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Go to blackout coffee.com promo code Pdib for 20% off your first time purchase. It's Tuesday, 13 August.

Welcome to the P.D.B. afternoon bulletin.

I'm Mike Baker.

Your eyes and ears on the world stage.

Let's get briefed.

First, Russian President Putin is lashing out over Ukraine's surprise incursion into Russia's

cursed region, vowing retribution, and claiming that the West is waging war on Moscow by using Ukraine as a proxy, says the guide

Jonesen to rebuild the Soviet Union. Also, Iranian officials have issued an

ultimatum regarding their potential retaliation on Israel, saying they will only forego a direct attack

if a ceasefire deal is reached in Gaza. Now, far be it from me to point out the obvious, but I'm about to. The need for a ceasefire deal in

Gaza is because Hamas, which is controlled by Iran, launched a brutal series of attacks on Israel,

which is what ignited this current conflict, for which Iran is now insisting

on a ceasefire deal. Hmm. But first, our afternoon spotlight. Russian President Putin is pointing

fingers at the West for his military's ongoing challenges in the war on Ukraine as

Kib's cross-border incursion into Russia into the Kursk region continues to advance after seven days of fighting.

In a speech on Monday to regional governors and national defense officials, Putin blamed the

West for Russia's failure to subdue invading Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region.

The Russian leader emphasized that external interference such as Western provided military equipment

is a key reason for Moscow's floundering response.

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