Ukraine, 8-30-24

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

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Russian attack kills two, injures 11 in Ukraine’s Sumy, authorities say. From Reuters. KYIV — A Russian attack overnight damaged a factory in Ukraine’s northern city of Sumy, killed two women and injured at least 11 people, Ukrainian authorities said today. Officials said the factory manufactured . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says U.S. experts are helping figure out why a Ukrainian F-16 crashed in the war with Russia, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — U.S. experts have joined a Ukrainian investigation into why an F-16 warplane that Ukraine received from its Western partners crashed earlier this week during a Russian bombardment, the country’s air force commander said today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for reports from the Kyiv Independent and Kyiv Post.

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FROM AUG. 29  Why Russia has struggled to halt Ukraine’s incursion in the Kursk region. From AP.  It all comes down to Russian manpower and Russian priorities. READ MORE . . .

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What is known about situation in Kursk Region. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Ukrainian armed forces lost over 380 troops and 22 armored vehicles, including a tank, in the Kursk area in the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

Media, 8-30-24

Links to reports from National Public Radio and U.S. News & World Report, and to commentary from ScheerPost, CraigMurrary.org.uk, Substack, and Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or addresses below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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The latest chapter in a feud between Elon Musk and a Brazilian Supreme Court justice. Reported by Julia Carneiro and Steve Inskeep | NPR  Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter, faces possible suspension in Brazil — in a showdown with a powerful Supreme Court justice there. Click HERE to listen and, later, read, and HERE for report from U.S. News & World Report.

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FROM AUG. 29  The sound of enforced silence, by Patrick Lawrence | Original to ScheerPost  Of the many recent incidents of censorship, suppression and intimidation, the one that got me to the keyboard concerns Sharmine Narwani, who founded, three years ago this month, an online journal of news and comment called The Cradle, as in . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 27  Pavel Durov & the abuse of law, by Craig Murray | CraigMurrary.org.uk | Consortium News  The detention of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov is being portrayed as a result of the EU Digital Services Act. But having spent my day reading the EU Services Act, it does not appear to me to say what it is being portrayed as saying. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 25  On the arrest of Richard Medhurst, by Chris Hedges | Substack  The arrest of the reporter Richard Medhurst, who has been one of the most ardent critics of the genocide in Gaza and Israeli apartheid state, at Heathrow airport is part of the steady march towards the criminalization of journalism, something . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 26  NYT uncritically reported Israel’s version of Golan bombing, by Bryce Greene and Lara-Nour Walton | Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting / ScheerPost  As the U.S.-backed genocide in Gaza continues, U.S. media assist in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to widen the war, parroting the words of the aggressor. A consequential example of U.S. press support for escalation was Western media’s coverage of the July 27 strike that killed 12 Druze children . . . READ MORE . . .

Media, 8-29-24

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

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FROM AUG. 26  Schools are competing with cellphones. Here’s how they think they could win, by Carolyn Thompson | AP  Educators say their tried and true lesson plans are no longer enough to keep students engaged at a time of struggling mental health, shortened attention spans, reduced attendance and worsening academic performance. At the crux of these challenges?  READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 27  As more schools ban cell phones, this is how it’s working at one Colorado school. Reported by Rachel Cohen | NPR  More schools across the country are starting to ban students’ cell phones during classes. As one Colorado school tries it out, staff like it, but students not so much. Click HERE to listen and read.

Gaza, 8-29-24

For today, links to four reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, the Anadolu Agency, and Middle East Eye, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Fighting rages in Gaza as Palestinians hope for a pause for polio vaccinations, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Mohammad Salem | Reuters  CAIRO / GAZA — Palestinians in Gaza were waiting today to see if there would be a pause in fighting to allow a polio vaccination campaign to begin, as the conflict raged across the besieged enclave, killing at least 34 people. The United Nations is . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel kills prominent militant as it wages its deadliest West Bank raids since the Gaza war began, by Majdi Mohammed and Melanie Lidman | AP  TULKAREM, West Bank — The Israeli military said it killed five more militants, including a local commander, early today in the West Bank as it pressed ahead with what appeared to be the deadliest military operation in the occupied territory since the start of the war in Gaza. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli military operation in northern West Bank ‘may continue for several days,’ army says, by Abdelraouf Arnaout | Anadolu Agency  JERUSALEM — A military spokesman said today Israel’s ongoing military operation in the northern West Bank “will continue as long as necessary to achieve its security goals, meaning . . . READ MORE . . .

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How has Israeli aggression escalated in the occupied West Bank since 7 October? by Katherine Hearst | Middle East Eye  Israeli forces have conducted near daily raids on towns and cities across the West Bank since declaring war on Gaza last October. MEE details the surge in Israeli aggression in the occupied West Bank under cover . . . READ MORE . . .

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Arab rulers ‘discuss’ the chaos, even as Gaza burns, by Yvonne Ridley | Middle East Monitor  When I first began to study Islam, I was overwhelmed by stories of honourable men and women from the Arabian Peninsula who surrounded and followed Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Like many aspiring converts . . . READ MORE . . .

