For today, links to reports from Reuters, the Kyiv Independent, the Moscow Times, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Post, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Russia launches missile attacks on Kyiv, other Ukrainian cities, by Olena Harmash | Reuters  KYIV — Russia launched new missile attacks on Ukraine today, hitting infrastructure, damaging residential and commercial buildings, and injuring at least 11 people in different parts of the country, officials said. It was the second series of Russian missile attacks so far this month and . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  At least 11 injured, homes, infrastructure damaged in morning Russian missile attack on Ukraine, by Dinara Khalilova | The Kyiv Independent  Russia launched another mass missile attack against multiple Ukrainian regions early today, injuring at least 11 people as well as damaging homes and civilian infrastructure, regional officials reported. Russian forces launched 26 missiles of various types at Ukraine, 13 of which . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  At least 6 killed in strike on Russia’s Belgorod – Heath Ministry. From the Moscow Times. At least six people, including one child, have been killed in missile strikes on the city of Belgorod in southwestern Russia, the country’s Health Ministry said today. The Defense Ministry said it had intercepted 14 Ukrainian RM-70 multiple rocket launcher shells. . . READ MORE . . .

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Attack on Russia’s Belgorod kills five, governor says. From AFP. An air attack on the Russian city of Belgorod killed at least five people and wounded 18 others today, the region’s governor said. Belgorod, which lies about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the border with Ukraine, has been . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine drone attack leaves Russia oil depot in flames – Official. From AFP. A nighttime Ukrainian drone attack set ablaze a Russian oil depot in the Kursk region near the frontier between the two countries, Russian authorities said today. Regional governor Roman Starovoit said there were no casualties, appealing to the local population to . . .  READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s HUR claims responsibility for striking oil depot in Russia’s Kursk, by Kateryna Zakharchenko | Kyiv Post  A nighttime Ukrainian drone attack ignited a Russian oil depot in the Kursk region near the border between the two countries, Russian authorities reported today, with sources from Ukraine’s Military Intelligence . . . READ MORE . . .

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The war in Ukraine is the top issue for the NATO defense ministers’ meeting. Reported by Teri Schultz | NPR  NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels for the first time since former President Donald Trump’s incendiary remarks about the alliance. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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UK to supply thousands of drones to Ukraine. From Reuters. LONDON — Britain said today it would supply thousands of more drones to Ukraine as part of its 200 million pound ($251 million) drone package, in an international effort it is co-leading with Latvia. “Together, [the UK and Latvia] will give Ukraine the capabilities it needs . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelenksy to visit Germany, France on Friday. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Germany and France on Friday for meetings with leaders Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron, his office announced. The visits . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, and to commentary from Scheer Post and from facebook.com/selfiesforpalestine; other links are accessible by clicking on their names or initialsbelow. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Displaced Palestinians leave one of Gaza’s main hospitals after weeks of being isolated by fighting, by Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy and Melanie Lidman | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinians have begun evacuating the main hospital in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, according to videos shared by medics today. Weeks of heavy fighting had. . . READ MORE . . .

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No breakthrough in Gaza talks dents hopes of Palestinians in Rafah, by Nidal al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Palestinians jammed into their last refuge in Gaza voiced growing fear today that Israel will soon launch a planned assault on the southern city of Rafah after truce talks in Cairo ended inconclusively. The talks in the Egyptian capital . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 12  The crisis at the New York Times, by Patrick Lawrence | Scheer Post / Consortium News  It has been evident to many of us since the genocide in Gaza began Oct. 7 that Israel risked asking too much of those inclined to take its side. The Zionist state would ask what many people cannot give: It would ask them to surrender their consciences, their idea of moral order, altogether their native decency as . . . READ MORE . . .

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Selfies for Palestine. From Facebook. This is an example of the images. Click HERE for others.

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

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Putin’s suggestion of Ukraine ceasefire rejected by United States, sources say, by Guy Faulconbridge and Darya Korsunskaya | Reuters  MOSCOW / LONDON — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion of a ceasefire in Ukraine to freeze the war was rejected by the United States after contacts between intermediaries, according to three Russian sources with knowledge of the discussions. The failure of Putin’s approach ushers in . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian military says it sank a Russian landing ship in the Black Sea, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s military said today it used naval drones to sink a Russian landing ship in the Black Sea, a report that has not been confirmed by Russian authorities. The Caesar Kunikov amphibious ship sank near . . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kiev to get four times more munitions compared to 2023 — German top brass. From Tass. BRUSSELS — Ukraine will get three to four times more munitions during this year compared to 2023, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in Brussels upon arrival at the regular meeting of the contact group on military assistance to Kiev (Ramstein format). “I can say . . . READ MORE . . .

