For today, links to reports from Agence France-Presse and Reuters, and to commentary from the Orinoco Tribune via Popular Resistance; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Russia launches offensive into Kharkiv region, Ukraine says. From AFP.  Russia has launched a cross-border ground offensive into Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry and a high-ranking Ukrainian military source said today. Kyiv’s forces pushed back Russian forces from most of the Kharkiv region in 2022, the same . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian missile strike sets houses ablaze in Ukraine’s Kharkiv, officials say, by Vitalii Hnidyi | Reuters  KHARKIV, Ukraine — A Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv injured two people and set three houses on fire in today’s early hours, local officials said. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, just 30 km from the Russian border, is . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine peace summit pushes neutral Swiss toward Western embrace, by Dave Graham | Reuters  ZURICH — An upcoming Ukraine peace summit, ostensibly the most ambitious bid in years by neutral Switzerland to mediate a major conflict, is instead showing how Swiss economic and security interests increasingly align with Western Europe over Russia. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 23  Anti-coup rebellion in eastern Ukraine completes 10 years as Russian forces continue advancing in Donetsk, by Dmitri Kovalevich | Orinoco Tribune / Popular Resistance  April 2014 was a pivotal month for the people of the Donbass region in what was then still part of Ukraine. It was then that the governing regime was newly installed in Kiev by a coup d’état on February 20/21embarked on . . . READ MORE . . .

The message below, dated Feb. 23, was sent out by Pet Duo at National Geographic Nature, and forwarded today by a Facebook friend. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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This is a dead honeybee. The pollen on her legs is from dandelions. Her tongue is sticking out due to what killed her that was on the dandelions.

It’s spring, dandelions are the bees’ first food. This bee is dead from weed killer spread on what we see as weeds, but what nature sees as food.

Please don’t spray for weeds until you see the blackberries blooming. In this area, weeds, flowers and fruit trees are bees’ only source of food until middle of June. There are FAR more weeds than flowers or fruit trees, so “weeds” are their only or main food source. No bees, no food crops for us and we all starve.

— Sue Wylie

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

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Israel strikes eastern Rafah as U.S. warns a major assault could halt arms, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Mohammad Salem and Jarrett Renshaw | Reuters  CAIRO / RAFAH, Gaza Strip / WASHINGTON — Israeli tanks and warplanes bombarded areas of Rafah today, Palestinian residents said, after U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to withhold weapons from Israel if its forces launch a major invasion of the southern Gaza city. As ceasefire talks continued in Cairo, Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Biden says U.S. won’t supply weapons for Israel to attack Rafah, in warning to ally, by Zeke Miller and Aamer Madhani | AP  WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said that he would not supply offensive weapons that Israel could use to launch an all-out assault on Rafah. In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Biden said the U.S. was still committed . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for CNN report.

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Biden says he’ll stop sending offensive weapons to Israel if it invades Rafah. Reported by Leila Fadel and Jackie Northam | NPR  The U.S. will stop shipments of bombs or artillery shells if Israel presses its offensive against Hamas into the crowded city of Rafah in southern Gaza, President Biden said. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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NEWER  Aid ship sails for floating pier off Gaza, as more Palestinians flee Rafah. From AP.  The first ship carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza was on its way today to a floating platform built by the U.S. military. The plan is for cargo to be transferred at the pier to smaller U.S. boats that will deliver it to shore. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 8  The implications after President Biden put a hold on a shipment of bombs for Israel. Reported by Mara Liasson and Tom Bowman | NPR  President Biden put a hold on a shipment of bombs for Israel. We look at the implications for the war in Gaza — and politics at home. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM MAY 8  Many Palestinians have fled Rafah, but many others have nowhere to go. Reported by Aya Batrawy | NPR  Aid groups in the southern Gaza city of Rafah are trying to maintain services for people unable to leave amid an Israeli assault there. People who can leave Rafah are unsure where to go. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM MAY 8  Netanyahu weighs risks of Rafah assault as hostage dilemma divides Israelis, by James Mackenzie | Reuters  JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces competing pressures at home and abroad when he weighs how far to push the operation to defeat Hamas in Rafah that complicates hopes of bringing Israeli hostages home. Street demonstrations . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 8  Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Netanyahu has no strategy for the war. Leila Fadel of NPR talks with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert about Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM MAY 8  The pattern of Bibi’s desperate proposals, by Seymour M. Hersh | SeymourHersh.Substack.com  I thought of Dan Ellsberg after learning here in Washington that Israel’s—make that Benjamin Netanyahu’s—latest incursion into Rafah would be an all-out “go” unless the Hamas negotiating team, now in Cairo, provides proof . . . READ MORE . . .

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

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NEWER  Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says Russia has the initiative in the east but new Western aid is on the way, by Vasilisa Stepanenko and Illia Novikov | AP  POKROVSK, Ukraine — Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today his country’s army is facing “a really difficult situation” in eastern regions, but massive new U.S. military aid will turn the tide. READ MORE . . .

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Zelenskiy replaces special operations chief for second time in six months, by Yuliia Dysa | Reuters  KYIV— Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy today replaced the commander of his special forces, the second time in half a year that he has changed the head of the unit which operates in Moscow-occupied territories. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian rescuers evacuate elderly and infirm as Russians close in, by Ivan Lyubysh-Kirdey and Dan Peleschuk | Reuters  TORETSK, Ukraine — Russian forces are steadily advancing north and south of Toretsk as they press on multiple parts of the eastern front, threatening to eventually envelop this former coal-mining town and others around it. READ MORE . . .

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In first, drone attacks oil refinery in Russia’s Bashkortostan. From the Moscow Times. A drone has attacked an oil refinery in Russia’s republic of Bashkortostan, regional authorities said today, the first such reported case in the region since Moscow invaded Ukraine more than two years ago. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s Belgorod injure 8 as Moscow marks Victory Day. From AFP. Ukrainian attacks in and around the western Russian city of Belgorod have injured at least eight people, Russian authorities said today, as the country marks the 79th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. READ MORE . . .

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Two hydropower plants decommissioned after May 8 Russian attacks, by Kateryna Hodunova | The Kyiv Independent  Two Ukrainian hydroelectric power plants have been decommissioned due to damage from the May 8 Russian attacks, state-owned energy company Ukrhydroenergo said today. Russia carried out a large-scale attack Thursday against Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, and Vinnytsia oblasts, mainly . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky signs laws on mobilization, extension of martial law, by Rachel Amran and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed into law the extension of martial law and general mobilization from May 14 to Aug. 11. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 8  Russian attack hits school stadium, injures four children in Ukraine’s Kharkiv. From Reuters. A Russian air attack hit a school stadium in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv today, injuring at least four children and three adults, officials said. READ MORE . . .

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Russia to advance deep Into Ukraine if Chasiv Yar falls, by Alisa Orlova | Kyiv Post  Russian forces are poised to advance deep into Ukraine if they manage to capture the frontline town of Chasiv Yar and the wider Donbasregion, Vadym Filashkin, Governor of the Donetsk region, said in an interview. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 8  EU reaches a tentative deal on Ukraine aid coming from profits of frozen Russian assets. From AP.  BRUSSELS — European Union nations reached a tentative breakthrough deal to provide Ukraine with billions in additional funds for arms and ammunitions coming from the profits raised from frozen Russian central bank assets held in the bloc. The agreement among the 27 EU ambassadors was announced by Belgium, which holds . . . READ MORE . . .

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

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Israel says it reopened a key Gaza crossing after a rocket attack but the UN says no aid has entered, by Joseph Krauss, Samy Magdy and Melanie Lidman | AP  JERUSALEM — The Israeli military said today it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, a key terminal for the entry of humanitarian aid, but the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees said no aid has yet entered and there is no one to receive it on the Palestinian side. READ MORE . . .

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26 EU member states call on Netanyahu for a ceasefire. From Middle East Monitor. Foreign ministers of 26 member countries of the European Union today issued a joint statement reacting to Israel’s evacuation order to the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip. They called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to continue with the attack. READ MORE . . .

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U.S. pauses some weapons to Israel as battles rage around Rafah, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Steve Holland and Mohammad Salem | Reuters  CAIRO/WASHINGTON/RAFAH, Gaza Strip — The United States has halted a shipment of powerful bombs to Israel, a U.S. official said, as Washington puts pressure on its ally to avoid a full-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip’s crowded southern city of Rafah and give more time for ceasefire talks. Hamas said its fighters . . . READ MORE . . .

