I’ve already printed out my copy. Watch the show he co-hosted this week,

Blowback: Exposing Imperial Decline

https://www.youtube.com/@BlowbackExposingImperial-hh8ig

Outline

TOPICAL

UKRAINE COLLAPSE – Ukraine wants 25 Patriots ( half of US stockpile, quarter of the world ) mobilizes, is de-energized.

EVERYBODY PANICS – Over the US aid being in limbo, NATO’s future and Trump. Kishida, Cameron head to Washington.

CROCUS TIED TO UKRAINE – Medvedev holds nothing back. Who the hell is ‘Saifullo’ a Budanov acronym? Paris is sweating.

CHYNA WILL NOT BEND – Threats, sanctions, sweet-talk, stay away from Russia. The western economic model is dead.

ANOTHER ZNPP ATTACK – Just as mysterious as the prior ones – according to IAEA. It’s Russian-controlled, In Ukraine.

YAHU WON’T STOP – Says Rafah offensive is next, has a date, despite complete isolation. Ben Gvir also demands it.

FRANCE AND BRITAIN – Celebrate ‘Entente Cordiale’ and detail plans to attack Russia in Ukraine. Splendid!

EUROPE CHANGES – Polish, Slovakian elections show Hungary isn’t alone, but there is fresh regime change in action here too.

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BATTLEGROUND 404

“Russia will undoubtedly open its mouth and try to swallow the rest of Europe whole” – Maksym Zhorin, 3rd As. Brig.

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“No one will be able to sit this out – the fate of the country, the fate of our nation is at stake” – Pavlyuk mobilization

 A GRIM REALITY

– 404: Energy Minister: Russia damaged 80% of Ukraine’s thermal power plants, half of hydroelectric ones ( Euromaidan Press )

– 404: Ukraine’s largest electricity producer says damage after missile attacks two times higher than 2022 ( Euromaidan Press )

– 404: Ground Forces commander calls on Ukrainians to join the army amid manpower shortage ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

– 404: Ukrainian journalist allegedly targeted by enlistment officers as ‘revenge’ for investigation ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

– 404: 300,000 homes without electricity in Kharkov Oblast amid Russian strikes – Energy Ministry ( NVo Ukraine )

– 404: Elensky meets with US Congressional delegation in Chernihiv Oblast – need air defense ( Ukro Pravda )

– 404: Kremlin troops advance behind heavy air strikes, up to 2 kilometers taken near Avdeyevka ( Kyiv Post )

– 404: Elensky: Ukraine needs 25 Patriot air defense systems to cover the country ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

– 404: With no way out of a worsening war, Elensky’s options look bad or worse ( WaPo main feature )

– 404: Russia unleashed a deadly attack on the city of Kharkov, straining Ukraine’s defenses ( NYT )

– 404: Mercenaries of mayhem: The horrors unleashed by foreign fighters in Ukraine ( Boston Times )

– 404: Russian Pantsir-M system destroys Storm Shadow for first time: Manufacturer ( Newsweek )

– 404: Avdeyevka map shows Russia‘s “significant” advances in eastern Ukraine ( Newsweek )

– 404: Ukraine hunts for grid equipment, ammunition to avoid summer blackouts ( Bloomberg )

– 404: Worker shortage hits Ukraine: firms struggle to fill growing job openings ( NVo Ukraine )

– 404: Russia advances offensive operations in Ukraine amid growing losses ( NVo Ukraine )

– 404: Russia‘s latest attacks damage energy infrastructure in 4 oblasts ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

– 404: Military briefing: Russian ‘glide bombs’ pound Ukrainian troops and towns ( FT UK )

– 404: Russia pounds Kharkov in deadly barrage, straining Ukraine’s defenses ( NYT )

– 404: Facing conscription, Ukraine’s young are torn between fight or flight ( Times UK )

– 404: As Russia tests for weak spots, Ukraine is banking on enemy mistakes ( CNN )

– 404: Ukraine’s air defense missiles are running out, Elensky warns ( Guardian UK )

– 404: Ukrainian forces try to hold Russians back from stronghold in east ( Euractiv )

– 404: Ukraine strikes at Russian oil as battlefield desperation mounts ( The Hill )  

– 404: Ukraine faces key battle in Chasov Yar, the ‘door’ to Donbas ( Kyiv Post )

– 404: Ukraine’s ‘Mad Max’ trawls swamps and minefields for Shells ( WSJ )

– 404: Putin’s drone raids seek to finally crush Kharkov ( Times UK )

——————————————————

– RUC: All Ukrainians must fight – Nobody can sit out mobilization – land forces general Aleksandr Pavlyuk ( RT RU )

– RUC: Russian troops captured NATO tank, which is cooler than Leopard 2 – Swedish Stridsvagn 122 ( Izvestia RU )

– RUC: Russian forces destroy warehouse with drone boats handed over to Kiev by NATO countries ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Kiev loses over 460 troops in Donetsk area over past day – Russia’s top brass ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Rostec developing new tank shells based on study of NATO trophies ( Tass RU )

– RUC: “Russia is trying to disrupt mobilization” – Pavlyuk ( Pravda RU )

ENDLESS COPIUM

– 404: French billionaire Xavier Niel to buy 2 Ukrainian telecoms companies – largest acquisitions in history ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

– 404: The unseen crisis: Russian soldiers’ desperation on the frontlines – Casey Christie – need support ( Kyiv Post Opinion )

– 404: Germany’s long-range Taurus missiles a potent weapon, could make Ukrainian lives easier – Budanov ( NVo Ukraine )

– 404: Ukraine military chief’s chilling warning to the West about Russia’s threat – ‘swallow Europe whole’ ( Independent UK )

– 404: Ukraine’s Victory remains in reach – US aid, more mobilization, join NATO – Alexander Vindman ( Kyiv Post Opinion )

– 404: Ukraine energy firm plans to rebuild half of damaged facilities – DTEK needs $230m, seeks donor help ( Bloomberg )

– 404: Intelligence: Russia has enough missiles for one or two massive attacks in the coming weeks ( Euromaidan Press )

– 404: Ukrainians may be tiring but won’t compromise with Putin, Elensky’s chief of staff says – Yermak ( Politico EU )

– 404: Ukraine developing ‘instoppable’ AI-powered attack drone with Western backing – not typo ( Telegraph UK )

– 404: Ukraine strikes airfields in Russia, destroying or damaging 19 warplanes, sources say ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

– 404: How 10 years ago the Kremlin organized the DPR proclamation – prologue to the great war ( NVo Ukraine )

– 404: Downed Shahed drone disrupts power supply in Mykolaiv Oblast: 15 settlements affected ( NVo Ukraine )

