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

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NATO to ‘institutionalize’ arms support for Kiev at U.S. summit — Secretary General. From Tass. SOFIA — NATO will establish a permanent entity at July’s summit in Washington to organize mandatory arms supplies to Ukraine and their financing, with the amount to be determined later, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. “Support must start to flow in again, but . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky reports new Russian troop build-up near Kharkiv. From Kyiv Post. Russian troops are preparing an offensive 90 kilometers northwest of Kharkiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address. He published a video shot at the Vivat printing house in Kharkiv — one of the largest printing enterprises in Europe, which was recently destroyed by a Russian attack that killed seven people. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine drone targets second Russian long-range military radar, Kyiv source says. From Reuters. KYIV — A Ukrainian drone targeted a long-range radar deep inside Russia today, the second such strike in a week on infrastructure used by Moscow to monitor Ukraine’s military activities, a Kyiv intelligence source said. READ MORE . . .

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1 killed, 3 injured in Ukrainian drone attack on Russian gas station. From AFP. One person was killed and three others were injured today in a Ukrainian drone attack on a gas station in the town of Livy in Russia’s Oryol region, local officials said. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine, Spain sign bilateral security agreement, by Martin Fornusek | The Kyiv Independent  Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez signed a bilateral security agreement between the two countries today. READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated the settlement of Ivanovka in the Kharkov Region and the settlement of Netailovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today. READ MORE . . .

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Russian POWs get to make phone calls home. Ukrainians don’t. A growing movement wants that to change, by Lori Hinnant and Vasilisa Stepenenko | AP  FAR WESTERN UKRAINE — “To be able to talk to your loved ones is worth a lot,” a Russian prisoner of war, Alexander, told The Associated Press. “I’ve already been in prison for almost a year. I’m . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and CNN, 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 9/11 TRUTH entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Hamas rocket attack from Gaza sets off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv for the first time in months, by Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy and Tia Goldenbrg | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza that set off air raid sirens as far away as Tel Aviv for the first time in months today in a show of resilience more than seven months into Israel’s massive air, sea and ground offensive. READ MORE . . .

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Hamas armed wing says it launched ‘big missile’ attack on Tel Aviv. From Reuters. CAIRO / JERUSALEM — Hamas armed wing al-Qassam Brigades said it launched a “big missile” attack on Tel Aviv today as the Israeli military sounded sirens in the central city warning of possible incoming rockets. Al-Qassam Brigades said the attack was in response to what it called “Zionist massacres against civilians”. READ MORE . . .

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Gaza ceasefire talks could soon resume but Israel-Hamas war rages on, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Prospects for a resumption of mediated Gaza ceasefire talks grew on Saturday although Israel carried out new attacks in which Palestinian medics said more than 40 people were killed. An official said a decision had been taken to resume the talks next week after . . . READ MORE . . .

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Recognizing Palestinian state is ‘justice’ for Palestinians: Spain. From AFP. BRUSSELS — Recognising the State of Palestine “is justice for the Palestinian people,” Spain’s foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares said today alongside Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Mustafa, who was also meeting EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. READ MORE . . .

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‘Strong’ Palestinian Authority needed for Mideast peace: EU’s Borrell, by Marc Burleigh | AFP. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell today hosted Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Mustafa for international talks on building up the Palestinian Authority to eventually take over Gaza rule from Hamas. READ MORE . . .

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The message of Israel’s torture chambers is directed at all of us, not just Palestinians, by Jonathan Cook | Middle East Eye  In November 21 years ago, I was the first foreign journalist to track down Facility 1391. A local Haaretz newspaper investigation had revealed it housed a secret prison. I recalled Facility 1391 this month, as CNN published an investigation into a new Israeli secret prison, Sde Teiman. Click HERE to read, and HERE for report from CNN.

First, a link to commentary from Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth; others are accessible by clicking on its intials below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Why were WTC explosions edited out of 2002 HBO documentary?  by Craig McKee | AE911Truth   In 2002, before the 9/11 truth movement had begun to take shape, a documentary called In Memoriam: New York City was aired on HBO. It showed the chaos occurring in the vicinity of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. In one sequence, a firefighter appears to be calling a family member from a payphone on Chambers Street to assure them that he is okay. He passes the phone to another man to confirm this. Click HERE for article and video.

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, and Tass, and to commentary by a British observer via Consortium News; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date and a 9/11 TRUTH entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Zelenskiy, from ravaged Kharkiv, urges Biden and Xi to join peace summit, by Dan Peleschuk | Reuters  KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy today appealed to U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to join an upcoming peace summit as his country struggles to stave off unrelenting attacks by Russia in its 27-month-old invasion. READ MORE . . .

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The death toll in Kharkiv attack rises to 14 as Zelenskyy warns of Russian troop movements, by  Samya Kullab | AP  KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned today that Russia is preparing to intensify its offensive along Ukraine’s northern border, as the death toll rose to 14 in an aerial bomb attack on a large construction supplies store in the city of Kharkiv. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 25  Russia says captured another village in east Ukraine. From AFP. Russia said on Saturday it had captured another village, Arkhanhelske, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, while Kyiv said Moscow was intensifying attacks away from the northeastern Kharkiv region. The small frontline village is near . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian attack on Kharkiv Oblast kills one and injuries two, by Dominic Culverwell | The Kyiv Independent  Russia launched an attack on the village of Bohuslavka in Kharkiv Oblast killing one civilian and injuring two others, the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration said today. Another strike set fire to three houses in the nearby village of Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi. READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces liberate Berestovoye community in Kharkov region — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated the community of Berestovoye in the Kharkov region over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today. READ MORE . . .

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The drive for war, by Craig Murray | CraigMurray.org.uk / Consortium News  The collective shrug with which the Western media and political class noted the attempted assassination of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has been telling. Can you imagine the outrage and emotion that would have been expressed by Western powers if not Fico but a pro-Ukraine, anti-Russian leader within the EU had been attacked?  Click HERE for article and video, and HERE and HERE for reports from AP and Reuters.

 

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Middle East Eye, Middle East Monitor, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and a 9/11 TRUTH entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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UN court order demanding Israel to halt Gaza offensive further isolates U.S. position, by Eric Tucker and Aamer Madhani | AP  WASHINGTON — A ruling by the top United Nations court ordering Israel to halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah has deepened its disconnect with the United States over an operation that faces mounting international condemnation but that American officials describe, at least for now, as limited and targeted. The decision Friday by the International Court of Justice . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel presses on with strikes in Gaza after World Court ruling, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Israeli forces killed more than 30 people in new attacks in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medics said today, the day after judges at the top United Nations court ordered Israel to halt its offensive on the southern Gazan city of Rafah. Though Israel . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel says ‘intention’ to renew Gaza talks ‘this week.’ From AFP. An Israeli official said today the government intended to renew talks for a Gaza hostage release deal in coming days, after a meeting with mediators in Paris. Israeli media reported that intelligence chief David Barnea had agreed a new framework for the stalled negotiations with . . . READ MORE . . .

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Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says war death toll at 35,903. From AFP.  The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said today that at least 35,903 people have been killed in the territory during more than seven months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants. The toll includes 46 deaths over the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said, adding . . . READ MORE . . .

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Palestinians escape Rafah to ‘miserable life’ elsewhere, by Maha Hussaini | Middle East Eye  DEIR AL-BAlAH, Palestine — Most people fleeing Rafah are arriving in Deir al-Balah and western Khan Younis because those areas have been designated as “humanitarian zones” by the Israeli military. Even though . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 24  EU considers possible Rafah border mission, diplomats say. From Reuters. BRUSSELS — Talks on deploying a European Union mission at the Rafah border crossing in Gaza are at a preliminary stage and the deployment will not happen without an end to the war between Israel and Hamas, a senior EU official said on Friday. On Monday EU foreign minisisters will . . . READ MORE . . .

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Sisi, Biden agree to temporarily bring aid, fuel into Gaza. From Middle East Monitor. The Egyptian Presidency announced on Friday that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi received a phone call from U.S. President Joe Biden, during which . . . READ MORE . . .

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ICJ orders Israel to cease military offensive in Rafah and allow aid to enter Gaza. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf and Scott Simon | NPR  Israel disputed a U.N. court ruling ordering the country to stop its offensive in southern Gaza. The government says its actions have complied with international law. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MAY 24  Top UN court has ordered Israel to immediately stop its military operation in Rafah. Reported by Hadeel Al-Shalchi | NPR  The International Court of Justice does not have the power to enforce its own rulings, but it does add to the pressure that Israel feels internationally and domestically to end the war in Gaza. Click HERE to listen and read.

For today, links to reports from Agence-France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, the Kyiv Post, the Associated Press, Tass, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date and a 9/11 TRUTH entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Russian strike on Kharkiv hardware store kills two: official. From AFP. Russia today bombed a hardware superstore in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, killing at least two people and injuring over 20, in an attack condemned as “vile” by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Kharkiv’s regional governor said “two Russian guided bombs hit a construction hypermarket” and “a fire broke out over . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky calls for more air defense after deadly Kharkiv strike. From the Kyiv Independent. After a deadly Russian strike on a buildings material hypermarket in Kharkiv, Zelensky today called for world leaders to supply more air defense protection. “When we tell world leaders . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian forces down another Russian Su-25 in Donetsk Region. From Kyiv Post. Anti-aircraft gunners from Ukraine’s separate mechanized brigade named after General-Corporal Marko Bezruchko shot down another Russian Su-25 attack aircraft in the Donetsk sector today. READ MORE . . .

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Zelenskyy says Ukraine has taken back control in areas of Kharkiv region, aerial attacks continue, by Samya Kullab and Elise Morton | AP  KYIV — Ukrainian forces have secured “combat control” of areas where Russian troops entered the northeastern Kharkiv region earlier this month, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Meanwhile, local officials said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian armed forces liberate Arkhangelskoye settlement in DPR — defense ministry. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian military forces liberated the settlement of Arkhangelskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic in the past 24 hours, the Defense Ministry said in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 24  Putin says Ukraine’s Zelenskiy lacks legitimacy after term expired.  From Reuters. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in Friday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had no legitimacy following the expiry of his five-year term and this would raise a legal obstacle if Russia and Ukraine were to hold peace talks. With Ukraine under martial law . . . READ MORE . . .

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G7 aims to use frozen Russian assets to help ‘desperate’ Ukraine, by Gavin Jones, Giuseppe Fonte and David Lawder | Reuters  STRESA, Italy — The G7 will explore ways to use the future income from frozen Russian assets to boost funding for war-torn Ukraine, finance chiefs from the Group of Seven industrial democracies said today. The G7 and its allies froze . . . READ MORE . . .

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Yellen says Ukraine loan plan has support, more work needed, by David Lawder | Reuters  STRESA, Italy — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said today that a loan for Ukraine backed by the income from frozen Russian sovereign assets is the main option for G7 leaders to consider in June, but added . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia to answer with mirror measures if its assets in West illegally used — minister. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia will answer with mirror measures if its assets are illegally used by Western countries, according to Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. “It has always seemed that . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 24  Top Russian military officials are being arrested. Why is it happening? by Emma Burrows | AP It began last month with the arrest of a Russian deputy defense minister. Then the head of the ministry’s personnel directorate was hauled into court. This week, two more senior military officials were detained. All face charges of corruption, which they have denied. The arrests . . . READ MORE . . .

 

Links to reports from The Atlantic, ScheerPost, and the Florida Bulldog, and to commentary from Jacobin; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM MAY 20  New 9/11 evidence points to deep Saudi complicity, by Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon | The Atlantic  For more than two decades, through two wars and domestic upheaval, the idea that al-Qaeda acted alone on 9/11 has been the basis of U.S. policy. That assessment now appears wrong. And if our understanding of what transpired on 9/11 turns out to have been flawed, then The global War on Terror was based . . . READ MORE with free trial subscription.

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FROM MAY 21  Saudi Arabia implicated in new 9/11 evidence, by Diego Ramos | Original to ScheerPost  A lawsuit filed by family members of 9/11 victims reveals explosive facts in an 80-page redacted document that alleges the Saudi Arabian government provided major state support to al-Qaeda for the attacks in New York City 23 years ago. The plaintiffs’ attorneys contend . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 15  It’s make or break time for 9/11 families’ lawsuit; Saudis seek dismissal despite ‘overwhelming evidence,’ by Dan Christensen | Florida Bulldog  The arguments are in and now it’s up to a federal judge in New York City to decide whether the momentous civil lawsuit pitting Saudi Arabia against the 9/11 wounded and families of the 2,977 dead lives or dies. The kingdom’s essential arguments . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 24  It really, really looks like Saudi Arabia did 9/11, by Branko Marcetic | Jacobin  It’s never a bad time to reflect on the copious evidence for the Saudi government’s role in facilitating the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. So why is the Biden administration seemingly dead set on signing a mutual defense pact with that same government? READ MORE . . .

 

A link to commentary from Consortium News; other CN reports and commentary are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM MAY 22  CN Live! — A turning tide? Assange & Netanyahu. Joe Lauria of Consortium News hosts former British diplomat Craig Murray, journalist Chris Hedges, legal and political analyst Alexander Mercouris, and U.S. constitutional expert Chip Gibbons to discuss both the extradition case in a British court of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange and the arrest ward by an international court’s prosecutor for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Click HERE to watch and listen.

 

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

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Top UN court orders Israel to halt military offensive in Rafah; Israel is unlikely to comply, by Mike Corder| AP  THE HAGUE — The top United Nations court ordered Israel today to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah — but stopped short of ordering a cease-fire for the enclave. Although Israel is unlikely to comply with the order, it will ratchet up the pressure on the increasingly isolated country. READ MORE . . .

