Links to reports from the Cradle and Middle East Eye; other are accessible by clicking on their names below. (MEDIA 7-1-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, IRAN and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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FROM JULY 4  Dozens of BBC journos say broadcaster forces them to ‘do PR for Israel.‘ From the Cradle. Over 100 BBC staff signed an open letter on Thursday addressed to Director-General Tim Davie, accusing the broadcaster of failing its own editorial standards and acting as “a mouthpiece” for the Israeli government in its coverage of the war in Gaza. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 4  Gary Lineker: BBC ‘should hold its head in shame’ over shelved Gaza documentary, by Dalia Anis | Middle East Eye  Veteran BBC presenter Gary Lineker said Thursday that the British broadcaster “should hold its head in shame” after watching Gaza: Medics Under Fire, a documentary originally commissioned, then dropped by the news corporation. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to five reports: from the Associated Press, the Kyiv Independent, National Public Radio, and Agence France-Presse, and to an article of commentary from Indian Punchline; others are accessible by clicking on their initials or names below. (UKRAINE 7-4-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, IRAN and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Ukraine says it struck a Russian air base as Russia sent hundreds of drones into Ukraine, by Elise Morton | AP  LONDON — Ukraine said it struck a Russian air base today, while Russia continued to pound Ukraine with hundreds of drones overnight as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than 3-year-old war. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from the Kyiv Independent and Kyiv Post.

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Zelenskyy asks Trump for air defense munitions amid escalating Russian airstrikes. Reported by Joanna Kakissis and Scott Simon | NPR  Ukraine is facing a summer of escalating Russian airstrikes on its cities. The Ukrainian President has called on the U.S. to provide more air defense systems. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Trump says he’s ‘very unhappy’ with Putin call, hints at new sanctions. From AFP.  “It’s a very tough situation,” U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday. “I told you I was very unhappy with my call with President Putin. He wants to go all the way, just keep killing people, it’s no good.” READ MORE .. . .

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FROM JULY 3  France seeks a role in Iran situation, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  On July 1, did you hear the crunching sound of ice cracking on the frozen lake of Russia-France ties? President Vladimir Putin’s decision to take a phone call on that day from his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, for the first time since September 2022, signifies that the western narrative to ‘erase’ Russia in the proxy war in Ukraine . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to eight reports: from Anadolu Agency, the Associated Press, Reuters, Middle East Eye, the Cradle, and the Jerusalem Post, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 7-3-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  LEBANON, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for today are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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NEWER  EU says situation around GHF food distribution centers in Gaza ‘untenable,‘ by Melike Pala | Anadolu Agency  BRUSSELS — The European Union today criticized the situation surrounding food distribution centers operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, calling it “untenable” and “not tolerable” and arguing that the bloc is not involved in the initiative. READ MORE . . .

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Dozens of Palestinians killed by airstrikes or shootings while waiting for aid, by Wafaa Shurafa and Samya Kullab | AP  DEIR al-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli airstrikes killed 15 Palestinians in Gaza early today. A hospital said another 20 people died in shootings while waiting for aid. The U.N. human rights office says it has recorded 613 killings in a month in Gaza near humanitarian convoys and as Palestinians try to reach aid at distribution points run by an Israeli-backed American organization. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli military kills 15 in Gaza as Trump awaits Hamas reply to truce proposal, by Alexander Cornwell and Nidal al-Mughrabi | Reuters  TEL AVIV / CAIRO — At least 15 Palestinians were killed overnight in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, according to local health officials, as U.S. President Donald Trump said he expected Hamas to respond to his “final proposal” for a ceasefire in Gaza in the next 24 hours. READ MORE . . .

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613 killings recorded at aid distribution sites, near humanitarian convoys in Gaza, says UN. From Middle East Eye. The United Nations human rights office said today that as of June 27 it had recorded at least 613 killings both at aid points run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and near humanitarian convoys. READ MORE . . .