– 404: Budanov expects Russian offensive in the spring – front is ‘difficult but under control’ ( Tagesschau DE )

– 404: Ukraine deploys new EW systems capable of suppressing Russian drones up to 20km ( Kyiv Post )

– 404: General Staff: Russia has lost 447,510 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022 ( Kyiv ‘Independent )

– 404: Serpukhov missile ship on fire in Russia‘s Kaliningrad, Ukrainian Intel says – GUR ( Kyiv Post )

– 404: South Korea to donate $2.3 billion to Ukraine – Yonhap – medium and long term aid ( Ukrinform )

– 404: Ukraine has no choice: Despite falling popularity, Elensky remains in office ( Tagesspiegel DE )

– 404: Ukrainian forces still control eastern town of Chasov Yar, top general says – Syrski ( Reuters )

– 404: Kiev asks EU to shut its airspace to Russian, Belorussian passengers – Shmygal ( Tass RU )

– 404: ISW finds no visual evidence of Russian aircraft being targeted at air bases so far ( Kyiv Post )

– 404: Kiev says its drones destroyed six military planes in blow for Putin’s forces ( Independent UK )

– 404: Russia‘s Black Sea fleet has 1 ‘loser’ missile ship left in Crimea: Ukraine ( Business Insider )

– 404: Ukraine builds up defenses along entire border with Russia, Belarus ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

– 404: Russia loses 54 artillery systems, 54 APVS and 17 tanks in a day: Ukraine ( Newsweek )

– 404: 80% of Ukraine‘s Coal, Gas power plants hit by Russian attacks ( ‘Moscow’ Times NL )

– 404: Six Russian warplanes destroyed In Ukrainian strike on airbase: Kiev ( Newsweek )

– 404: Denmark contributes almost $6M to restore Ukraine‘s energy sector ( Ukrinform )

– 404: Help us build wind farms to beat Russian bombs, Ukraine tells EU ( Politico EU )

– 404: Meet the young Ukrainians using tech and TikTok to rally recruits ( Times UK )

– 404: Elenskiy hopes to set Swiss world peace summit date within days ( Reuters )  

– 404: Elensky plans a visit to South Africa – first visit, ‘bolster ties’ ( NVo Ukraine )

– 404: Ukraine‘s new allies in demining: trained rats to the rescue ( NVo Ukraine )

– 404: Ukraine’s resilient economy thrives despite ongoing war ( Kyiv Post )

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– EUK: Putin miscalculated on Finland’s border – it needs plenty of troops, which it doesn’t have ( Politico EU )

– EUK: Russia carrying out illegal chemical attacks on Ukrainian soldiers – ‘investigation’ ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: Russia accused of using chemical gas attacks against Ukrainian soldiers ( Guardian UK )

– EUK: Putin seeks emergency petrol as Russia runs on fumes ( Telegraph UK )

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– USC: China Waits – Russia heads to ‘collapse’ – Russia’s southwest ‘restless republics’ – Diane Fancis ( Kyiv Post Opinion )

– USC: Swiss aim to host conference on Ukraine peace plan in mid-June – 80-100 invited, China unclear ( Bloomberg )

– USC: Russia abandoned by allies as US tightens sanctions noose – secondary sanctions Kazakhstan ( Newsweek )

– USC: Russia‘s Black Sea Fleet turning to new drones amid huge losses: Report – from Telegram ( Newsweek )

– USC: Russia seeks gasoline from Kazakhstan in case of shortages, sources say ( Reuters exclusive )

THE ZNPP ATTACK

– 404: Amb. Brink about attack on Zaporozhia: Russia must be held accountable for these crimes against civilians ( Interfax UK )

– 404: 3 direct hits on Russian-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant reactor, IAEA chief says ( Euromaidan Press )

– 404: Ukraine denies attacking Russian-held nuclear plant, says Moscow spreading ‘fakes’ ( Kyiv Post )

– 404: ‘Governor’ : Russia strikes industrial facility in Zaporozhia, injures 6 ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

– 404: Russian forces target industrial facility in Zaporozhia: 6 people injured ( Ukro Pravda )

– 404: Ukraine says it has ‘nothing to do’ with attacks on nuclear plant ( Euractiv )

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– USC: Ukraine denies a Russian claim that it launched drone strikes on a major nuclear power plant ( AP )

– USC: Russia says Ukraine struck nuclear plant, Kiev denies it was behind the attack ( Reuters )

– USC: Russian-controlled Zaporozhia nuclear reactor damaged following drone attack ( CNN )

– USC: UN inspectors say Nuclear Plant in Ukraine was struck by drones – helpful! ( NYT )

– USC: Ukraine reports Russian missile attack on Zaporozhia ( VOA / CIA )

– USC: Zaporozhia nuclear plant hit by drones, UN monitor says ( WaPo )

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– EUK: Any radiation leak at ZNPP would be violation of Article 5 of NATO charter – British MP Tobias Ellwood ( Ukrinform )

– EUK: ‘This cannot happen’ : atomic watchdog chief condemns Zaporozhia nuclear plant attack ( Guardian UK )

– EUK: Nuclear accident fears after drone attack on Zaporozhia power plant ( Times UK )

– EUK: Drone strikes hit Russia-controlled nuclear power plant in Ukraine ( Politico EU )

– EUK: IAEA calls for caution following strike on Zaporozhia nuclear plant ( Euronews )

– EUK: ‘Dangerous’ : Kremlin blasts Zaporozhia nuclear plant attack ( Euronews )

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– RUC: Kremlin spokesman calls Ukraine’s attack on ZNPP dangerous provocation – Peskov ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Russia to raise issue of attack on ZNPP at UNSC meeting on Ukraine – Nabenzya ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Russia says Ukraine struck nuclear plant, Kiev denies it was behind the attack ( Reuters )

– RUC: Russia urges IAEA to publicly reveal Ukrainian attacks on nuclear plant ( RT RU )

– RUC: Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the Zaporozhia NPP with drones ( Tass RU )

THE ENERGY WARS

– 404: Ukrainian strikes have taken out at least 10% of Russia‘s oil refining capacity – NATO assessment ( Ukro Pravda )

– 404: Military intelligence: Oil pipeline blown up in Russia‘s Rostov Oblast ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

——————————————————

– EUK: Russia’s black economic heart pumps oil. Ukraine’s drones are slashing its arteries – David Axe ( Telegraph UK Opinion )

– EUK: Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries: What’s the impact? US elections, oil prices ( Euronews )

– EUK: The Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine must end in 2025 ( Euractiv )