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Heavy fighting in northern Gaza, Israeli tanks advance further in Rafah, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Israeli forces stepped up military strikes on Gaza today, residents and medics said, with heavy fighting reported in Jabalia in the north and tanks pushing further into Rafah in the south. READ MORE . . .

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The bodies of 3 more hostages are recovered from Gaza by the Israeli army, by Sam Mednick | AP  TEL AVIV — The bodies of three more hostages killed on Oct 7. were recovered overnight from Gaza, Israel’s army said today, as the top United Nations court prepares to rule on whether Israel must halt its military operations and withdraw from the enclave. READ MORE . . .

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Food bound for Gaza rots in the sun as Egypt’s Rafah crossing stays shut. From Reuters. Some of the food supplies waiting to enter the Gaza Strip from Egypt have begun to rot as the Rafah border crossing remains shut to aid deliveries for a third week. Rafah was a main entry point for . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 23  Aid groups warned humanitarian operations in Gaza may collapse. In Rafah, they have. Reported by Tom Bowman, Aya Batrawy and Ailsa Chang | NPR  UN groups have run out of food in Rafah and say the same could happen within days in other parts of Gaza, while a new pier built by the U.S. struggles to get aid to Palestinians under siege. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MAY 21  Israeli scholar sees hope for democratic Palestine ‘to replace this apartheid state,‘ by Edward Carver | Common Dreams / Consortium News  Israeli historian Ilan Pappé, a prominent anti-Zionist, expressed hope for a free, democratic Palestine in which Jewish and Arab people can coexist, during an interview on Tuesday with Democracy Now! following his interrogation by U.S. federal agents last week. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 22  CN Live! — A turning tide? Assange & Netanyahu. Joe Lauria of Consortium News hosts former British diplomat Craig Murray, journalist Chris Hedges, legal and political analyst Alexander Mercouris, and U.S. constitutional expert Chip Gibbons to discuss both the extradition case in a British court of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange and the arrest warrant by an international court’s prosecutor for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Click HERE to watch and listen. NOTE: Discussion of the Netanyahu arrest warrant begins about 58 minutes in.

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

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Putin wants Ukraine ceasefire on current frontlines, sources say, by Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew Osborn | Reuters  MOSCOW / LONDON — Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to halt the war in Ukraine with a negotiated ceasefire that recognises the current battlefield lines, four Russian sources told Reuters, saying he is prepared to fight on if Kyiv and the West do not respond. Three of the sources . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia smashes train tracks in a battered Ukrainian border region where children are being evacuated, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — A nighttime Russian attack destroyed train tracks and rolling stock in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, officials said today, and authorities organized the evacuation of children from the area that is being pummeled by the Kremlin’s forces in a powerful new offensive. Since May 10 authorities have evacuated more than 11,000 . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops ‘bogged down’ in battle for Vovchansk, Ukraine says. From AFP. Russian forces have become “bogged down” trying to capture the Ukrainian border town of Vovchansk, Ukraine’s top general Oleksandr Syrsky said Friday, though fighting on the eastern front remains intense. Kyiv has been trying . . . READ MORE . . .

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General Staff: Russian troops halted in Kharkiv sector, Ukraine conducts counterattacks, by Kateryna Denisova | The Kyiv Independent  Ukrainian forces halted Russian troops in the Kharkiv sector and are conducting counterattacks, a representative of the Main Operational Directorate of Ukraine’s General Staff, said today. Russia launched a new offensive on May 10 in . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops blocking Starlink service in Ukraine — NYT. From Tass. NEW YORK — Russian troops have been using jamming systems to disupt Starlink service for Ukraine’s armed forces and interfere with their drone navigation, The New York Times reported. According to the U.S. newspaper, Starlink satellite . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kremlin condemns calls for Kyiv to use U.S. arms in Russia. From AFP.  Moscow today attacked “hothead” U.S. lawmakers after mounting calls, including from House Speaker Mike Johnson, for Ukraine to be allowed to fire donated American weaponry into Russia. Johnson on Wednesday said . . .READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 23  Critics call Blinken’s embrace of Ukrainian attacks on Russia ‘deeply ill-advised,‘ by Brett Wilkins | Common Dreams  Anti-war voices this week sounded the alarm over U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s newfound embrace of letting Ukraine use weapons supplied by the United States to attack targets inside Russia— a policy critics say risks a catastrophic escalation between the world’s two top nuclear powers. So far, the Biden administration . . . READ MORE . . .