For now, links to reports from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Also today, scroll down or click HERE for a summary of events related to the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. — MCM

–   –   –

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sacks the country’s defense minister. Reported by Leila Fadel and Brian Mann | NPR  Zelenzkyy’s move follows corruption scandals involving military contractors and a grinding summer counteroffensive that critics say underperformed. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –  

Ukraine President Zelenskyy says defense minister Oleksii Reznikov will be replaced this week. From AP. KYIV — Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that defense minister Oleksii Reznikov will be replaced this week with Rustem Umerov, a Crimean Tatar lawmaker. Zelenskyy said new leadership was needed after , , , READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Who is Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s likely new defence minister? From Reuters. KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has proposed Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s main privatisation agency, to serve as the country’s wartime defence minister. Umerov, 41, who would replace Oleksii Reznikov as defence minister, is a Crimean Tatar born in Samarkand in Uzbekistan to a . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukraine forces down 17 drones in Odesa region, strikes damage buildings: Governor. From AFP. Ukrainian forces downed 17 Russian drones over the southern Odesa region, officials said today, adding that strikes caused damage in a district on the Danube river that borders NATO member Romania. Regional governor Oleg Kiper said there were no civilian casualties but damage was done “in several settlements of Izmail . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Putin says grain deal, Syria among topics of discussion with Erdogan. From Tass. SOCHI — Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to discuss the situations in Ukraine and Syria, as well as a grain deal, with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he said in opening their talks. “Of course , , , READ MORE . . .

Events around 22nd anniversary of ‘9/11’

To mark the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, activists in the 9/11 truth movement have scheduled at least seven events between Tuesday, Sept. 5, to Monday, Sept. 11. Details are HERE in a Truth Action Project summary. 

They include:

* A forum, “Parallels of 9/11 and Covid: Justice Around the Corner,” this Tuesday, Sept. 5, sponsored by the Truth Action Project and featuring Richard Gage, former CEO of Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth, and Mick Harrison, litigation director of the Lawyers Committee for 9/11 Inquiry. It begins at 8 p.m. EDT.

* Oral arguments on Friday, Sept.  8, in a Washington, D.C., courtroom by Harrison on behalf of Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth. His presentation “represents a critical step toward holding NIST accountable and demanding a comprehensive and unbiased re-evaluation of the official World Trade Center Building 7 report.” Time and exact location to be announced.

* A five-hour “Free World NYC Conference” on Saturday, Sept. 9, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the “Town School” at 540 E. 76th Street, New York City. It will focus on “9/11 and the honest pursuit of truth and free speech.” “In a world where the pursuit of truth can be met with skepticism, this event updates us and empowers us to engage in informed conversations about the events that shook the world more than two decades ago.”

* An online symposium on Sunday, Sept. 10. Richard Gage will present the First Draft of Episode 1 of the film series ‘9/11: Crime Scene to Courtroom’ film series. The event is designed to be “a reminder that the journey for truth and justice is ongoing and promises to shed light on the progress made as well as the challenges that lie ahead.” It is co-sponsored by the Lawyers Committee for 9/11 Inquiry and the International Center for 9/11 Justice.

* The screening of a new film, “Peace, War and 9/11,” also on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. at Cinema Village, East 12th Street, New York City.

* An airplane flyover at the MetLife Stadium parking lot in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m. EDT. A small plane will pull a banner overhead reading, “9/11 TRUTH: AARON KNOWS. DO YOU??” The event will star quarterback Aaron Rogers, who will begin his first game as a Jet that evening.

* In Oakland, Calif., the 19th annual 9/11 Truth Film Festival, from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Avenue. Doors open at 2:30.  It begins with a recording of a presentation Graeme MacQueen gave in 2016, called “War on Democracy: The Intimidation of Congress in the Anthrax Operation.” Then, A First Draft of the new film series by RichardGage911 and LC911 titled “9/11: Crime Scene to Courtroom.” Also, the premier of a new film by Ken Jenkins about David Ray Griffin’s 2009 book, The Mysterious Collapse of World Trade Center 7: Why the Final Official Report About 9/11 Is Unscientific and False.

— MCM

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM

–   –   –

Russians press Ukraine in the northeast to distract from more important battles in counteroffensive, by Samya Kullab | AP  LYMAN, Ukraine — Here, along a small section of the 1,200-kilometer (745-mile) front line, Moscow’s army is staging a ferocious push designed to pin down Ukrainian forces, distract them from their grinding counteroffensive and minimize the number of troops Kyiv is able to send to more important battles in the south. The Kremlin tactic threatens . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russian drone attack hits Danube port infrastructure, Ukraine says. From Reuters. Russian drones hit Danube River port infrastructure that is critical to Ukraine’s grain exports, injuring at least two people in the attack on southern parts of the Odesa region today, Ukrainian officials said. The Danube has become Ukraine’s main route for exporting grain since July, when Russia quit a U.N. and Turkey-brokered deal that had given safe passage to Kyiv’s exports of grains, oilseeds and vegetables oils via the Black Sea. . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russian rmy has recruited 280,000 soldiers since January — Medvedev. From AFP. Russia’s former president and Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said today that Moscow had recruited some 280,000 people into the army since the start of the year. Russia has not announced another mobilization — seen as an unpopular measure — but . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russian Aerospace Force delivered drone strike against fuel storages. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian Aerospace Force delivered a group drone strike against fuel storage facilities used to support Ukrainian army materiel, the Russian Defense Ministry said. “Tactical and army aviation, rocket troops and artillery of battlegroups of the Russian Federation Armed Forces engaged manpower and materiel of the adversary in . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra is embarking on its second international tour. Scott Simon of NPR talks with conductor Keri Lynn Wilson of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra about its second international tour. Click HERE to listen and read.

For now, a link to a report from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. — MCM

–   –   –

Ariel Dorfman on his novel ‘The Suicide Museum.‘ Scott Simon of NPR speaks with author Ariel Dorfman about his latest novel, The Suicide Museum. The book takes a fictional look into the very real death of Chilean president Salvador Allende in 1973. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED

First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, via Consortium News, commentary from PassBlue. — MCM

–   –   –

Russia says it thwarted attacks on Crimea bridge. Shelling and strikes leave at least 2 dead, by Susie Blann | AP  KYIV — Russia said today its forces destroyed three Ukrainian naval drones being used in an attempt to attack a key bridge linking Russia to Moscow-annexed Crimea, forcing its temporary closure for a third time in less than a year. One naval drone  . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukraine troops are ‘moving forward’, Zelenskiy says in rebuff to critics. From Reuters. KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said today that Kyiv’s troops were “moving forward” in their counteroffensive against Russian forces, rebuffing Western officials who say that Ukraine is gaining ground too slowly. The counteroffensive, nearing the three-month mark, has retaken more than a dozen villages but . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukraine’s counteroffensive gains traction in the south. Reported by Brian Mann | NPR  Ukraine has made significant progress but at great cost, and the terrain ahead is heavily defended. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

Russia’s Armed Forces hit command and Ukrainian observation posts in DPR. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian Armed Forces hit two command and observation posts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as an enemy communications center in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Russian Ministry of Defense said today. The Russian Armed Forces also destroyed . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

What we know about the arson attacks in Russia. Reported by Noah Caldwell, Tinbete Ermyas and Mary Louise Kelly | NPR  Mary Louise Kelly talks with Mika Golubovsky, the English language editor for Mediazona, about the arson attacks in which Russians have been trying to set recruitment offices on fire. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –  

What happened to the U.N.’s ability to mediate? by Jamal Benomar | PassBlue / Consortium News  The United Nations has made a great deal of effort since former Secretary General Kofi Annan’s “In Larger Freedom” reform proposals in 2005 to professionalize its mediation processes and establish a series of guidelines that place inclusion at the forefront. However, the practice continues to lag behind . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, a link to historical commentary by the editor of Consortium News. — MCM

–   –   –

Ukrainian drone attacks Russian town near major nuclear plant.  From Reuters.  MOSCOW A Ukrainian drone attacked a town in western Russia which is home to one of the country’s biggest nuclear power stations, though there was no damage reported to the plant, Russian officials said today. Governor Roman Starovoit said a Ukrainian drone had damaged the facade of a building in the town of Kurchatov. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Zelenskyy says Ukraine has developed a long-range weapon, a day after a strike deep inside Russia. From AP. KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday his country has developed a weapon that hit a target 700 kilometers (400 miles) away, in an apparent reference to the previous day’s strike on an airport in western Russia. He said the weapon was produced by Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

U.S. victim of own propaganda in Ukraine war, by Joe Lauria  | Consortium News The massacre on May 2, 2014, of demonstrators in Odessa protesting the U.S.-backed coup deposing  democratically elected President Viktor Yanukovych “is a key point in understanding the cause of the war.” It has since been buried by the West, creating a propagandized narrative about Russia’s intervention. An Aug. 21 goof by someone in the U.S. Embassy in Prague last month illustrated this. Click HERE to read.

First, links to reports from Reuters, the Moscow Times, Tass, the Kyiv Independent, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, a link to commentary from the Moscow Times. — MCM

–   –   –

More Ukrainian drones attack Russia after planes hit on airfield. From Reuters. Ukrainian drones attacked more targets in Russia late on Wednesday, a night after drones struck at least six region deep within Russia in one of the broadest volleys yet of Kyiv’s campaign to turn the tables on Moscow. In a separate incident, Ukraine’s military said six of its servicemen, all of them officers. had died on Tuesday in the crash of two helicopters near Bakhmut. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russia says killed, detained Ukrainian saboteurs in border region. From the Moscow Times. Russia’s Federal Security Service said today it has repelled a Ukrainian sabotage group’s attempt to infiltrate western Russia’s Bryansk region, the second attempted incursion this month. Two Ukrainian fighters were purportedly killed and five others . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russian forces repel six Ukrainian attacks in Kupyansk area. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia’s Battlegroup West repelled six counterattacks by Ukrainian troops in the Kupyansk area in the past day, the battlegroup’s spokesman Yaroslav Yakimkin said today. “The enemy’s overall losses amounted . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

UK Defense Ministry: 25 drone attacks on Russia in August, by Elsa Court and the news desk| The Kyiv Independent   Russia has been hit by 25 drone attacks this month alone, the U.K. Defense Ministry said today. That many drones have struck their targets means that Russian air defense “is having difficulty detecting and destroying them,” leading . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russia is trying to buy weapons from North Korea, the U.S. says. Michel Martin of NPR talks with White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby about accusations Russia aims to do an arms deals with North Korea to support Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

Washington’s hesitant Ukraine strategy hands victory to Putin, by Boris Bondarev | The Moscow Times  As Kyiv’s counteroffensive stalls and a decisive Ukrainian victory looks increasingly unlikely, suggestions by someAmerican experts that the United States should initiate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine may seem tempting. However . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Press, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, via Popular Resistance, commentary from Covert Action Magazine. — MCM

–   –   –

Russia says major Ukraine drone attack reaches deep into its territory while Kyiv barrage kills 2, by Susie Blann and Dasha Litvinova | AP   KYIV — Ukraine sent waves of drones deep into western Russia in nighttime attacks that lasted more than four hours and struck military assets, Russian officials and media reports said today. With at least six regions of Russia targeted, the . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Two killed in Russia’s biggest air strike on Ukraine’s capital in months, by Yurii Kovalenko and Vladyslav Sodel | Reuters KYIV — Russia’s largest air strike on Kyiv since spring killed two people early on Wednesday, with the debris of downed missiles falling on buildings, a park and a school, Ukrainian officials said. Three people were wounded in the overnight strike on Kyiv, and combat drones attacked infrastructure in the central region of Zhytomyr, where . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Turkish foreign minister to visit Russia on Thursday. From AFP. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will host his Turkish counterpart for a two-day visit beginning Thursday, Moscow has announced, after Ankara’s top diplomat held talks with Ukrainian officials last week. Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman sad Lavrov and Hakan Fidan would discuss . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Kiev regime’s drone attacks on Russia display of ‘sheer futility,’ Russian diplomat says. From Tass. MOSCOW — In the early morning hours of August 30, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were deployed in several attempted attacks on a number of Russian regions. In Crimea, seaborne drones were used in an attempted attack on Sevastopol harbor. “Obviously,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, “these are . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

West cannot afford to integrate Ukraine into NATO — Hungary’s Orban. From Tass. NEW YORK — Western countries can no longer afford to integrate Ukraine into NATO, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in an interview with Tucker Carlson. In the interview, which was. . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Kyiv holds funeral for ‘Juice,’ one of Ukraine’s ace fighter pilots. Reported by Brian Mann | NPR  Andriy Pilshchykov, known by his call-sign “Juice” became an icon in Ukraine helping deny Russia air superiority in the early days of the war. He was given a hero’s funeral Tuesday in Kyiv. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

Ukraine providing a testing ground for space-based weapons, by Jeremy Kuzmarov | Covert Action Magazine Space-based satellites and sensors have been used by the Ukrainians to track Russian troop movements and assist in navigation, mapping and electronic warfare, and positioning systems that guide precision weapons and drones. A webinar hosted by the War Industry Resistance Network placed the U.S. strategy in Ukraine in the context of . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from Tass, Reuters, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM

–   –   –

Hungarian president believes conflict in Ukraine cannot be resolved militarily. From Tass. BUDAPEST — Hungary calls for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine because it is convinced that the conflict cannot be resolved militarily, Hungarian President Katalin Novak said in an interview with the Index online publication regarding her meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Kiev on August 23. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukraine winter wheat sowing seen unchanged despite export crisis, by Pavel Polityuk | Reuters  KYIV — Ukrainian farmers are not expected to reduce the area of winter wheat they sow for the 2024 harvest despite higher logistics costs due to the wartime export crisis, a senior farming official said today. The demise of the Black Sea corridor used to safely export grain during the war spurred speculation . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Kremlin says Pope’s comments on Russian history are ‘very gratifying’. From Reuters. MOSCOW — The Kremlin today described as “very gratifying” comments by Pope Francis urging young Russians to remember their history, saying that the Russian state had a rich legacy and that it was good that the Pope knew Russian history. Pope Francis has come under criticism for telling Russian youths last week . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Washington hamstrung in formulating viable security guarantees for Ukraine — WSJ. From Tass. NEW YORK — The Biden administration may be forced to give weaker-than-hoped-for or overly vague pledges in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, as Washington may not be able to ensure the required levels of military spending earmarked for Kiev in future years, The Wall Street Journal reports today. According to the newspaper, Washington hopes . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Germany arrests a man accused of illegally exporting electronic components for drones to Russia. From AP. A German-Russian dual citizen has been arrested in Germany on allegations of violating the country’s foreign trade act multiple times by exporting electronic components to a company in Russia involved in the production of military materiel and accessories, Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office said today. The suspect was arrested in March. READ MORE . . .

First, links to reports from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM

–   –   –

Ukraine says it liberates strategic southeastern settlement. From Reuters. KYIV — Ukraine said today its troops had liberated the southeastern settlement of Robotyne and were trying to push further south in their counteroffensive against Russian forces. The Ukrainian military said last week that its forces had raised the national flag in Robotyne, but were . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russia says destroyed drones near Moscow, Ukraine border. From AFP. Russian air defenses destroyed a drone approaching Moscow and two in a region bordering Ukraine, authorities said early today. The actions took place in the Lyubertsy district southeast of the Russian capital and over the western Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russia wipes out Ukrainian aircraft armament, ammo site in overnight precision strike. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian Navy delivered a multiple-launch precision strike, wiping out a Ukrainian aircraft armament and ammunition site over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said today in a briefing. “Last night, the Navy delivered a multiple-launch strike by seaborne long-range . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

An evacuation order finds few followers in northeastern Ukraine despite Russia’s push in the region, by Samya Kullab | AP  KUPIANSK, Ukraine — Ukrainian authorities this month ordered a mandatory evacuation of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, a village some 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the front, and three dozen other populated areas as war returned to Kharkiv province. So far, most residents have refused to go as the battle inches closer to their . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED