For today, links to seven reports: from the Kyiv Independent, Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and the Kyiv Post, and to commentary from Consortium News and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Scholz condemns war, urges Russia to negotiate with Ukraine in first call with Putin in nearly 2 years, by Kateryna Hodunova | The Kyiv Independent  Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke by phone today, their first direct call in nearly two years, according to a German government statement. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Ukrainian soldiers focus on keeping Russian advances at bay and brace for storm to come from U.S., by Vasilisa Stepanenko and Yehor Konovalov | AP  Russia is increasingly hitting the Kharkiv region with unstoppable, building-leveling glide bombs and swarms of drones and chipping away at territory there. Its troops are advancing in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Ukraine arrests army officer accused of spying for Russia. From AFP.  Ukrainian authorities today announced the arrest of an army lieutenant colonel accused of leaking classified information about military operations to Russia. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine repels Russian attempt to enter Kupiansk, military says. From the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian forces successfully repelled Russian attempts to break into the city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrinfrom reported on Nov. 14, citing the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Click HERE for article and map.

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FROM NOV. 14  Trump picks ‘favorite of the Russians’ Tulsi Gabbard for Intel chief, by Stash Luczkiw | Kyiv Post  U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he intends to appoint Tulsi Gabbard, former congresswoman from Hawaii, as the U.S. national director of intelligence. Gabbard has long accused . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for related article of commentary from Consortium News via ScheerPost.

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Blinken, atrocious in a dangerous world, by Binoy Kampmark | Middle East Monitor  It is hard to credit one of the least impressive secretaries of state the United States has ever produced with any merit other than . . . READ MORE . . .

 

A link to commentary from Constortium News via ScheerPost; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM NOV. 14  Zionists in Amsterdam, by Patrick Lawrence |  Consortium News / ScheerPost  We find in these chaotic days a picture in miniature of the sickness . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

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

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FROM NOV. 13  Why is only limited aid getting to Palestinians inside Gaza? by Julia Frankel, Jack Jeffrey and Samy Magdy | AP  JERUSALEM — The United States decided not to punish Israel over the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip after giving it an ultimatum to increase aid entering the territory. But the flow of food, medicine and other supplies to Palestinians is still at nearly its lowest level of the entire . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel fails to meet U.S. demands on aid to Gaza. How are aid agencies coping? Reported by Leila Fadel | NPR  The U.S. says that Israel will not face consequences for failing to meet U.S. demands to provide more aid to avoid mass starvation in Gaza. What are aid organizations doing to cope? Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Palestinians say north Gaza destruction is widespread as rights group warns some may never return, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Palestinians displaced from northern Gaza said Israeli forces had inflicted widespread destruction on their home districts in their latest six-week-old offensive and a rights group raised concerns Israel might put some areas permanently off-limits. READ MORE . . .

 

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 and an ELECTION entry and a MEDIA entry are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM NOV. 13  U.S. says it intends to shore up support for Ukraine until Trump takes office. From AP. BRUSSELS — President Joe Biden intends to bolster U.S. military support to Ukraine in the final months of his administration, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, after Russia launched a sophisticated missile and drone attack on Kyiv. READ MORE . . .

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Russia open to any Ukraine peace talks if Trump starts them, envoy says. | Reuters GENEVA — Russia is open to negotiations on an end to the Ukraine war if initiated by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, but any talks need to be based on the realities of Russian advances, Moscow’s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva told reporters today READ MORE . . .

A link to commentary from the Washington Post; other articles are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for today and a MEDIA entry are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM NOV. 13  World’s richest man is about to receive free public education, by George Will | The Washington Post  Elon Musk’s reward for services rendered to Trump’s campaign will be leadership of a commission to slice . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to commentary from Consortium News and an interview from Substack, both via ScheerPost, and to a documentary film and discussion of it from CN; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date and an ELECTION entry are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM NOV. 13  Thawing Russia-U.S. relations? by Ray McGovern | Consortium News / ScheerPost  A former and future U.S. president talked with Vladimir Putin on Thursday! At least that is what The Washington Post reported today. In a highly detailed account, the Post wrote: . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 13  Israel’s war on the press (w/ Jeremy Loffredo). Chris Hedges of The Chris Hedges Report talks with Grayzone reporter Jeremy Loffredo about some of his war-related coverage in the United States, the Occupied territories and in Israel, and his arrest and detainment in Israel. Click HERE for video, intro and transcript.

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FROM NOV. 12  Watch: Pilger & the Palestinians. Joe Lauria and others at Consortium News salute the late journalist and filmmaker John Pilger and look at this month’s British Film Institute tribute to him for his more than 60 documentaries. One of them, “Palestine Is Still the Issue” (1974, updated in 2001), is followed by CN’s 2021 discussion with Pilger and historian Ilan Pappé, Click HERE for all of it.

For today, links to 13 reports: from the Anadolu Agency, Middle East Eye, National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Reuters, the Anadolu Agency and Middle East Monitor, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this day is HERE.) — MCM

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At least 21 killed as Israeli army steps up attacks in Gaza, by Hosni Nadim | Anadolu Agency  GAZA CITY — At least 21 Palestinians were killed as the Israeli army intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip today, medical sources said. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli army ‘preparing for years-long presence in Gaza,’ by Nader Durgham | Middle East Eye  The Israeli army is establishing long-term presence in Gaza, senior military officials says. Haaretz quoted several of them as saying the army is gearing up to remain in the besieged Palestinian enclave at least until the end of 2025. READ MORE . . .

