Gaza, 4-10-24

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

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Biden says Netanyahu’s approach to the war is a mistake, deepening a rift between the two allies, by Tia Goldenberg and Wafaa Shurafa | AP  TEL AVIV, Israel — U.S. President Joe Biden called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza a mistake and called for his government to flood the beleaguered territory with aid, ramping up pressure on Israel to reach a cease-fire and . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel would let 150,000 Gazans return north in potential truce, officials say, by James Mackenzie | Reuters  JERUSALEM — Israel has agreed in Gaza war ceasefire talks in Egypt to concessions about the return of Palestinians to the north of the enclave, but believes Islamist group Hamas does not want to strike a deal, two Israeli officials said today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 9  Hundreds of aid trucks are entering Gaza as Israel faces pressure to allow them in. Reported by Carrie Kahn | NPR  The number of trucks delivering food and other humanitarian aid to Gaza has surged in the past 24 hours. Distribution remains a difficult challenge. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM NOV. 28, 2012  Origins of Israel’s anti-Arab racism, by Lawrence Davidson | Special to Consortium News 11-plus years ago  By the middle of the 19th Century, the multi-ethnic empire was on its way out as the dominant political paradigm in Europe. Replacing it was the nation-state, a political form which allowed the concentration of ethnic groups within . . . READ MORE . . .

Ukraine, 4-10-24

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Agence France-Press, Reuters, Tass, the Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Reuters, and Foreign Policy and to commentary from Consortium News; others are accessible by clicking on their names below, although FP may require a subscription. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Switzerland to host a Ukraine peace conference in June and hopes Russia can join one day, by Jamey Keaten | AP  GENEVA — Switzerland’s government said today it will host a high-level international conference in June to help chart a path toward peace in Ukraine. The June 15-16 gathering is expected to draw top government officials from dozens of countries including President Biden of the United States. READ MORE . .

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Russia will not take part in Ukraine peace talks in Switzerland: minister. From AFP. Russia will not take part in a Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland in mid-June, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said today, stressing the aim to include Moscow in future talks. READ MORE . . .

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Russia slams planned peace conference as U.S. project. From AFP. Russia’s foreign ministry today criticised plans to hold a Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland as a futile initiative of the U.S. Democratic Party ahead of this year’s U.S. presidential election. “American Democrats, who need . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia targets Ukrainian energy sites in overnight attacks. From AFP. Russia hit two energy sites in aerial strikes on southern Ukraine overnight, officials said today, the latest in Moscow’s targeted attacks against the country’s power network. Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S. general warns time running out for Ukraine without U.S. aid, by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali | Reuters  WASHINGTON — The top U.S. general in Europe told Congress today that Ukraine will run out of artillery shells and air defense interceptors “in fairly short order” without U.S. support, leaving them vulnerable to a partial or total defeat. Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander of . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian depot with 32 howitzers, 2 UAV assembly workshops. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops destroyed a Ukrainian storage facility with 32 howitzers and two UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) assembly workshops over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today. Its statement . . . READ MORE . . .

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‘Ukraine has plan for counteroffensive, but modern weapons needed’: Zelensky, by Julia Struck | Kyiv Post  In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed that Ukraine has devised a plan for a new counteroffensive, stressing the critical need for modern weapons. “Yes, Russia has more people, more weapons. But the united West has . . . READ MORE . . .

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Almost 3 quarters of Germany’s arms exports in 2024 intended for Ukraine, by Dinara Khalilova and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  From Jan. 1 to March 27, the German government approved the export of military goods worth at least 4.89 billion euros (around $5.3 billion), with almost three-quarters of this amount intended for Ukraine, the German news agency DPA reported today. Germany has become . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 9  U.S. to sell to Ukraine $138 million in HAWK air defense upgrades, by Mike Stone | Reuters  WASHINGTON — The United States will sell Ukraine up to $138 million worth of equipment to maintain and upgrade its HAWK air defense systems to help defend against Russian drone and cruise missile attacks, a U.S. State Department official said Tuesday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 9  Ukraine’s cheap drones are decimating Russia’s tanks, by Jack Detsch | Foreign Policy  In the third year of Russia’s full-scale invasion, first-person-view (FPV) drones have become nearly ubiquitous on the Ukrainian battlefield. Many of them can carry 10 pounds of explosives or more, and after nearly 780 days of nonstop war . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 8  Kagan’s last bugle for ruinous empire, by Bruce Fein | Special to Consortium News  Whom the gods would destroy, they have first listen to Robert Kagan. Kagan postulates in a profusion of books and articles that Americans are God’s chosen people, that the United States is . . . READ MORE . . .

Gaza, 4-9-24

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

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NEWER  Hamas says Israeli proposal fails to meet demands, but is under review, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  Israel’s proposal that Hamas received from Qatari and Egyptian mediators did not meet any of the demands of Palestinian factions, the militant group has said. However, Hamas said today it would study the proposal, which . . .READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s security ‘at core’ of Berlin foreign policy, Germany tells UN court, by Jan Hennop | AFP  Israel’s security is at the “core” of German foreign policy, the UN’s highest court heard today. Berlin has denied a claim that it is aiding in a “genocide” in Gaza. Nicaragua brought Germany before the International Court of Justice to demand . . . READ MORE . . .

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Turkey imposes trade restrictions on Israel: ministry. From AFP.  Turkey will impose trade restrictions on Israel starting today on a range of products including cement and steel and iron construction materials in response to Israel’s war on Gaza, the trade ministry said in a statement. “This . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 8  Palestinians returning to Khan Younis after Israeli withdrawal find an unrecognizable city, by Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Stunned Palestinians found their home city unrecognizable Monday as they filtered in to salvage what they could from the vast destruction left by Israeli troops who withdrew from southern Gaza’s Khan Younis a day earlier after months of fighting and bombardment. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 8  Gaza truce talks still deadlocked, Netanyahu sets date for offensive, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Ahmed Mohamed Hassan | Reuters  CAIRO  — Hamas rejected an Israeli ceasefire proposal made at talks in Cairo, a senior Hamas official said on Monday, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a date was set for an invasion of Rafah, Gaza’s last refuge for displaced Palestinians. READ MORE . . .

Ukraine, 4-9-24

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

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NEWER  UN atomic watchdog says status of Ukrainian nuclear plant occupied by Russia is ‘extremely serious,’ by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — The International Atomic Energy Agence said an explosion caused by an alleged drone attack at Europe’s largest nuclear plant in Ukraine today posed no direct threat to its safety but underscored the “extremely serious situation” at the facility that . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops destroy Ukrainian militants with smart munitions near Spornoye in DPR. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops used smart munitions to destroy Ukrainian militants at firing positions near the settlement of Spornoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry said today. READ MORE . . .

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Drone strikes target flight school in Russia’s Voronezh region – reports. From the Moscow Times. Authorities in western Russia’s Voronezh region said today air defense systems had downed two drones overnight, with unconfirmed reports saying that a flight training school was damaged in the incident. Voronezh region Governor Alexander Gusev said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s FM Lavrov slam’s West’s ‘unlawful sanctions’ in China talks. From AFP. Moscow’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov today slammed “unlawful sanctions” by the West against Russia and other countries as he met with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine races to fix and shield its power plants after Russian onslaught, by Anastasiia Malenko | Reuters  UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, Ukraine — Avoiding energy system collapse depends largely on rapid repairs of facilities like the one visited by Reuters on Monday, where people in protective suits and hard hats worked in a vast hall filled with metal and concrete dislodged and twisted by an air strike. READ MORE . . .

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UK’s David Cameron in Washington for Ukraine talks after meeting Donald Trump in Florida. From AP.  WASHINGTON — British Foreign Secretary David Cameron is in Washington today to press senior Republicans to unlock money for Ukraine, after meeting a skeptical Donald Trump in Florida. Cameron says victory for Ukraine is “vital for . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine bombs 3 Russian air bases, then vows to send drones deeper into Russia, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle  Over the last two years, Ukraine has used drones and rockets to sink one-third of Russia’s warships in the Black Sea. Now, Ukraine is turning its drone power on land targets: air bases, refineries and military factories deep inside Russia. That reach was demonstrated last week when . . . READ MORE . . .

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Are Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries hindering Russia’s war machine? From the Moscow Times. Ukraine has escalated its drone attacks on Russian oil refineries in an effort to cripple Russia’s economy and constrain fuel supplies to its military. Despite the increased intensity of these strikes, experts who spoke to The Moscow Times agree that their impact on the Russian economy has so far . . . READ MORE . . .

Gaza, 4-8-24

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from ScheerPost and the Washington Post; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below, although the latter online source may require a subscription. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Nicaragua urges the top UN court to halt German military aid to Israel because of Gaza assault, by Mike Corder | AP  THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Nicaragua called on the International Court of Justice today to halt German military aid to Israel, arguing that Berlin’s support enables acts of genocide and breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza. Germany is the second-largest supplier . . . READ MORE . . .

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Hamas says Gaza truce talks still deadlocked despite reports of progress, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Ahmed Mohamed Hassan | Reuters  CAIRO — A Hamas official said today no progress was made at a new round of Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo also attended by delegations from Israel, Qatar and the U.S., shortly after Egyptian sources said headway had been achieved . . . READ MORE . . .

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An Israeli teacher was held hostage in Gaza — her American husband is still there. Leila Fadel of NPR talks with Aviva Siegel who was taken hostage during the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and held for 51 days. Her husband, Keith, is among the hostages still held in Gaza. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM APRIL 7  These Palestinian mothers in Gaza gave birth Oct. 7. Their babies have known only war, by Julia Frankel and Wafaa Shurafa | AP  NUSEIRAT, Gaza Strip — Rockets streaked through the morning sky in Gaza on Oct. 7 as Amal Al-Taweel hurried to the hospital in the nearby Nuseirat refugee camp, already in labor. Rola Saqer’s water broke that day as she sheltered from Israeli airstrikes in Beit Lahia, a Gaza town near . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 6  Morality challenged, by Michael Brenner | ScheerPost  Is there now a moral void at the heart of Western societies?  That question haunts as governments in the United States and Europe act as accomplices in Israeli’s atrocious crimes against the Palestinians. The Jewish state’s conduct . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 2   The International Court of Justice is waging lawfare on Israel, by Ruth Marcus | The Washington Post  The International Court of Justice is allowing itself to be used as a geopolitical weapon in the Israel-Gaza war. In January, the court found that South Africa had made a “plausible” claim that Israel was . . . READ MORE . . .

Ukraine, 4-8-24

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

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Ukraine sets fire to missile ship in Russia’s Kaliningrad, intel source says, by Kateryna Zakharchenko | Kyiv Post  A Russian missile ship in the Kaliningrad region, the Serpukhov, was set fire to and sustained heavy damage on Sunday due to a special operation by Ukrainian military intelligence on Sunday, a source in Ukrainian intelligence said. READ MORE . . .

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Up to 80% of Ukraine’s coal, gas power plants hit by Russian attacks: Minister. From AFP. Russia has hit up to 80% of Ukraine’s conventional power plants and half its hydroelectric plants in recent weeks in the heaviest attacks since the war began, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said today. Moscow has . . . READ MORE . . .

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Military intelligence: Ukraine directly controls Black Sea oil rigs, undermining Russia’s reconnaissance capabilities, by Kateryna Denisova and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Russia’s reconnaissance capabilities in thE sky, on the water, and on land suffered after Ukraine regained control of a set of oil drilling platforms located in the Black Sea last autumn, Ukraine’s military intelligence said today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 7  Attacks on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant significantly increase accident risk, IAEA head says. From AP.  KYIV — The head of the U.N.’s atomic watchdog agency on Sunday condemned a Ukrainian drone strike on one of six nuclear reactors at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, saying such attacks . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 7  Ukraine’s energy system stabilizes, Zelenskiy makes plea for Kharkiv. From Reuters.  KYIV — The Ukrainian energy system that was severely damaged by Russian missile attacks in recent weeks is now almost completely stabilized, and the energy ministry on Sunday said no major imports were expected. Ukraine’s electricity imports . . . READ MORE . . .

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French billionaire Xavier Niel to buy 2 Ukrainian telecoms companies in one of largest acquisitions in country’s history, by Liliane Bivings | The Kyiv Independent  French billionaire Xavier Niel’s investment company NJJ Capital will acquire two telecom businesses in Ukraine in what is set to be one of the largest. . . READ MORE . . .

Gaza, 4-7-24

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

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NEWER  lsrael is pulling some troops from southern Gaza. But clearing Hamas from Rafah is still a goal, by Jack Jeffrey and Tia Goldenberg | AP  JERUSALEM — Israel’s military announced today it was drawing back some forces from a Hamas stronghold in southern Gaza, bringing troop presence in the territory to one of the lowest levels since the six-month war began.  The forces will recuperate and . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Israel reduces troops in south Gaza, Egypt to host new talks, by Ari Rabinovitch and Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  Israel said today it had withdrawn more soldiers from southern Gaza, leaving just one brigade, as it and Hamas sent teams to Egypt for fresh talks over a potential ceasefire. Israel has been reducing numbers in Gaza since the start of the year to relieve reservists and is . . . READ MORE . . .

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6 months of war: Palestinians say the U.S. government lacks empathy for their plight. Ayesha Rascoe of NPR speaks with Palestinian researcher Yousef Munayyer about Palestinian sentiment six months since the start of Israel’s war on Hamas. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Israel says its strike that killed aid workers was a mistake. Rights groups say it was no anomaly, by Lee Keath | AP  CAIRO — Two basic mistakes, according to the Israeli military. First, officers overlooked a message detailing the vehicles in the convoy. Second, a spotter saw someone . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israeli military says it reduces troops in south Gaza. From Reuters. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military has withdrawn all ground troops from the southern Gaza Strip except for one brigade, a military spokesperson said today. It was unclear whether . . . READ MORE . . .

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Anger grows even in Arab countries having peace treaties with Israel. Reported by Jane Arraf | NPR  Six months of war in Gaza have sent shock waves through the Arab world. Public anger is growing in Jordan and Lebanon, two countries that have peace treaties with Israel. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Israelis say Netanyahu isn’t doing enough to bring home the hostages. Ayesha Rascoe of NPR  Six months after Hamas attacked Israel, how do Israelis regard the the war in Gaza? NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe asks senior fellow Tamar Hermann of the Israel Democracy Institute. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM APRIL 6  We’re at a tipping point for Biden and Israel, says diplomat. Scott Detrow of NPR talks with former Middle East Envoy Dennis Ross about the latest developments in Israel’s war with Hamas. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM APRIL 5  British rebellion grows against arming Israel, by Joe Lauria | Special to Consortium News  On Wednesday more than 600 British lawyers, academics and retired senior judges wrote to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak imploring him to cut off military aid and even called for sanctions against the most senior Israeli leaders. The rebellion is erupting in both major parties and in the . . . READ MORE . . .

 

Ukraine, 4-7-24

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

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NEWER  Continued attacks in Kharkiv. From Kyiv Post. Explosions rocked Kharkiv city this afternoon in Russian dronea and glide bomb attacks. Mayor Igor Tereskhov said . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Ukraine to lose war if U.S. Congress withholds aid: Zelensky. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that Kyiv will lose the war against Russia if the U.S. Congress does not approve military aid to battle Moscow’s invasion. Republicans in Congress . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Drones attack the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, according to plant officers. From AP.  KYIV — Officials at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant said that the site was attacked today by Ukrainian military drones. Later today, Russian state-owned nuclear agency Rosatom said three people were wounded in . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia says Ukraine strikes dome above shutdown reactor at nuclear plant. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Ukraine struck the dome above a shutdown reactor at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear station today, though radiation levels were normal and there was no serious damage, the plant’s Russian-installed administration said. The nuclear plant was taken by Russian forces shortly after . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says situation ‘difficult’ around Chasiv Yar. From AFP.  The situation around eastern Ukraine’s frontline city of Chasiv Yar is “difficult and tense,” the army said today, adding that the Russian invaders were now “in retreat.” Russian forces . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces destroy warehouse with drone boats handed over to Kiev by NATO countries. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian armed forces destroyed a warehouse with drone boats handed over to Kiev by NATO countries, as well as two S-300 surface-to-air missile systems and a P-18 surveillance and targeting radar, the Russian Defense Ministry said. In addition . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 2  Ukraine’s attacks on oil refineries generate political heat — and not just in Russia, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle  Using bombs where Western sanctions failed, Ukraine’s campaign against Russia’s oil industry has four objectives. First, it seeks to deprive Russia’s war machine of diesel, gasoline and jet fuel — the lifeblood of . . . READ MORE . . .

Gaza, 4-6-24

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

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Israel finds the body of a hostage killed in Gaza, while talks will resume on a cease-fire, by Samy Magdy and Sam Metz | AP  CAIRO — Israel’s military said today it had recovered the body of Elad Katzir, a 47-year-old farmer who was held hostage in Gaza, while negotiators prepared to begin another round of talks on brokering a cease-fire and securing the release of the remaining hostages, six months into the war. READ MORE . . .

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Hamas says delegation to go to Cairo on April 7 for Gaza ceasefire talks. From Reuters. CAIRO — A Hamas delegation headed by the group’s deputy chief in Gaza, Khalil Al-Hayya, will go to Cairo on April 7 for Gaza ceasefire talks, in response to an invitation extended by Egyptian mediators, the group said in a statement today. Participants are expected to include . . . READ MORE . . .

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How 6 months of Israel’s war in Gaza have upended the Middle East. Reported by Daniel Estrin, Jane Arraf and Greg Myre | NPR Three NPR correspondents look at the war since a surprise early morning rampage by Hamas in Southern Israel last Oct. 7 ignited the deadliest war ever between Israelis and Palestinians. Click HERE to read and listen.

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FROM APRIL 5  Biden urges Egypt, Qatar leaders to press Hamas to come to agreement for Israeli hostages in Gaza, by Aamer Madhani | AP  WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday wrote to the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, calling on them to press Hamas for a hostage deal with Israel, according to a senior administration official, one day after Biden called . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 5  After six months of war, Israel’s isolation grows with no end in sight, by Josef Federman | AP  JERUSALEM — When Israel declared war against Hamas last October, it stood unified at home and enjoyed broad backing from around the world following an unprecedented attack by the Islamic militant group. Six months later . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 5  The lives of other aid workers killed in Gaza. Reported by Linah Mohammad, Christopher Intagliata and Ari Shapiro | NPR  Ari Shapiro talks with Juliette Touma, director of communications for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, about some of the hundreds of aid workers killed in Gaza. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM APRIL 5  Half a year into the war in Gaza, here’s a look at the conflict by the numbers, by Julia Frankel | AP  JERUSALEM — The Israel-Hamas war has stretched on for half a year and become one of the most destructive, deadly, and intractable conflicts of the 21st century. Since Hamas’ Oct. 7 cross-border attack . . . READ MORE . . .

Ukraine, 4-6-24

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

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NEWER  Russian missile strikes in Ukraine kill 8 and wound 12. From AP. KYIV — Russian missile strikes in Ukraine overnight and today killed eight people and wounded 12 more, officials said. According to the governor of the Kharkiv . . . READ MORE . . .

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Eight dead in two Russian strikes on Kharkiv, officials say. From Reuters. Two Russian strikes on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, killed eight civilians and injured at least 10 early today and in the afternoon, regional officials said. Ukraine’s national police said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian Armed Forces occupy more advantageous positions in Donetsk direction. From Tass. MOSCOW — Units of the Southern Group of the Russian Armed Forces occupied more advantageous positions in the Donetsk direction, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense in a bulletin that includes . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia says found link to Ukraine on concert attack suspect’s phone. From the Moscow Times. Russian investigators said Friday that they had uncovered more evidence of Ukraine’s alleged involvement in the deadly March 22 concert hall attack, including photos of Ukrainian flags found on one of the suspected assailant’s phones. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine faces key battle in Chasiv Yar, a ‘door’ to Donbas. From AFP. Chasiv Yar, a strategic town for troops fighting for control of the eastern Donbas region, lies some 20 kilometres (12 miles) west of Bakhmut, which Russia seized last May after . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky meets bipartisan U.S. Congress delegation, calls to pass Ukraine aid bill, by Dinara Khalilova and the news desk | The Kyiv Independent  President Volodymyr Zelensky met with a bipartisan delegation of U.S. Congress members in Chernihiv Oblast and called to pass Ukraine aid bill as soon as possible, the Presidential Office said today. U.S. aid to Ukraine . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 5  U.S. House Republican infighting threatens to further delay Ukraine aid package, by David Morgan | Reuters  WASHINGTON — Infighting among Republicans who control the U.S. House of Representatives, and a threat to oust Speaker Mike Johnson from his leadership role, have put him under pressure to further delay action on a long-sought aid bill for . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s victory remains in reach, by Alexander Vindman | Kyiv Post  The negative news coverage of the Ukraine-Russia conflict has unleashed a flood of dire predictions. However, doomsayers’ forecasts are overly grim and the outcome can be much more favorable for Ukraine with the right support and proper . . . READ MORE . . .