For now, links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, followed by commentary from the Moscow Times; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE and AMERICAS entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

In Israel, the U.S. defense secretary is expected to press for a more targeted approach in Gaza, by Melanie Lidman, Tara Copp and Samy Magdy | AP  TEL AVIV —U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed with Israeli leaders today ways to scale back major combat operations in Gaza but said Washington was not imposing a timetable despite international calls for a cease-fire. He and other U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concern about the large number of civilian deaths in Gaza, even while . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

U.S. defence chief in Israel in push to ease intensity of Gaza offensive, by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Bassam Masoud and Henriette Chacar | Reuters  CAIRO / GAZA — Israel faced pressure from the visiting U.S. defence chief and censure from a global rights group today over the intensity of its war with Hamas in Gaza due to spiraling civilian deaths and hunger among Palestinians. With no let-up in the more than two-month-old bombardment and siege. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was the latest U.S. official to head to Israel to . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

The Gaza war has convinced Russia it was right all along, by Nikita Smagin | The Moscow Times  The conflict in the Middle East is the perfect crisis for Russia, which is reaping a whole host of political benefits. The confrontation between Israel and Hamas has not only . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

MAY. BE CONTINUED

For now, links to reports from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and Reuters, followed by commentary from the Moscow Times and Indian Punchline; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA and AMERICAS  entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

A gloomy mood hangs over Ukraine’s soldiers as war with Russia grinds on, by Samya Kullab | AP  KYIV — A gloomy mood hangs over Ukraine’s soldiers nearly two years after Russia invaded their country. Discontent among them — once extremely rare and expressed only in private — is now more common and . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukrainians worry over wavering U.S. and EU support as Christmas approaches. Reported by Joanna Kakissis and Michael Martin | NPR  As Ukrainians prepare to celebrate Christmas according to the Western calendar for the first time, they fear the support of their biggest allies – the U.S. and the European Union – is wavering. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

Ukrainian troops face artillery shortages, scale back some operations — commander, by Oleana Harmash and Tom Balmforth | Reuters.  Frontline Ukrainian troops face shortages of artillery shells and have scaled back some military operations, Tavria operational group commander, Brig. Gen. Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, said today. He called the shortage a “very big problem” and said the drop in foreign military aid was having an impact on the battlefield. “The volumes that we have . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

The Gaza war has convinced Russia it was right all along, by Nikita Smagin | The Moscow Times  The conflict in the Middle East is the perfect crisis for Russia, which is reaping a whole host of political benefits. The confrontation between Israel and Hamas has not only . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Putin: ‘Odessa is a Russian city,’ by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  At the year-end news conference last Thursday lasting four hours, Russian President Vladimir Putin made some key remarks on the conflict in Ukraine which throw light on the likely trajectory of the war through 2024. To be sure, Russia will not accept a “frozen conflict” that falls short of realising the objectives he had laid out . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to reports from the Berkshire Eagle, Reuters, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (UKRAINE and GAZA entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

Tiny Guyana stands up to big Venezuela, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle  Under the prodding of Brazil, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro met last Thursday for face to face talks about the escalating dispute over the Esseqibo region rich in oil and minerals. Both countries promised not to resort to . . . READ MORE . . . 

–   –   –

U.S. closes two rail bridges to Mexico amid migrant surge.  From Reuters.  U.S. border officials on Sunday closed two rail bridges that move freight between Texas and Mexico after detecting a surge in the smuggling of migrants through Mexico by train. The move by U.S. Customs and Border Protection was the latest in a series of similar closures along the border in order to redeploy enforcement resources . . . READ MORE . . . 

–   –   –

Chilean voters reject conservative constitution, by Maria Verza and Patricia Luna  | AP  SANTIAGO — Voters rejected on Sunday a proposed conservative constitution to replace Chile’s dictatorship-era charter, showing both the deep division in the South American country and the inability of political sectors to address people’s demands for change made four years ago. About 55.8% voted “no” to the new charter, about 44.2% in favor. In 2022, Chileans resoundingly rejected a . . . READ MORE . . . 

–   –   –

Colombia activists risk their lives to protect the environment. Reported by John Otis  | NPR  A report published in September by the London-based advocacy group Global Witness ranks Colombia as the most dangerous country in the world for environmental defenders and those defending land rights for Indigenous and other local community groups. Of the 177 green activists killed around the world last year, the report says, 60 were . . . READ MORE . . . 

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

–   –   –

NEWER  Israel faces new truce calls as concern grows after the errant killing of captives, by Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdi | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israel’s government faced calls for a cease-fire from some of its closest European allies and from protesters at home today after a series of shootings, including of three hostages who waved a white flag, added to mounting concerns about its conduct in the 10-week-old war in Gaza. The protesters . . . READ MORE . . . 

–   –   –

NEWER  Gazan hospital damaged in Israel raid, army says weapons seized, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Israeli soldiers raided a hospital in northern Gaza over several days this week, leaving a trail of rubble and upturned earth in the hospital grounds and outside the shattered entrance, video images show, amid conflicting accounts of the events. The Gazan . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

NEWER  Palestinian farmers in the West Bank say Israel is blocking access to their harvests. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley | NPR   Israel’s separation barrier in the West Bank encloses land that belongs to Palestinians. And since Oct. 7, many farmers have not been able to access their crops to harvest olives. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

NEWER  Black American solidarity with Palestinians is rising and testing ties to Jewish allies, by Noreen Nasir and Aaron Morrison | AP  A growing number of Black Americans see the Palestinian struggle in the West Bank and Gaza reflected in their own fight for racial equality and civil rights. The recent rise of protest movements against police brutality in the U.S., where structural racism . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM DEC. 16  Israeli soldier mistakenly kills 3 hostages. Reported by Carrie Kahn | NPR  Israeli soldiers mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages, in violation of rules of engagement. Meanwhile, Gaza remains in a communication blackout. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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

–   –   –

Putin says Russia has no plan to attack NATO, dismisses Biden remark as ‘nonsense’, byGuy Faulconbridge | Reuters  Russian president Vladimir Putin dismissed as “complete nonsense” remarks by U.S. president Joe Biden that Russia would attack a Nato country if it won the war in Ukraine, adding Russia had no interest in fighting the Nato military alliance. The war has triggered . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –  

NEWER  Civilian killed in Russian air attack on Ukraine — Odesa governor. From Reuters. Debris from a downed drone killed a civilian in the Odesa region, the governor of the southern Ukrainian region said today, after Ukraine’s air force said it had destroyed 20 drones that Russia launched overnight. Air defence systems destroyed nine Iran-made attack drones over . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

NEWER  Russian air defense shot down two MiG-29, Su-25, 91 drones over day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Over the past 24 hours, Russian air defense systems shot down two MiG-29 aircraft, one Su-25, and 91 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Also, two HIMARS MLRS shells and . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukrainian drone video provides a grim look at casualties as Russian troops advance toward Avdiivka, by Evgeny Maloletka  | AP  KYIV — As Russian forces press forward with an attempt to capture the town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, aerial footage gives an indication of their staggering losses. A Ukrainian military drone unit near Stepove, a village just north of Avdiivka, where . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

NEWER  Ukraine says shot down two missiles, 20 drones in new attack. From AFP. Ukraine Says Shot Down Two Missiles, 20 Drones in New Attack. From Reuters. Ukraine said today it had repelled two Russian missile and 20 drone attacks overnight, as Moscow reported downing 33 drones fired from Ukraine. The air force said . . . READ MORE . . . 

–   –   –

Russia and Ukraine exchange drone attacks after European Union funding stalled, by Karl Ritter and Elsie Morton | AP  KYIV — Russia and Ukraine each reported dozens of attempted drone attacks in the past day, just hours after Hungary vetoed 50 billion euros ($54.5 billion) of European Union funding to Ukraine. Ukraine’s air force said  . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

NEWER  Russia’s economy is going strong despite sanctions from the U.S. and its allies. Reported by Ayesha Rascoe | NPR  Despite sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, the Russian economy has not suffered. NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe talks with Alexandra Prokopenko with the Carnegie Eurasia Center. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and Reuters, followed by a link to commentary, via Consortium News, by a British observer; other articles are accessible by clicking on their sources’ names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

3 hostages mistakenly killed by troops had been holding a white flag, Israeli military official says, by Najib Jobain, Julia Frankel and Samy Magdy | AP  JERUSALEM — Three Israeli hostages who were mistakenly shot by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip had been waving a white flag and were shirtless when they were killed, an Israeli military official said today. Anger over the mistaken killings is likely to increase pressure on the Israeli government to . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

The IDF said it mistakenly killed 3 Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Reported by Scott Simon and Kat Lonsdorf | NPR  Israelis react to news that the military mistakenly killed three of the Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