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– USC: Biden tells Ukraine not to hit Russia – W.H. fears attacks could raise global prices ( WSJ Editorial board )

– USC: Rising oil prices reignite inflation fears – bad news for central bankers and White House ( NYT )

– USC: Ukraine’s allies divided over drone campaign targeting Russian refineries ( Atlantic Council )

– USC: Ukraine’s drone attacks light a fuse under oil – raising the stakes for Biden ( Bloomberg )

– USC: Oil price surge is the №1 threat to the US economy, Moody’s economist warns ( CNN )

– USC: The odds of $100 Oil are rising as supply shocks convulse the market ( Bloomberg )

– USC: Pentagon does not help Ukraine to target Russian oil refineries ( Ukro Pravda )

– USC: US ‘focused’ on preventing Russia from developing new LNG projects ( FT UK )

– USC: US sanctions hamper Russian efforts to repair refineries ( Reuters Exclusive )

– USC: Russia‘s revenue jumps in first quarter amid rising oil prices ( Bloomberg )

ORSK DAM BREAK

– RUC: Orsk residents who have lost their homes will receive payments in the amount of the construction cost ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Kim Jong Un sends words of sympathy to Russian President over flood in Orenburg region ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Flood situation in Orsk developing according to worst-case scenario, 6,644 houses flooded ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Putin discusses flood situation with Orenburg Region governor, Emergencies minister ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Russia, Kazakhstan evacuate thousands following Dam burst in Orenburg region ( Bloomberg )

– RUC: Record flood waters rise in Russia‘s Urals, forcing thousands to evacuate ( Reuters )

– RUC: About 10,100 houses still partially flooded in Russia’s Orenburg Region ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Cataclysmic Russian flood triggers city evacuations after dam burst ( Newsweek )

– RUC: 11,000 people evacuated due to imminent risk of flooding in Russia ( Euronews )

– RUC: Emergency mode introduced in Kurgan region due to flood situation ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Evacuation from flooded areas in Orsk taking place day and night ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Record floods in Russia‘s Urals triggered by melting snow ( Reuters )

CROCUS ATTACK

– 404: Ukraine’s intelligence chief refutes Russian allegations of Kiev’s involvement in Crocus City Hall shooting ( NVo Ukraine )

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– EUK: What’s behind Russian frenzy to blame Ukraine for the concert attack? – Rosenberg – ‘escalation pretext’ ( BBC )

– EUK: Russian officials again try to link Moscow concert attack to Ukraine despite Kiev‘s denials ( Euronews )

– EUK: Russia ups blame-shifting for terror attack to Ukraine, brags it’s boosting recruitment ( Politico EU )

——————————————————

– RUC: Germany does not want to arouse suspicions of US and Ukrainian involvement in crimes in Russia ( Izvestia RU )

– RUC: Investigative Committee finds link between Crocus terrorists, Ukraine’s security services ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Medvedev accuses leaders of NATO member countries of aiding concert hall attack ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Accused in Crocus terrorist attack name their coordinator – FSB – ‘Saifullo’ paid them ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Russia claims ‘significant evidence’ of Kiev’s involvement in Crocus terrorist attack ( RT RU )

– RUC: FSB reveals Crocus City attackers’ plan to escape to Ukraine ( RT RU )

TRUMP ‘PEACE PLAN’

– 404: Give up Crimea and Donbas: Trump floats controversial plan to end Ukraine war in private talk ( Kyiv Post )

– 404: Trump calls WP’s report on ‘peace plan’ with surrender of Ukrainian territories fake ( Ukro Pravda )

– 404: Donald Trump‘s plan to end war is to force Ukraine to give up territory ( Ukro Pravda )

——————————————————

– USC: Trump cries ‘fake news’ at report about plan to end Ukraine war by asking ally to give Russia territory ( NYP )

– USC: Donald Trump’s reported peace plan In Ukraine is revealed. Expert says it’s ‘terrible’ ( HuffPost )

– USC: Trump’s secret plan to end Ukraine war would yield territory to Russia ( WaPo )

– USC: Inside Donald Trump‘s secret, long-shot plan to end the war in Ukraine ( WSJ )

——————————————————

– EUK: Trump’s plan to end Ukraine war ‘involves ceding territory to Russia’ ( Times UK )

– EUK: Trump supporters ‘trying to talk him out of plan for Russia‘s war’ ( Sky UK )

UNSORTED

– WEA: Georgia’s reintroduction of ‘Foreign Agent Law’ threatens stability and peace ( Euractiv )

– WEA: Protests begin in Georgia against ‘Russian law’ ( Politico EU )

– WEA: Pro-Russian Separatists in Moldova claim drone attack on Transnistrian Base; GUR Dismisses the Claim ( Kyiv Post )

– WEA: ‘Death of Moldova‘: Head of Gagauzia region slams potential reunification with Romania ( Tass RU )

– WEA: Clashes reported on Armenia–Azerbaijan border hours after EU support announced ( Politico EU )

– WEA: Drone targets military facility in Transnistria – Ministry of State Security – radar installation ( RT RU )

– WEA: Türkiye suspends key European arms control treaty – 1990 CFE Conventional Forces in Europe ( RT RU )

– EUK: Romania-led NATO naval exercise begins in Black Sea ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

– EUK: Romania: over 2.200 soldiers participate in Sea Shield 24, NATO‘s largest naval exercise ( Agenzia Nova IT )

– EUK: NATO‘s ‘Sea Shield’ Exercise kicks off in Romania with Bulgarian military participation ( Novinite BG )

– RUC: Russia calls for probe into Transnistria drone attack – Defense Ministry facility 6km from Ukraine border ( Reuters )

– RUC: Russia slams Transnistria drone attack ‘Provocation’ – Maria Zakharova ( Sputnik RU )

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BATTLEGROUND WEST ASIA

“We consider this aggression to have violated all diplomatic norms and international treaties” – Iran FM Abdollahian

THE BRAZEN COLONY

– ISR: Herzog visits Rwanda for genocide memorial; will highlight hostages, terrorism – are you kidding me? ( TO Israel )

– ISR: Israeli minister threatens to topple Netanyahu if Rafah invasion doesn’t go ahead – Ben Gvir ( Telegraph UK )

– ISR: IDF says one of its drones was downed by Hezbollah missile over south Lebanon – Hermes 900 ( TO Israel )

– ISR: Israel sets date for Rafah offensive, Benjamin Netanyahu says – ‘This will happen; there is a date’ ( FT UK )

– ISR: Tens of thousands of Israelis rally against Netanyahu as Gaza war reaches six month mark ( Guardian UK )

