For today, links to eleven reports: from Reuters, the Kyiv Independent, National Public Radio, Agence France-Presse, Kyiv Post, the Associated Press, and Tass; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 8-14–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Trump heads to ‘high stakes’ Alaska summit with Putin on Ukraine. From Reuters. Donald Trump headed to Alaska today for what he called a “high stakes” summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin to discuss a ceasefire deal for Ukraine to help end the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Trump and Putin meet in Anchorage today. Reported by Tamara Keith, Danielle Kurtzleben and Franco Ordoñez | NPR  President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in Anchorage today to talk about Ukraine. Here’s what to know. READ MORE . . . 

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Trump speaks to Belarus leader ahead of Alaska summit with Putin. From AFP. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko — a close ally of Vladimir Putin — by telephone today, hours ahead of the US and Russian leaders’ summit in Alaska. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian defenses face a challenge as Russian troops make gains ahead of the Putin-Trump summit, by Hanna Arhirova | AP DONETSK REGION, Ukraine — Days before the leaders of Russia and the U.S. hold a summit meeting in Alaska, Moscow’s forces breached Ukrainian lines in a series of infiltrations in the country’s industrial heartland of Donetsk. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine reserves contain Russian penetration threatening critical Pokrovsk sector, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  Ukrainian forces are counterattacking a dangerous Russian penetration of defenses in the operationally critical eastern Pokrovsk sector, but a dangerous 10-kilometer (6-mile) deep salient carved out into Ukrainian lines by infiltrating Russian infantry is far from eliminated, news reports and official statements said today. READ MORE . . .

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No longer isolated, Russia sees opportunity as Putin and Trump meet in Alaska. Reported by Charles Maynes and A Martínez | NPR  Vladimir Putin was once an international pariah because of Russia’s war in Ukraine, but now he’s secured a meeting with President Trump to negotiate an end to the conflict. The Kremlin is portraying it as an opportunity for economic cooperation with the U.S. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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A former U.S. ambassador to Russia on the Trump-Putin summit. Michel Martin of NPR speaks with former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul about the diplomatic dynamics ahead of today’s US-Russia summit in Alaska. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Russian offensive unstoppable, this is main reason for U.S. wish to hold summit — expert. From Tass. RIO DE JANEIRO — “This [summit] meeting is driven by two significant aspects,” Brazilian military historian and political scientist Joao Pitilho said in an interview. “Firstly, the relentless advance of the Russian military . . . READ MORE . . .

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Sidelined from peace talks, Ukrainians watch as Trump meets Putin in Alaska. Reported by Greg Myre and Michel Martin | NPR  Ukrainians are concerned that not being included in the summit will force the country to make concessions. Russia has pushed back against including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in talks to end the war until a deal is reached by both sides. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Ukrainian historian Yaroslav Hrytsak on the path ahead for his country. Reported by A Martínez | NPR  Ukrainians say peace can’t be achieved in their war with Russia without Ukraine being involved. Yaroslav Hrytsak, a historian at Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, talks about what options Ukrainians think they have. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Links to a report from National Public Radio and to a conversation from the Guardian (USA); other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (MEDIA 8-12-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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FROM AUG. 13  Committee to Protect Journalists CEO discusses killing of journalists in Gaza. Reported by Leila Fadel | NPR  Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, talks about the targeted killing of six journalists in Gaza, including prominent Al Jazeera reporter Anas al-Sharif. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM AUG. 8  ‘Nobody believes in the future anymore’: How to wake up from the post-truth nightmare, by Adam Curtis and Ari Aster, with Paul MacInnis | The Guardian (USA)  From the intro: “Paranoia is exploited to control us. Movies are groomed to flatter us. And trauma has been twisted to make us blame ourselves. How can we make sense of our lives? Film-makers Curtis and Aster try to navigate the chaos.” READ MORE . . .

NOTE: Links to all segments of Curtis’s BBC documentary series “Shifty” are accessible, at least for now, by typing “Paul MacInnis CBC Adam Curtis Ari Aster” into a search engine.

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For today, links to reports from Middle East Monitor, Anadolu Ajansi, the Cradle, and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA 8-13-25 and is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for today are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Over 14,800 patients in Gaza need urgent life-saving treatment unavailable locally. From Middle East Monitor. The director-general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced on Wednesday that over 14,800 patients in the Gaza Strip are in urgent need of life-saving medical care, which is currently unavailable in the region. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from Anadolu Ajansi.

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Turkiye pressures Hamas to disarm, return to negotiations: report. From the Cradle. Turkiye has been pressuring Hamas to disarm and resume negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza, a Palestinian source told Israeli newspaper Haaretz today. READ MORE . . . 

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Arab countries condemn Netanyahu’s ‘Greater Israel’ comment. From Middle East Eye. Iraq has joined a growing list of Arab countries condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments voicing support for a “Greater Israel.” READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to five reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, Middle East Eye, and the Cradle; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK 8-11-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries for today are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Israel announces West Bank settlement that rights groups say could imperil Palestinian state, by Ohad Zwigenberg and Melanie Lidman | AP  MAALE ADUMIM, West Bank — Israel’s far-right finance minister announced approval of contentious new settlement construction in the Israeli-occupied West Bank today, which Palestinians and rights groups worry will scuttle plans for a future Palestinian state by effectively cutting the West Bank into two separate parts. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters, Middle East Eye and the Cradle.

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Arab countries condemn Netanyahu’s ‘Greater Israel’ comment. From Middle East Eye. Iraq has joined a growing list of Arab countries condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments voicing support for a “Greater Israel.” READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from the Moscow Times, the Associated Press, Kyiv Post, Reuters, the Kyiv Independent, Tass, Agence France-Presse, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 8-13–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and WEST BANK entry for today are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Ukrainian drone attacks across southern Russia injure at least 16 people, From the Moscow Times. Authorities said the series of attacks hospitalized 13 people in Rostov-on-Don and three in the city of Belgorod. READ MORE . . .

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Explosions rock Russia’s Volgograd, Lukoil refinery hit overnight, by Julia Struck | Kyiv Post  A series of drone strikes hit Russia’s Volgograd region early today, igniting a fire at a major oil refinery. The region’s governor said falling drone debris . . . READ MORE . . .

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Top Kremlin aides and ministers to join Putin in Alaska. From the Moscow Times. Russia’s foreign, defense and finance ministers and two senior Kremlin aides will accompany President Vladimir Putin for his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska this week, officials in Moscow said today. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from the Kyiv Independent and Tass.

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Zelenskyy meets with UK’s Starmer as Europe braces for Trump-Putin summit, by Pan Pylas and AP  LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to London today in a show of the U.K.’s support for Ukraine a day before a critical U.S.-Russia summit is set to take place in Alaska. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for second AP report, and HERE for one from Kyiv Post. 

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FROM AUG. 13  Trump warns of ‘severe consequences’ if Putin does not agree to stop war after summit, by Geir Moulson, Sylvie Corbet, Stefanie Dario and Lorne Cook | AP  BERLIN — President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that there will be “very severe consequences” if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to stop the war against Ukraine after the two leaders meet for a summit later this week in Alaska. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters, NPR and AFP.

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FROM AUG. 13  Ukrainians want an end to Russia’s war, but remain wary of the Trump-Putin meeting. Reported by Greg Myre | NPR  Many Ukrainians want an end to years of war, but are reacting with wariness to President Trump’s upcoming meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Click HERE to listen and read.

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For today, links to eight reports: from Middle East Monitor, the Times of Israel, the Associated Press, Reuters, Middle East Eye, and the Cradle, and to commentary via Middle East Eye; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 8-12–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Netanyahu says he is on historic mission for greater Israel. From Middle East Monitor. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is on a historic and spiritual mission and strongly supports a “Greater Israel” vision — a mission, he claims, that includes the occupied Palestinian territories and parts of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Times of Israel.

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Israeli gunfire kills at least 25 seeking aid in Gaza as Netanyahu says he will allow Palestinians to leave, by Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy | AP  TEL AVIV — Israeli gunfire killed at least 25 people seeking aid in Gaza today, health officials and witnesses said, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters and Middle East Eye. 

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FROM AUG. 12  Gaza suffering has reached ‘unimaginable’ levels, say 26 foreign ministers. From Reuters. The foreign ministers of 26 countries on Tuesday called on Israel to allow unrestricted aid into Gaza. They included the foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, Australia and several of their European allies — but not Germany or Hungary. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 12  Israel is in talks to possibly resettle Palestinians from Gaza in South Sudan, by Sam Mednick | AP  TEL AVIV — Israel is in discussions with South Sudan about the possibility of resettling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to the war-torn East African country, part of a wider effort by Israel to facilitate mass emigration . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 12  Israel’s army formed special intel unit to ‘justify killing’ of hundreds of Gaza journalists. From the Cradle. Israeli investigative journalist Yuval Abraham said on Monday that Israel’s military intelligence created a special unit aimed specifically at justifying attacks in Gaza, including the killing of journalists. READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s plan for ‘full control’ of Gaza heralds a new Nakba — so the West is panicking, by Jonathan Cook | Middle East Eye  If you thought western capitals were finally losing patience with Israel’s engineering of a famine in Gaza nearly two years into the genocide, you may be disappointed. Even if the extreme hunger and malnourishment . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to eight reports: from the Associated Press, Kyiv Post, Reuters, Tass, Agence France-Presse, the Moscow Times, and the Kyiv Independent; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 8-12–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA entry for this date is HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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German chancellor says European leaders and Zelenskyy had ‘constructive’ meeting with Trump, by Stefanie Dazio and Lorne Cook | AP  BERLIN — European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a “constructive” discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump today, two days ahead of Trump’s planned meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

