First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, Tass, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (Following them, re-posted here yesterday, are linked an interview about the credibility of war news and a selection of news reports on the U.N. Security Council session last Thursday.) — MCM
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Russia prepares to annex occupied Ukraine despite outcry, by Jon Gambrell and Adam Schreck | AP KYIV — Russia stood poised today to formally annex parts of Ukraine after claiming that voters in areas where it has military control had overwhelmingly endorsed living under Moscow’s rule. Armed troops went door-to-door to collect ballots during five days of voting in Kremlin-organized referendums that asked if the occupied areas should become part of Russia. Western observers characterized . . . READ MORE . . .
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Truth or bluff? Why Russian leader Putin’s nuclear warnings have the West worried, by Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew Osborn | Reuters * Putin has warned of nuclear weapons scenario * Russian nuclear umbrella about to be extended * Newly-annexed territory in Ukraine to be covered * Ukraine, United States say take Putin seriously | LONDON — President Vladimir Putin’s latest warning that he is ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia amid the war in Ukraine has made a troubling question much more urgent: Is the former KGB spy bluffing? Mr Putin cautioned it was no bluff, and Western politicians, diplomats and nuclear weapons experts are divided. Some say . . . READ MORE . . .
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How the war in Ukraine is affecting the world’s supply of fertilizer. Reported by Jackie Northam | NPR One of the effects of the war in Ukraine is a global shortage of fertilizer. Food supplies could be threatened if more fertilizer doesn’t get to the world market. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.
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With staged referendums in Ukraine complete, Russia begins the annexation process. Reported by Charles Maynes | NPR MOSCOW — Moscow-backed separatist leaders in occupied areas of Ukraine moved quickly to issue formal appeals to join the Russian Federation today — just hours after claiming overwhelming numbers of people there had chosen to join Russia in a series of highly controversial referendums. The vote was widely condemned by Ukraine and its Western partners as a violation . . . Click HERE to listen and read.
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Kremlin slams ‘stupid’ conspiracy theories alleging Russia behind Nord Stream emergencies. From Tass. MOSCOW — Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov today laced into theories alleging that Russia was supposedly involved in the Nord Stream gas pipeline emergencies. “It is quite predictable, and also predictably stupid to voice such versions. [It’s] predictably stupid and absurd . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia says will request Security Council meeting over Nord Stream gas leaks. From AFP. Russia said today it will ask for the United Nations Security Council to convene after Moscow denied allegations it was behind leaks at the Nord Stream pipelines between Russia and Germany. “Russia intends to convene an official meeting of the UN Security Council in connection with provocations . . . . READ MORE . . .
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LISTEN: War and disinformation. From Consortium News. The chat provides useful context for news coverage of the war in Ukraine. (Also, scroll down to see, watch, listen and read the two final segments of this blog’s Ukraine, 9-26-22, entry.) Click HERE to listen.
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What U.N. Security Council session? A catchup look five days later. Well, last Thursday’s meeting of the United Nations Security Council got some coverage even if it was largely overlooked the next day by this blog, buried as it was in the Associated Press story by Matthew Lee.
The Wall Street Journal had this story the next day, by Jessica Donati and Vivian Salama. Reuters had this one, by Michelle Nichols, Daphne Psaledakis and Humeyra Pamuk. And the Washington Post this one by John Hudson and Missy Ryan. The New York Times coverage by Farnaz Fassihi is here.
So far no transcript exists online, but the video linked by Consortium News offers somethng for students of a number of disciplines including history, geopolitics, and rhetoric — especially when combined with the news reporters’ efforts linked above.
Representatives of all five permanent members of the Council — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States — spoke. As did representatives of all 10 current non-permanent member states — Albania, Brazil, India, Gabon, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, and the United Arab Emirates. So did representatives of six other states — Belarus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine. An International Criminal Court prosecutor also spoke, and someone high up in the European Union.
The speeches were surely crafted not just by the individuals who delivered them. Each was a team effort reflecting the views of others in the speaker’s foreign ministries and government.
What each speech included, what it emphasized, and what it left out is telling; the same pertains for each news report.
The speakers delivered nearly all of them in English, and unseen professional interpreters simultaneously interpreted the few that were not. — MCM