– ISR: Israel keeps 28 embassies closed amid Quds Day rallies, fears of Iran reprisal for Syria strike ( TO Israel )

– ISR: Israel used secretive AI program called ‘Lavender’ to identify thousands of bombing targets: report ( NYP )

– ISR: Doctor at Israeli field hospital for detained Gazans: ‘We are all complicit in breaking the Law’ ( Haaretz )

– ISR: Netanyahu: ‘There is a date’ for IDF to enter Rafah, no victory unless we operate there ( TO Israel )

– ISR: Pollard : Jews ‘will always have dual loyalty & should consider spying for Israel‘ ( Jerusalem Post )  

– ISR: ‘AI-assisted genocide’ – Israel reportedly used database for Gaza kill lists ( Al Jazeera QT )

– ISR: Marking 6 months of war, Netanyahu says Israel is ‘a step away from victory’ ( TO Israel )

– ISR: ‘Lavender’: The AI machine directing Israel’s bombing spree in Gaza ( 972 Magazine US )

– ISR: Israel opposition leader, in Washington, calls hostage deal hard but ‘doable’ ( Reuters )

– ISR: Israel steps up preparation for Rafah invasion despite Western warnings ( Politico EU )

– ISR: Israel launches strikes on eastern Lebanon after Hezbollah downs drone ( Reuters )

– ISR: Isolated at home and abroad, but Netanyahu isn’t about to go quietly ( Guardian UK )

– ISR: Israel says it has pulled out of Khan Younis to prepare for move on Rafah ( FT UK )

– ISR: Invade Rafah or lose your mandate to lead, Ben-Gvir tells Netanyahu ( Times UK )

– ISR: Israel withdraws most ground troops from southern Gaza Strip  ( Telegraph UK )

– ISR: Netanyahu says victory near, Israel pulls some troops from Gaza ( Bloomberg )

– ISR: Israel backs out of Khan Younis to prepare ‘future operations’ ( Bloomberg )

– ISR: Israel’s message: ‘Don’t feed the Palestinians’ ( Al Jazeera QT Opinion )

– ISR: Israel offers a glimpse into the terrifying world of military AI ( WaPo )

THE GENOCIDE

– GAZ: In Gaza, around 40% of the more than 33,000 Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023 are children ( LeMonde FR )

– GAZ: Israeli doctor says detained Palestinians are undergoing ‘routine’ amputations for handcuff injuries ( CNN )

– GAZ: WFP said 70 percent of the population in Gaza is facing ‘catastrophic hunger’ ( Euronews )

– GAZ: Drone footage shows a lively Gaza turned to wasteland since war began ( Reuters )

– GAZ: ‘There is no life there’ – Palestinians weigh up return to Khan Yunis ( Times UK )

– GAZ: Khan Younis residents return to find their former neighborhoods in ruins ( CNN )

– GAZ: Zionist regime kills four Gazan children every hour: Data ( IRNA IR )

THE UN

– UN: Top UN court opens hearings in a case accusing Germany of facilitating Israel’s Gaza conflict ( AP )

– UN: Case accusing Germany of “facilitating genocide” in Gaza gets underway at UN‘s top court ( CNN )

– UN: Germany calls on NATO to oppose UN arms embargo on ‘Israel’ ( Al Mayadeen LB Exclusive )

– UN: Russia calls on international community to back Palestinian bid to join UN ( Tass RU )

– UN: Nicaragua seeks to halt German arms exports to Israel at World Court ( Reuters )

– UN: Israel not doing enough to protect civilians, say UN and EU ( Euronews )

– UN: UN chief to Israel: 196 aid workers have been killed, why? ( Reuters )

THE REGION

– WEA: Women have found their voice in Türkiye, given hope to others fighting for democracy across the globe ( Guardian UK )

– WEA: No progress made at Cairo ceasefire talks, says Hamas, as Israel pulls troops out of southern Gaza ( Guardian UK )

– WEA: Iraq says it will send 10 million liters of fuel to Gaza, treat wounded Palestinians – PM al-Sudani ( TO Israel )

– WEA: UAE property tycoon withdraws from sanctions-hit Belarus, collaborates with Kushner on Serbia ( Reuters )

– WEA: Post-Erdogan Türkiye is finally here – first glimpse of future beyond reigning strongman ( Foreign Policy )

– WEA: Era of Israel’s US-backed bullying in West Asia is over: Iran Parliamentary speaker ( PressTV IR )

– WEA: Iran’s foreign minister accuses US of giving Israel ‘green light’ to attack consulate in Syria ( AP )

– WEA: A message to Israel? Russia deploys more forces in Syria‘s Golan Heights ( Jerusalem Post )

– WEA: Hezbollah says Iran response to attack on Damascus consulate ‘inevitable’ ( FT UK )

– WEA: Israel ‘will be punished’ Iran FM Abdollahian says from Damascus ( Cradle )

– WEA: Baghdad to reopen oil pipeline to Türkiye, bypassing Kurds ( Cradle )

– WEA: Hezbollah shoots down ‘$5m Israeli drone’ ( Telegraph UK )  

PERIPHERY – Africa

– AFR: Sierra Leone declares national emergency after steep rise in use of deadly synthetic drug kush ( CNN )

– AFR: Botswana threatens to send 20,000 elephants to Germany in trophy hunting dispute ( CNN )

– AFR: Almost 100 dead after boat carrying cholera refugees sinks in Mozambique ( Times UK )

– AFR: Zimbabwe launches ‘gold-backed’ currency to replace collapsing dollar ( FT UK )

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THE WEST

“A war with Russia can only lead to the complete destruction of France” – Jean-Luc Mélanchon

——————————————————

“Netanyahu is destroying his most precious asset: an aura of righteousness that friends respect” – Matthew Parris

 PANIC OVER US AID

– 404: Western weakness in Ukraine could provoke a far bigger war with Russia – Goncharenko ( Atlantic Council )

– 404: West needs to find “streams that flow into a river” – Finland’s President on aid to Ukraine ( Ukrinform )

– 404: Ukraine’s military aid hangs in balance as US House reconvenes tomorrow ( Euromaidan Press )

– 404: We are a bit hostage to the political situation in the US – Elensky on the aid package ( UNN )

– 404: Pentagon defends pace of weapon shipments as Ukraine worries it’s too late ( Politico US )

– 404: Ukraine to agree to loan terms for financing military aid from USA – Elensky ( Interfax UA )

– 404: Ukraine’s ambassador to US: ‘We need to win’ but need ammunition now ( VOA / CIA )

– 404: Ukraine ‘will lose the war’ if US Congress withholds aid, Elensky warns ( France24 )

– 404: Elensky: We hope for US help, but we’d agree to a loan ( Ukro Pravda )

——————————————————

– USC: Congress needs answers before sending more aid to Ukraine – tell people what it can achieve ( Responsible Statecraft )

– USC: Aiding Ukraine is a strategic investment, not charity – good deal, not a good deed, money comes back ( Atlantic Council )

– USC: Johnson confronts most significant threat to his speakership to date as key decisions over Ukraine aid loom ( CNN )

– USC: Speaker Johnson‘s job is on the line as the House returns – Marjorie Taylor Greene threatens to oust him ( WaPo )

– USC: Mike Johnson prepares to unwrap mystery Ukraine aid package – anger over Gaza complicates his job ( WSJ )

– USC: Ukraine ‘loans’ are still a rip-off job – Speaker Johnson treats Americans like idiots ( American Conservative )

– USC: Mike Johnson faces revolt by hard-right Republicans over Ukraine aid package ( Guardian UK )

– USC: Help Ukraine Hold the Line – Editorial Board on Mike Johnson ( NYT Opinion Main Feature )

——————————————————

– EUK: The new world disorder – Gaza war disrupted international relations – US flounders, emerging powers rise ( Guardian UK )

– EUK: Cameron warns US over Ukraine aid block – Security of West is at risk unless extra funding is approved ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: Ukraine war ‘will be lost if the allies don’t step up’ Cameron warns as US Repubs hold up aid ( Evening Standard UK )

– EUK: UK, French foreign ministers urge to boost US aid for Ukraine, saying ‘we all lose’ otherwise ( Kyiv ‘Independent’ )

– EUK: ‘Stop holding up aid to Ukraine‘ – David Cameron to warn US politicians on Washington DC trip ( LBC UK )

– EUK: It’s time the UK hiked defense spending to wartime levels – save ‘fraying’ NATO alliance ( Independent UK )

– EUK: Norway to double military spending under ‘historic’ long-term defense plan ( Breaking Defense )

– EUK: UK‘s Cameron tells Europe: Pressure US House Speaker Johnson on Ukraine ( Politico EU )

– EUK: Built fjord tough: Why one American ally is surging defense spending – Norway ( Politico US )

– EUK: Explosive NATO plan : Is Ukraine threatened with division like Germany in 1945? ( Bild DE )

– EUK: Support for Ukraine key to restoring peace in Europe, Germany‘s Scholz says ( Reuters )

RUSSIA PANIC

– EUK: The world is safer for a renewed Entente – David Cameron – French–UK friendship, Russia must not win ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: Spies, agents of influence and disinformation: Russia redoubles its operations ahead of European elections ( El País ES )

– EUK: NATO Deputy Sec-Gen anticipates surge in Russian cyberattacks and disinformation amid EU elections ( Ukro Pravda )

– EUK: Putin is preparing to unleash a new wave of terror weapons – chemical & nuclear escalation ( Telegraph UK Opinion )

– EUK: Romania‘s Foreign Minister urges NATO for “ambitious actions” on Ukraine‘s accession ( World Ukraine Congress )

– EUK: The EU would shoot itself in the foot by confiscating the Russian assets to give them to Ukraine ( Le Figaro FR )

– EUK: Kiev in NATO after surrender: the scenario feared by Europe if Trump wins the elections ( La Republicca IT )

– EUK: Russian Influences expected in upcoming Europe elections: NATO Deputy Secretary General ( Kyiv Post )

– EUK: A CIA black site remains a touchy subject for Lithuania – secret prison shrouded in official secrecy ( NYT )

– EUK: EU Parliament once again raises ethics reform as Russia‘s cash-for-influence scandal unfolds ( Euractiv )

– EUK: Russia is trying to sabotage European railways, warns Prague – transport minister Kupka ( FT UK )

– EUK: NATO chief says that Ukraine may have to decide what compromises it wants to make ( BBC UK )

– EUK: Finnish President Stubb asserts battlefield victory key to lasting peace in Ukraine ( NVo Ukraine )

– EUK: NATO Ukraine fund to ensure more states pay, Alliance Chief Stoltenberg says ( Bloomberg )

– EUK: Finnish president says Ukraine conflict can only be resolved on the battlefield ( Sputnik RU )

– EUK: The welfare-addicted West is too decadent to rearm itself, let alone Ukraine ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: Germany‘s ‘luftwaffe’ deployed to intercept Russian plane over Baltic Sea ( Newsweek )

– EUK: Georgian opposition to introduce bill to guard against Russian influence ( Ukro Pravda )

– EUK: Experts: Russian church’s influence in Estonia shouldn’t be overestimated ( ERR ES )

– EUK: Russia and Ukraine must talk – Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer ( RT RU )

– EUK: EU enlargement: Exporting stability or importing instability? the latter ( Euractiv )

– EUK: EU and Ukraine explore special tribunal for Putin and war officials ( Euronews )

– EUK: The paying vassals of the new NATO – Pino Arlacchi ( Il Fatto Quotidiano IT )

——————————————————

– USC: Ukrainian officers confront grim realities – US aid up in air, battlefield advances, NATO to lean in ( Responsible Statecraft )

– USC: Anonymous users are dominating right-wing discussions online. They also spread false information – Russia, China ( AP )

– USC: Blinken plays politics with Ukraine’s NATO membership – cynical and cruel false promise ( American Conservative )

– USC: US troops in Moldova in emerging Plan B for Ukraine – Stephen Bryen – in event of Russian victory ( Asia Times )

– USC: The looming Ukraine debacle – West wanted to teach Russia a lesson, the opposite may occur ( National Interest )

– USC: Russian talking points being heard on House floor, Ohio Republican says – Mike Turner ( Politico US )

– USC: NATO chief predicts how F-16s will affect course of Ukraine war – ‘no drastic difference’ ( Newsweek )

– USC: US talks with Russia to discourage space anti-satellite nuclear weapons ongoing ( Politico US )

– USC: North Korea’s ballistic missiles are getting valuable battlefield testing in Ukraine ( Bloomberg )

– USC: Republican warns Putin‘s propaganda “being uttered” in Congress  – Mike Turner ( Newsweek )

– USC: Top Republicans increasingly warn about Russian propaganda infecting their party ( WaPo )

– USC: Russian trolls target US support for Ukraine, Kremlin documents show ( WaPo Exclusive )

——————————————————

– RUC: Amid Yulia Navalnaya‘s problems with alcohol, daughter trained to be the leader of the non-systemic opposition ( RT RU )

– RUC: A Russian Soyuz capsule carrying 3 crew from the International Space Station lands safely in Kazakhstan ( AP )

– RUC: Sergey Lavrov begins official visit to China on April 8-9 – ‘hot topics’ including Ukraine with Wang Yi ( Tass RU )

– RUC: Russia’s Lavrov, who will visit China soon, calls Beijing’s peace plan for Ukraine ‘reasonable’ ( SCMP CN )

– RUC: US State Department allowed Ukraine to join NATO after the conflict – Matthew Miller ( Izvestia RU )

– RUC: A great wealth transfer is underway: How the West lost control of the gold market ( RT RU )

– RUC: Russia says Macron’s hawkish statements pose ‘serious strategic problem’ ( Bloomberg )

– RUC: Yuan trading in Russian FX Market again grows to record in march ( Bloomberg )

ELECTION PANIC

– USC: ‘1945 in reverse’: What will happen if US turns its back on NATO – Trump = Pax Americana under threat ( Telegraph UK )

– USC: There is a way out of MAGA domination – counter establishment to recapture the GOP from the outside ( NYT Opinion )

– USC: Revenge will be the fuel of a second Trump administration – Populists returning to power ( FT UK Opinion )

– USC: Trump’s bizarre, vindictive incoherence has to be heard in full to be believed ( Guardian UK )

– USC: ‘If Trump’: in Japan anxiety grows over the return a quixotic American president ( WaPo )

– USC: Biden’s next student debt relief plan will cover more than 30M borrowers ( Politico US )

– USC: Marjorie Taylor Greene applauds Russia for “protecting Christianity” ( Newsweek )

– USC: With Trump and China looming, how much does the US trust Japan? ( Times UK )

– USC: Joe Biden claims big campaign money lead over Donald Trump ( FT UK )

– USC: Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson rules out endorsing Joe Biden ( Times UK )

– USC: Trump says abortion laws should be decided by US states ( Reuters )

– USC: Biden campaign announces pulling in $90M in March ( Politico US )

——————————————————

– EUK: Scholz sees need for EU reform before more enlargement – quicker action such as support for Ukraine ( Bloomberg )

– EUK: Von der Leyen launches election campaign in Athens vowing to ‘fight back’ Putin’s EU friends ( Euractiv )

– EUK: Scholz warns of the rise of right-wing populists ahead of EU elections ( Euronews )

– EUK: ‘I won’t dance. Promise’ says Olaf Scholz as he joins TikTok ( Politico EU )

– EUK: Germany‘s Scholz joins TikTok in bid to reach young voters ( Reuters )

——————————————————

– EUK: Tusk fails to win decisive victory in local elections, complicating his efforts to remake Poland ( AP )

– EUK: Conservative PiS’ local election lead shakes Tusk’s power in Poland ( Euractiv )

– EUK: Poland confronted with its Eurosceptic past – PiS wins local elections ( Euractiv )

– EUK: Poland’s PiS ahead in local elections, but not in political control ( Politico EU )

– EUK: Polish pro-EU wing wants local vote to end ‘age of populism’ ( Euractiv )

– EUK: Poland‘s LGBT+ couples travel abroad to tie the knot ( Euronews )

– EUK: Poland holds local elections in test for Tusk ( Reuters )

——————————————————

– EUK: Occupy Brussels! – Viktor Orbán’s plan for Europe – eurosceptic, not leave but shape it ( Politico EU main feature )

– EUK: Challenger to Hungary’s Orbán announces new political alternative to tens of thousands of supporters ( AP )

– EUK: Tens of thousands protest in Hungary against Viktor Orbán’s government ( Guardian UK )

– EUK: New challenger to Viktor Orbán leads huge demonstration in Budapest ( Guardian UK )

– EUK: Orbán opponent rallies support vowing Pro-EU pivot in Hungary ( Bloomberg )

– EUK: Orbán opponent looks to build support with protest in Budapest ( Bloomberg )

——————————————————

– EUK: A pro-Russia candidate won Slovakia’s presidential election, strengthening Central Europe’s ties to Moscow ( NYT )

– EUK: Ukraine-skeptic government ally Peter Pellegrini wins Slovakian presidential election ( Guardian UK )

– EUK: Slovakia elects pro-Russian parliamentary speaker as president in tight runoff ( NVo Ukraine )

– EUK: Hungarian PM congratulates pro-Russian Slovak President on election win ( NVo Ukraine )

– EUK: Pellegrini wins Slovak presidential election in boost for pro-Russian PM Fico ( Reuters )

– EUK: Slovak presidency goes to PM Fico’s proxy – Pellegrini cements control ( Politico EU )

– EUK: Slovaks pick between Fico ally and pro-Western diplomat for president ( Reuters )

– EUK: Ally of Russia-friendly leader wins presidential election in Slovakia ( Bloomberg )

– EUK: Populist, pro-Putin candidate wins Slovakian presidency ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: Ukraine-sceptic Pellegrini wins Slovakia presidential election ( Euractiv )

– EUK: EU braces for Slovakia’s shift toward Russia ( Bloomberg Newsletter )

– EUK: Pro-Russia candidate wins Slovakia’s presidential election ( NYT )

CHYNA PANIC

– USC: America’s new expression of soft power – Shogun / 3 Body – US culture thriving without Westerners front and center ( FP )

– USC: US, EU economic system struggling to ‘survive’ against China, US trade chief warns – Katherine Tai ( Euractiv )

– USC: ‘Significant consequences’ if Chinese firms help Russia’s war in Ukraine, US’s Yellen warns ( Politico US )

– USC: China is gaslighting the developing world – promises of equality are a guise for hegemony ( Foreign Policy )

– USC: US will push China to change a policy threatening American jobs, Treasury Secretary Yellen says ( AP )

– USC: The Biden administration is sounding the alarm about Chinese support for Russia ( Atlantic Council )

– USC: What Is UNCLOS? US advised to ratify law of the Sea treaty – Open letter from officials ( Newsweek )

– USC: US, China to hold talks on ‘balanced growth’ amid overcapacity concerns, Yellen says ( Reuters )

– USC: China pushes back at US overcapacity concerns as Yellen wraps visit – groundless ( Euractiv )

– USC: Yellen says US will not accept Chinese imports decimating new industries ( Reuters )

– USC: Antony Blinken warns allies of deepening Chinese support for Russia ( FT UK )

– USC: US, China resume Military meetings as Diplomatic thaw continues ( Bloomberg )

– USC: Yellen threatens sanctions for China Banks that aid Russia’s war ( Bloomberg )

– USC: Yellen warns China of ‘significant consequences’ for Russia support ( FT UK )

– USC: Yellen sees ‘more work to do’ as China talks end with no breakthrough ( NYT )

– USC: China providing geospatial intelligence to Russia, US warns ( Bloomberg )

– USC: US, UK and Australia say Japan could join part of AUKUS pact ( FT UK )

– USC: Yellen implores China to rethink economic growth strategy ( Bloomberg )

– USC: Biden to warn Beijing against meddling in South China Sea ( FT UK )

——————————————————

– EUK: France pushes EU for measures to re-balance trade with China – based on environment, can’t compete ( Bloomberg )

– EUK: Net zero Britain is already hopelessly hooked on China – sells solar and EVs at uneconomic prices ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: EU and US vow to team up against China, but can’t hide the cracks – won’t survive Trump ( Politico EU )

– EUK: China’s EV competition is so fierce that Volkswagen ‘can’t keep up’ says its CEO ( Fortune )

– EUK: Top German CEOs join Scholz‘s China trip despite ‘de-risking’ push ( Bloomberg )

– EUK: Trade, US reaches out to EU, urges formation of anti-China alliance ( EU News )

– EUK: EU and US push China to help them write big new climate check ( Politico EU )

– EUK: Scholz to hold talks next week with China’s Xi in Beijing ( Bloomberg )

– EUK: EU, US to share data on semiconductor market distortion ( Euractiv )

——————————————————

– ASO: Japan’s Kishida warns world at ‘historic turning point’ as he touts US alliance ahead of Biden summit ( CNN )

– ASO: Philippines will continue dialogue with China to ease South China Sea tensions, says president ( Reuters )

– ASO: AUKUS weighs expanding security pact to deter China in Indo-Pacific – hopes Japan will join ( FT UK )

– ASO: China‘s tech trap – leading tech companies ‘ensnare workers’ in noncompete clauses ( Nikkei JP cover )

– ASO: What’s expected from Japanese PM Kishida’s US visit? A major upgrade in defense ties ( AP )

– ASO: Malaysia rises up expat list as golden visa, anti-Israel stance become drawcard ( SCMP CN )

– ASO: President Biden and Japan’s Prime Minister look to bind ties to outlast them both ( NYT )

– ASO: Japan doubles down on the US alliance as China looms – Gideon Rachman ( FT UK )

– ASO: US, Japan, Australia and Philippines to hold South China Sea exercises ( Reuters )

– ASO: US, Japan, Philippines meet to bolster ties as security worries mount ( Reuters )

– ASO: India is coming for China‘s world growth engine crown ( Bloomberg Big Take )

——————————————————

– RUC: China, US militaries hold a new round of maritime military safety consultation in Hawaii – candid & constructive ( GT CN )

– RUC: China strives for development, intl cooperation of nuclear fusion to seek ultimate solution to power shortage ( GT CN )

– RUC: This detail of Yellen’s visit to China is worth Washington’s reflection – CN public opinion against US ( GT CN Op-Ed )

– RUC: China EV war: BYD takes on laggards Toyota, Volkswagen with steep price cuts ( SCMP CN )

– RUC: China commerce minister kickstarts Europe trip with Chinese EV firms meeting ( Reuters )

– RUC: China holds ‘combat patrol’ in South China Sea amid US-led war games ( Al Jazeera QT )

– RUC: Kremlin: US military presence in Japan impedes any peace treaty with Tokyo ( Reuters )

– RUC: EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation ‘new tool of economic coercion’ – chamber ( GT CN )

– RUC: China says Innovation built EV success, rejects EU Subsidy Probe ( Bloomberg )

– RUC: India is naive to interfere in South China Sea issue ( GT CN Opinion )

– RUC: Manila ‘inviting wolf into the house’ will backfire ( GT CN Opinion )

ISRAIL PANIC

– USC: House Armed Services ranking member: Israel’s strategy is ‘not working to their advantage’ – Adam Smith ( Politico US )

– USC: Six months into Gaza war, Biden confronts limits of US leverage – morally compromised, politically vulnerable ( WaPo )

– USC: In six months, everything has changed for Israel – was building new alliances, now appears as isolated as ever ( WSJ )

– USC: US preparing for significant Iran attack on US or Israeli assets in the region as soon as next week ( CNN )

– USC: Israel, US believe Iran is about to retaliate for Israeli bombing of Syria consulate, officials say ( CBS )

– USC: In the shadow war with Iran, Biden just scored an unheralded victory – Max Boot ( WaPo Opinion )

– USC: Six months into the war in Gaza, Israel has no exit strategy and no real plan for the future ( CNN )

– USC: Democrats fear Netanyahu may have undermined Biden’s image among voters ( Politico US )

– USC: Nancy Pelosi joins House Democrats in urging Biden to halt arms to Israel ( Guardian UK )

– USC: Israel–Iran shadow war: Iran tells US to step aside amid tensions with Israel ( Bloomberg )

– USC: US troops face ‘big threat’ as Iran vows revenge against Israel for attack ( Newsweek )

– USC: Six months into the deadly fighting, Israel has achieved neither of its key goals ( CNN )

– USC: Biden‘s Israel shift: not enough for Democrats, too much for Republicans ( Reuters )

– USC: From Gaza to Ukraine, more aid workers are being killed than ever ( Rolling Stone )

– USC: Biden urges Egypt, Qatar to push Hamas on hostage-release deal ( Politico US )

– USC: US on high alert for Iran threat in region after Israeli strike in Syria ( Reuters )

– USC: Gaza war turns spotlight on long pipeline of US weapons to Israel ( NYT )

– USC: The problem isn’t just Netanyahu. It’s Israeli society. ( Foreign Policy )

——————————————————

– EUK: Netanyahu wants to ban Al Jazeera – hide Gaza’s horrors – reality getting through – Etan Nechin ( Guardian UK Opinion )

– EUK: Israel arms embargo would risk confidence in UK, former Attorney General warns – Sir Michael Ellis ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: David Cameron warns of Gaza famine as UK sends Royal Navy ship to boost aid effort ( Guardian UK )

– EUK: Britain has turned against Israel. It’s an unforgivable betrayal – Zoe Strimpel ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: Six months since Oct. 7, British PM says ‘terrible’ Israel–Hamas war ‘must end’ ( TO Israel )

– EUK: The real threat to Israel’s existence comes from Iran, not Hamas – John Sawers ( FT UK )

– EUK: It would be ‘insane’ to stop arms sales to Israel, says Boris Johnson ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: Boris Johnson accuses David Cameron of easing ‘victory for Hamas‘ ( Politico EU )

– EUK: Boris Johnson: Arms embargo on Israel ‘death wish of Western civilization’ ( Ynet )

– EUK: Israel must realize how bad things look now – Matthew Parris ( Times UK Opinion )

– EUK: Johnson accuses ‘establishment’ of trying to ban arms sales to Israel ( Times UK )

– EUK: It’s lawful to keep selling arms to Israel, says deputy PM ( Times UK )

THE MILITARY

– USC: Pentagon weighs options to lengthen life of legacy nuclear platforms as new programs face delays ( Breaking Defense )

– EUK: The US Navy’s lack of frigates means no Atlantic convoys in the event of war – David Axe ( Telegraph UK )

– USC: China‘s Navy is the largest on Earth and copying the US Navy’s power blueprint ( National Interest )

– USC: The US Navy’s Constellation class frigate problem is a problem for the world ( Telegraph UK )

– USC: Boeing to shutter Super Hornet line in 2027 after final Navy order ( Breaking Defense )

– USC: Mystery as US Navy fires commander of Biomedical Lab – in Lima, Peru ( Newsweek )

– USC: Third Indian shipyard signs maintenance agreement with US Navy ( Defense Post )

– USC: Cochin Shipyard – or Kochi India – signs repair agreement with US Navy ( CNBC )

– USC: The US Navy wants to make info-warfare training ubiquitous ( Defense One )

– USC: US Navy cancels ship briefings after damning internal report ( Politico US )

——————————————————

– EUK: Britain is not ready for war – ministers couldn’t even turn up to the bunker – James Heappey ( Telegraph UK Opinion )

– EUK: Estonia just found another million shells for Ukraine – Pevkur says 2.5m total – David Axe ( Forbes )

– EUK: France has a military drone radar everyone’s desperate to get – Ground Master ( Politico EU )

– EUK: Ex-defence ministers ‘wrong’ to say UK unprepared for war, deputy PM says ( Guardian UK )

– EUK: UK has failed to prepare itself for war, warn former defense ministers ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: Germany to speed up arms purchases in defense industry shakeup ( Bloomberg )

– EUK: Germany to order ships, armored vehicles worth up to €7 Billion ( Bloomberg )

– EUK: EU’s Red Sea mission successfully repels attacks, but lacks ships ( Euractiv )

– EUK: First German troops arrive in Lithuania ( Euractiv )

THE ECONOMY

– USC: Pfizer accused of ‘bringing discredit’ on pharmaceutical industry – posts promoting unlicensed medicines ( Telegraph UK )

– USC: Global economic risks ‘could eclipse anything since second world war’ – JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon ( Guardian UK )

– USC: Major food companies offering deals, new sizes as low-income Americans spend less ( Reuters )

– USC: Tesla scraps low-cost car plans amid fierce Chinese EV competition ( Reuters exclusive )

– USC: TSMC boosts Joe Biden’s AI chip ambitions with $11.6bn US production deal ( FT UK )

– USC: Boeing engine cover falls off in mid-air with 135 passengers on board ( Telegraph UK )

– USC: Electric car crash: The American EV industry has hit the wall ( Telegraph UK Opinion )

– USC: Fixing Boeing’s broken culture starts with a new plane – not cost-cutting ( Bloomberg )

– USC: Departing Boeing CEO gets nearly $33 million in 2023 total compensation ( Reuters )

– USC: Biden’s manufacturing industry is expanding. That could be bad for inflation ( CNN )

– USC: Another Boeing aircraft under investigation after engine cover falls off ( Times UK )

– USC: Taiwanese chip-making Giant TSMC gets $6.6 billion for Arizona project ( WSJ )

– USC: Cities in the eclipse’s path are getting an economic ‘shot in the arm’ ( NYT )

– USC: Retailer 99 Cents Only files for bankruptcy, plans to shut down ( Reuters )

– USC: Elon Musk announces Tesla will unveil a ‘robotaxi’ on August 8 ( CNN )

– USC: Dozens of major bridges lack shields to block wayward ships ( NYT )

——————————————————

– EUK: Action against greenwashing could backfire, retailers warn – could abandon efforts to appear sustainable ( Times UK )

– EUK: Europe’s political aims and its economic strength are out of balance – low growth, strained finances ( FT UK )

– EUK: Britain is still making a killing from Putin’s war machine – trade through Kyr, Arm, Geor, Uzbek ( Times UK )

– EUK: Pressure on junior doctors to end strikes – hope of fresh talks after consultants agree terms ( Times UK )

– EUK: ‘Shadow bank’ lending risks triggering new financial crisis, warns IMF – private equity ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: European chips leader warns against ‘blunt duplication’ of its know-how in US – Imec ( Politico EU )

– EUK: Retail insolvencies soar in Britain as steep rates rip through high street ( Telegraph UK )

– RUC: China’s real estate tycoons lost $100 billion in the housing collapse ( Bloomberg )

– EUK: How Chinese property crisis could rock City of London foundations ( Times UK )

– EUK: British retail insolvencies rise 19% as businesses feel the squeeze ( Times UK )

– EUK: UK Train drivers mount picket lines at stations as strikes continue ( Bloomberg )

– EUK: To overhaul food production, first we have to convince the farmers ( Euronews )

– EUK: Number of Dutch people euthanized due to mental illness up 20% ( Times UK )

– EUK: European real estate is being used to launder money, EU says ( Bloomberg )

– EUK: Spain to axe ‘golden visa’ scheme in blow to British expats ( Telegraph UK )

– EUK: EU sanctions hawk increases Russian grain imports – Latvia ( RT RU )

– EUK: Skill shortages in Europe: Half of applicants not qualified ( Euronews )

– EUK: Olive oil becomes most stolen item from Spanish shops ( Euronews )

– EUK: Dutch set to comply with US demands on China exports ( Reuters )

– EUK: ‘Not going out’ Is it last orders for London’s nightlife? ( CNN )

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APPENDICES

APPENDIX : Videoclips

– Yellen on threats to world : https://twitter.com/Kanthan2030/status/1777388216158486760

– Scholz Ukraine can still win : https://twitter.com/mazzenilsson/status/1777365350079676832

– Miller Ukraine in NATO after war : https://twitter.com/DagnyTaggart963/status/1777410925781291254

– Farage on UK weapons Israel : https://twitter.com/UnityNewsNet/status/1777279032406532238

– Elensky begs, threatens : https://twitter.com/vicktop55/status/1777378975435645302

– Russia should fear Frane : https://twitter.com/narrative_hole/status/1777370947764502592

– Marwa Osman incredible : https://twitter.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1777373753070195058

APPENDIX : Legend

USC = United States + Canada

EUK = Europe + United Kingdom | 404 = Ukraine

WEA = West Asia, formerly Middle East | ISR = Israel

ASO = Asia + Oceania

AFR = Africa

LAT = Latin America

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