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Trump wants Ukraine to have say on territory talks with Russia, Macron says. From Reuters. BERLIN — U.S. President Donald Trump has said Ukraine must be involved in talks about territory in any ceasefire deal with Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron said today. READ MORE . . .

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Trilateral Russia-U.S.-Ukraine summit may be held next week — CBS. From Tass. WASHINGTON — The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is looking for a venue for a trilateral summit with Russia and Ukraine to be held at the end of next week, the CBS News television reported citing own sources. READ MORE . . .

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Russian army says it captured 2 villages near Dobropillia in eastern Ukraine. From AFP. Russia’s military said today that it captured two villages close to Dobropillia, a former coal mining town in eastern Ukraine that remains under the Ukrainian army’s control. READ MORE  . . .  Click HERE for Aug. 12 report from the Moscow Times.

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Local Ukrainian counterattacks retake lost ground, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  News reports and unit statements say Ukrainian troops have retaken lost ground in the northern Sumy region and elsewhere, but successful counter-attacks by Kyiv’s forces . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia aims to build 79,000 Shahed-type drones in 2025, Ukraine’s military intelligence says, by Tim Zadorozhnyy | The Kyiv Independent  Russia plans to produce 79,000 Shahed-type drones in 2025, Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, said on Tuesday. READ MORE . . .

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First, a link to a report from Reuters; headlines of others are accessible by clicking on its namebelow. (GAZA 8-11-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE and  MEDIA entries for today, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israel bombards Gaza City overnight, Hamas leader due in Cairo. From Reuters. CAIRO — Israeli planes and tanks kept bombarding eastern areas of Gaza City overnight, killing at least 11, witnesses and medics said today, with Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya due in Cairo for talks to revive a US-backed ceasefire plan. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to eight reports: from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, the Moscow Times, the Kyiv Independent, Reuters, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names and initials below. (UKRAINE 8-11–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and MEDIA entries for today, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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EU leaders urge Trump to defend Europe’s security interests at his upcoming summit with Putin, by Lorne Cook | AP  BRUSSELS — European Union leaders today appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to defend their security interests at a key summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin later this week over the war in Ukraine. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from AFP.

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Russian forces breach Ukrainian defenses in drive toward Pokrovsk. From the Moscow Times. Russian troops have pierced a small but important section of the front line in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, positioning themselves for a possible encirclement of the nearby city of Pokrovsk, military analysts said on Monday. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for report from Kyiv Post and the Kyiv Independent.

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Russia makes sudden advance in Ukraine before summit, maps show, by Andrew Osborn | Reuters  MOSCOW — Russian forces have made a sudden thrust into eastern Ukraine near the coal mining town of Dobropillia, a move that may be designed to increase the pressure on Kyiv to give up land as the U.S. and Russian presidents prepare to meet. READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops strike Ukrainian military-industrial sites. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops struck Ukrainian military-industrial sites, ammunition depots and an army training center over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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Land swaps with Russia are not only unpopular in Ukraine. They’re also illegal, by Samya Kullab | AP  KYIV — A peace deal that requires Kyiv to accept swapping Ukrainian territory with Russia would not only be deeply unpopular. It also would be illegal under its constitution. That’s why . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For now, links to commentary from the Associated Press and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (MEDIA 8-11-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries for today, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Journalist killing in Gaza sends a chilling message, by David Bauder | AP  Israel’s targeted killing of an Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza over the weekend was noteworthy even for a conflict remarkably blood-soaked for journalists, leaving some experts to marvel that any news at all emerges from the territory. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 11  The brave MEE contributor who never lost hope, by Mera Aladam | Middle East Eye  Mohammed Qreiqeh was well-known for his eloquent way of speaking, a skill he displayed to the world on Sunday in a live TV report just moments before Israel killed him. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED