For today, links to eleven reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Tass, Anadolu Agency, National Public Radio, and Agence France-Presse, and an to interview from NPR; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 6-1-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, IRAN, WEST BANK and LEBANON entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Ukraine and Russia end their latest round of direct peace talks in Istanbul, by Mehmet Guzel | AP  ISTANBUL — The latest round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine ended today after just over an hour, according to Russian state media and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Speaking in Vilnius, Lithuania, Zelenskyy said a new release of prisoners of war was being prepared. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Tass and Anadolu Agency.

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Ukraine destroys Russian bombers with shocking barrage of drones ahead of peace talks. Reported by Charles Maynes and Joanna Kakissis | NPR  MOSCOW / KYIV — Ukraine attacked Russia with a series of drone strikes on military air bases deep in the Russian heartland on Sunday — an operation that appeared timed to influence a new round of Russian-Ukrainian ceasefire talks set to take place in Istanbul today. Click HERE to listen and read, and HERE for June 1 report from AP.

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FROM JUNE 1  Seven dead, dozens hurt as Russian bridges near Ukraine collapse. From AFP. The overnight collapses of two bridges in Russian regions bordering Ukraine that killed seven people were caused by explosions, Russian officials said Sunday, treating them as “acts of terrorism.” READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 1  Russia and Ukraine step up the war on eve of peace talks. From Reuters. On the eve of peace talks, Ukraine and Russia sharply ramped up the war with one of the biggest drone battles of their conflict, a Russian highway bridge blown up over a passenger train and an ambitious attack on nuclear-capable bombers deep in Siberia. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 1  Ukrainian proposals for June 2 talks with Russia in Istanbul. From Reuters. KYIV — Reuters has seen the text of the peace proposals that Ukrainian negotiators plan to present to the Russian side at peace talks scheduled to take place on Monday in Istanbul — and publishes the text here in full with no changes. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 1  As Ukraine war drags on, what does Russian President Vladimir Putin want? Reported by Marc Rivers, Scott Detrow and John Ketchum | NPR  Angela Stent, professor emeritus at Georgetown University, talks about what motivates Russian President Vladimir Putin as talks to end the war in Ukraine continue. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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For today, links to two reports from the Cradle and to an interview from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (IRAN 6-1-25 is HERE, or scroll down. GAZA, UKRAINE, WEST BANK and LEBANON entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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U.S. hits pause on ‘maximum pressure’ sanctions on Iran: report. From the Cradle. The U.S. government has ordered a “pause” on its “maximum pressure” policy of sanctions against Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. A source told the newspaper that a directive . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 1  Iran slams IAEA report as politically motivated, based on forged Israeli documents. From the Cradle. Iran voiced its strong protest on Saturday against a report issued by the head of the UN nuclear watchdog regarding Tehran’s nuclear program, saying it was issued “with political objectives and through pressures,” is based in part on forged Israeli documents, and goes beyond the UN nuclear chief’s mandate. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 1  What’s at stake in the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks? Scott Detrow of NPR  speaks with former Iran nuclear negotiator Seyed Hossein Mousavian about the ongoing talks between the U.S. and Iran over the latter’s nuclear program. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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For today, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (WEST BANK 6-1-25 is HERE, or scroll down. GAZA, UKRAINE, IRAN and LEBANON entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.)

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FROM MAY 30   Israeli war chief vows to build ‘Jewish state’ in occupied West Bank. From the Cradle. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed on Friday that Tel Aviv will build a “Jewish Israeli state” in the occupied West Bank, while affirming the rejection of Palestinian statehood in a “clear message” to French President Emmanuel Macron. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from Middle East Monitor and the Cradle, and to an essay from Informed Comment; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (LEBANON 5-10-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, UKRAINE, IRAN and WEST BANK entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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FROM MAY 29  Israel army infiltrates southern Lebanon town. From Middle East Monitor. Forces from the Israeli occupation army infiltrated into the outskirts of the southern Lebanon border town of Bleida Wednesday evening, Lebanese media sources reported today according to the Palestinian Information Centre. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 1  U.S. deputy envoy behind Hezbollah disarmament campaign to be replaced: report. From the Cradle. U.S. Deputy Special Envoy to the region Morgan Ortagus, who has been in charge of Washington’s Lebanon policy, is soon to be removed from her position and reassigned to another role, according to U.S. and Israeli reports. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 1  Genetic study shows ‘Phoenicians,’ like all ‘nations,’ were a multi-ethnic franchise, by Juan Cole | Informed Comment / ScheerPost  ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Harald Ringbauer et al. writing in Nature report on a genetic study of the ancient Phoenicians that is really going to anger Lebanese Christian nationalists. In fact, it contains a profound lesson for nationalists and nationalism in general, which is . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to nine reports: from Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, Middle East Eye, the Cradle, and Drop Site News, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 5-31-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  MEDIA, UKRAINE, WEST BANK, SYRIA and IRAN entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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UNWRA head says ‘aid distribution has become a death trap.’ From AFP. The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Gaza “aid distribution has become a death trap,” citing reports from medics on the ground of “mass casualties” among starving civilians this morning. READ MORE . . .

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At least 31 Palestinians are killed while heading to a Gaza aid hub, officials and witnesses say, by Mohammad Jahjouh and Samy Magdy | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — At least 31 people were killed and scores were wounded today as they were on their way to receive food in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials and multiple witnesses. The witnesses said Israeli forces fired on crowds around a kilometer away from an aid site run by an Israeli-backed foundation. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters, NPR,  Middle East Eye and the Cradle. 

