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

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New railway from Rostov to occupied Mariupol launched by Russian forces. From Kyiv Post. Russian forces have completed and launched a new railway from Rostov to the occupied city of Mariupol, according to Petro Andryushchenko, the adviser to the mayor of Mariupol. He said the new railway could . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia says captured another eastern Ukraine village. From AFP. Russia said today its armed forces seized the village of Novoselivka Persha in eastern Ukraine, the latest in a string of frontline advances Moscow has claimed in recent weeks. READ MORE . . .

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Egyptians recruited by Russia fight in Kharkiv Oblast, by Daria Shulzhenko and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Russia has been deploying foreign volunteers, namely residents of Egypt, to fight in its war against Ukraine in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine’s Operational Tactical Group “Kharkiv” said today. “In Vovchansk . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine accuses Russian forces of killing, dismembering prisoner-of-war. From Reuters. KYIV — Ukraine’s human rights commissioner urged the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations to investigate an image widely shared online on Saturday that he said likely showed a Ukrainian prisoner-of-war killed and dismembered by Russian forces. READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s East battlegroup defeats four Ukrainian brigades. From Tass.  MOSCOW — Units of Russia’s East battlegroup defeated four Ukrainian brigades, the enemy lost up to 95 servicemen and two ammunition depots, the Russian Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine intensifies its long-range strikes, sinking a Russian submarine and striking an airfield, by Samya Kullab | AP  KYIV — Ukraine has sunk a Russian submarine and hit a Russian airfield in the past 24 hours, in line with a surge of long-range attacks against Russian targets, officials said. Russia said Ukrainian drones also hit an apartment building, killing one person. READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for Aug. 3 reports from Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, and Reuters.

For now, links to six reports: from National Public Radio, Reuters, the Associated Press, and the Orinoco Tribune and to commentary from Counter Punch, both articles via Popular Resistance; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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Protests over election results in Venezuela aren’t losing steam. Reported by Carrie Kahn and Ayesha Rascoe | NPR  Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, continues to insist he won last week’s election, but proof is scarce. Meanwhile, Venezuelans continue to protest. Click HERE to listen and, later, read, and HERE for report from Reuters.

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FROM AUG. 3  Opposition leader joins rally calling for Venezuela presidential election results to be overturned, by Fabiola Sánchez | AP  CARACAS — Thousands of people rallied in the streets of Venezuela’s capital Saturday, waving the national flag and singing the national anthem in support of an opposition candidate they believe won the presidential election by a landslide. Authorities . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 2  Venezuela’s opposition secured over 80% of crucial vote tally sheets. Here’s how they did it, by Regina García Cano | AP  CARACAS — The statement that upended Venezuela came 24 hours after polls closed in the presidential election. With the reassuring tone of someone who has consistently been considered an underdog, opposition powerhouse Maria . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 2  U.S., European lawmakers jointly condemn Venezuela’s handling of election, by Patricia Zengerle | Reuters  WASHINGTON — The leaders of foreign affairs committees of the U.S. Congress and legislatures across Europe have joined to condemn the Venezuelan government’s handling of last weekend’s disputed election, according to . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 1  President Masduro files Supreme Court appeal for election protection, by Victoria Torres | Orinoco Tribune / Popular Resistance  The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, has filed an appeal before the electoral chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice  for protection of results, in order to resolve the attacks and the attempted coup d’état that took place on Monday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 2  Venezuela: An attempted coup by any other name, by Maria Paez Victor | Counter Punch / Popular Resistance  Once again, as in 2002, Venezuela has been the victim of a combined media and diplomatic coup attempt, but this time with the added element of organized crime and a cyber-attack. READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

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

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Israel, U.S. preparing for Iranian retaliation: WSJ report, by Diyar Güldoğan | Anadolu Agency  WASHINGTON — Israel and the U.S, are preparing for an “unpredictable Iranian retaliatory strike on Israel as soon as this weekend,” the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. The newspaper quoted an Iranian diplomat . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s army says airstrikes in the northern West Bank kill 9 Palestinian militants, by Aref Tufaha and Jack Jeffery | AP  ZEITA, West Bank — Two Israeli airstrikes in the northern West Bank killed nine Palestinian militants today, Israel’s army said, as violence flared again in the Israeli-occupied territory with tensions high over the war in Gaza. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Iran says Haniyeh assassinated by ‘short-range projectile,’ accuses Israel and U.S., by Ikrame Imane Kouachi | Anadolu Agency  TEHRAN — The assassination of Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh was “designed and executed” by Israel with support from the U.S., using a short-range projectile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 2  Haniyeh killed by a projectile fired at his room, eyewitnesses say, by Faisal Edroos and Simon Hooper | Middle East Eye  Three individuals who were in the heavily guarded building in Tehran where Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated say the Hamas political chief was killed by a projectile fired at his room and not a planted bomb. READ MORE . . .

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Meshaal: ‘We will not recognise Israel.’ From Middle East Monitor. The head of the Hamas movement abroad, Khaled Meshaal, reiterated on Friday that the movement “will not recognise Israel” and that “killing one of our leaders only makes our people stronger.” This came in a speech during the funeral ceremony in Doha for the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, and . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 2  Is Israel provoking a regional war in the Middle East? Reported by Jonaki Mehta, Katia Riddle and Ailsa Chang | NPR Former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas talks about whether Israel might be provoking an escalation in the Middle East that could drag the U.S. into conflict. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Israeli soldiers will soon find ways to tell their media about the terror inside Gaza, by Ralph Nader | Nader.org / ScheerPost  Israeli soldiers, like soldiers in other countries, bask in the self-serving effusive praise showered upon them by politicians, but privately they know BS when they hear it. Right from the start . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to seven reports: from the Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, National Public Radio, 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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Ukrainian armed forces sink Russian submarine, destroy four S-400 systems in Crimea, by Alisa Orlova | Kyiv Post   Ukraine’s armed forces conducted a significant operation in the temporarily occupied Crimea early this morning, successfully targeting a Russian kilo-class submarine capable of deploying Kalibr cruise missiles and four S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems. According to . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Russia reports Ukrainian drone barrage on its regions. Kyiv says it hit an airfield. From AP. Russian officials said today Ukrainian forces overnight targeted multiple Russian regions with a massive drone barrage. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from AFP.

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FROM AUG. 2  Russian troops inch forward in Ukraine’s east with waves of bombs and infantry, by Anastasiia Malenko and Max Hunder | Reuters  KYIV / POKROVSK, Ukraine — Russian assaults are raising pressure on the strategic eastern logistics hub of Pokrovsk, Ukraine said on Friday, as waves of guided bombs and infantry lead to some of Moscow’s largest territorial gains since the spring. READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops are gaining ground in eastern Ukraine. Reported by Greg Myre and Scott Simon | NPR  Russian forces are making small but steady gains in eastern Ukraine and seem to be targeting a key town. Ukraine is getting more Western weapons, but Russia still has more firepower and more troops. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Russian forces hit two S-125 missile launchers, temporary base of foreign mercenaries. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces hit two S-125 missile launchers and a temporary base of foreign mercenaries in the past day, the Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

For now, links to eight reports: from Common Dreams, Reuters, Middle East Eye, Middle East Monitor, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor and Consortium News; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE and VENEZUELA entries for this date are HERE.) and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM AUG. 1  UN finds ‘appalling acts’ of torture against Palestinians, by Edward Carver | Common Dreams / Consortium News  The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Wednesday released a report detailing torture and abuse of Palestinians at Israeli detention centers, including sexual violence, waterboarding, and the use of dogs. READ MORE . . .

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Slain Hamas leader Haniyeh’s funeral held in Qatar, Israel is warned of revenge, by Tala Ramadan and Jana Choukeir | Reuters  DUBAI — The funeral of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh took place in Qatar today following his assassination two days ago in Iran’s capital Tehran — one in a series of killings of senior figures in the Palestinian militant group as the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza rages. Mourners . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Middle East Eye.

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FROM AUG. 1  Haniyeh killed by bomb smuggled into guesthouse months ago, NYT reports. From Middle East Monitor. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated on July 31 by an explosive device which had been smuggled two months ago into the guesthouse he is known to stay, the New York Times has reported. Quoting five Middle Eastern officials . . . READ MORE . . .

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International calls for cease-fire grow after assassinations in the Mideast. From AP. United States President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were among the growing voices internationally calling for a cease-fire cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in recent days, saying . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Calls for revenge grow as Hezbollah and Hamas bury assassinated leaders. Reported by Jane Arraf and Leila Fadel | NPR  Israel and Lebanon are bracing for the possibility of even stronger attacks after Israel’s killing of three top leaders from the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah — in three different countries. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM AUG. 1  Hezbollah and Hamas bury slain leaders as Iran eyes revenge. Reported by Jane Arraf | NPR  Hezbollah and Hamas have buried their slain leaders. The leader of Iran-backed Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, said the war in Gaza had now entered a new phase. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Haniyeh fulfilled with great honour his duty towards Palestine, by Sayid Marcos Tenório | Middle East Monitor  The treacherous murder of Ismail Haniyeh will not slow the struggle of the Palestinian people for their liberation. His struggle, his example and . . . READ MORE . . .

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The Israeli nihilist state, by Craig Murray | CraigMurray.org.uk / Consortium News  It is no longer possible to categorise the nihilistic violence of the Israeli state. It appears to have no objective other than violence and an urge for desolation. In 24 hours . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to four reports: from Reuters, the Kyiv Post, and the Kyiv Independent; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA and VENEZUELA entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Russian drone hits bus in Kharkiv region, injuring six, official says. From Reuters. KYIV — A Russian drone hit a bus in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region early today, injuring six construction workers, including one who was in a critical condition, the regional governor said. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 1  Fresh Russian advances in eastern Ukraine send locals fleeing, by Max Hunder | Reuters  POKROVSK, Ukraine — Pressing home their advantages in manpower and weapons, Russian forces have fought their way towards major towns and supply routes in pursuit of their goal of full control of Ukraine’s industrialized and mineral-rich Donbas. READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces reportedly preparing new assault on Vovchansk in Kharkiv Region. From Kyiv Post. The situation in the Kharkiv region remains critical as Russian forces continue their attempts to seize new territories. Ukraine’s Kharkiv operational-tactical group reported that Russian troops are focusing their efforts on the settlement of Vovchansk. READ MORE . . .

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Poland and Ukraine to form a military unit from Ukrainians in Europe. Will it be effective? by Dinara Khalilova | The Kyiv Independent  Kyiv and Warsaw have agreed to form and jointly train a new army brigade on Polish soil, betting the initiative could help recruit some of the scores of Ukrainian men living in Poland and other EU countries. The so-called . . . READ MORE . . .

Links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and Common Dreams, to a news release from the Carter Center, and to commentary by a British observer. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Masked assailants ransack Venezuela opposition leader’s headquarters as post-election tensions mount, by Regina Garcia Cano, Joshua Goodman, Gabriela Sá Pessoa and E. Eduardo Castillo | AP  CARACAS — A half-dozen masked assailants ransacked the headquarters of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado today in the latest escalation of violence against opponents of Nicolás Maduro following the country’s disputed presidential election. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 1  U.S. recognizes Maduro’s opponent as winner in Venezuela election, by Kanishka Singh and Matt Spetalnick | Reuters  WASHINGTON — The United States on Thursday recognized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s opponent and opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the winner of Venezuela’s disputed presidential election, rejecting Maduro’s claim of victory. READ MORE . . .

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As Venezuela court probes election results, U.S. declares victory for right-wing opposition, by Jake Johnson | Common Dreams  The U.S. State Department has formally recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González as the winner of Venezuela’s election as the nation’s highest legal body began an investigation of the vote at the request of President Nicolás Maduro, who . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 30  Carter Center statement on Venezuela election. News release from the Carter Center. ATLANTA — Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election did not meet international standards of electoral integrity and cannot be considered democratic. The Carter Center cannot verify or corroborate the results of the election declared by . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for news release in Spanish.

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FROM JULY 29  The relative value of life and death, by Craig Murray | CraigMurray.org.uk  Many congratulations to Nicolas Maduro on his re-election in Venezuela. I have to confess I got this wrong. I thought the huge . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to seven reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from SheerPost, Common Dreams, Middle East Eye and 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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Israel says it has confirmed Hamas military wing chief Mohammed Deif was killed in a July strike, by Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy | AP  JERUSALEM — The Israeli military said today it has confirmed that the head of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, was killed in an airstrike in Gaza in July. The announcement comes a day after an apparent Israeli strike in the Iranian capital killed Hamas’ top political leader. READ MORE . . . Click HERE, HERE and HERE for related report from AP and two from Reuters.

