For today, just one link: to a report from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (GAZA 5-3-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  YEMEN, 9/11 TRUTH and UKRAINE entries for today’s date, so far, are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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FROM APRIL 28  The story of an Israeli businessman and a Palestinian tailor in Gaza. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR  Two men were in business together until Oct. 7, 2023. The Israeli looks forward to a day when that trade will resume, while the Palestinian hopes he’ll survive a war in which he has lost everything. Click HERE to listen and read.`

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For today, links to just two reports: from Reuters and National Public Radio; others or just headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 5-3-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  YEMEN, 9/11 TRUTH and GAZA entries for today’s date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Russian drone attack on Kyiv injures 11, causes fires in housing blocks, Ukraine says, by Valentyn Ogirenko, Christian Lowe, Pavel Polityuk and Lidia Kelly | Reuters  KYIV — A Russian overnight drone attack on Ukraine’s capital injured at least 11 people, including two children, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called today for a real ceasefire lasting at least a month in the more than three-year-old war. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 3  What’s it like to cover the war in Ukraine? NPR’s Kyiv correspondent explains. Reported by Noah Caldwell, Scott Detrow and Joanna Kakissis | NPR  Just this week, the Trump administration signed a deal to share revenues from Ukraine’s mineral wealth. But how are Ukrainians responding — and what’s it like to cover the ongoing conflict? Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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For today, links to three reports: from the the Cradle and Reuters; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names below. (IRAN 4-28-25 is HERE, or scroll down. YEMEN, SYRIA, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for today’s date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM MAY 2  Iran says U.S. ‘not serious’ about nuclear talks after Trump imposes new sanctions. From the Cradle. The Iranian Foreign Ministry affirmed on Friday that Tehran is committed to continuing the diplomatic process and negotiations regarding its nuclear program but that it “will not accept pressure and threats that violate international law and target the rights of the Iranian people.” READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 2  Rubio demands Iran ‘walk away’ from uranium enrichment, long-range missiles. From the Cradle. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted on Thurday that Iran must “walk away” from both uranium enrichment and the development of long-range missiles. “They have to walk away from sponsoring terrorists, they have to walk away from helping the Houthis . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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FROM MAY 1  Fourth round of US–Iran nuclear talks postponed for ‘logistical reasons.’ From the Cradle. The fourth round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iranian and US officials was postponed on Thursday due to “logistical reasons,” according to a statement by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from Reuters and the Cradle; others or just headlines are accessible by clicking on their names below. (YEMEN 4-28-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  IRAN, SYRIA, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for today’s date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Israel says it intercepted missile fired from Yemen; Houthis claim responsibility, by Muhammad Al Gebaly and Menna Alaa El-Din | Reuters  CAIRO — Israel’s military said today it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen and Houthi forces claimed responsibility for the attack, the third of its kind by the Iran-aligned group in 24 hours. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 2  Pentagon orders USS Truman to remain in Red Sea amid ineffective Yemen bombing campaign. From the Cradle. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday ordered the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier to remain in West Asia for another week. It’s the second time its deployment has been extended amid ongoing military operations against Yemen. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to four reports: from the Cradle, Middle East Eye, the Anadolu Agency, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (SYRIA 5-2-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  IRAN, YEMEN, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Israel evacuates Syrian Druze, deploys forces to ‘defend’ minority. From the Cradle. Israeli forces have deployed to southern Syria in the wake of a week of fighting between Druze militias and Sunni extremists affiliated with the Syrian government, the Israeli military announced today. READ MORE . . .

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Israel launches further air strikes on Syria amid Druze tensions. From Middle East Eye. Israel launched around 20 air strikes on Syria late today in what the country’s new rulers branded as a “dangerous escalation.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Israel hit military targets across Syria in the “heaviest” bombardment so far this year. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Anadolu Agency.

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FROM MAY 2  What is behind the latest round of clashes in Syria between Druze and pro-government gunmen, by Bassem Mroue | AP  BEIRUT — Four days of clashes between pro-government gunmen and members of a minority sect in Syria have left nearly 100 people dead and raised fears of deadly sectarian violence. The country is deeply divided as it tries . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to nine reports: from the Anadolu Agency, the Cradle, the Associated Press, Reuters, Middle East Monitor, and Middle East Eye; others or just headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 5-2-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  IRAN, YEMEN, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for today’s date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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29 Palestinians, including infant, killed in Israeli attacks on southern Gaza, by Nour Abuaisha, Hosni Nedim and Ikram Kouachi | Anadolu Agency  GAZA CITY, Palestine / ANKARA — At least 29 Palestinians, including an infant, were killed early today in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip. READ MORE . . .

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Netanyahu rejects comprehensive ceasefire, insists on fragmenting truce issues: Hamas, by Mohammad Majid and Ahmed Asmar | Anadolu Agency  GAZA CITY, Palestine / ANKARA — Hamas said Friday that it presented a vision based on a five-year ceasefire to Israel that was rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Cradle.

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Groups fear Israeli proposal for controlling aid in Gaza will forcibly displace people, by Sam Mednick and Lee Keath | AP  TEL AVIV — Israel has blocked aid from entering Gaza for two months and says it won’t allow food, fuel, water or medicine into the besieged territory until it puts in place a system giving it control over the distribution. But officials from the U.N. and aid groups say . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 2  Israeli security cabinet backs plans to expand Gaza war: reports. From Reuters. Israel’s security cabinet approved plans for an expanded war on the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported on Friday, adding to signs that attempts to stop the onslaught and return captives held by Hamas have made no progress. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 2  U.S., Israel near deal on aid delivery to Gaza, Axios reports. From Reuters. United States, Israel and representatives of a new international foundation are close to an agreement on how to resume the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza without it being controlled by Hamas, Axios reported on Friday, citing two Israeli officials and one U.S. source.

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FROM MAY 2  Gaza-bound aid ship rescued by Malta after drone attack. From Middle East Monitor. A humanitarian aid ship bound for Gaza with 16 people on board left crippled by a drone attack was rescued by Maltese forces, local media reported Friday. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for two reports from Middle East Eye.

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For today, links to four reports: from the Kyiv Independent, the Moscow Times, the Associated Press and Reuters, and to commentary from Kyiv Post; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (UKRAINE 5-2-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  IRAN, YEMEN, SYRIA and GAZA entries for today’s date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Ukrainian sea drone downs Russian fighter jet in ‘world-first’ strike, intelligence says, by Anna Fratsyvir | The Kyiv Independent  A Russian Su-30 fighter jet was destroyed by a sea drone strike carried out by Ukraine’s military intelligence, marking the first time a sea drone takes down a jet, Ukraine’s military intelligence said today. READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky says won’t play Putin’s ‘games’ with short truce, by Barbara Wojazer | AFP  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed a three-day truce ordered by Russian leader Vladimir Putin as theatrics but said Kyiv was ready for a full ceasefire. READ MORE . . .

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Russian drone attack wounds 47 in Ukraine’s second city of Kharkiv, by Hanna Arhirova | AP  KYIV — A Russian drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, wounded 47 people, officials said, and prompted another appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for more decisive support from the country’s allies. READ MORE . . .

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Russia declares state of emergency at port after Ukrainian drone attack on Novorossiisk. From Reuters. MOSCOW — The mayor of the Russian port city of Novorossiisk declared a state of emergency today after local authorities said a Ukrainian drone attack had damaged a grain terminal and several residential buildings, injuring five people. READ MORE . . .

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Stop attacking or stop resisting: Which comes first? by Jonathan Sweet and Mark Toth | Kyiv Post  Ceasefire negotiations between Ukraine and Russia have reached a critical impasse. Russia continues its offensive operations, while Ukraine persists in its defensive efforts. READ MORE . . .

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For today, belatedly, links to four reports: from Reuters, the Kyiv Independent, and Tass, and to commentary from the Associated Press and Kyiv Post; other articles or just headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 5-1-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  SYRIA, GAZA and MEDIA entries for today’s date are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Russia says it is creating ‘security strip’ in Ukraine’s Sumy region. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Russia said today its forces were continuing to create a “security strip” in border areas of Ukraine’s Sumy region after driving Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region, just across the border in western Russia. READ MORE . . .

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Trump’s team prepares economic options against Russia, Bloomberg reports, by Kateryna Denisova and news desk | The Kyiv Independent American officials prepared a number of options for U.S. President Donald Trump to increase economic pressure on Moscow in response . . . READ MORE . . .

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Peace in exchange for land? For many Ukrainians, it’s too painful to contemplate, by Olena Harmash | Reuters  KYIV — Vitali Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxer who is now mayor of Kyiv, ventured last month into hazardous political territory: he delicately suggested in an interview that Ukraine might need to . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S. keeps on trying to settle conflict in Ukraine — Rubio. From Tass. NEW YORK — The United States does not give up on the matter of settling the conflict in Ukraine but realizes that there are plenty of more important problems across the globe, acting National Security Adviser and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox News. READ MORE . . .

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A U.S.-led effort to end the war in Ukraine looks favorable to Russia, but mixed signals emerge, by Dasha Litvinova | AP  TALLINN — What has emerged so far from the Washington-led effort to end the war in Ukraine  . . . READ MORE . . .

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The Trump bid to end the Russia-Ukraine war fast ends in shambles, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  A 100-day attempt by the United States led by President Donald J. Trump to impose a quick end to the Russo-Ukrainian War has failed and so the White House will wash its hands of the mess and move on, administration officials admitted on Thursday. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to five reports: from the Cradle, the Associated Press, Reuters, and Middle East Monitor; others or just headlines of others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (SYRIA 5-1-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE, GAZA and MEDIA entries for today’s date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Israel bombs vicinity of Syrian presidential palace in ‘clear warning’ to Sharaa. From the Cradle. Israel bombed the vicinity of Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s residential compound near the Presidential Palace in Damascus early today, in what it described as “a clear message to the Syrian regime.” READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from AP and Reuters.

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Islamic, Druze senior elders call for civil peace in Syria. From Middle East Monitor. The head of the Islamic Movement in Israel, Sheikh Raed Salah, and senior Druze elders have called for spreading and maintaining civil peace in Syria, stressing that the Druze “do not need external protection from anyone.” READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 1  Syria signs 30-year deal with French shipping giant to operate Latakia Port. From the Cradle. Syria’s de facto authorities signed a 30-year contract with French shipping giant CMA CGM on Thursday to develop and run the port of Latakia, Syria’s main maritime gateway. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to five reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, Middle East Eye, and Agence France-Presse, and to articles of commentary from or via Middle East Eye; others or headlines anyway are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 5-1-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE, SYRIA and MEDIA entries for today’s date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Drones strike ship carrying aid to Gaza, organizers say, by Sam Mednick and Renata Brito | AP  TEL AVIV — Drones attacked a vessel carrying aid to Gaza while it was in international waters off Malta today, the group organizing the shipment said. A fire broke out but was brought under control, according to authorities. A nearby tugboat . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters, and HERE and HERE for May 2 and April 19 reports from Middle East Eye.

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Gaza humanitarian work on ‘verge of total collapse’: Red Cross. From AFP. GENEVA — The Red Cross warned today that the humanitarian response in Gaza was on the “verge of total collapse” after two months of Israel blocking aid to the war-torn Palestinian territory. READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 25  All those who have stood by as Israel exterminates Gaza are guilty, by Ahmed Abu Artema | Middle East Eye Israel’s genocide in Gaza, now into its 19th month, aims to destroy all life and dismantle the very foundations of survival in the besieged territory. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 1  Why I wrote an expert report against the UK’s classing Hamas as a terror group, by Jonathan Cook | jonathan-cook.net / Middle East Eye  This is the first time I have had to begin an opinion column with both a journalistic disclosure and a legal disclaimer. But hey ho, these are dystopian times we live in. The disclosure: I was one of . . . Click HERE to read article and for video of an interview from Unapologetc.

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