Ukraine, 8-29-24

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

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Russia launches a heavy missile and drone bombardment of Ukraine for the third time in 4 days, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Russia conducted a heavy aerial attack on Ukraine for the third time in four days today, again launching missiles and scores of drones that mostly were intercepted, Ukraine’s air force said. Russian forces fired . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian attacks on power sector pose risk to nuclear facilities, Ukraine says, by Pavel Polityuk and Olena Harmash | Reuters  KYIV  —A Russian drone and missile attack on Monday forced Ukraine to disconnect several nuclear power units from the grid, posing a risk to the nuclear power sector, a Ukrainian mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency said. Russia used more than 200 missiles and drones . . . READ MORE . . .

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1 killed, 2 injured in strikes on Russia’s Belgorod Region. From AFP. Ukrainian strikes on the southwestern Belgorod region killed one person and injured two others, regional authorities said early today. On Monday authorities in Belgorod said six civilians had been killed in attacks. READ MORE . . .

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F-16 reportedly crashes in Ukraine. From Kyiv Post. One of the Western F-16 fighters Kyiv received reportedly crashed on Monday during Moscow’s power grid strike against Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal, citing comments of an unnamed US official, said the incident was likely caused by pilot errors and that the plane was not shot down . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Russia was ready for talks with Ukraine before reckless move in Kursk Region, Lavrov says. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia’s readiness for peace talks with Ukraine was beyond doubt, but it was wrecked by Kiev’s reckless move in the Kursk Region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. “We always remember that President . . . READ MORE . . .

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Netherlands bans Ukraine from attacking Russian civilian targets with F-16 jets. From Tass. THE HAGUE — The F-16 fighter jets transferred by the Netherlands to Ukraine can be used for attacks on Russia, but not against civilian facilities, according to Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainians hold off on having babies during the war — some families buck the trend. Reported by Ashley Westerman | NPR  Against a backdrop of a declining birth rate, many families in Ukraine are trying to have a child in wartime. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

Gaza, 8-28-24

For now, links to 12 reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Middle East Eye, the Anadolu Agency, Middle East Monitor, Common Dreams, Sludge, and Antiwar.com; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli forces launch strikes across Gaza, push tanks into central Khan Younis, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Israeli forces sent tanks deeper into Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip and launched strikes across the enclave as they battled Hamas-led militants, killing at least 34 Palestinians today, according to medics. READ MORE . . .

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Israel launches a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank, killing 10 militants, by Julia Frankel and Nasser Nasser | AP  AL-FARAA REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank — Israel launched a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank overnight and into today, with its forces killing 10 Palestinian militants and sealing off the volatile city of Jenin. Israel has . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from NPR, Middle East Eye and the Anadolu Agency.

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FROM AUG. 27  As the Israel-Hamas war goes on, Gaza’s hospitals desperately need blood. Reported by Abu Bakr Bashir | NPR  Doctors in Gaza need to treat the thousands of Palestinian who have been seriously wounded in the war. How are they getting the blood they need despite malnourished donors, who are under bombardment? Click HERE to listen and read..

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FROM AUG. 27  For three days, Palestinians have been evacuating one of the last hospitals in Gaza. Reported by Hadeel Al-Shalchi and Anas Baba | NPR  As the Israeli military pushes into central Gaza, Palestinians evacuate the main hospital there, but many have nowhere safe to go. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Belgian official warns of polio outbreak in Gaza. From Middle East Monitor. Belgium’s Minister of Development Cooperation, Caroline Gennez, has warned of the spread of epidemics and polio in the Gaza Strip as a result of the ongoing Israeli offensive, and called for immediate negotiations to reach a ceasefire. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli evacuation orders are hindering Gaza polio vaccination, UN says, by Nader Durgham | Middle East Eye  The UN’s ability to operate in the besieged Gaza Strip has been hindered by Israel’s recurring evacuation orders, forcing Palestinians to flee to an ever-shrinking “humanitarian zone”, Under-Secretary-General Gilles Michaud said on Tuesday. READ MORE . . .

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AIPAC has spent over $100 Million on 2024 U.S. elections, by Jake Johnson | Common Dreams / ScheerPost  The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a powerful lobbying group widely known as AIPAC, has officially spent more than $100 million in the 2024 election cycle so far, pouring staggering sums into Democratic primary races in an effort to unseat progressive opponents of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Sludge.