U.S. wants shakeup of Palestinian Authority to run Gaza after Hamas, by Samia Nakhoul, Ali Sawafta and Matt Spetalnick | Reuters  — A succession of top U.S. officials have travelled to the West Bank in recent weeks to meet with Mahmoud Abbas in the hope the 88-year-old — a spectator in the war between Israel and Hamas — can overhaul his unpopular Palestinian Authority enough to run Gaza after the conflict. Abbas has . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM DEC. 15  Murder, by Craig Murray | CraigMurray.org.uk / Consortium News  Al Jazeera are leading their news with the execution of Palestinian civilians, including women and toddlers, inside the school in Jabalia where they were sheltering. They were all shot at point blank range, with no signs of a bomb or missile strike. On the BBC, the Daily Politics show — which consists of discussion between senior British MPs – does not discuss Palestine at . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Tass, the Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, and National Public Radio and to commentary from Scheer Post; other articles are accessible by clicking on their sources’ names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

Ukraine shoots downs 30 Russian drones over 11 regions — Air Force. From Reuters.  KYIV — Ukraine’s air defence and mobile groups of drone hunters shot down 30 out of 31 Russian drones over 11 regions across the country today, the air force said. A series of explosions . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

NEWER  Ukrainian missile attack on Russian-held village kills 2: Moscow’s occupational forces. From AFP.  A Ukrainian missile attack on the Russian-held village of Nova Mayachka in southern Ukraine killed two civilians, Moscow’s occupying authorities in the Kherson region said today. Moscow’s forces said the missile hit the village on the Russian-occupied bank of the Dnipro river some . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

NEWER  Russian Aerospace Forces down Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter in Zaporozhye Region. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia’s Aerospace Forces downed a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter over the town of Orekhov in the Zaporozhye Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Also . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Repaired Ukrainian Leopard 2 tanks ready to return to battle. From Kyiv Post. The press service of the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense said on Friday that an unspecified number of repaired Leopard 2 tanks were being prepared for shipment back to Ukraine. The tanks had been accepted for overhaul by Lithuaniafollowing damage during fighting in September and October. The tanks were fixed at . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Putin exaggerates number of Russian troops in Ukraine, intelligence says. From the Kyiv Independent. There are around 450,000 Russian troops deployed in Ukraine, rather than 617,000 as Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed, the spokesperson of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), Andrii Yusov, said on Friday. “The enemy is giving distorted data to increase information pressure on . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –  

FROM DEC. 16  Ukraine has $52 billion EU aid package veoted by Hungary. Reported by Joanna Kakissis, Juana Summers, Gabriel J. Sánchez and Patrick Jarenwattananon | NPR  At a summit this week, EU leaders voted to begin membership negotiations with Ukraine. But Hungary’s leader Viktor Organ vetoed a $52 billion aid package. Click HERE to listen and read.  

–   –   –

FROM DEC. 16   A controversial exchange frees Russian convicts if they agree to fight in Ukraine. Reported by Charles Maynes, Vincent Acovino, Christine Arrasmith and Claudette Lindsay Habermann | NPR  Russia has freed violent convicts in exchange for their military service in Ukraine. Their victims’ families say justice has been denied. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

That new Hunter Biden indictment, by Patrick Lawrence | Scheer Post  Special Counsel David Weiss is the Department of  Justice attorney in Delaware who has run the DoJ’s lengthy (as in slow-walked) investigation into Hunter Biden’s alleged violations of tax and gun laws. Among much else, he appears to have connived with other Justice officials to cover up an FBI finding that Hunter and President Biden accepted bribes of $5 million each from Burisma Holdings, the Ukrainian energy company where . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from a Substack writer, the Associated Press and Reuters, followed by commentary from the New York Times and, via Consortium News, Scheer Post; other articles are accessible by clicking on their sources’ initials or names below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE. ) — MCM

–   –   –

NEWER  How the West Bank fits into the equation, by Seymour M. Hersh | SeymourHersh.Substack.com  “The big problem” today between the Biden administration and the Netanyahu government, a senior U.S. official told me, is not the war against Hamas, but Netanyahu’s clash with the Palestinian Authority, the much weakened agency still nominally in charge of the West Bank. Steadily increasing violence committed against the Palestinian population by Israeli settlers . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

