For today, links to six reports from the Anadolu Agency, Reuters, Common Dreams, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and a LUKE entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Decimated Gaza ‘living hell’ for over 2M people, says UNRWA chief, by Beyza Binnur Donmez | Anadolu Agency  GENEVA — Gaza has been decimated and become a “living hell” for more than 2 million people, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said today. “In the last nine months,” said Philippe Lazzarini,” we have witnessed unprecedented failures of humanity in . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel kills senior Gaza health official, tanks push deeper into Rafah, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — An Israeli air strike at a medical clinic in Gaza City killed the director of Gaza’s Ambulance and Emergency Department, the enclave’s health ministry said, while Israel’s military said the strike had killed a senior Hamas armed commander. The ministry said the . . . READ MORE . . .

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Over 20,000 children missing in Gaza, mith ‘unknown number’ in mass graves: report, by Jake Johnson | Common Dreams  The humanitarian group Save the Children estimated today that around 21,000 kids are missing in the Gaza Strip as Israel’s military continues its assault on the enclave, reducing much of the Palestinian territory to rubble. Roughly 4,000 kids are likely buried under that debris, according to Save the Children, while at least 17,000 are . . . READ MORE . . .

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Netanyahu says he won’t agree to a deal that ends the war in Gaza, testing the latest truce proposal, by Tia Goldenberg and Samy Magdy | AP  TEL AVIV — The viability of a U.S.-backed proposal to wind down the 8-month-long war in Gaza was cast into doubt today after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would only be willing to agree to a “partial” cease-fire deal that would not end the war, comments that sparked an uproar from families of hostages held by Hamas. .   . READ MORE . . .

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Israel talks of winding down its most intense fighting in Gaza. Reported by Hadeel Al-Shalchi and Steve Inskeep | NPR  Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is in Washington this week, and will continue conversations while Israel fights on two fronts — in Gaza and on the border with Lebanon. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Israel braces for potential ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant, by Abdelraouf Arnaout | Anadolu Agency  JERUSALEM — Israel is preparing for potential arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. On Sunday, the Hague-based court reposted a notice in Hebrew, Arabic, and English explaining its procedures. READ MORE . . .

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Why Ilan Pappe’s new book on the Israel lobby is a must-read, by Peter Oborne | Middle East Eye  No review has yet been published of Professor Ilan Pappe’s magnificent and passionate new book on the Zionist lobby. This silence is no surprise. Even a passing reference to the lobby is liable to lead to charges of antisemitism and potential career destruction. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to six reports from Agence France-Presse, CNN, Tass, and the Kyiv Independent, and to an editorial from Kyiv Post; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date and a LUKE entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Kremlin warns U.S. of ‘consequences’ after deadly Crimea strike. From AFP.  Authorities in Moscow today warned Washington that it would face “consequences” following a deadly Ukrainian strike on annexed Crimea that was said to have been carried out with U.S.-supplied long-range missiles. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Sunday’s strike on the city of Sevastopol “barbaric” and accused the United States of “killing Russian children.” READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for reports from CNN and Tass..

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Russian strike in eastern Ukraine kills 4, wounds 34. From AFP. A Russian strike on the eastern Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk today killed four people and wounded dozens more including two children aged 12 and 13, the governor of the Donetsk region, said. According to the governor, Vadym Filashkin, Russian forces fired two . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian weekend attacks on Kharkiv kill 4, injure around 70, by Daria Shulzhenko and news desk | The Kyiv Independent Russian troops launched missile and drone attacks against multiple Ukrainian regions overnight on Saturday, targeting critical energy infrastructure. Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said energy transmission systems were attacked in the southern and western regions of Ukraine. In Kharkiv three persons were reported killed on Saturday and one on Sunday. READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops wipe out large Western-supplied armament depot in Ukraine operation. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops destroyed a large Ukrainian army logistics center of Western-supplied armament over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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Russia cynically places military sites close to civilian areas in Crimea. From Kyiv Post. Russian milbloggers have criticized the Russian Defense Ministry and Crimea’s occupation authorities for allowing Russian forces to deliberately place legitimate military targets near civilian areas in Crimea in an attempt to deter Ukrainian strikes,the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports. On Sunday . . . READ MORE . . .