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FROM MAY 27  Weaponizing food aid: The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Jeremy Scahill and Ryan Grim of Drop Site News talk about how the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the U.S.-Israeli aid scheme operating in southern and central Gaza, is being used . . . Click HERE for intro and video of report.

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FROM MAY 30  Hamas says U.S.. ceasefire proposal ‘perpetuates’ Israel’s mass killing, starvation policies. From the Cradle. Hamas announced on Friday that the new U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza “fails to meet any of the just and legitimate demands of our people,” including an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Reuters reported. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from Reuters. 

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How humanitarian aid became a tool to empty Gaza, by Greg Pence | Middle East Monitor  In the history of modern conflict, perhaps no narrative is as disturbing as the deliberate misuse of humanitarian aid to achieve geopolitical goals. Gaza now faces . . . READ MORE . . .

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A link to a note from a co-founder of Drop Site News; other information is accessible by clicking on its name below. (MEDIA 5-28-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, UKRAINE, WEST BANK, SYRIA and IRAN entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM JULY 17, 2024  Why I started Drop Site News, by Jeremy Scahill | Drop Site News  A year ago, I never would have imagined writing this note, not to mention publishing on Substack. But here I am. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to seven reports: from Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, and Tass, and to commentary from AP and ScheerPost; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 5-31-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, MEDIA, WEST BANK, SYRIA and IRAN entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE,  HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Ukraine’s SBU drone blitz destroys 41 Russian bombers in deep strike, by Alisa Orlova and Kateryna Zakharchenko | Kyiv Post  A long-planned special operation damaged or destroyed 41 Russian military aircraftin a series of drone strikes launched from trucks parked near Russian airbases today, according to sources within Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU). READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Ukraine attacks Russian nuclear-capable bombers in Siberia. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Ukraine attacked Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers at a military base in Siberia on Sunday, the first such attack so far from the front lines more than 4,300 km away, according to pro-Russian bloggers. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for earlier report. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from AFP.

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Zelenskyy says Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for talks with Russia on Monday, by Samya Kullab | AP  KYIV — Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, even as Russia pounded Ukraine with a missile strike that killed 12 soldiers and the biggest drone assault of the three-year war. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Putin’s tough stance on a Ukraine peace plan shows his resolve on Russia’s demands. From AP. By making harsh, uncompromising demands in peace talks with Ukraine while continuing to pummel it with waves of missiles and drones, Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending a clear message: He will only accept a settlement on his terms and will keep fighting until they’re met. At the same time . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 31  War in our time, by Patrick Lawrence | Original to ScheerPost  BERLIN — Friedrich Merz has been in office as Germany’s new chancellor a matter of weeks, and already he has the German capital aflutter with worry about the increasing danger of a third world war. While Germans are fearful of such a prospect, the Russians are warning of it. In recent remarks . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces liberate Alekseyevka in Ukraine’s Sumy region — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces have liberated Alekseyevka in the Sumy Region, Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to four reports: from the Cradle, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, and Middle East Eye. (WEST BANK 5-31-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, MEDIA, UKRAINE, SYRIA and IRAN entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM MAY 31  Arab diplomats condemn Israel for barring West Bank visit. From the Cradle. The foreign ministers of five Arab countries who had planned to visit the occupied Palestinian West Bank this weekend condemned Israel’s decision to block their plans. READ MORE . . .

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Saudi FM says blocking of West Bank delegation shows Israeli rejection of peace process. From AFP. Israel’s blocking of a visit by Arab diplomats to the occupied West Bank showed its “rejection of . . . a diplomatic path to peace,” Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 31  Israel blocks Ramallah meeting with Arab ministers, Israeli official says. From Reuters. JERUSALEM: Israel will not allow a planned meeting in the Palestinian administrative capital of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, to go ahead, an Israeli official said on Saturday, after media reported that Arab ministers planning to attend had been stopped from coming. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Middle East Eye.

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For today, links to reports from the Cradle and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (SYRIA 5-25-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, MEDIA, UKRAINE, WEST BANK and  IRAN entries for this date are HERE, HERE,  HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) —MCM

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FROM MAY 31  ‘Syria and Israel share common enemies’: Sharaa. From the Cradle. Syria’s self-appointed interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa declared during an interview with the Jewish Journal that Israel and Syria share “common enemies” and said he is ready to engage with Tel Aviv if there is “a clear path to coexistence.” READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 30  Israeli strikes target Syria’s Latakia, Tartous, by Maya Gebeily, Jaidaa Taha and Muhammad Al Gebaly | Reuters  CAIRO — Israeli strikes targeted Syria’s coastal cities of Latakia and Tartous, killing one person, the Syrian state news agency reported on Friday, despite recent talks between Israel and Syria’s interim government. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 28  British NGO behind ‘makeover’ of Al-Qaeda leader turned Syrian president. From the Cradle. A British NGO with ties to the UK government was behind the rebranding and political training of Ahmad al-Sharaa, the former Al-Qaeda chief known previously as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, according to a report by Independent Arabia and recent comments by a former U.S. diplomat. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (IRAN 4-29-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, MEDIA, UKRAINE, WEST BANK and SYRIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.)— MCM

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After report about Iran’s increasing uranium stockpiles, Iranian FM stresses Iran’s cooperation, by Melanie Lidman | AP  DUBAI — The Iranian Foreign Minister spoke by phone with the director of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog agency early this morning after a report from the agency said Iran is further increasing its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 31  Iran minister says Oman presented elements of a U.S. proposal for nuclear deal, by Menna Alaa El-Din, Muhammed Al Gebaly and Matt Spetalnick | Reuters  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said his Omani counterpart presented elements of a U.S. proposal for a nuclear deal between Tehran and Washington during a short visit to Tehran on Saturday. Araqchi said that Iran . . . READ MORE. . . .

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