For today, links to two reports, an appreciation, and words from an interview, all from the Moscow Times; other published material is accessible by clicking on its name below. (MEDIA 7-28-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, SYRIA, IRAN and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM JULY 31  Derk Sauer, Moscow Times founder and Dutch media entrepreneur, dies at 72. From the Moscow Times. Derk Sauer, the Dutch media entrepreneur who founded The Moscow Times, died on Thursday at age 72, his family said in a statement. He died from injuries sustained in a sailing accident . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for a second report and HERE for an appreciation, both from the Moscow Times.

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FROM OCT. 19, 2017  Derk Sauer on journalism, Russia and being a black sheep. Michele A. Berdy of the Moscow Times sat down with her former boss and passed along some of what he said, beginning with: “I come from a standard middle-class family: my father was the director of a pension fund; my mother was a stay-at-home mom while we were young, but she . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to six reports: from Middle East Eye, National Public Radio, the Associated Press, and Middle East Monitor, and to commentary via the New York Times; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 7-30-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  LEBANON, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for today are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Sweden and the Netherlands call for EU to suspend Israel trade deal. From Middle East Eye. Sweden and the Netherlands have called on the European Union to suspend a trade deal with Israel over its assault on the Gaza Strip. READ MORE . . .

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Canada joins France and UK with plan to recognise Palestinian state. From Middle East Eye. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said that his country intends to formally recognise a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly in September, following similar announcements by France and the United Kingdom. He said late on Wednesday that . . . READ MORE . . .

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Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East makes his first trip to Israel since May. Reported by Emily Feng, Hannah Bloch and A Martínez | NPR  Steve Witkoff, United States Special Envoy to the Middle East, is making his first trip to Israel since May, at a moment when the U.N. warns Gaza is on the verge of all out famine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JULY 30  Dozens killed while seeking food in Gaza as U.S. envoy heads to Israel, by Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy and Sally Abou | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — At least 48 Palestinians were killed and dozens were wounded Wednesday while waiting for food at a crossing in the Gaza Strip, according to a hospital that received the casualties. Meanwhile, the U.S. Mideast envoy . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for later report from Middle East Eye.

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FROM JULY 30  Arab states urge Hamas to step aside for peace plan long rejected by Israel. From Middle East Monitor. In a bid to salvage the two-state solution, Arab states have urged Hamas to relinquish power in Gaza. Seventeen countries have . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 28  What we talk about when we talk about the right of return, by Sari Bashi in the New York Times  The Israeli government is now advancing plans to forcibly displace more Palestinians, mostly in Gaza but also in the West Bank. In early July, Defense Minister Israel Katz said he ordered . . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, and Middle East Monitor, and to commentary via the New York Times; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK 7-28-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  LEBANON, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for today are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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FROM JULY 30  Palestinians in West Bank village face new crisis as Israeli settlers cut off water, electricity. From Reuters. SUSIYA, West Bank — Palestinians in this village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank thought life could not get worse as Jewish settlers were attacking them repeatedly and ripping apart their precious olive groves. Then settlers armed with knives . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 29  A settler allegedly killed a Palestinian, and there’s video. Israel released him to house arrest, by Julia Frankel | AP  TEL AVIV — A radical Israeli settler accused of shooting and killing a Palestinian activist during a confrontation with unarmed Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, and who was filmed firing a pistol during the incident, was released under house arrest on Tuesday. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Middle East Monitor.

