First, links to two reports from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (COVID ETC. 9-5-25 is HERE.  For today’s LEBANON, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries, click HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FDA claims there’s a link between COVID-19 vaccines and pediatric deaths. Reported by Rob Stein and Leila Fadel | NPR  The Food and Drug Administration says it’s going to get tougher on vaccines, blaming the deaths of at least 10 children on the COVID-19 vaccines. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM NOV. 30  Closed-door MAHA summit offers a glimpse into the administration’s evolving health priorities. Reported by Ahmad Damen and Miles Parks | NPR  Dr. Sandro Galea, a distinguished professor in public health and dean of the Washington University School of Public Health, warns that the administration’s turn toward alternative medicine risks sidelining science in federal health policy. Click HERE to listen and read.

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For now, links to three reports: from the Associated Press and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (LEBANON 11-29-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.  Scroll up or down for today’s COVID ETC., UKRAINE and MEDIA entries, so far.) — MCM

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Pope Leo challenges Lebanon’s political class to seek the ‘common good.’ Reported by Ruth Sherlock | NPR  In Lebanon, a country whose political leaders are accused of vast corruption, Pope Leo has asked the political class to set aside personal interests for the shared benefit of society. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM NOV. 28  Lebanese army boosts its presence along border with Israel, dismantling Hezbollah posts, by Bassem Mroue | AP  ZIBQIN VALLEY, Lebanon — The Lebanese army has intensified its efforts in areas along the border with Israel, in the volatile area that witnessed the 14-month war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to four reports: from Agence France-Presse, National Public Radio and Politico; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 11-30-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  MEDIA 11-30-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  Scroll up or down for today’s  COVID ETC., LEBANON and MEDIA entries.) — MCM

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Putin-Witkoff talks risk piling pressure on Kyiv: EU’s Kallas. From AFP. “I am afraid that, you know, all the pressure will be put on the weaker side,’ EU foreign policy chief said today, “because that is the easier way to stop this war when Ukraine surrenders.” READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AFP report in French, and HERE for others.

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U.S. envoy returns to Russia as talks to end the war in Ukraine continue. Reported by Charles Maynes and Leila Fadel | NPR  Steve Witkoff is heading back to Moscow today as the U.S. continues its efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Is Russia interested in lasting peace between it and Ukraine? A historian weighs in. A Martínez of NPR  speaks with historian Oleksa Drachewych about the Kremlin’s position on a possible peace deal to end the war in Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM NOV. 30  Ukraine fears being ignored in Washington’s push to end Russia’s war, by Veronika Melkozerova | Politico  KYIV — Ukrainian and American delegations traded warm words Sunday as they attended a key meeting on how to end Russia’s war in Europe, but beneath the surface Kyiv remains concerned the U.S. only has ears for Vladimir Putin. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to reports from National Public Radio and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (MEDIA 11-30-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  Scroll up for today’s COVID ETC., LEBANON and UKRAINE entries.) — MCM

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FROM NOV. 30  Why some movies grow stale. Discussed by Marc Rivers, Mallory Yu and Miles Parks | NPR  Rivers and Yu revisit a few movies that haven’t aged well and explore why they fall apart on rewatch. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM DEC. 11, 2024  The Christmas song Brenda Lee, 13, recorded in 1958 is still a holiday staple, by David Bauder | AP  NEW YORK — “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is more popular today than ever before. Written by Johnny Marks of “Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer’’ fame, it was first sung in a studio by the precocious Lee on a warm summer Nashville day. READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, one link for MEDIA: to a report from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (MEDIA 11-28-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  Also, scroll down for WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for today.) — MCM

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A new film depicts the Palestinian uprising against British colonialism in 1936. Lauren Frayer of NPR speaks with Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacie about her new film on the Palestinian uprising against the British army in 1936. It’s called “Palestine 36.” Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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For today, one link for WEST BANK: to a report from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (WEST BANK 11-29-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  Also, scroll up or down for MEDIA and UKRAINE entries.) — MCM

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During the war in Gaza, Israel drastically changed the map of the West Bank. Reported by Lauren Frayer | NPR  During the Gaza war, Israel raced to redistrict land in the occupied West Bank, drastically changing the map. Palestinians say annexation is underway. Israel denies it. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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For today, links to two reports: from the National Public Radio and Reuters; and to two pieces of commentary, both from Consortium News; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 11-29-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  Also, scroll up for MEDIA and WEST BANK entries for today.) — MCM

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FROM NOV. 29  Ukraine begins new negotiations after a sudden shakeup in Kyiv. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley and Miles Parks | NPR  Negotiations to end the war resume as Ukraine confronts internal turmoil and continued Russian strikes. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM NOV. 28  Ukrainian forces fighting in Kupiansk, despite Russian claims, top commander says, by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar | Reuters  Ukrainian forces are defending their positions and hunting down sabotage groups in the northeastern city of Kupiansk despite Moscow’s statements that its troops are fully in control of it, Ukraine’s top commander said on Friday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 28  The neocon-realist war over Ukraine, by Ray McGovern | Special to Consortium News  The undeniable Russian advances all along the contact line in Ukraine are no longer deniable to anyone tuned into reality. But not everyone is tuned in. READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 28  What defeat looks like, by Stefan Moore | Special to Consortium News  Russia is the indisputable victor in this terrible 14-year war, beginning with the 2014 Ukrainian civil war, which Russia entered in 2022. The only path forward now is working out the terms of defeat. READ MORE . . .

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For today, one link: to commentary via Middle East Monitor; other articles are accessible by clicking on its name below. (WEST BANK 11-28-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, UKRAINE and LEBANON entries are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Rain season and the rituals of predicting the rain in Palestinian heritage, by Fareed Taamallah | Middle East Monitor  In my village of Qira near Salfit, as in many Palestinian villages, we wait for the first drops of rain with a mixture of longing and unease. Rain is not only the beginning of the agricultural season; it is a reassurance that life can continue despite . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, one link: to commentary via Middle East Eye; other articles are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA 11-28-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, UKRAINE and LEBANON entries are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Trump’s UN-backed ‘peace plan’: A new front in the American colonisation of Palestine, by Joseph Massad | Middle East Eye  This latest arrangement continues a longstanding American effort to colonise the land of the Palestinians, a project whose origins go back to the early 19th century.It also appears that Russia and China, which abstained from the UN vote, could not care less about the Palestinians. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to six reports: from Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, and Anadolu Ajansi; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 11-28-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA and LEBANON entries are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Oil tanker hit by blast in Black Sea struck again overnight: Turkey. From AFP. Turkey’s Transport Ministry said one of two empty oil tankers hit by blasts in the Black Sea late Friday had been struck again early today, blaming an unmanned sea vehicle. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AFP report in French, and HERE for others. Click HERE and HERE for earlier AP and Reuters reports. 

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Russian drone and missile attacks kill 3 as diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine gain momentum, by Isobel Koshiw | AP  KYIV — Russian drone and missile attacks in and around the Ukraine’s capital killed at least three people early today, officials said, as the country’s representatives traveled to the U.S. to work on a renewed push to end the war. READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 28  Top aide of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has resigned in a corruption probe. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley | NPR  Andriy Yermak has often been described as the second-most powerful man in Ukraine after President Zelenskyy. He resigned on Friday after anti-corruption officials raided his residence and office. Click HERE later to listen and, still later, read, and HERE for a report from Anadolu Ajansi.

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