service said today it had revoked the accreditation of six British diplomats in Moscow after accusing them of spying and sabotage work, signalling . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from AFP.

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FROM SEPT. 12  Blinken wraps up Ukraine-focused Europe trip in Poland with arms requests on the table, by Matthew Lee | AP  WARSAW — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a three-nation, Ukraine-focused European tour in Poland on Thursday after hearing repeated appeals from Ukrainian officials to use Western-supplied weaponry for long-range strikes inside Russia. READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 12  UK Prime Minister meets with President Biden to talk special relationship and Ukraine. Reported by Willem Marx | NPR  British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is traveling to Washington for meetings with President Biden, largely focusing on foreign affairs and decades-old “special relationship” between the two nations. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM SEPT. 10  Blinken and British counterpart signal transatlantic unity with visit to Ukraine. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his British counterpart David Lammy are raising alarms about Iranian ballistic missiles in Russia that threaten Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM SEPT. 12  Ukraine says Russia hit grain vessel near NATO member Romania, by Pavel Polityuk,Yuliia Dysa and Tom Balmforth | Reuters  KYIV — Ukraine accused Russia on Thursday of using strategic bombers to strike a civilian grain vessel in a missile attack in Black Sea waters near NATO member Romania, escalating tensions between Moscow and the military alliance. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM SEPT. 12  Putin says West will be fighting directly with Russia if it lets Kyiv use long-range missiles, by Andrew Osborn and Guy Faulconbridge | Reuters  President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the West would be directly fighting with Russia if it allowed Ukraine to strike Russian territory with Western-made long-range missiles, a move he said would alter the nature and scope of the conflict. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from AFP.

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FROM SEPT. 11  Kremlin believes U.S. has authorized long-range Ukrainian strikes on Russia. From the Moscow Times. The Kremlin said Wednesday it believes Washington has already given Ukraine approval to strike targets inside Russia using U.S.-supplied long-range rockets. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian arms get the job done in special op — senior military official. From Tass. BEIJING — Russian weapons have fully proved their effectiveness in combat over the course of the special military operation, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Col. Gen. Alexander Fomin said at a forum. “The special military operation in Ukraine has completely changed . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kursk counteroffensive: Will Russia push Ukraine out of its turf? by Dinara Khalilova | The Kyiv Independent  Over a month after Ukraine launched an unprecedented incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast, Russian forces have begun counterattacking, aiming to eventually drive Ukrainian troops out of the partially occupied border region. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed . . . READ MORE . . .