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FROM JULY 28  What we talk about when we talk about the right of return, by Sari Bashi in the New York Times  The Israeli government is now advancing plans to forcibly displace more Palestinians, mostly in Gaza but also in the West Bank. In early July, Defense Minister Israel Katz said he ordered . . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to six reports: from Reuters and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (LEBANON 7-15-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for today are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Lebanese president steps up calls for Hezbollah to disarm. From Reuters. BEIRUT — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stepped up his calls for Hezbollah to disarm today, suggesting failure to do so would give Israel an excuse to continue attacks and saying the issue would be on the agenda of a cabinet meeting next week. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 30  U.S declares ‘no Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon’ until Hezbollah disarms: report. From the Cradle. The U.S. is “ramping up pressure” on Lebanon to issue a cabinet decision committing to disarming Hezbollah before any talks can take place on Israel ending its attacks and withdrawing its forces occupying southern Lebanon, sources told Reuters on Wednesday. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 7-30-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  LEBANON, GAZA and WEST BANK entries for today are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Ukrainian Parliament approves law ensuring independence of anti-graft watchdogs, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Ukraine’s Parliament today overwhelmingly approved a bill presented by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that restores the independence of two of the country’s key anti-corruption watchdogs, reversing his . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian missile and drone attack hits Ukrainian capital Kyiv, killing 8 people and wounding 82, by Samya Kullab and AP  KYIV — Russia attacked Ukraine’s capital with missiles and drones overnight, killing at least eight people, including a 6-year-old boy, and wounding 82 others including 10 children, Ukrainian authorities said today.  READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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For today, links to nine reports: from National Public Radio, Le Monde, Middle East Eye, Middle East Monitor, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 7-29-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE and SONG entries for today are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM JULY 29  IRC head talks about his call to allow more aid as Gaza verges on famine. Reported by Juana Summers, Vincent Acovino and Patrick Jarenwattananon | NPR  Summers speaks with David Milliband, head of the International Rescue Committee, about his call to allow more aid to enter Gaza amid a food crisis on the verge of famine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Global pressure builds on Israel to let more aid into Gaza. Reported by Aya Batrawy and A Martínez | NPR  The U.K. says it plans to recognize a Palestinian state, as global pressure builds on Israel to let more aid into Gaza, where a UN-backed panel warns famine is already unfolding. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JULY 29  A ‘worst-case scenario of famine’ is unfolding in Gaza, a U.N.-backed report warns, by Willem Marx | NPR  A United Nations-affiliated organization that tracks food security worldwide has issued a dire alert confirming that a “worst-case” famine scenario is unfolding across the Gaza Strip. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 29  France to start airdrops of aid into Gaza on Friday. From Le Monde. France will air-drop 40 metric tons of aid into Gaza from Friday, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday, as UN-backed experts warned the Israeli-blockaded Palestinian territory was slipping into famine. READ MORE . . .

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Fifteen countries back French-led statement calling for recognition of Palestinian state. From Middle East Eye. Fifteen countries have signed a joint French-led declaration, demanding an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all captives held by Hamas, and calling for a two-state solution. Alphabetically, they are: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for report from Middle East Monitor and a second from Middle East Eye.

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FROM JULY 29  Trump says he will partner with Israel to run additional aid centers in Gaza, but details are scant, by Michelle L. Price | AP  WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday aboard Air Force One as he returned from a trip to Scotland that Israel would preside over the new food centers “to make sure the distribution is proper.” READ MORE . . .

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UN conference to discuss two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians. Steve Inskeep of NPR talks with Middle East expert Jon Alterman about a United Nations conference to advance a two-state solution as a way toward peace between Israel and Palestinians. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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For today, links to seven reports: from the Cradle, Tass, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, National Public Radio, and Kyiv Post; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 7-29-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and SONG entries for today are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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U.S., UK in secret talks with Ukrainian officials to ‘replace Zelensky’: report. From the Cradle. Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service has revealed that U.S. and British officials recently held a meeting in the Alps with top Ukrainian officials to discuss “replacing” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops strike Ukrainian army, mercenaries in 156 areas over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops struck deployment sites of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 156 areas 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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Russian missiles hit a Ukrainian army training ground, killing at least 3 soldiers, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — A Russian missile hit a Ukrainian army training ground, killing three soldiers and wounding 18 others, authorities said, in the latest attack to . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 29  Russian airstrike on Ukrainian prison kills 16, Kyiv says. From AFP. A Russian strike on a prison in central Ukraine overnight killed at least 16 people and wounded dozens more, Ukrainian officials said early Tuesday. Russia launched . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian parliament scrambles for votes to overturn contentious anti-corruption rollback, by Kateryna Denisova | The Kyiv Independent  Parliament passed a bill stripping the country’s anti-corruption agencies of their independence, to the sound of applause. A week later . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE to listen to report from NPR and, later, read.

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Ukrainian drones targeting Russian state railways, impact summer holiday travelers, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  Ukrainian long-range strikes have concentrated on Russia’s south-western rail network recently with the primary objective of damaging the Kremlin military supply to its troops in the east of Ukraine. A secondary goal . . . READ MORE . . .

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A link to a song from Apple Records via YouTube; others are accessible by clicking on various website links. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for today are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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FROM 1968  Piggies, by George Harrison, sung by the Beatles | Apple Records  Have you seen the little piggies crawling in the dirt? And for all . . .  Click HERE to listen and scroll down to read.

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Have you seen the little piggies crawling in the dirt? / And for all the little piggies, life is getting worse / Always having dirt to play around in

Have you seen the bigger piggies in their starched white shirts? / You will find the bigger piggies stirring up the dirt / Always have clean shirts to play around in

In their sties with all their backing / They don’t care what goes on around / In their eyes, there’s something lacking / What they need’s a damn good whacking

Everywhere there’s lots of piggies living piggy lives / You can see them out for dinner with their piggy wives / Clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon

(One more time)

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For today, links to 12 reports: from the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, the Cradle, Reuters, National Public Radio, and Middle East Monitor; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (GAZA 7-28-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE entry for today is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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‘Worst-case scenario of famine’ is happening in Gaza, food crisis experts say, by Sam Mednick and Cara Anna | AP  TEL AVIV — The “worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip,” the leading international authority on food crises said in a new alert tday, predicting “widespread death” without immediate action. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from Middle East Eye and the Cradle.

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Gaza death toll hits 60,000 as global monitor demands action to avert famine. From Reuters. A worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding in Gaza and immediate action is needed to end fighting and allow unimpeded aid access, a global hunger monitor warned today, saying failure to act now would result in widespread death. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Middle East Eye. 

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Food that Israel allows into Gaza only a fraction of what’s needed, aid groups say. Reported by Emily Feng and Steve Inskeep | NPR  For a third day, Israel will be trucking in and allowing air drops of some food and aid into Gaza during daily 10-hour pauses in the fighting in its war in Gaza. But is this aid enough? Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Two prominent Israeli rights groups say Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Reported by A Martínez | NPR  Two prominent Israeli rights groups say Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. NPR talks with Yuli Novak, executive director of B’Tselem, an organization that tracks human rights violations. Click HERE to listen and, later, read, and HERE for report from Middle East Eye.

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Israel rejects claims of genocide in Gaza raised by Israeli rights groups. From Middle East Monitor. The Israeli government on Monday rejected accusations by two local human rights groups that it is committing genocide in Gaza, calling the claim “a vile, politically motivated document.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the AP . . . READ MORE . . .

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War scholar discusses why he does not think there is a genocide in Gaza. Steve Inskeep of NPR speaks with John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, about why he doesn’t think there is a genocide in Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JULY 28  Trump breaks with Netanyahu over Gaza hunger, shortens deadline for Ukraine ceasefire. Reported by Franco Ordoñez | NPR  In Scotland, President Trump pledges more food aid for Gaza and threatens a tighter deadline for Russia sanctions. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM JULY 28  Trump acknowledges ‘real starvation’ in Gaza, urging Israel to let food in. Reported by Aya Batrawy | NPR  As hunger grips Gaza, President Trump acknowledges “real starvation” and calls on Israel to allow “every ounce of food” in. Click HERE to listen and read.

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For today, links to six reports: from the Associated Press, the Moscow Times, Kyiv Post, Reuters, Tass, and the Kyiv Independent; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 7-28-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA entry for today is HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Russia kills 27 civilians in Ukraine as the Kremlin remains defiant over Trump threats, by Hanna Arhirova and Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Russian glide bombs and ballistic missiles struck a Ukrainian prison and a medical facility overnight as Russia’s relentless strikes on civilian areas killed at least 27 people across the country, officials said today, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to soon punish Russia with sanctions and tariffs unless . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia closes in on Ukrainian stronghold of Pokrovsk, by Bashir Kitachayev | The Moscow Times  Russia’s summer offensive in eastern Ukraine has zeroed in on Pokrovsk, one of the last major cities in the Donetsk region still held by Kyiv, as Moscow pushes to consolidate control of the entire area. READ MORE . . .

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EU freezes Ukraine aid over Zelensky’s anti-corruption rollback, by Olena Hrazhdan | Kyiv Post  The European Union informed Ukraine’s government on July 24 through diplomatic channels that it was suspending all financial assistance to Ukraine until the independent powers of its anti-corruption institutions are restored. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s live-blogging lawmakers fuel public anger at parliament. From Reuters. KYIV — Swivelling his selfie camera around the floor of Ukraine’s parliament, opposition lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko beamed out a real-time view of colleagues’ fast-tracking legislation. “Friends,” he said in the July 22 broadcast to his more than 2 million social media subscribers, “this is how parliamentarianism is being destroyed in Ukraine.” READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops liberate two settlements in Ukraine operation over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated two settlements in the Zaporozhye Region and the Donetsk People’s Republic 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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Ukrainian arms maker unveils new mine-laying drone, by Yana Prots | The Kyiv Independent  Ukrainian ground drone manufacturer Robotic Complexes has unveiled its new Threeminer mine-laying drone, the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform said on Monday. READ MORE . . .

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