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FEB. 13  The Senate passed a bill with Ukraine aid. Biden urges the House to do the same. Reported by Kai McNamee, Justine Kenin and Mary Louise Kelly | NPR  Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut talks about the prospect of U.S. military aid for Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Russian imperialism, by Joe Lauria | Consortium News  Amongst the condemnations that were hurled at Tucker Carlson and Vladimir Putin even before their interview was aired, was this gem from an unnamed European foreign affairs spokesman to The Guardian: “A spokesperson for the European Commission said it anticipated that . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, National Public Radio, and the Associated Press, and to commentary from the Institute for Arts and Ideas; other reports and commentary are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Al Jazeera condemns Israel ‘targeting’ Gaza journalists. From AFP. Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera today condemned Israel for “targeting” and severely wounding two of its Gaza journalists in a strike. Reporter Ismail Abu Omar’s life is at risk and cameraman Ahmad Matar was severely wounded when the pair were hit in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah. The network said . . . READ MORE . . .

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A new effort begins in Egypt to work out a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Reported by Steve Inskeep and Greg Myre | NPR  Discussions are expected to focus on a cease-fire of up to 45 days — as well as another exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Israel and Hamas are making progress in cease-fire and hostage release talks, officials say, by Amy Magdy, Najib Jobain and Tia Goldenberg | AP  CAIRO — Talks continued today in Egypt, with Israel threatening to expand its offensive to Gaza’s southern edge, where some 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge. Israeli forces Monday rescued two captives held in the packed southern city of Rafah in a raid that killed at least 74 Palestinians, according to . . . READ MORE . . .

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France sanctions 28 ‘extremist’ Israeli settlers. From AFP. France has banned 28 Israelis from entering the European country, accusing them of attacking Arabs in Judea and Samaria, its foreign ministry said today. One day earlier, the UK announced similar measures. The statement did not name the 28 individuals who . . . READ MORE . . .

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Italy says Israeli response to Hamas ‘disproportionate.’ From AFP. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says Israel’s bombing of Gaza, where civilian deaths are rising, is “disproportionate.” While strongly condemning the Hamas attack . . . READ MORE . . .

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UNWRA funding freezes risk ‘aiding’ deaths in Gaza: Saudi official. From AFP. Freezing funds to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees risks “aiding” the deaths of civilians in Gaza, the head of Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian agency said today. Several countries – including the United States, Britain, Germany and Japan – have suspended . . . READ MORE . . .

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What’s inside the Senate’s $95 billion bill to aid Ukraine and Israel and counter China, by Kevin Freking | AP  WASHINGTON — The Senate early today passed an emergency spending package that would provide military aid to Ukraine and Israel; replenish U.S. weapons systems; and provide food, water, and other humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. The Senate jettisoned from the package a . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 11  American allies worry the U.S. is growing less dependable, whether Trump or Biden wins, by Jill Lawlesss | AP  LONDON — As chances rise of a Joe Biden-Donald Trump rematch in the U.S. presidential election race, America’s allies are bracing for a bumpy ride. Many worry that a second term for Trump would be an earthquake, but tremors already . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 12  Biden says ‘key elements’ of a Gaza deal are on the table as he meets with Jordan’s King Abdullah, by Colleen Long and Zeke Miller | AP   WASHINGTON — Declaring that “every innocent life lost in Gaza is a tragedy,” President Joe Biden welcomed Jordan’s King Abdullah II to the White House Monday for talks on how to end the months-long war and plan for what comes afterward. The meeting . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM EARLY FEB. 12  Biden to meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah who’s pushing for a cease-fire in Gaza. Leila Fadel of NPR talks with Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen of the U.S. Institute of Peace before Monday’s visit to the White House by King Abdullah of Jordan visits the White House. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM FEB. 12  Could a Rafah offensive be a breaking point in Biden’s support of Israel? Reported by Connor Donevan, Brianna Scott, Mary Louise Kelly and Courtney Dorning | NPR  Kelly talks with ex-Middle East envoy Dennis Ross, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, about the deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and Israel. Click HERE to listen and, later, read

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FROM FEB. 12   Palestinians in Rafah describe the airstrikes of Sunday night. Reported by Hadeel Al-Shalchi | NPR  The Israeli military said it rescued two hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 from a house in Rafah. It used air strikes as a diversion, killing more than 60 Palestinians, according to health officials. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM FEB. 12  6-year-old Gaza girl was found dead days after pleading for rescue from Israeli fire. Reported by Aya Batrawy | NPR  A girl in Gaza’s pleas for help were heard around the world, but over the weekend the Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed the child was killed along with an ambulance crew that tried to rescue her. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM LATE JANUARY  The death of ideology. Alexis Papazoglou of IAI talks with political theorist John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago on Russia, Israel, China, and Washington’s interactions with them, among other topics. Click HERE for 22-minute YouTube video and comments.

 

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Tass, and to commentary from the Kyiv Post and the Institute for Art and Ideas; other offerings are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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What’s inside the Senate’s $95 billion bill to aid Ukraine and Israel and counter China, by Kevin Freking | AP  WASHINGTON — The Senate early today passed an emergency spending package that would provide military aid to Ukraine and Israel; replenish U.S. weapons systems; and provide food, water, and other humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. The Senate jettisoned from the package a . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky ‘grateful’ to U.S. Senate for backing more aid. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked US senators for passing $60 billion in aid for Kyiv on Tuesday, even as the bill looked likely to face resistance from House Republicans. Zelensky said on social media he was grateful to “every US Senator who has . . .  READ MORE . . .

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Russian army inflicts losses on Ukrainian manpower, materiel in 114 areas — Defense Ministry. From Tass. MOSCOW — “Tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces and artillery have destroyed an ammunition depot of Ukraine’s 126th brigade and inflicted losses on Ukrainian manpower and materiel in 114 areas,” the ministry said in a briefing. The Russian army . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 11  American allies worry the U.S. is growing less dependable, whether Trump or Biden wins, by Jill Lawlesss | AP  LONDON — As chances rise of a Joe Biden-Donald Trump rematch in the U.S. presidential election race, America’s allies are bracing for a bumpy ride. Many worry that a second term for Trump would be an earthquake, but tremors already . . . READ MORE . . .

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No matter what Senate does, U.S. Ukraine aid is ‘hanging by a very thin thread,’ by Jason Jay Smart | Kyiv Post The U.S. Senate, after five months of delay, appears to be on the verge of deciding on future aid for Ukraine. Though a step in the right direction, experts caution that the outcome is still far from clear. On Sunday night, Senators cleared . . . READ MORE . . .

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Is multilateral support for Ukraine about to falter? by Nicolas Agostini | Kyiv Post  It’s not an overstatement that the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel and their aftermath, the war in Gaza, are reshaping the global political landscape. This is a reason for concern as Europe’s financial support to Kyiv remains unable to assuage uncertainty about. . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM LATE JANUARY  The death of ideology. Alexis Papazoglou of IAI talks with political theorist John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago on Russia, Israel, China, and Washington’s interactions with them, among other topics. Click HERE for 22-minute YouTube video and comments.

 

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. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli forces rescue 2 hostages in dramatic Gaza raid that killed at least 67 Palestinians, by Najib Jobain, Josef Federman and Samy Magdy | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli forces rescued two hostages early today, storming a heavily guarded apartment in the Gaza Strip and extracting the captives under fire in a dramatic raid. The operation killed at least 67 Palestinians, including women and children, according to . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel frees two hostages in Rafah under cover of air strikes, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Emily Rose | Reuters  DOHA / JERUSALEM — Israel freed two Israeli-Argentinian hostages in Rafah today under the cover of airstrikes which local health officials said killed 67 Palestinians and wounded dozens in the southern Gaza city that is the last refuge of about a million displaced civilians. A joint operation by . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel has been threatening a military ground offensive against the city Rafah. Reported by Leila Fadel and Eyder Peralta | NPR  Humanitarian agencies and the international community say if Israel takes its fight to that part of Gaza, the result could be a humanitarian catastrophe. Click HERE to listen and read.

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and 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 launches barrage of 45 drones over Ukraine as Kyiv changes more military leaders. From AP. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces launched 45 drones over Ukraine in a five-and-a-half-hour barrage Sunday, officials said, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continued the reshuffle of his war cabinet. In a statement, the Ukrainian air force said it had shot down 40 of the . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine destroys 14 of 17 Russia-launched drones — Ukraine Air Force. From Reuters. Ukraine’s air defence systems destroyed 14 out of 17 drones that Russia launched overnight and one Kh-59 cruise missile, Ukraine’s Air Force said today. The Air Force said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine aid package clears key procedural vote in U.S. Senate. From AFP. A sweeping U.S. foreign aid package, including $60 billion for Ukraine, passed a key procedural vote Sunday, although opposition from right-wing Republicans may block it from becoming law. The lion’s share of the $95 billion package would help pro-Western Ukraine restock depleted ammunition supplies, weapons and . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky appoints 4 new high-level military commanders. From the Kyiv Independent. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced four high-level military appointments on Sunday, including the commanders of the Ground Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, the Combined Forces, and the Airborne Assault Forces. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Scheer Post in the form of a talk; others are accessible by clicking on names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Egypt threatens to suspend key peace treaty if Israel pushes into Gaza border town, officials say, by Najib Jobain and Samy Magdy | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Egypt is threatening to suspend its peace treaty with Israel if Israeli troops are sent into the densely populated Gaza border town of Rafah, and says fighting there could force the closure of the territory’s main aid supply route, two Egyptian officials and a Western diplomat said today. The threat to suspend the Camp David Accords, a . . . READ MORE . . .

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Hamas had command tunnel under U.N. Gaza HQ, Israeli military says, by Dylan Martinez | Reuters  GAZA — Israeli forces have discovered a tunnel network hundreds of metres long and running partly under the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees’ Gaza headquarters, the military says. The Palestinians have accused Israel of falsifying . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israeli military claims an underground tunnel links Hamas with the UNRWA. Reported by Debbie Elliott and Greg Myre | NPR  Israel’s military showed journalists what it claims is a Hamas tunnel beneath the Gaza headquarters of the UN agency that assists Palestinians. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JAN. 18  The death of Israel. A talk given by Chris Hedges. Posted on Jan. 24 by Scheer Post, this is an hour-long talk journalist Hedges gave at the Islamic Society of Central New Jersey, preceded by a six-minute introduction and followed by about 15 minutes of Q&A. Click HERE to watch and listen.

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FROM FEB. 9  The death of Israel: How a settler colonial state destroyed itself, by Chris Hedges. This is a transcription of Hedges’ Jan. 18 talk followed by the same video of it linked in the item just above, both courtesy of Roger Mills, who posted it on Substack. Click HERE for text and video.

 

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

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Russia launches 45 drones in mass barrage of Ukraine as Kyiv continues war cabinet reshuffle. From AP. KYIV — Russian forces launched 45 drones over Ukraine today in a five-and-a-half-hour barrage, officials said, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continued the reshuffle of his war cabinet as the war enters its third year. The Ukrainian air force said it had shot down 40 of the . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces using Musk’s Starlink in occupied areas, Ukraine says. From Reuters. KYIV — Russian forces in occupied Ukraine are using Starlink terminals produced by Elon Musk’s SpaceX for satellite internet in what is beginning to look like their “systemic” application, Kyiv’s main military intelligence agency said today. The terminals . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia closes in on Avdiivka as Western aid for Kyiv falters, war of attrition grinds on. From the Moscow Times. Russia’s nearly two-year war in Ukraine is likely to continue as a drawn-out war of attrition in 2024, with neither side expected to make major territoriaL gains, military analysts have told The Moscow Times. The Russian army, despite . . . READ MORE . . .

Here, in translations from ancient Greek into three modern Western languages, English, Spanish and French, is part of an appeal made nearly two millennia ago as the writer was about to leave wherever he was — Jerusalem? — for Palestine. It is in a letter to members of the small church in Rome, capital of the empire. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification. — Romans 14:19

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Así que, sigamos lo que contribuye a la paz y a la mutua edificación. — Romanos 14:19

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Ainsi donc, cherchons ce qui contribue à favoriser la paix et à nous faire grandir les uns les autres dans la foi. — Romains 14:19