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More universities join pro-Palestine protests. From Middle East Monitor. New universities in the Netherlands, Spain, France and Bangladesh have joined the student movements triggered by American and Western universities in solidarity with the Palestinians. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 7  The past 24 hours have been a whirlwind for Palestinians in Rafah. Reported by Linah Mohammad and Patrick Jarenwattananon | NPR  Israeli tanks rolled into the southern Gaza city of Rafah Tuesday, taking control of the territory’s border crossing with Egypt. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM MAY 7  What’s next for Rafah. Reported by Greg Myre | NPR  Israeli tanks rumbled into southern Gaza and seized control of the critical Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Israel and Hamas are trying yet again to work out a ceasefire in Egypt’s capital Cairo. Click HERE to listen and read.

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

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Russia hits Ukraine’s power grid with a ‘massive’ attack on a day marking the WWII defeat of Nazism, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Russian forces unleashed a nighttime barrage of more than 50 cruise missiles and explosive drones at Ukraine’s power grid today, targeting a wide area in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called a “massive” attack. The bombardment blasted targets in seven Ukrainian regions . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia hammers Ukrainian energy, military sites in retaliatory strike — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops delivered a combined strike by precision weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, on Ukrainian military sites in retaliation to Kiev’s attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, the Defense Ministry of Russia said today. READ MORE . . .

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How Ukraine is keeping the lights on under Russian fire, by Olena Harmash | Reuters  KYIV — Russia launched a barrage of missiles and drones at Ukraine today, hitting nearly a dozen energy infrastructure facilities across the country, in the latest in a string of attacks on the power sector over the past two months. Here is an overview of Ukraine’s worsening energy situation since. . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine to impose nationwide electricity restriction tonight. From Kyiv Post. Ukraine’s energy operator, Ukrenergo, has warned of nationwide power outages between 6. and 11 this evening following the overnight Russian missile and drone strikes. Ukrenergo said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Governor: Fire at oil depot in Russian-occupied Luhansk causes serious damage, by Kateryna Hodunova | The Kyiv Independent  An oil depot in the Russian-occupied city of Luhansk was heavily damaged in a fire that RussiaN proxies claim was the result of a Ukrainian strike, Luhansk Oblast Governor Artem Lysohor said today. READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated the community of Novokalinovo in the Avdeyevka direction in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Kislovka in the Kupyansk direction 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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Grit, humor, grief and gloom mix as Ukrainians face a dangerous new phase in the war, by Jill Lawless | AP  KYIV — Many Ukrainians are wrestling with a potent mix of emotions as they face a new phase in the war with growing concern about international support for their cause. Most remain firm in their resolve to drive out the Russian invaders and . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine reaches parity with Russia on production of deep strike drones, says arms maker. From Reuters. KYIV — Ukraine said today it was producing the same number of deep strike drones as Russia, claiming to have reached parity on a key type of weapon that Moscow has used for long-range attacks for much of its invasion. Kyiv has focused on developing and producing long-range drones so . . . READ MORE . . .

A film on someone who devoted much of the last two decades of his life to examining the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the anthrax attacks that followed closely that fall is being shown tonight. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Graeme MacQueen

The documentary film “Peace, War and 9/11” will be screened tonight, Tuesday, May 7, at 7 at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, in Somerville, MA. The film honors the life and work of Graeme MacQueen (1948 – 2023), a key figure in the 9/11 truth movement.

MacQueen taught Asian religion at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, where he established the Centre for Peace Studies. He later became co-editor with Kevin Ryan of the Journal of 9/11 Studies.

The screening, co-sponsored by Boston 9/11 Truth and the International Center for 9/11 Justice, will be introduced by Ted Walter of IC911Justice, the film’s director. Afterward, Walter will join Massachusetts anti-war organizer and author Marty Schotz, and the author Edward Curtin, who writes the Behind the Curtain blog..

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at the theater, which is a few MTA stops from Harvard University, where MacQueen earned a doctorate. Other details about him are HERE and HERE.

For now, links to reports from the Associated Press and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date, so far, and a 9/11 TRUTH entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting cease-fire talks on knife’s edge, by Samy Magdy, Melanie Lidman and Lee Keath | AP  CAIRO — Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing today as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations. . . READ MORE . . .

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Why it’s been a whirlwind 24 hours for people in Rafah. Reported by Michel Martin and Aya Batrawy | NPR  An Israeli tank brigade has seized control of the Gaza Strip side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Hamas accepts Gaza cease-fire; Israel says it will continue talks but presses on with Rafah attacks, by Sam Mednick, Josef Federman and Bassem Mroue | AP  JERUSALEM — Hamas announced its acceptance Monday of an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal, but Israel said the deal did not meet its “core demands” and that it was pushing ahead with an assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Still, Israel said it would continue negotiations. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 6  The latest on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire proposal and attacks on Rafah. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR  It has been a whiplash day in Gaza. Hamas accepted a ceasefire proposal with Israel, but the Israeli cabinet has vowed to continue operation in Rafah. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MAY 6  Israel-Hamas ceasefire faces an uncertain future as Rafah offensive looms. Reported by Michael Levitt, Tinbete Ermyas and Mary Louise Kelly | NPR  Hamas put out a statement saying it agrees to a proposal put forward by international negotiators to halt the seven-month war with Israel. But we are still waiting on details about the agreement. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Israel wants to destroy Gaza and annex the West Bank, but what do the Palestinians want? by Ramzy Baroud | Middle East Monitor  What is taking place in occupied Palestine is a straightforward case of illegal military occupation, apartheid, ethnic cleansing and outright genocide by one, heavily-armed side — Israel — against the largely unarmed other, the Palestinians. Those who . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

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

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Ukraine used at least 37 drones to attack Belgorod Region in past 24 hours. From Tass. BELGOROD, Russia — The Ukrainian armed forces used at least 37 drones to attack settlements in the Belgorod Region of Russia in the past 24 hours, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said, specifying that eight people were killed and 45 people injured in . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian Shelling Kills 1 in Ukraine’s Sumy region. From AFP. Ukraine said today that one person was killed by Russian artillery fire in the northeastern Sumy region. Law enforcement authorities said one civilian was killed and four were wounded, including two young children. Police . . . READ MORE . . .

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SBU says it foiled Russia’s plot to assassinate Zelensky, 2 Ukrainian colonels detained, by Kateryna Denisova | The Kyiv Independent  The Security Service of Ukraine claimed today it had uncovered a network of Russia’s Federal Security Service agents who were preparing the assassination of President Volodymyr Zelensky and . . . READ MORE . . .

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What are tactical nuclear weapons and why did Russia order drills? From AP. Russia’s Defense Ministry said Monday that the military would hold drills involving tactical nuclear weapons — the first time such an exercise has been publicly announced by Moscow. A look at tactical nuclear weapons and the part they play in the Kremlin’s political messaging. READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

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

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NEWER  Biden speaks with Netanyahu as Israelis appear closer to Rafah offensive, by Zeke Miller and Aamer Madhani | AP  WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this morning, a White House official and a National Security Council spokesperson said, as Israel appeared closer to launching an offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah — a move staunchly opposed by the U.S. on humanitarian grounds. The call came hours before Biden was to host King Abdullah II of Jordan for . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza’s Rafah ahead of an expected assault, by Sam Mednick, Josef Federman and Bassem Mroue | AP  JERUSALEM — The Israeli army ordered some 100,000 Palestinians today to begin evacuating from the southern city of Rafah, signaling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent and further complicating efforts . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel strikes Gaza city of Rafah after evacuation order, say residents, by Mohammed Salem and Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  RAFAH, Gaza Strip —Israel’s military carried out airstrikes in Rafah today, residents said, hours after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate parts of the southern Gaza city where more than a million people uprooted by the war have been sheltering. Fears are growing of a full-blown . . . READ MORE . . .

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Hundreds of Palestinians evacuate from eastern Rafah amid Israeli evacuation orders. From Middle East Monitor. Hundreds of Palestinians began evacuating from areas east of Rafah amid Israeli plans to invade the city in the southern Gaza Strip, according to witnesses, Anadolu news agency reported. The Israeli army today issued immediate evacuation orders . . . READ MORE . . .

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UK’s Sunak ‘concerned deeply’ about possible military incursion into Rafah. From AFP. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said today the UK was “concerned deeply” about a possible offensive in Rafah after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate part of the southern Gaza city. He cited . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 5  The Israel-Palestinian media disconnect. From NPR. There is a split-screen of media coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. Israeli channels focus on the Oct. 7 attack, the soldiers and the hostages, while Palestinian media highlights daily suffering. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Woman denies being an ‘outside agitator’ in Columbia University protests. Michel Martin of NPR talks with Associated Press reporter Jake Offenhartz about New York Mayor Eric Adams’ claims of “outside agitators” being present at Columbia University protests. Click HERE to listen and read. Click HERE for related May 1 AP report by Offenhartz.