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Daily GHF massacres turn Gaza’s Nasser Hospital into ‘massive trauma ward’: WHO. From the Cradle. Nasser Hospital in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Yunis has turned into “one massive trauma ward,” the UN World Health Organization said today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 3 Israel arms new ‘anti-Hamas’ militias in Gaza: report. From the Cradle. Hebrew media reported on Thursday the presence of two new, Israeli-backed armed groups operating against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli news outlet Ynet, “one group is active in Gaza City, and the other in Khan Yunis” – where the Israeli military is currently present. READ MORE . . .

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Israel using starvation and aid to inflict genocide in Gaza: Amnesty. From Middle East Eye. In a report released Thursday, Amnesty International condemns Israel for deliberately using starvation as a weapon for war in Gaza, with the Israel-U.S. backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation serving as a tool to deepen the humanitarian catastrophe and sustain the ongoing genocide. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 3  Hamas discussing ceasefire with Palestinian factions as security cabinet discusses positive reports. From the Jerusalem Post. Hamas’s response to the deal has not yet been formally announced but is expected in the coming hours. Hamas confirmed early on Friday morning that it was discussing the U.S.-Qatar ceasefire proposal with other Palestinian factions. READ MORE . . .

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An economy of genocide: Israel and the Albanese report, by Binoy Kampmark | Middle East Monitor  It makes for stark and dark reading.  The report for the UN Human Rights Council titled From economy of occupation to economy of genocide makes mention of “corporate entities” who have been enriched by “the Israeli economy of illegal occupation, apartheid and now genocide.” READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to two reports from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (LEBANON 7-1-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for today are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Hezbollah mulls ‘partial disarmament’ as U.S. pressure builds: report. From the Cradle. Sources cited in western media today claimed that Hezbollah is considering a partial disarmament, holding internal deliberations on the matter as U.S. pressure to surrender its weapons continues to build. Three sources familiar with the Lebanese resistance’s internal deliberations told Reuters . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 3  ‘Threats will not work with us’: Hezbollah leader responds to U.S. pressure to disarm. From the Cradle. Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem vowed in a speech on Wednesday that the Lebanese resistance “will not surrender its weapons,” warning that “threats will not work.” READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to five reports: from the Cradle, Agence France-Presse, and Anadolu Agency; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (SYRIA 7-1-25  is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, LEBANON and UKRAINE entries for today are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) —MCM

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Israeli special forces launch massive raid in southern Syria. From the Cradle. Israeli occupation forces carried out a large-scale raid near the Syrian capital Damascus late Thursday, lasting several hours and involving the use of helicopters and armored vehicles, local sources told Al Mayadeen. READ MORE . . .

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Syria says ready to work with U.S. to return to 1974 disengagement deal with Israel. From AFP. Syria said today it was willing to cooperate with the United States to reimplement the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel, which created a UN-patrolled buffer zone separating the two countries’ forces. Following a phone call with his U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani expressed . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S. to consider reviewing terrorist designations related to Syria: Rubio, by Rabia Iclal Turan | Anadolu Agency  WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged to consider reviewing both domestic and UN terrorist designations related to Syria during a phone call with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, the State Department said Thursday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 3  New Syrian government shifts from state bureaucracy to ‘religious sheikhs.’ From the Cradle. Syria is currently being ruled by a system of religious clerics and figures — or sheikhs — rather than by the official bureaucracy of the state, sources said on Thursday. The country has been divided into regions and sub-regions ruled by extremist Sunni Muslim religious leaders who . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 2  Syrian warlords behind torture, kidnapping of ethnic minorities benefit from U.S. sanctions relief. From the Cradle. U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order lifting the majority of sanctions on Syria earlier this week included the removal of sanctions on two notorious militia leaders involved in war crimes against minorities. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to 16 reports: from the Cradle, NBC, the Associated Press, the Kyiv Independent, Kyiv Post, National Public Radio, the Moscow Times, and Reuters; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 7-2-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, LEBANON and SYRIA entries for today are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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NEWER  Pentagon cut Ukraine arms shipments despite ‘no shortage’ of stock: report. From the Cradle. An analysis by senior U.S. military officers found that a previously planned shipment of missiles and munitions bound for Ukraine would not jeopardize the U.S. military’s own ammunition supplies, NBC News reported today. The Pentagon halted the shipment earlier this week, citing concerns about its low stockpiles. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from NBC.

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NEWER  Trump, Zelenskiy discuss weapons, escalating Russian strikes, by Doina Chiacu, Tim Gardner and Max Hunder| Reuters  KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he discussed air defences in a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump today, and agreed to work on increasing Kyiv’s capability to “defend the sky” as Russian attacks escalate. He added . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia hammers Kyiv in largest missile and drone barrage since war in Ukraine began, by Hanna Arhirova | AP  KYIV — Waves of drone and missile attacks targeted Kyiv overnight into today, officials said — injuring at least 23 people and inflicting severe damage across multiple districts of the capital in a seven-hour onslaught. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from the Kyiv Independent, Kyiv Post,  NPR and the Cradle.

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Military analyst Michael Kofman discusses Russia’s recent gains in Ukraine. Michel Martin of NPR talks with military analyst Michael Kofman, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, about Russia’s gains in Ukraine and what they reveal about the war’s direction. Click HERE to listen and, later read.

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FROM JULY 3  Elderly woman killed in Ukrainian drone strike on Lipetsk region. The Moscow Times. A 70-year-old woman was killed and two others were wounded in a Ukrainian drone strike in the central Lipetsk region early Thursday, with authorities in Kyiv saying they targeted a Russian military battery manufacturing plant. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 3  No progress at all, Trump says after phone call with Putin, by Gram Slattery, Dan Peleschuk and Dmitry Antonov | Reuters  WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a phone call earlier in the day with Vladimir Putin resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war in Ukraine, while a Kremlin aide said the Russian president reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes.” READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from Kyiv Post and Tass.

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FROM JULY 3  Pentagon says it’s pausing some military aid to Ukraine amid new attacks from Russia. Reported by Greg Myre | NPR  The Pentagon is halting the delivery of some U.S. weapons to Ukraine that are crucial in its battle against Russia. This comes at a time when Russia has stepped up its attacks against Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JULY 3  Ukraine’s European backers mull their options after the U.S. pauses weapons shipments, by Lorne Cook | AP  AARHUS, Denmark — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and some of Ukraine’s main European backers weighed options on Thursday for filling the gap after the Trump administration paused weapons shipments to his country. The U.S. move affects high-demand READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 3  How Ukraine can cope with the U.S. pause on crucial battlefield weapons, by Hanna Arhirova and Barry Hatton | AP  KYIV — The decision by the United States to pause some weapons shipments to Ukrainehas come at a tough time for Kyiv.  Here’s a look at Ukraine’s options. READ MORE . . .

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First, links to 10 reports: from Anadolu Agency, the Cradle, the Associated Press, Reuters, and Middle East Eye, and to commentary from ScheerPost; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 7-2-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  IRAN and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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NEWER  Gaza ceasefire proposal calls for release of 10 Israeli hostages, includes U.S. assurances to end war: report, by Abderaouf Arnaout and Ikram Kouachi | Anadolu Agency   JERUSALEM / ANKARA  — A 60-day Gaza ceasefire proposal calls for the release of 10 Israeli hostages and the remains of 18 others, Israeli media said today. The proposal “includes . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Hamas ‘satisfied’ with new U.S. ceasefire proposal: report. From the Cradle. An informed source told Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat today that Hamas is “satisfied” with “guarantees” to end the war included in the latest ceasefire proposal being discussed.  According to the newspaper, the proposal includes . . .READ MORE . . .

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UN rapporteur accuses Israel of ‘one of cruelest genocides’ in modern history; urges arms embargo, global disengagement, by Beyza Binnur Donmez | Anadolu Agency  GENEVA — Israel is responsible for “one of the cruelest genocides in modern history,” the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory said today, accusing Tel Aviv of weaponizing Gaza as a testing ground and calling for sweeping international action, including . . . READ MORE . . .

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94 Palestinians killed in Gaza, including 45 people waiting for aid, authorities say. From AP. TEL AVIV — Airstrikes and shootings killed 94 Palestinians in Gaza overnight, including 45 who were attempting to get much-needed humanitarian aid, hospitals and the Health Ministry said today. READ MORE . . .

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Hamas seeks ceasefire guarantees as Israeli strikes kill scores more in Gaza. From Reuters. Hamas is seeking guarantees that a new US ceasefire proposal for Gaza would lead to the war’s end, a source close to the militant group said on Thursday, as medics said Israeli strikes across the territory had killed scores more people. READ MORE . . .

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Amnesty International says Israel and aid system use starvation to commit Gaza genocide, by Samy Magdy and Stefanie Dazio  | AP  CAIRO — Amnesty International issued a report today claiming a controversial Israeli- and U.S.-backed system to distribute aid in Gaza uses starvation tactics against Palestinians to continue to commit genocide in the Gaza Strip during Israel’s war with Hamas. READ MORE . . .

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Palestinians walk long distances to fetch water and ration each drop. The heat is making it worse, by Wafaa Shurafa and Samya Kullab | AP  KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — The heat in Gaza has intensified hardships for its 2 million residents. Reduced water availability, crippled sanitation networks, and shrinking living spaces threaten to cause illnesses to cascade through communities, aid groups have long warned. READ MORE . . .

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Israel killed prominent Gaza doctor Marwan al-Sultan in targeted strike. From Middle East Eye. The Israeli military has killed a prominent Palestinian doctor and the director of one of Gaza’s largest hospitals in an air strike on Gaza City. Dr. Marwan al-Sultan was killed, along with his wife, sister, daughter and son-in-law, when a missile struck his home on Wednesday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 2  UN says 85% of Gaza Strip under Israeli military orders, militarized zones, by Merve Aydogan | Anadolu Agency  HAMILTON, Canada — The UN said Wednesday that 85% of the Gaza Strip is within Israeli militarized zones, under displacement orders or in areas where the two overlap. The displacement orders are . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 2  Israeli pilots dumped ‘unused bombs’ over Gaza during Iran strikes. From the Cradle. Israeli fighter pilots returning from air defense missions during the 12-day war with Iran were routinely authorized to unload their leftover munitions on the Gaza Strip, according to a report by Maariv. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 2  Profiting from genocide, by Chris Hedges | Orginal to ScheerPost  The latest report submitted by Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, includes a database of over 1,000 corporate entities that collaborate with Israel, and demands these firms and institutions sever ties with Israel or be held accountable for complicity in war crimes. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for the report “From economy of occupation to economy of genocide.”

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For now, links to five reports and articles of commentary: from Anadolu Agency, Consortium News, Substack via ScheerPost, Financial Times, and MintPress News; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names as highlighted below. (IRAN 7-1-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Iran says it remains committed to nuclear non-proliferation treaty, by Ikram Kouachi | Anadolu Agency  ANKARA — Iran confirmed today that it remains committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and its Safeguards Agreement — this one day after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law passed by the parliament that requires the government to suspend . . .READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 2  Iran damaged 33,000 structures in Israel, by Joe Lauria | Special to Consortium News  The damage assessment in Israel from Iran’s counterattack against Tel Aviv’s unprovoked aggression against Iran last month is coming in. The Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Monday that the vaunted Israeli air defense system . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 30  Palantir’s shadow war on Iran, by Kit Klarenberg | Substack / ScheerPost  As the dust settles on the “12 Day War,” it is ever-clearer that the conflict was a crushing defeat for Israel and the U.S. In retrospect, the Zionist entity’s sole success was a wave of assassinations in the conflict’s first hours. A fawning June 19th Financial Times report hinted cutting-edge technology . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for that report from Financial Times.

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FROM JULY 2  How Musk is powering a covert campaign against Iran, by Alan Macleod | MintPress News  By actively partnering with the U.S. government to smuggle communications hardware into Iran, Elon Musk is once again aiding Washington’s attempts at regime change. This fits into a long pattern of both American efforts to dislodge the government in Tehran and Musk’s close collaboration with the U.S. national security state . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For now, links to 10 reports: from Tass, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, the Moscow Times, and Kyiv Post; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 7-2-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and IRAN entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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U.S. halts all arms supplies to Ukraine — the Economist. From Tass. LONDON — U.S. authorities have halted all shipments of American weapons to Ukraine, including shells and spare parts, The Economist said, citing Ukrainian officials. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for second report from Tass.

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Ukraine’s president arrives in Denmark for talks with key European backers. From AP. AARHUS, Denmark — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Denmark today as the Nordic country launched its European Union presidency, the Danish prime minister’s office said. READ MORE . . .

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Denmark PM says will do ‘everything we can’ to help Ukraine join EU. From AFP. Denmark will do everything in its power to help Ukraine join the EU, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said today as she welcomed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 2  Russia ramps up its offensive, putting pressure on Ukraine’s reserve troops, by Samya Kullab and Yehor Konovalov | AP  KYIV — An emboldened Russia has ramped up military offensives on two fronts in Ukraine, scattering Kyiv’s precious reserve troops and threatening to expand the fighting to a new Ukrainian region. Moscow aims to maximize . . . READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Russia says seized Ukrainian village on border. From AFP. The Russian military said today it had captured the village of Milove in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, opening a new front on their shared border. Milove lies on a section of the border that Moscow’s forces had not . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian deputy Navy commander killed in Kursk region. From the Moscow Times. The deputy commander of Russia’s Navy, Major General Mikhail Gudkov, was killed in a Ukrainian attack in the Kursk region, Russian authorities said today. Unconfirmed media reports suggested Gudkov and 10 other senior military officers were killed . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for report from Kyiv Post and the Kyiv Independent.

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to 10 reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, the Cradle, Politico, and Agence France-Presse; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 7-1-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA entry for this date  is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Ukraine struggles to contain Russian summer advances as U.S. aid stalls, by Anastasiia Malenko and Aleksandar Vasovic | Reuters  KYIV —Russia has made incursions near two towns key to army supply routes in eastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian military official said today, as Moscow seeks a breakthrough in a summer offensive at a time of uncertainty over U.S. support for Kyiv. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine looks to jointly produce weapons with allies, while U.S. halts some shipments, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Ukraine is forging ahead with embryonic plans for joint weapons production with some of its international allies, top officials said, while the U.S. announced it was halting some arms shipments promised to help Ukraine fight off Russia. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine demands answers after U.S. halts missile shipments citing ‘sinking’ stockpile. From the Cradle. Officials in Kiev are seeking clarification on a U.S. decision to halt a delivery of air defense munitions to Ukraine, which a White House spokesperson said was taken to “put America’s interests first,” the Washington Post reported today. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent and Politico.

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Kremlin welcomes halt in U.S. arms shipments to Ukraine. From AFP. The Kremlin today welcomed Washington’s decision to pause some weapons shipments to Ukraine, saying reduced military support for Kyiv would bring Russia closer to its goals in the war. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian aid projects wither as Western funding drops, by Elizabeth Piper | Reuters  The Trump administration froze and then cut billions of dollars of foreign aid after taking office on Jan. 20 to align with his “America First” policies. Ukraine’s European allies have also cut back humanitarian aid funding. READ MORE . . . 

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Kiev loses over 1,235 troops in all frontline areas in past day — Russia’s top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,235 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours, according to the latest data on the special military operation in Ukraine released by Russia’s Defense Ministry today. READ MORE . . .

FROM JULY 1  Putin, Macron discuss Iran, Ukraine in first phone call in nearly three years. From Reuters. MOSCOW / PARIS — Russian President Vladimir Putin had a “substantial” phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on the Iran-Israel conflict and Ukraine, the Kremlin said. READ MORE . . .

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