First, links to reports from the Moscow Times, the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and teleSUR; others are accessible by clicking on the organizations’ names or initials below. — MCM
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In Graphs: Russia hits 5,000 independently confirmed military deaths in Ukraine, by Yanina Sorokina | The Moscow Times More than 5,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine since the start of the invasion, according to a tally of confirmed deaths updated this week by independent Russian media outlet iStories. The figure is over three times higher than the official death toll of 1,351 which was last updated by the Russian Defense Ministry in March. While . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukrainian minister says Russia blocking access to medicines, by Derek Gatopoulos and Hanna Arhirova | AP KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s health minister has accused Russian authorities of committing a crime against humanity by blocking access to affordable medicines in areas its forces have occupied since invading the country 5 1/2 months ago. . . .“Throughout the entire six months of war, Russia has not (allowed) proper humanitarian corridors so we could provide our own medicines to the patients that need them,” said Health Minister Viktor Liashko said Friday. “We believe that these actions are being taken with intent by Russia, and we consider them to be . . . READ MORE . . .
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U.S. says India hid Russian origin of fuel shipped to U.S., India central banker says, by Nidhi Verma | Reuters NEW DELHI — The United States has expressed concern to India tha it was being used to export fuel made from Russian crude, through high-seas transfers to hide its origin, to New York in violation of U.S. sanctions, a top Indian central banker said today. . . . U.S. sanctions on Moscow . . . prohibit the import to the United States of Russian-origin energy products including . . . READ MORE . . .
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The war in Ukraine is disrupting the world’s supply of neon. Reported by Jeff Guo | NPR A growing shortage for neon is driving up its prices by 5000%. Neon production became highly concentrated in post-Soviet states, such as Ukraine and Russia. The world is paying for that concentration. Click HERE to listen and read.
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Russian economy shrinks 4% in second quarter as sanctions weigh. From Reuters. * This content was produced in Russia, where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine | MOSCOW — Russia’s economy shrank 4.0% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2022, the first full quarter of what Russia calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine, preliminary data from the federal statistics service Rosstat showed on Friday. The economy is plunging into recession after . . . READ MORE . . .
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S&P cuts Ukraine’s credit rating to ‘selective default.’ From AFP. Rating agencies S&P and Fitch again lowered Ukraine’s credit rating Friday, deeming that the war-torn country’s debt restructuring agreement placed it one notch from default. S&P cut Ukraine’s rating to “SD” for selective default from “CC/C,” noting that a majority of Eurobond holders agreed to defer debt service payments by 24 months. “Given the announced . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia says its allied forces fully liberate settlement of Peski in DPR. From Tass. MOSCOW — The allied forces of the Donbass republics and the Russian army completely liberated the settlement of Peski in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported today. “ As a result . . . READ MORE . . .
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Zelenski proposes extending martial law, general mobilization. From teleSUR. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday proposed to the parliament to prolong the current martial law and general mobilization in the country for another 90 days, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported. The Ukrainian parliament imposed a martial law after the start of the conflict with Russia on Feb. 24 and extended it three times since . . . READ MORE . . .
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TO BE CONTINUED