U.S. and Israel discuss when to scale back Gaza combat but agree fight will take months, envoy says, by Karin Laub, Najib Jobain and Bassem Mroue | AP  RAMALLAH, West Bank — The United States agrees with Israel that the fight against Hamas will take months, but officials are discussing the timetable for scaling back from high-intensity combat to more precise ways of targeting the militant group’s leaders, a top U.S. envoy said today amid growing American unease about the mounting death toll in Gaza. Following talks with Israeli officials, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Israel-Hamas fighting convulses Gaza as U.S. seeks protection of civilians, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Fadi Shana | Reuters  CAIRO / GAZA — Israeli forces and Hamas battled fiercely throughout Gaza today, witnesses said, suggesting Israel’s ground offensive was meeting stiffer resistance as the U.S. said it expected its ally to alter a war strategy that has inflicted a huge death toll. Residents in the small enclave reported fighting in . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

The accounts of freed Israeli hostages add pressure to save those still in captivity. Reported by Becky Sullivan | NPR  The militant group Hamas released more than a hundred hostages during a seven-day ceasefire in late November. In an effort to keep attention focused on the more than 100 hostages who are still being held by Hamas, their families — and some former hostages themselves — have spoken out publicly about the harsh . . . Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

Disagreements emerge over who should be in control of Gaza when the war ends. Reported by Daniel Estrin and Steve Inskeep | NPR  Who should be in charge in Gaza after the war? Disagreements have emerged between the U.S., Israel, Palestinian and Gulf leaders, and activists. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

What worries me about the Gaza war after my trip to Arab states, by Thomas L. Friedman | The New York Times  I’ve been concerned from the start that Israel launched its invasion of Gaza to eradicate Hamas with no plan for what to do with the territory and its people in the wake of any victory. Having just spent a week in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

The evil Israel does is the evil Israel gets, by Chris Hedges | Scheer Post / Consortium News  Dr. Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, co-founder of Hamas, did not fit the demonized image of a Hamas leader. A soft spoken, articulate and highly educated pediatrician, he had graduated first in his class at Egypt’s Alexandria University. As a 9-year-old, he witnessed . . . READ MORE . . .

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

–   –   –

NEWER  Ukrainians voice cautious hopes over EU accession talks. From AFP. Ukrainians today welcomed the European Union’s decision to open formal membership negotiations, while questioning how they would progress as the country continues to fight a war with Russia. The EU’s announcement on Thursday came after the bloc overcame . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

In his annual press conference, Putin said the war in Ukraine will continue. Reported by Charles Maynes | NPR  Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual four-hour press conference, a tradition that was canceled last year as Russia was suffering defeat on the battlefield in Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

NEWER  Russian forces carry out 40 group strikes on Ukrainian military facilities over week. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian forces have carried out 40 group strikes on Ukrainian military airfields and ammunition depots, intercepted a Tochka-U missile and two S-200 missiles, as well as shot down a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter and 119 drones over the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said today. Here is a compilation of . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

NEWER  Putin flaunts alleged military successes, claims Russia is doing great, by Oleg Sukhov | The Kyiv Independent  Russian President Vladimir Putin took four hours on Thursday to boast about Russia’s alleged economic and military achievements. Among his key messages was that the war would end when Russia achieved its goals, Western assistance to Ukraine would soon end, and Russia would be doing fine on the battlefield. Putin added . . . READ MORE . . .

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

–   –   –

Israel vows to fight on in Gaza despite deadly ambush and rising international pressure, by Najib Jobain and Kareem Chehayeb | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Israel has vowed to keep fighting in Gaza until it crushes Hamas after one of the deadliest single battles of the war for its soldiers, even as it faces mounting international calls for a cease-fire and unease on the part of its closest ally, the United States. The ambush in Gaza City showed Hamas is . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Israel is using an AI system to find targets in Gaza. Experts say it’s just the start. Reported by Geoff Brumfiel | NPR  Since the brutal attacks by Hamas-led militants on Oct. 7, Israeli forces have struck more than 22,000 targets inside the Gaza Striip. Just since the temporary truce broke down on Dec. 1, Israel’s Air Force has hit more than 3,500 sites. The Israeli military says it’s using artificial intelligence to select many of these targets in real-time, and claims . . . Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

Poll shows Palestinians back Oct. 7 attack on Israel, support for Hamas rises. From Reuters. JERUSALEM — Almost three in four Palestinians believe the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel was correct, and the ensuing Gaza war has lifted support for the Islamist group both there and in the West Bank, a survey from a respected Palestinian polling institute found. The Palestinian Center for Policy Survey and Research (PCPSR) findings were published as . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

What are the global consequences of Washington’s staunch support for Israel?  Michel Martin of NPR talks with Fawaz Georges of the London School of Economics about what he sees as the global consequences of Washington’s staunch support for Israel’s war with Hamas. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED