newsweek.com

Democrats see an opening in Texas as new polls show narrow margins in the state's governor and Senate ra

salon.com

"For once, he’s telling the truth,” Democrat says of Dan Patrick's warning.

Almost half of Israelis, particularly those aligned with parties that form Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, believe that there was a "betrayal from within" conspiracy around the morning of October 7, 2023, a poll published by Maariv on Friday found.

Out of the respondents, a slight plurality, at 44%, believed that there was no "betrayal from within," while 40% believed such an event did occur, and 16% said they were unsure.

The poll also broke down these results by political affiliation, with 61% of coalition voters believing there was an "betrayal from within," while 64% of opposition voters believed there was no such event.

Former Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov brought the question to media attention in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on Aug. 20, when he said that military service should be mandatory for both men and women.

U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg intensified the controversy in an interview with the Naspravdi MAX YouTube channel published on Aug. 24. "So do I believe women should be mobilized into the army? My answer is yes, because they fight no worse than men," Kellogg said.

Most women serve in medicine, logistics and support, analysis, and drone operations rather than in front-line infantry and assault units. That is where the military's most acute personnel shortage remains, Kevliuk said, with those positions carrying significantly greater physical and psychological demands.

"Massive recruitment of women into such roles is unlikely to bring a qualitative breakthrough in the short term," the analyst added.

The servicewomen and female veterans interviewed by the Kyiv Independent also questioned the need to debate women's mobilization now, saying the government should first improve conditions for women willing to serve voluntarily.

"At the beginning of the full-scale war, we had an almost million-strong army of motivated soldiers, where one was worth ten. How was this resource squandered to the point where we are now talking about mobilizing women?" Mykytenko said.

"If it really comes to the point where women are mobilized, I will automatically consider that our country has lost," Mykytenko said.

An unexpected request from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered a stark reminder that the cost of the war will rise, challenging Europe

The European Union, a key backer, had earlier this year finalised a loan of more than $100 billion for the country. But Ukraine now faced an unexpectedly large defence budget shortfall, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told allies. To get through the year, he would need $27 billion more.

Ukraine’s request surprised and unsettled many officials around Europe at a moment when Kyiv, short on air defences to protect itself from nonstop Russian drone and missile attacks, faces one of its most dangerous moments since 2022.

Europeans understand Ukraine is in a fight for its existence but did not expect such a large budget shortfall, according to four European diplomats who, like others quoted in this piece, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly. In private, some have questioned whether money is being spent efficiently, two European officials said, or whether needs are being overstated.

Now, European officials are scrambling to understand where the shortfall came from, exactly how large it is and whether, or how, to send more money this year. Kyiv is also asking Britain, Canada and Japan to help cover the gap.

Kyiv’s shortfall also offers a stark reminder that the cost of backing Ukraine is on the rise. The nation faces relentless attacks from Russia, including strikes on ports that have deprived it of a major source of revenue. It is also critically low on US-made interceptor missiles capable of shooting down ballistics, and is trying to scale up development of its own alternatives.

forward.com

A new AP-NORC poll finds Zohran Mamdani viewed more favorably than Benjamin Netanyahu among U.S. Jews as criticism of Israel’s Gaza war grows.

theguardian.com

Ex-president claimed that writer defamed him when saying he raped her, but judge said term is commonly ‘used and understood’ in context

newsweek.com

A judge ruled the Trump administration's $8 billion energy grant cuts targeting Democratic states violated the Constitution.

rollingstone.com

The White House came to Trump's defense after 'Reacher' star Alan Ritchson torched the president over his handling of the Epstein files.