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

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Ukrainian drones and missiles kill 3 in Russia and Crimea, after bombing of Kharkiv leaves 3 dead. From AP. KYIV — Russian authorities said four people died in Ukrainian drone and missile attacks today, a day after Russia’s bombing of Ukraine’s second largest city of Kharkiv killed three people and left dozens in hospitals.READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for reports from AFP and HERE for a report from Tass.

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Russian forces dropped 35 glide bombs on Kharkiv Oblast over past day. From the Kyiv Independent. Russian troops attacked Kharkiv Oblast with 35 glide bombs in the past 24 hours, Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of forces, said today. Russia recently . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia could reduce decision time for use of nuclear weapons, lawmaker says, by Guy Faulconbridge and Lidia Kelly | Reuters  MOSCOW — Russia, the world’s biggest nuclear power, could reduce the decision-making time stipulated in official policy for the use of nuclear weapons if Moscow believes that threats are increasing, parliament’s defence committee chairman said. The war in Ukraine has . . . READ MORE . . .

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With its new pact with North Korea, Russia raises the stakes with the West over Ukraine. From AP. The pact that Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un envisions mutual military assistance between Moscow and Pyongyang if either is attacked. Putin also announced for the first time that Russia could provide weapons to the isolated country, a move that could destabilize the Korean Peninsula and reverberate far beyond. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s use of western weapons on Russian soil becomes a gamechanger within hours of U.S. approval. From Kyiv Post. The recent decision by the United States to authorize Ukraine’s use of Western weaponry on Russian soil has rapidly changed the course of the war. According to Ukrainian military sources cited by the Associated Press, the approval granted in late May . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia is finding new supporters after being isolated by the West. Reported by Charles Maynes | NPR  Russia is courting new international trading partners since its invasion of Ukraine caused much of the globe to economically isolate it. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For now, links to four reports from Reuters, Middle East Eye, the Times of Israel, Agence France-Presse, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (UKRAINE entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli strikes kill at least 42 in Gaza, enclave’s government media office says, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — At least 42 people were killed in Israeli attacks on districts of Gaza City in the north of the Palestinian enclave today, the director of the Hamas-run government media office said. One Israeli strike on houses in Al-Shati. . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for a report from Middle East Eye.

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IDF says it’s investigating Red Cross claims strike hit Gaza office, killed 22, by Emanuel Fabian and staff and news agencies | The Times of Israel  The International Committee of the Red Cross said 22 people were killed in a shell attack Friday that damaged its office in the Gaza Strip, which is surrounded by hundreds of displaced persons living in tents. It said 22 bodies and 45 wounded . . . READ MORE .. .

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EU top diplomat demands probe of Gaza Red Cross office shelling. From AFP. BRUSSELS, Belgium — EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell calls for a probe into deadly shelling that damaged an office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza. “The EU condemns the shelling which damaged the ICRC office in Gaza and led to dozens of casualties,” he said. A military spokesman said “there is no indication” that Israeli forces carried out . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S. magazine: ‘Hamas is winning.’ From Middle East Monitor. Foreign Affairs magazine confirmed on Friday: “Hamas is stronger today than it was on Oct. 7. Its cause is more popular and its appeal stronger than before Oct. 7.” The magazine wrote in a report: “After nine months of gruelling war, it is time . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For now, links to six reports from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, the Kyiv Independent, and Tass, and to commentary from the Kyiv Post; 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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Russia’s air strike damages Ukrainian power facilities, injures two, by Olena Harmash | Reuters  KYIV — Russia launched a new barrage of missiles and drones in an attack on Ukraine today, damaging energy facilities in the southeast and west, injuring at least two energy workers, and forcing record-high electricity imports, officials said. National grid operator Ukrenergo said . . . READ MORE . . . . Click HERE and HERE for reports from AFP and AP.

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Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, criticized for saying West provoked Putin to invade Ukraine, by Pan Pylas | AP  LONDON — Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, the recently formed right-wing party that is seeking to woo voters away from Britain’s governing Conservatives at the July 4 general election, is facing wide-ranging criticism over his claim that the West provoked Russian President Vladimir . . . READ MORE . . .

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Slovakia’s ex-defense minister on his government’s pro-Russian turn, by Francis Farrell | The Kyiv Independent  Under the guidance of then-Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad, Slovakia became the first country to deliver fighter jets to Ukraine, handing over its MiG-29s to a badly depleted Ukrainian Air Force, along with a much-needed S-300 air defense system. But in September 2023 . . . READ MORE . . .

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Tens of thousands of Ukrainians hiding from draft officers — NYT. From Tass.  NEW YORK — While it is not clear how many men are hiding from authorities, The New York Times reported on Friday, in big Ukrainian cities like Kiev and Lvov, social media groups alerting members to mobilization include tens of thousands of people. Men expressed . . . READ MORE . . .

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The sad truth about Ukrainian F-16s, by Jeffrey Fischer | Kyiv Post  Significant movements occurred over the past few weeks regarding Ukraine’s future western fighter capability. From the first F-16 pilots graduating to President Zelensky announcing a French Mirage 2000 deal, then the U.S. refused training for 30 Ukraine pilots. And now . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

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

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Israeli forces step up bombardment across Gaza, amid fierce fighting, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Israeli forces pounded Rafah and other areas across the Gaza Strip and engaged in close-quarter combat with fighters led by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, residents and Israel’s military said [sometime last night or today]. Residents said . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Anadolu Agency.

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Israeli army releases 33 Palestinian detainees from Gaza. From Middle East Monitor. The Israeli army released 33 Palestinian detainees from the Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to medical sources, Anadolu Agency reports. “The freed detainees were admitted to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital with thin bodies and signs of torture,” the sources said. READ MORE . . .

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Armenia recognises Palestinian statehood, says Armenian foreign ministry. From Reuters. — Armenia has officially recognised a Palestinian state, the Armenian foreign ministry said today. A ministry statement said Armenia supports a United Nations resolution on an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza and favours a two-state solution to . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s pledge to guard an aid route into Gaza falls flat as lawlessness blocks distribution, by Julia Frankel | AP  JERUSALEM — An apparent breakdown in law and order has made unusable the anticipated corridor to get aid into southern Gaza, the United Nations and international aid organizations say. Thousands of truckloads of aid are piled up as groups of armed men . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian foreign minister says Israeli actions pushed settlement with Palestine far back, by Elena Teslova | Anadolu Agency  The Collective Security Treaty Organization adopted four statements after its June 20-21 meeting in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with one of them on the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today. READ MORE . . .

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Israel and Hezbollah faceoff raises risk of wider conflict. From Reuters. JERUSALEM — Regular puffs of smoke from missile intercepts over northern Israel and fires from air strikes in southern Lebanon are outward signs of a fear that the Gaza war may be expanding into a wider conflict, which analysts say poses risks for both sides. The stark threats on Wednesday from Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 20  Israeli protesters demand Netanyahu accept a ceasefire deal to bring back hostages. Reported by Hadeel Al-Shalchi | NPR  Thousands across Israel have been protesting daily this week demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accept a ceasefire deal to bring back the remaining hostages inside Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Gaza war has exposed hollow nature of Palestinian citizenship of Israel, by Abed Abou Shhadeh | Middle East Eye  More than eight months into Israel’s genocide in Gaza, a defining moment for Palestinian people the world over, it is important to examine the specific situation of Palestinian citizens of Israel. Living  . . . READ MORE . . .

 For today, links to eleven reports from Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Post, the Anadolu Agency, the Kyiv Independent, the Associated Press, Tass, National Public Radio, and The Hill; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Wave of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia kills 1. From AFP. Russia’s Defense Ministery said today its air defense forces downed 114 drones launched overnight by Ukraine, with at least one person killed in the mass wave of attacks. “Russian anti-aerial defense systems intercepted and destroyed . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kyiv says its drones struck Russian kamikaze drone training center, 3 oil refineries. From Kyiv Post. The Ukrainian military and intelligence reported that they struck three Russian oil refineries and a training ground for the Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones with their own attack drones in the early morning hours of today. An intelligence source said the drone training ground hit was at Russia’s 167th Training Center in Yeisk, in . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Japan imposes fresh sanctions on Russia over Ukraine war. From Anadolu Agency. ANKARA — Japan has slapped fresh sanctions on Russia, including freezing the assets of the country’s dozens of financial institutions and individuals for being “directly” involved in or supporting Moscow’s war against Kyiv. Tokyo said it . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s emergency blackouts return after Russia pounds infrastructure, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Ukraine, including Kyiv, is struggling to cope with a new wave of rolling blackouts after relentless Russian attacks took out half the country’s power generation capacity. Residents and businesses . . . READ MORE . . .

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Putin’s peace initiative is Russia’s fourth proposal on Ukraine, says top diplomat. From Tass. ALMATY, Kazakhstan — The peace initiative that Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined on June 14 is Moscow’s fourth proposal on settling the Ukraine conflict, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today. Had an agreement on the political settlement not been disrupted in February 2014, Ukraine would have now been within the 1991 boundaries that “it dreams so sweetly now,” Lavrov said. READ MORE . . .

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Medvedev cites facts of Zelensky usurping power. From Tass. MOSCOW — Vladimir Zelensky has been usurping power long before his presidential authority expired on May 21 of this year by committing a number of political crimes, according to Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev. “The talentless buffoon and his . . . READ MORE . . .

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EU nations agree to start membership negotiations next week with Ukraine and Moldova. From AP.  BRUSSELS — The European Union agreed toay to start membership negotiations with embattled Ukraine and Moldova, another step in the nations’ long journey to move closer to the West and mute Russia’s influence. . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky hails start of EU membership talks next week. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today welcomed the launch of accession talks with the EU next week, a step that will formally mark the start of Kyiv’s path towards joining the bloc. “Millions of Ukrainians,” he said, “and indeed generations of our people, are realising their European dream . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 20  Newly-secured U.S. military assistance flows into Ukraine amid Russian advance. Reported by Tom Bowman and Joanna Kakissis | NPR  The White House said it’s fast-tracking the delivery of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. That sense of urgency fits the state of the battlefield, as a new Russian advance tests Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JUNE 20  Graham, Blumenthal unveil bill declaring Russia a state sponsor of terror, by Yash Roy | The Hill U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced a bill on Thursday to declare Russia a state sponsor of terror. The bill would require the State Department to classify Russia as a state sponsor of terror, unlocking a new set of sanctions, restrict any U.S.-based foreign aid, and . . . READ MORE . . .

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

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Israel pounds central Gaza camps, deepens invasion of Rafah, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Israeli forces pounded areas in the central Gaza Strip overnight, killing three people and wounding dozens of others, according to medics, while tanks deepened their invasion into Rafah in the south, residents said today. Israeli planes struck . . . READ MORE . . .

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The fate of the latest cease-fire proposal hinges on Netanyahu and Hamas’ leader in Gaza, by Tia Goldenberg | AP  TEL AVIV — The fate of the proposed cease-fire deal for Gaza hinges in many ways on two men: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas’ leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. Each leader faces . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel and Lebanese militia Hezbollah are ratcheting up the firepower on the border. Reported by Jane Arraf and Michel Martin | NPR  The Israeli military says it has approved an offensive in Lebanon if diplomatic efforts fail to stop the conflict that’s contained, for the most part, in Israel’s north and Lebanon’s south for now. Click HERE to listen and read.

