First, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (YEMEN 5-23-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Israeli warplanes launch new strikes on Yemen’s main airport. From the Cradle. Israeli fighter jets carried out the airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport today, the latest in a series of attacks launched against the country by Tel Aviv. The Israeli army said it “attacked the main airport in Sanaa and aircraft belonging to the Houthi terrorist organization,” adding that . . . READ MORE . . .

First, links to eight reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, Kyiv Post, Tass, and the Kyiv Independent; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 5-27-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  YEMEN, GAZA and MEDIA entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Zelenskyy visits Berlin as he seeks more support for Ukraine in the war against Russia, by Stafanie Dazio | AP  BERLIN — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was to meet with new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin today as Ukraine seeks further military support amid a recent escalation in Russia’s bombing campaign,despite U.S.-led efforts to end the war. Germany has been the second-biggest supplier READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Putin’s demands for peace include an end to NATO enlargement, sources say, by Guy Faulconbridge | Reuters  MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin’s conditions for ending the war in Ukraine include a demand that Western leaders pledge in writing to stop enlarging NATO eastwards and lift a chunk of sanctions on Russia, according to three Russian sources with knowledge of the negotiations. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from Kyiv Post and Tass.

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U.S and Russia row in public as Moscow masses 50,000 troops near Ukrainian region. From Reuters. The United States and Russia quarrelled in public today over the intensifying Ukraine war after US President Donald Trump warned that President Vladimir Putin was “playing with fire,” and Moscow massed 50,000 troops near a Ukrainian region. Swarms of drones were being launched by both sides while . . . READ MORE . . .

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Germany to help finance Ukrainian-made long-range systems, by Martin Fornusek, Chris York and Tim Zadorozhnyy | The Kyiv Independent  Germany and Ukraine will sign a memorandum on the joint purchase of “long-range fires” made by Ukrainian producers, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced today. Berlin will also help finance  . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

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TO BE CONTINUED

A link to a report from Politico; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (MEDIA 5-26-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  YEMEN, UKRAINE and GAZA entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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FROM MAY 27  NPR sues Trump over funding cuts amid ongoing battle between administration and press, by Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing | Politico  NPR and three Colorado member stations sued the Trump administration today over the president’s executive order seeking to halt federal funding for public media. The lawsuit argues that . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For now, links to eight reports: from Middle East Eye, the Associated Press and National Public Radio, and Reuters, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 5-26-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Girl, uncle describe family’s deaths in Israeli strike, by Maha Hussaini | Middle East Eye  GAZA CITY, occupied Palestine — Ward Jalal al-Sheikh Khalil, 5, who has spent nearly half her life surviving Israel’s war on Gaza, was fleeing the bombed classroom at the Fahmi al-Jerjawi school after witnessing her mother and four siblings burn to death. Click HERE for report including video, and HERE for related report.

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No respite for Palestinians as Israel crushes Khan Younis, by Ahmed Abu Artema | Middle East Eye  The Israeli army last week posted on social media an announcement, in Arabic, ordering residents to leave Gaza’s Khan Younis area ahead of an “unprecedented attack.” Moments after it was posted . . .  READ MORE . . .

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How is the new Gaza aid plan supposed to work — and why are so many aid groups against it? By Sam Mednick | AP  TEL AVIV — A U.S.-backed group approved by Israel to take over aid distribution in Gaza says it has started operations, despite opposition from the U.N. and most humanitarian groups and the unexpected resignation of its executive director. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from NPR.

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FROM MAY 26  Mass displacement in Gaza as Israel increases airstrikes. Reported by Daniel Estrin | NPR  Palestinians have been massively displaced from areas of Gaza under a new Israeli military effort. Many have ended up in Gaza City where families are pitching tents near a once-picturesque seaport. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM MAY 26  A new aid system in Gaza has started operations, a U.S.-backed group says, by Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — A new aid system in Gaza opened its first distribution hubs Monday, according to a U.S.-backed group that said it began delivering food to Palestinians who face growing hunger after Israel’s nearly three-month blockade to pressure Hamas. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Do you support Palestine when it fights, or only when it bleeds? by Adnan Hmidan | Middle East Monitor  Since the onset of the genocide, ethnic cleansing, and collective punishment in Gaza, the popular movement across Europe has evolved . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For now, links to reports from Middle East Eye, the Cradle, Middle East Monitor, and the Associated Press, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK 5-25-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Palestinians forced to flee their village in occupied West Bank following erection of settlers’ building: Haaretz. From Middle East Eye. The Israeli media outlet Haartez reported that Palestinians in the occupied West Bank fled the Bedouon village of Mughayyir al-Dir, following settlers’ harassment and the erection of an outpost within metres from their houses. READ MORE . . .

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Israel to annex parts of West Bank if Europe moves to recognize Palestine: report. From the Cradle. Israel has issued a threat to France and the UK that any moves to recognize a Palestinian state will see Tel Aviv annex parts of the occupied West Bank in response, according to a 26 May report by Haaretz. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for May 26 report from Middle East Monitor.

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FROM MAY 26 Thousands of Israeli nationalists chant ‘death to Arabs’ during annual procession through Jerusalem, by Julia Frankel | AP  JERUSALEM — Chanting “Death to Arabs” and singing “May your village burn,” groups of young Israeli Jews made their way through Muslim neighborhoods of Jerusalem’s Old City on Monday during an annual march marking Israel’s conquest of the eastern part of the city. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Middle East Monitor.

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Do you support Palestine when it fights, or only when it bleeds? by Adnan Hmidan | Middle East Monitor  Since the onset of the genocide, ethnic cleansing, and collective punishment in Gaza, the popular movement across Europe has evolved . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For now, links to 10 reports: from the Associated Press, Tass, the Kyiv Independent, Reuters, Anadolu Agency, Kyiv Post, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 5-26-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK and GAZA entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Russia seizes Ukrainian border villages as its bombing campaign slows, by Hanna Arhirova and Katie Marie Davies | AP  KYIV — Russian forces have taken four border villages in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, a local official said today, days after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had issued an order to establish a buffer zone along the border. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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As Ukrainian POWs die in Russian prisons, autopsies point to a system of brutality, by Hanna Arhirov, Vasilisa Stepanenko and Illia Novikov | AP  More than 200 Ukrainian POWs have died while imprisoned since Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago. Abuse inside Russian prisons was likely a contributing factor in many of these deaths, say officials from human rights groups, the U.N., the Ukrainian government and a Ukrainian medical examiner who has performed dozens of POW autopsies. READ MORE . . .

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Russia strikes Ukrainian military sites in retaliation to Kiev’s massive UAV attacks. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian Armed Forces delivered a series of strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial sites over the past few days in retaliation to Kiev’s massive UAV attacks on Russia’s civilian facilities, the Defense Ministry of Russia said today. READ MORE . . .

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U.S. blocks G7 push to tighten Russian oil price cap, Financial Times reports, by Tim Zadorozhnyy | The Kyiv Independent  The United States opposed a joint G7 effort to lower the $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil exports during last week’s meeting of finance ministers, the Financial Times reported today, citing three unnamed officials familiar with the talks. READ MORE . . .

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Russia claims it downed more than 2,300 drones launched by Ukraine over past week, by Burc Eruygur | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — Russia claimed today that it downed more than 2,300 drones launched by Ukraine over the past week, as both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of large-scale airstrikes for three consecutive nights. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from the Moscow Times and Kyiv Post.

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Top Russian diplomat says Istanbul possible venue for 2nd round of Ukraine peace talks, by Burc Eruygur and Efe Ozkan | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that the Turkish metropolis Istanbul could host the second round of direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv to find a settlement for the ongoing Ukraine war. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 26  Trump criticizes Putin after Russia launches massive attack on Ukraine. Reported by Mary Louise Kelly and Charles Maynes | NPR  President Trump rebuked Vladimir Putin after Russia launched some of the biggest air attacks against Ukraine since its invasion more than three years ago. Then the Kremlin replied. Click HERE to listen and read.  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For now, links to 10 reports: from the Cradle, Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Middle East Eye, Middle East Monitor, and CBS News; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 5-25-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israel rejects ceasefire proposal as troops expand occupation of Gaza. From the Cradle. The Israeli army says it is planning to capture 75 percent of Gaza’s territory and move ahead with plans to displace the strip’s population to a small percentage of land, coinciding with Tel Aviv’s rejection of a new proposal for a ceasefire. READ MORE . . .

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Hamas agrees to U.S. proposal on Gaza ceasefire, Palestinian official says, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Hamas has agreed to a proposal by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff for a Gaza ceasefire, a Palestinian official close to the group said today, paving the way for a possible end to the war. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli strikes pound Gaza as a U.S.-backed group plans to start aid operations. From AP. Israeli strikes pounded the Gaza Strip early today, killing dozens, including people sleeping in a school-turned-shelter, local health officials said. The Israeli military said it targeted militants operating from the school. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from AFP.

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Head of Gaza aid organisation resigns hours before controversial plan set to launch. From Middle East Eye. Jake Wood, the executive director of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which says it is ready to start delivering food into Gaza, has resigned saying he does not believe it is possible for the organisation to operate independently or adhere . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Cradle. 

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FROM MAY 25  Israel’s deadly aid plan for Gaza delayed due to ‘logistical issues.’ From the Cradle. The Israeli and U.S.-led aid distribution mechanism, which was meant to be launched on Sunday, has been delayed, as UN agencies continue to reject participation in the controversial plan. READ MORE . . .

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UN official: No proof that Hamas is seizing humanitarian aid. From Middle East Monitor. The head of the World Food Programme, Cindy McCain, has said that Israel’s allegations of Hamas stealing humanitarian aid in Gaza are unsubstantiated. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for May 25 report from CBS News including video of interview.

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German chancellor says Gaza genocide ‘no longer justified.’  From the Cradle. “Harming the civilian population to such an extent, as has increasingly been the case in recent days,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said today, “can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism,” adding that he “no longer understands” the Israeli military’s objective in Gaza. READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to nine reports: from Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Tass, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse, and to commentary from Indian Punchline; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their initials or names below. (UKRAINE 5-25-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and MEDIA entries for today are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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NEWER  Ukraine cleared to strike inside Russia using Western arms, Merz says, by Leo Chiu | Kyiv Post  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said today there are no more restrictions on Kyiv using Western long-range weaponry against targets inside Russia — this after Russia launched large-scale aerial strikes across Ukraine three nights in a row. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from the Kyiv Independent and Tass.

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Russia sent a record number of drones into Ukraine as Trump says Putin has ‘gone crazy,’ by Illia Novikov and Voloymyr Yurchuk | AP  KYIV — Russia overnight launched the biggest drone attack on Ukraine in the more than three-year war, a Ukrainian official said today. President Donald Trump said Russian leader Vladimir Putin has gone “crazy” by stepping up the bombing of Ukraine just as . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from NPR.

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Kremlin says it’s still working on draft peace memorandum. From Reuters. The Kremlin said today that “serious” work is underway on a proposed Russian peace plan for the war in Ukraine, but a draft memorandum has not yet been submitted. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 25  Zelensky calls for ‘truly strong pressure’ on Russia to halt strikes. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged international leaders Sunday to increase their pressure on Russia, after a second straight night of major air strikes killed 12 people in Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Sumy Region over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated two communities in the Sumy Region 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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FROM MAY 25  Inside Ukraine’s last maternity ward in a region surrounded by Russian forces. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley | NPR  SLOVIANSK, Ukraine — With Russian forces now occupying two-thirds of this province, the industrial town of Sloviansk has the last working maternity ward in Ukrainian controlled Donetsk. Many residents say . . . Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM MAY 25  Putin succeeds in engaging with Trump, by M.K.. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  If Trump tactfully ensured through the past three-month period that the shift in the tectonic plates got a soft landing at home, in Europe and internationally, Putin’s monumental patience contributed to that effort immeasurably. READ MORE . . .

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Three links: to a public exchange from the Chris Hedges Report, to commentary from Tom Dispatch, and to an interview from Useful Idiots, all via ScheerPost; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names just above or below. NOTE: Here four authors place current events in the Middle East and their depiction in the context of others decades or centuries ago in the Americas, East Asia, and Europe. (MEDIA 5-23-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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FROM MAY 5  The moral issue of our time. Chris Hedges of the Chris Hedges Report and physician Gabor Maté speak and then answer questions at a fundraiser for the Middle East Children’s Alliance about the genocide in Gaza, about decisions facing individuals about what to do about it, and about what others have done in analogous situations in history. Click HERE for intro and video but, as yet, no transcript.

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FROM MAY 22  The horrors inflicted for 500 years, by Greg Grandin | Tom Dispatch / SheerPost  Consider the Spanish conquest of the Americas alongside Israel’s assault on Gaza. There are uncanny parallels between the two conflicts, including that each began in the wake of a communications revolution: the printing press then, social media now. READ MORE . . .

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Norman Finkelstein reacts to Israeli Embassy staffers shooting. Katie Halper and Aaron Maté of Useful Idiots speak with author Norman Finkelstein about, among other things, the murders of two employees of Israel’s consulate in Washington — Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim — and U.S. media coverage of the murders and of the current genocide in Gaza. Click HERE for video of part of the interview. 

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For today, links to seven reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, Anadolu Agency, Agence France-Presse, Middle East Monitor, and Middle East Eye; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 5-24-25 is HERE, or scroll down. WEST BANK, UKRAINE, IRAN and SYRIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israel’s latest strikes in Gaza kill 38 people including children, by Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours killed at least 38 people in Gaza, including a mother and her two children sheltering in a tent, local health officials said today, with no data available for a second straight day from now-inaccessible hospitals in the north. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Israel deploys regular infantry, armored brigades to Gaza amid escalating genocide: report, by Said Amori and Rania Abu Shamala | Anadolu Agency  JERUSALEM / ISTANBUL — Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reports that within the last 24 hours the Israeli army has deployed regular infantry and armored brigades to the Gaza Strip as part of a military buildup following its decision to expand a ground offensive in the enclave that is facing genocidal attacks. READ MORE . . .

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ICRC says two Red Cross workers killed in Gaza strike, pleads for ceasefire. From AFP. Two Red Cross workers were killed Saturday in a strike on their home in the Gaza city of Khan Younis, the ICRC said today as it made an “urgent” appeal for a ceasefire in the conflict. READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s Netanyahu chooses ‘obscure’ U.S. firm for Gaza aid distribution ‘behind back of security agencies,’ by Betul Yilmaz | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu selected an “obscure” and “inexperienced” U.S. company called SRS to distribute aid in the Gaza Strip behind the back of security agencies, Israeli media said today. READ MORE . . .

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UNRWA calls for allowing more aid to ease starvation in Gaza. From Middle East Monitor. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) today called for the entry of hundreds of aid trucks into the Gaza Strip to ease starvation in the war-torn enclave, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

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Aid NGOs distance themselves from Gaza Humanitarian Foundation after leaked letter, by Dania Akkad | Middle East Eye  Aid organisations named in a letter from a newly formed foundation bidding to deliver food aid in Gaza have sought to distance themselves from the controversial plan, which is expected to launch this week. READ MORE . . .

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