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After 2 assassinations in the Middle East, the region braces for all-out war. Reported by Tom Bowman, Aya Batrawy and A Martínez | NPR  The killing of a Hezbollah commander in Beirut and the killing of a top Hamas official in Iran are stoking very real fears of a wider regional war in the Middle East. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JULY 31  The killings of top leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah stun Middle East. Reported by Jane Arraf and Hadeel Al-Shalchi | NPR  Within the last day, leaders of both Hamas and Hezbollah were killed in apparent assassinations by Israel. Iran backs both Hamas and Hezbollah. And now, many groups are vowing revenge. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM JULY 31  Assassination of Hamas leader inflames regional tensions. Reported by Alejandra Marquez Janse, Sarah Handel and Ailsa Chang | NPR   Khaled Elgindy, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, talks about what the future may look like for Hamas after one of its top leader was allegedly assassinated by Israel. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM JULY 31  The murder of Ismail Haniyeh, by Patrick Lawrence | Original to ScheerPost  Some reflections, written urgently in response to the urgency of the moment, on the assassination early Tuesday of Ismail Haniyeh. The 62–year-old chairman of Hamas’s Politburo . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 31  Netanyahu risks regional war with assassination, by Jake Johnson | Common Dreams / Consortium News  The political leader of Hamas was assassinated early Wednesday in what the group said was an Israeli attack on his residence in the Iranian capital of Tehran . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ismail Haniyeh killing: Netanyahu’s only goal is to set the region on fire, by David Hearst | Middle East Eye  In killing Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau in Tehran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent the clearest message yet to Iran and the resistance movements that he wants a regional war. READ MORE . . .

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Ismail Haniyeh killing plunges Biden diplomacy into chaos but shows Iran’s vulnerability, by Sean Mathews | Middle East Eye  The killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran has thrust the U.S. into the thorny position of scrambling to prevent a regional war from erupting after the assassination exposed the vulnerability of its most potent Middle Eastern foe: Iran. READ MORE . . .

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It’s both criminal and desperate; that’s why Israel assassinated Ismail Haniyeh, by Ramzy Baroud | Middle East Monitor  Israel’s assassination of the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran on 31 July is part of Tel Aviv’s search for a wider regional conflict. It is a criminal act that reeks of desperation. Almost immediately after . . . READ MORE . . .

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

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Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 4, injure 27 over past day, hit railroad station, by Kateryna Hodunova | The Kyiv Independent  Russian attacks against Ukraine killed four and injured 27 people over the past day, regional authorities said early today. Russia targeted a total of 10 Ukrainian oblasts over the past day – Mykolaiv, Chernihiv . . . READ MORE . . .

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F-16s have arrived to help Ukraine fight Russia. Here’s what to know about their possible impact, by Barry Hatton and Andrew Meldrum | AP  KYIV — The American-made F-16 is an iconic fighter jet that’s been the front-line combat plane of choice for the NATO alliance and numerous air forces around the world for 50 years. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Kremlin says Russia will shoot down Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets. From Reuters. MOSCOW — The Kremlin said today that Russian forces would shoot down U.S.-built F-16 fighter jets sent to Ukraine, and that the F-16s would have no significant impact on the course of the war. Lithuanian and U.S. officials said on Wednesday that Ukraine had received . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from AFP.

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Russian troops wipe out three U.S.-made Patriot missile launchers in Ukraine operation. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops destroyed three U.S.-made Patriot surface-to-air missile launchers, an unmanned aerial vehicle control post and Ukrainian army trains over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian drone reportedly ambushes $15 million Russian helicopter near occupied Donetsk, by Julia Struck | Kyiv Post  The Mi-8 military helicopter of the Russian forces, which was downed near Russian-occupied Donetsk, was reportedly shot down by a Ukrainian drone on Wednesday, according to Russian military bloggers and Western media. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 31  Russia must be present at next peace summit to end war, Zelensky says, by Kateryna Denisova and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Ukraine, along with most countries, believes that Russia must be present at a second peace summit in November in order to end the war, President Volodymyr Zelensky told French media in an interview published on Wednesday. READ MORE . . .

Links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, and to commentary from MintPress News via Consortium News; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Colombian President Petro calls on Venezuela’s Maduro to release detailed vote counts from election, by Regina Garcia Cano | AP  CARACAS — Colombian President Gustavo Petro today called on his close ally, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, to release detailed vote counts of the weekend election in which electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner. READ MORE . . .

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Venezuelan opposition looks for narrowing paths to power, by Vivian Sequera and Mayela Armas | Reuters  CARACAS — Venezuela’s opposition, which says that it — and not President Nicolas Maduro — won Sunday’s presidential election, is scrambling for ways to find a path to power despite significant obstacles. Opposition leaders say . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 30  As U.S. leaders call fraud, U.S. observers endorse results, by Alan MacLeod | MintPress News / Consortium News  Much to the chagrin of the U.S. government, Venezuelan socialist candidate Nicolas Maduro won a third successive term in office on Sunday, convincingly beating his U.S.-backed opponents, Edmundo Gonzalez and Maria Corina Machado, by seven points. READ MORE . . .