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U.S. signals to Hezbollah it will back Israeli offensive, as frustration with Gaza ceasefire grows, by Sean Mathews | Middle East Eye  The U.S. has indicated it is open to backing an Israeli offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, amid mounting frustration that the group continues to link a truce with Israel to an elusive broader ceasefire in Gaza. In meetings in Beirut on Tuesday, U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zionist lobby group labelled ‘propaganda’ and ‘misinformation’ source, by Nasim Ahmed | Middle East Monitor  The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a leading Zionist lobby group in the United States, has been labelled as a source of “propaganda” and “misinformation” by Wikipedia. Editors of the online encyclopaedia also said . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to 12 reports from the Associated Press, Tass, the Moscow Times, Reuters, National Public Radio, Agence France-Presse, and the Kyiv Independent, and to commentary from the Berkshire Eagle; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.)— MCM

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Putin signs deals with Vietnam in bid to shore up ties in Asia to offset Moscow’s growing isolation, by Aniruddha Ghosal | AP  HANOI — Russian President Vladimir Putin signed at least a dozen deals with his Vietnamese counterpart today and offered to supply fossil fuels including natural gas to Vietnam for the long term during a state visit that . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE to a report from Tass.

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South Korea will consider supplying arms to Ukraine after Russia and North Korea sign strategic pact, by Kim Tong-Hyung | AP  SEOUL — South Korea said today it would consider sending arms to Ukraine, a major policy change suggested after Russia and North Korea rattled the region and beyond by signing a pact to come to each other’s defense in the event of war. The comments from a senior presidential official . . . READ MORE . . .

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Overnight Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia kill 1, set oil depots ablaze. From the Moscow Times. An overnight Ukrainian drone attack in southern Russia’s Krasnodar region has killed a woman, local authorities said early today, as other drone strikes across the country set several oil depots ablaze. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defense systems . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian air strike causes more damage to Ukraine’s power grid, by Anastasiia Malenko and Tom Balmforth | Reuters  KYIV — Russia launched a new barrage of missiles and drones at Ukraine in today’s early hours, causing “significant” damage to a thermal power plant and maintaining pressure on the electricity grid, Ukrainian officials said. The attack on energy infrastructure in four regions . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from AFP.

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Russia obliterates Ukraine’s frontline towns faster with hacked bombs and expanded airbase network, by Lori Hinnant, Vasilisa Stepanenko and Hanna Arhirova | AP  KHARKIV, Ukraine — Investigators are hoping to trace the supply chain for the latest generation of retrofitted Russian “glide bombs” that are laying waste to eastern Ukraine. The Soviet-era bombs are adapted . . . READ MORE . . .

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Leaders of Russia and North Korea sign pact — indicating a deeper cooperation. Reported by Anthony Kuhn and Leila Fadel | NPR  Russia and North Korea have signed a new treaty upgrading their relationship and pledging military assistance in case either one is attacked. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Putin arrives in Vietnam after signing defense pact with North Korea. From AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Vietnamese counterpart today as he began a state visit to the Southeast Asian country’s capital Hanoi, a day after signing a mutual defense pact with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. READ MORE . . .

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Romania to send Patriol missile system to Ukraine. From AFP.  NATO member Romania announced today it would send a Patriot missile system to Ukraine, which Kyiv has requested to help its fight against Russia’s invasion. “Considering . . . READ MORE . . .

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Single Ukrainian Magura drone hit 4 Russian patrol boats at once, Kyiv claims, by Chris York | The Kyiv Independent  A single Ukrainian kamikaze naval drone destroyed or damaged four Russian patrol boats in an operation last month, Kyiv’s military intelligence said today. READ MORE . . .

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EU targets Russia’s LNG sector in new sanctions package. From AFP. EU member states today signed off on a fresh package of sanctions against Russia targeting its lucrative liquefied natural gas sector for the first time, officials said. The new measures — which should be formally adopted on Monday — are . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 11  Gazprom, Russia’s cash cow for the Putin era, is ailing, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle  Overlooked by the world media, two fires broke out last week at the Russian end of the $13 billion TurkStream pipeline. The powerful Russkaya compressors pump Russian gas 578 miles across the Black Sea to Turkey and on to Central Europe. READ MORE . . .