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FROM AUG. 27  Israel says U.S. has delivered 50,000 tons of military aid since start of Gaza slaughter, by Dave DeCamp | Antiwar.com / ScheerPost  The Israeli Defense Ministry said Monday that the U.S. has delivered over 50,000 tons of weapons and other military equipment since the start of Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza, demonstrating the Biden administration’s staunch support for the slaughter. Since Oct. 7 . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

Ukraine, 8-28-24

First, links to seven reports: from from Reuters, the Kyiv Independent, the Associated Press, the Kyiv Post, the Moscow Times, and National Public Radio; 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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Kremlin, dismissing Zelenskiy’s talk of plan to end war, says Russia will keep fighting. From Reuters. MOSCOW — The Kremlin today dismissed talk by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy about a plan he has to end the war and said Russia would continue what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine. Zelenskiy said on Tuesday . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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A Russian missile strikes a Ukrainian city already in mourning for deaths in an earlier attack, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — A Russian missile slammed into Kryvyi Rih today, local authorities said, just as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s home city was observing an official day of mourning for an attack the previous day that killed four civilians at a hotel. The latest attack . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s Donbas offensive rolls on against outgunned Ukrainian troops, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  Russian tanks and infantry backed by powerful artillery and air strikes captured a key settlement and gained new ground in the eastern Donbas sector on Tuesday, according to field and media reports. Ukrainian troops fighting at a 4-to-1 firepower disadvantage . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian drone strike sparks another oil depot fire in Russia’s Rostov Region. From the Moscow Times. A second oil depot in southern Russia’s Rostov region was set on fire within a month following an overnight drone attack by Ukraine, local authorities said early today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

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Ukraine has successfully tested ballistic missiles that were made in Ukraine. Reported by Michel Martin | NPR  Ukraine has been dependent on Western countries for long-range ballistic missiles in its fight against Russia’s invasion. Will producing these missiles in Ukraine make a difference in the war? Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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MAY BE CONTINUED

Media, 8-27-24

Links to commentary from Nader.org and Common Dreams; 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 AUG. 23  Phil Donahue (1935-2024) — Greatest champion of free speech for the people’s interest of the 20th century, by Ralph Nader | Nader.org  It was 1967 when the national media was covering our auto safety initiatives. A call came on the hallway phone outside my $90-a-month boarding room. “Hello . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 19  Fired by MSNBC for giving voice to Iraq war opposition, Phil Donahue was courage personified, by Jeff Cohen | Common Dreams  Phil went on any TV show right after 9/11 that would have him to urge caution and to resist the calls for vengeful, endless warfare that would pointlessly kill large numbers of civilians in other countries. READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

Gaza, 8-27-24

For today, links to three reports: from the Associated Press and Reuters, and to commentary from Middle East Eye; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names and initials below. (UKRAINE and entry for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli military says it has rescued a hostage abducted in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. From AP. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military said today it has rescued one of the scores of people abducted in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, which ignited the ongoing war in Gaza. The rescue . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Israel-Hamas war latest: Israeli strikes across Gaza kill 18, including 8 children, Palestinians say. From AP. At least 18 Palestinians, including eight children, were killed on Monday by Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense. READ MORE . . .

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Israel is rudderless, and Washington is going down with the ship, by Taha Ozhan | Middle East Eye  Israel is caught in the liminal space of being a project and a state, juxtaposed between an apartheid regime and a democratic nation, straddling the line between a start-up country and a mature nation. It oscillates between historical prophecy and modern reality, balancing . . . READ MORE . . .

Ukraine, 8-27-24

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

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Ukraine’s army chief says his troops control nearly 500 square miles of Russia’s Kursk region. From AP. KYIV — The chief of Ukraine’s army said today that the country’s troops control nearly 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russia’s Kursk region since their surprised incursion three weeks ago. READ MORE . . .

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Russian attacks on Ukraine kill five in second day of major strikes, Kyiv says, by Valentyn Ogirenko and Gleb Garanich | Reuters  KYIV — Russia launched missile and drone attacks targeting scores of Ukrainian regions and killing at least five people, officials said today, a day after Moscow’s biggest air attack of the war on its neighbour. Two people were killed when a hotel was “wiped out” . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine launches attack on Belgorod Region, pro-Kremlin sources say. From the Moscow Times.  Ukrainian forces launched an attack on border posts in the southwestern Belgorod region, Telegram channels linked to Russian security services said Tuesday, as regional officials reported an attempt “to break through the border.” READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for reports from Kyiv Post and the Kyiv Independent.

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Russia says captured village near Ukraine’s key hub of Pokrovsk. From AFP. Russia’s defence ministry Tuesday said forces had captured another village in the eastern Donetsk region near the city of Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine tests its first ballistic missile, Zelensky says, by Martin Fornusek and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Ukraine carried out a successful test of the first domestic-made ballistic missile, President Volodymyr Zelensky said today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

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Child dies in Ukrainian UAV attack on civilian car in Zaporozhye. From Tass. MELITOPOL — A Ukrainian drone attacked a civilian family’s car heading to the town of Polologi in the Zaporozhye Region, killing a child and injuring the rest of the family members, including a second minor, Governor Yevgeny Balitsky said. READ MORE . . .

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Indian PM Modi tells Putin he supports end to Ukraine war. From AFP.  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin today that he supports a swift end to the grinding conflict in Ukraine after visiting the war-torn country last week. Modi has pursued a delicate balance between . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Tass.