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Violence by extremist Israeli settlers increases in the occupied West Bank. Reported by Jackie Northam | NPR  Human rights groups say there have been at least 1,000 attacks by extremist Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank in the past year. Hundreds have been driven from their homes. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Turkey severs all relations with Israel, says Erdogan, by Ragip Soylu | Middle East Eye  ANKARA — Turkey has severed all ties with Israel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced today. Ankara continues to maintain diplomatic relations with the country, however, and Turkish diplomatic missions in Tel Aviv remain open and operational. READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 12  U.S. won’t halt any weapons to Israel over Gaza humanitarian aid situation. From AP. Eight international aid groups said Tuesday that Israel has failed to meet U.S. demands for greater humanitarian accessto the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where hunger experts say the north may already be experiencing famine. However, the Biden . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 12  U.S. finds that Israel is not impeding assistance to Gaza; aid groups disagree, by Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne Psaledakis | Reuters  WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s administration has concluded that Israel is not currently impeding assistance to Gaza and therefore is not violating U.S. law, the State Department said on Tuesday, even as . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 12  U.S. deadline for Israel has come as Palestinians in Gaza remain hungry. Reported by Aya Batrawy | NPR  U.S. gave Israel a month to increase aid into Gaza or face consequences under the law, but Palestinians still going hungry. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM NOV. 11  Israel’s defence ministry says it has no plans for northern Gaza aid delivery, by Simon Hooper and Lubna Masarwa | Middle East Eye  LONDON / JERUSALEM  Israel’s defence ministry has told Middle East Eye that there are currently no planning processes in place to send aid into northern Gaza. This as Israeli forces face growing condemnation because of a weeks-long siege . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 12  Evidence shows Israel using hunger as weapon in Gaza, says South Africa on genocide case, by Hassan Isilow | Anadolu Agency  JOHANNESBURG — South Africa said Tuesday that the evidence it provided in the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice shows how Tel Aviv is using starvation as weapon of war, aiming to .  . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 12  Israeli prime minister plans to push for West Bank annexation when Trump takes office. From Anadolu Agency.  JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to push for annexing the occupied West Bank when U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office, Israeli media said on Tuesday. Netanyahu reportedly said in closed-door talks . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Middle East Monitor.

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Trump taps ‘unapologetic Zionist’ Mike Huckabee as next ambassador to Israel, by Gizem Nisa Cebi | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — In a move underscoring the incoming administration’s stance on Israel and Palestine, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced his selection of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a self-declared “unapologetic” Zionist, as the next . . . READ MORE . . .

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The reasons for Syria’s neutrality on the Israel war, by Hussein Abdul Aziz | Middle East Monitor  The Syrian regime’s distancing itself from the Israeli war raises many question marks for those who have not closely examined the regime’s policy over the past five decades. READ MORE . . .

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Trump’s Middle East playbook: Israel, Iran and the new geopolitical game, by Akhil Kumar | Middle East Monitor  Drawing from his previous term (2017-2021) and recent campaign pronouncements, President-elect Donald Trump’s approach to the Middle East is expected to favour . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to five reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, Tass, Kyiv Post, 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 stages first missile attack on Kyiv since August, Ukraine says, by Pavel Polityuk and Tom Balmforth | Reuters  KYIV — Blasts boomed across Kyiv this morning after officials said Russia launched its first missile attack on the Ukrainian capital since August, forcing elderly women and small children to take shelter in an underground . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S. says it intends to shore up support for Ukraine until Trump takes office. From AP. BRUSSELS — President Joe Biden intends to bolster U.S. military support to Ukraine in the final months of his administration, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today, after Russia launched a sophisticated missile and drone attack on Kyiv. READ MORE . . .

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Situation in Kursk. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Ukrainian armed forces have lost more than 450 troops in the Kursk area over the past day, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. READ MORE . . .

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Russian drone in mass use for air strikes on Ukraine uses electronics from PRC, Taiwan and the U.S., by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  Ukrainian military intelligence said today that a robot plane in mass production in Russia and widely used in air strikes against Ukrainian homes and businesses is manufactured and flown in combat thanks to electronics imported from the China, Taiwan, Switzerland and even . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian navy officer responsible for strikes on civilians killed in SBU operation, source says, by Martin Fornusek | The Kyiv Independent  The car bombing that killed Russian Navy officer Valery Trankovsky in occupied Sevastopol today was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine, a source said. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli strikes kill 31 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and 6 east of Beirut, medics say, by Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy | AP.  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli airstrikes killed at least 31 people in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, medics said. In Lebanon today, warplanes struck Beirut’s southern suburbs and killed six people . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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

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Russian strike on Zelensky’s hometown kills mother, 3 children, minister says. From AFP. Ukrainian authorities said today that the death toll from a Russian strike on Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelensky, rose to four people, identifying the dead as . . . READ MORE . . .

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‘Explosive Strike’: Ukrainian drones set Belgorod oil depot ablaze. From Kyiv Post. Early today a Ukrainian drone attacked an oil depot in the Stary Oskol district of Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine’s northeastern regions, reported its regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov. READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 11  Russian forces damage Kurakhove Reservoir dam in Donetsk Oblast, Kyiv says. From the Kyiv Independent. Russian forces damaged the dam holding the Kurakhove Reservoir in Donetsk Oblast on Monday, according to Gov. Vadym Filashkin. His statement came after multiple reports of the dam being attacked near the village of . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine targets value-added production to reshape wartime economy, by Olena Harmash | Reuters  KYIV — Ukraine’s wartime government will boost domestic value-added production to reshape its commodities-driven economy, increase revenue, boost growth and return millions of Ukrainians home, acccording to the first deputy prime minister. READ MORE . . .