For today, links to three reports: from Middle East Eye, the Cradle, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for LEBANON 12-2-25.  Scroll up for today’s WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries.) — MCM

–   –   –

Lebanon and Israel hold first direct talks since 1983. From Middle East Eye. Israel and Lebanon held their first direct meeting in decades today, one year after a ceasefire agreement ended a war with Hezbollah. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Cradle.

–   –   –

FROM DEC. 2  Pope Leo XIV sends message of support to southern Lebanon as he ends 1st foreign trip, by Nicole Winfield, Kareen Chehayeb and Bassem Mroue | AP  BEIRUT — Pope Leo XIV prayed today at the site of a deadly 2020 Beirut port explosion that has become a symbol of dysfunction and official impunity and called for justice to prevail, as he offered words of consolation to . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. 

For today, links to four reports: from Middle East Eye and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (Scroll down for GAZA 12-1-25 — and for WEST BANK, UKRAINE and LEBANON entries.) — MCM

–   –   –

Israeli killings today and yesterday near ‘buffer zone’ yellow line. From Middle East Eye. Israel’s air force today killed three Palestinians including a photojournalist who crossed the yellow line in the “buffer zone” in Gaza, agreed upon as part of the ceasefire, in the southern and northern Gaza Strip. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Middle East Monitor.

How Israel’s genocide in Gaza extends to digital annihilation, by Sujoud Awais | Middle East Eye  Israel’s systematic destruction of Gaza has decimated Palestinians’ personal and collective archives — physical and digital, historical, cultural, academic and social — essentially stripping them of their legal existence. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Egypt says discussions ongoing with U.S. to hold Gaza reconstruction conference. From Middle East Monitor. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said today that Cairo is conducting consultations with the U.S. on an international conference for rebuilding the Gaza Strip following Israel’s two-year war on the enclave, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

.

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK 12-1-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  Scroll down for UKRAINE and LEBANON entries.) — MCM

–   –   –

Palestinians in the West Bank fear more attacks by Israeli settlers, by Julia Frankel | AP  TURMUS AYYA, West Bank — The fear is palpable in this Palestinian village. It’s clear in how farmers gather their harves  for the same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. ts quickly, how they scan the valley for movement, how they . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. 

–   –   –

Israeli settlers uproot hundreds of trees belonging to Palestinians in West Bank, by Mera Aladam | Middle East Eye  Israeli settlers stormed Palestinian agricultural land south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Monday, destroying hundreds of olive and grape trees, vandalising infrastructure and bulldozing fields, according to local media outlets and Bedouin rights groups. READ MORE . . .

.

For today, one link: to a report from the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (UKRAINE 12-1-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  And scroll up or down for GAZA, WEST BANK and LEBANON entries.) — MCM

–   –   –

Putin accuses Europeans of sabotaging peace efforts in Ukraine and meets U.S. delagation. From AP. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s accusations appeared to be his latest attempt to sow dissension between Trump and European countries and set the stage for exempting Moscow from blame for any lack of progress. Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. 

.

For today, links to three reports: from National Public Radio and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON 12-1-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  Scroll up for GAZA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries.) — MCM

–   –   –

Pope Leo holds final mass in Lebanon, ending maiden trip to Middle East. Reported by Jane Arraf and Leila Fadel | NPR  Pope Leo ended his first overseas trip today with a Mass along the Beirut waterfront. Click HERE to listen and, later, read, and HERE for report from Middle East Eye.

–   –   –

FROM DEC. 1  Pope pushes interfaith dialogue in Lebanon, a country once torn by sectarian war, by Ruth Sherlock | NPR  The pope is calling for interfaith harmony in a country still haunted by sectarian divides. Click HERE to listen and read. 

.

NOTE: Everything will be hours late today. — MCM

For today, links to reports from Middle East Eye and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (WEST BANK 11-30-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  Scroll down as well for the GAZA, COVID ETC., LEBANON, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date.) — MCM

 –   –   –

Armed Israeli settlers uproot about 850 olive and grape trees near Hebron. From Middle East Eye. The trees uprooted today belong to a Palestinian family southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron, according to activist Osama Makhamreh speaking to Wafa news agency. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Canadian, Italian activists brutally beaten by Jewish settlers in West Bank village. From the Cradle. Italian and Canadian activists were attacked by Jewish settlers on Sunday in a village in the occupied West Bank while volunteering to help protect Palestinians. All four were hospitalized, one seriously. READ MORE . . .

.

For today, a link to a report from Middle East Monitor. (GAZA 11-29-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  Scroll up or down as well for the WEST BANK, LEBANON, COVID ETC., UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date.) — MCM

–   –   –

Israel supported looters attacking aid convoys in Gaza, says French historian. Middle East Monitor. Israel deliberately backed looters who attacked aid convoys in Gaza — part of a calculated campaign to undermine Palestinian authorities and international humanitarian agencies, prominent French historian Jean-Pierre Filiu has revealed. READ MORE . . .

.

For today, links to two reports from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (COVID ETC. 9-5-25 is HERE.  Scroll up or down for the WEST BANK, GAZA, LEBANON, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date.) — MCM

–   –   –

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.

–   –   –

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.

.

For today, links to four reports: from the Associated Press, the Cradle, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (LEBANON 11-29-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.  Or scroll up or down for the WEST BANK, GAZA, COVID ETC., UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date.) — MCM

–   –   –

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.

–   –   –

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 . . .

.