For today, a link to reports from the Cradle and Reuters, and to commentary from Orinoco Tribune via Popular Resistance; others or at least their headlines are accessible by clicking on their names below. (MEDIA, YEMEN, WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  SYRIA 3-25-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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U.S. intel report blames government forces for ‘violence, instability’ in Syria. From the Cradle. The U.S. Department of National Intelligence acknowledged in its Annual Threat Assessment of 2025 that Syrian government forces were responsible for the massacres committed against minorities on Syria’s coast earlier this month. READ MORE . . .

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‘There is no blank check’: Syrian leader told to rein in Jihadis, by Samia Nakhoul and Timour Azhari | Reuters  DAMASCUS — Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa has a lot to prove to win over Western powers. If the first few weeks of his rule are anything to go by, he may be heading in the wrong direction. The West is watching . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 22  Syria’s genocide, claiming over 10,000 lives, is not a sectarian conflict, by Fiorella Isabel | Orinoco Tribune / Popular Resistance   The Syrian genocide and assaults on Gaza and Yemen are part of a deliberate, long-standing UK-U.S.-Israeli-Western strategy to dominate the region via the erasure of the axis of Resistance. Syria’s massacres . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (MEDIA, YEMEN, SYRIA, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  WEST BANK 3-25-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian director beaten by Israeli settlers, is now released. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf | NPR  TEL AVIV — Hamdan Ballal, one of the Palestinian directors of the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” was attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank on Monday, according to eyewitnesses and his attorney. He was then detained by Israeli forces but released today. Click HERE to listen and read.

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For today, links to eleven reports: from Middle East Eye, the Associated Press, Middle East Monitor, Agence France-Presse, the Cradle, Reuters, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (MEDIA, YEMEN, SYRIA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  GAZA 3-25-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Gaza death toll since dawn rises to at least 12. From Middle East Eye. Israeli forces have killed at least one Palestinian in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. This raises the death toll since this morning to at least 12, including five children. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli military orders evacuation of parts of Gaza City. From AP. The Israeli military today ordered the evacuation of parts of Gaza City as it steps up its renewed offensive against Hamas after Israel broke the ceasefire last week. Israel’s bombardments and ground operations have caused vast destruction and at their height . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 25  Israeli captives in Gaza warn Israel’s bombs are endangering their lives. From Middle East Monitor. Two Israeli captives held in Gaza have warned in a video released on Monday by Al-Brigades that their lives are in danger as a result of Israel’s decision to return to bombing the enclave. They are Elkana Bohbot and Yosef-Haim Ohana.  READ MORE . . .

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96% of Gaza’s water is undrinkable, rights group warns. From Middle East Monitor. Some 96 per cent of the water in the Gaza Strip is undrinkable due to the complete collapse of infrastructure, the International Committee to Support the Rights of the Palestinian People warned Tuesday in a policy paper. READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s Netanyahu warns of increasing ‘pressure’ on Hamas if hostages not freed. From AFP. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today warned Hamas that Israel would seize territory in Gaza if the militants refused to release hostages still held in the Palestinian territory. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Cradle.

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Hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza protest against Hamas after conflict resumes. From Reuters. CAIRO / JERUSALEM — Hundreds of Palestinians have protested in northern Gaza to demand an end to war and chanting “Hamas out,” social media posts showed, in a rare public show of opposition . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from AP and NPR.   

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FROM MARCH 25  Tributes pour in for Palestinian journalists Hossam Shabat and Mohammad Mansour, by Rayhan Uddin| Middle East Eye  The two were killed by Israel in separate attacks on Monday — Mansour, a correspondent for Palestine Today, in an Israeli air strike in his home north of Khan Younis in which his wife and sonwere also killed, and Shabbat, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher, in his vehicle on Salah al-Din Street in north Gaza. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 25  Steve Witkoff and Tucker Carlson: Key Middle East points from U.S. envoy interview, by Oscar Rickett | Middle East Eye  In a frank and wide-ranging interview with Tucker Carlson on Saturday, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said that negotiations to end Israeli attacks on Gaza were ongoing and that if Hamas “demilitarised” then “maybe they could stay” in the Palestinian enclave and “be involved politically”. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to six reports: from the Moscow Times, the Kyiv Independent, Tass, Reuters, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Kyiv Post; others or headlines at least are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (MEDIA, YEMEN, SYRIA, WEST BANK and GAZA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.  UKRAINE 3-25-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Russian military accuses Ukraine of violating energy ceasefire. From the Moscow Times. Russia’s Defense Ministry today accused Ukraine of violating a 30-day pause on attacks against energy infrastructure, which Moscow claims has been in effect for more than a week. The accusations follow earlier reports . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine approves Bird of Prey drone system for combat, by Tim Zadorozhnyy | The Kyiv Independent  Ukraine’s Defense Ministry announced today it has approved the domestically produced Bird of Prey unmanned aviation system for combat operations. READ MORE . . .

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Kiev deliberately targets journalists, law norms for protecting them — Russian diplomat. From Tass. MOSCOW — “The terrorist Kiev regime deliberately targets both reporters and those international law norms that should have protected them,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, commenting . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 25  Russia, Ukraine agree to truce at sea and ban on energy attacks. From Reuters. WASHINGTON / MOSCOW / KYIV — The United States reached separate agreements on Tuesday with Ukraine and Russia to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and to implement a ban on attacks by the two countries on each other’s energy facilities. If implemented, the agreements . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for a report from AP and HERE for a March 26 report from NPR.

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Is Russia running out of tanks? by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  Most analysts estimate that two out of three Russian tanks, on average, have been taken out by a Ukrainian drone. These days, on Ukraine’s battlefields, there are fewer Russian tanks to hit. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to to two reports from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (WEST BANK, SYRIA, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date and a POETRY entry are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.  LEBANON 3-23-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM MARCH 24  Lebanese delegation to visit Syria for ‘border security’ talks. From the Cradle. A delegation from Lebanon is set to travel to Syria this week for talks with the new government in Damascus to discuss border security and coordination following recent clashes between Lebanese tribesmen and Syrian security forces on the border. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 24  Lebanon in ‘intense talks’ with Washington, Paris to prevent new Israeli strikes on Beirut. From the Cradle. Lebanese officials have been in “intensive contact” with the U.S. and France to prevent any Israeli bombardment of the country’s capital, Beirut, according to a Lebanese official cited by AFP on Monday. READ MORE . . .

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For today, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (LEBANON, SYRIA, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date and a POETRY entry are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  WEST BANK 3-23-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM MARCH 24  West Bank refugee camps ‘reduced to ruins and dust’: MSF. From the Cradle. The French medical aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Monday that tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians in northern parts of the occupied West Bank are living in a “precarious situation” without proper shelter, essential services, or access to healthcare. Over 40,000 Palestinians have been . . . READ MORE . . .

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For now, links to four reports: from the Cradle and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Also, from WorldAtlas.com, a map of Syria.  (LEBANON, WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date and a POETRY entry are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  SYRIA 3-23-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Multiple casualties following new Israeli attacks on Syria. From the Cradle. At least seven people were killed in Israeli attacks on the town of Koya west of southern Syria’s Deraa on 25 March, the latest of several recent strikes on the country. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from AP.

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Hamas condemns Israeli attacks on Syria’s Daraa. From Middle East Eye. Hamas issued a statement today condemning Israel’s attack on Daraa in Syria. “This fascist aggression,’ it said, “represents a serious escalation of Zionist violations against the Syrian Arab Republic and its brotherly people, and a new war crime.” READ MORE . . .

FROM MARCH 24  Lebanese delegation to visit Syria for ‘border security’ talks. From the Cradle. A delegation from Lebanon is set to travel to Syria this week for talks with the new government in Damascus to discuss border security and coordination following recent clashes between Lebanese tribesmen and Syrian security forces on the border. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to five reports: from the Cradle, National Public Radio, and Middle East Monitor; to a video clip via Middle East Monitor, and to commentary from Middle East Eye. Other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON, WEST BANK, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date and a POETRY entry are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. GAZA 3-24-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israeli jets pummel Gaza from north to south killing dozens.  From the Cradle. Dozens of Palestinians were killed and hundreds injured by Israeli attacks across Gaza in the past 24 hours in Tel Aviv’s renewed campaign against the strip. The Gaza Health Ministry reported today that “62 martyrs and 296 injuries arrived at Gaza Strip hospitals during the past 24 hours.” READ MORE . . .

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Israeli strikes in Gaza targeted key hospital and journalists, by Aya Batrawy | NPR  Israel’s war against Hamas has killed tens of thousands of people, with the latest strikes targeting a hospital and journalists. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM MARCH 24  Gaza ceasefire talks ‘collapse’ after Israel rejects all proposals: report. From the Cradle. Gaza ceasefire negotiations in the Egyptian capital have fallen apart after an Israeli delegation rejected Egypt’s new proposal and left Cairo, according to sources cited by Al-Araby al-Jadeed on Monday. READ MORE . . .

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UN to ‘reduce footprint’ in Gaza citing Israeli attacks on staff. From the Cradle. The UN said Monday it would “reduce its footprint” in the Gaza Strip after an Israeli tank strike hit one of its compounds last week, killing one staffer and wounding five others. READ MORE . . .

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Israel to seize more of Gaza if Hamas keeps refusing to free hostages, says defence minister. From Middle East Monitor. Israel will take more territory in Gaza and fight until Hamas is wiped out if the Palestinian resistance movement keeps refusing to free remaining hostages, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said today according to Reuters. READ MORE . . .

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‘Blame Hamas for Israel killing Gazans’: U.S. Gov. From Middle East Monitor. “Every single thing that is happening is a result of Hamas,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson said. Israel has “every right to defend itself.” Click HERE and scroll down for video.

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Why Israel is waging war on Palestinian children, by Soumaya Ghannoushi | Middle East Eye  Earlier this month, before the sun rose, nearly 200 children were killed in a coordinated barrage of Israeli strikes. This did not happen in combat, nor by mistake. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to 10 reports: from Kyiv Post, Tass, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, the Kyiv Independent, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio; others or just headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON, WEST BANK, SYRIA and GAZA entries for this date and a POETRY entry are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  UKRAINE 3-24-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Russia blames ‘Ukrainian position’ as Riyadh talks hit deadlock, by Alisa Orlova | Kyiv Post  The United States and Ukraine held brief talks in Saudi Arabia today, a day after U.S.-Russia negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine concluded without any breakthroughs. “The talks are over,” a Ukrainian source said. “All details will be announced . . . READ MORE . . .

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Talks in Riyadh technical, content not to be made public — Kremlin. From Tass. MOSCOW — “After all, this is about technical talks,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today of consultations in Riyadh between Russian and U.S. delegations. “Technical — meaning the talks with getting into details so . . .” READ MORE . . .

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Russian army says Kyiv launched three attacks on civilian energy infrastructure during Russia-U.S. talks. From Reuters. Russia’s defence ministry said today that Ukraine on Monday launched attacks on energy infrastructure owned by the Rosseti state-owned company, on the Svatovo gas distribution station in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine, and on an underground gas storage facility in Crimea. READ MORE . . .

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Russian negotiator calls Ukraine talks with U.S. ‘useful,’ eyes UN involvement. From AFP. Russia will continue talks with the United States over the war in Ukraine and hopes to involve the United Nations and other countries, Russian negotiator Grigory Karasin said today. READ MORE . . .

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Russia says it will sign Black Sea deal if U.S. gives ‘order’ to Zelenskiy. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today Russia was willing to strike a new agreement on the safety of shipping in the Black Sea — a possible stepping stone towards a ceasefire with Ukraine — but only if . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from the Kyiv Independent and Tass.

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Negotiations on a Ukraine ceasefire enter third day in Saudi Arabia with renewed U.S.-Ukraine talks, by Hanna Arhirova | AP  KYIV — A series of separate meetings between American, Russian and Ukrainian interlocutors entered their third day on today as U.S. negotiators shuttled back to discussions with their Ukrainian counterparts in the Saudi capital — a continuation . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for March 24 report from NPR.

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Sweden set to deliver Ukraine’s first AEW&C aircraft. From Kyiv Post. A Swedish Ministry of Defense spokesperson said in an interview that the transfer of the two Saab 340 airborne early warning and control aircraft (also known as the ASC890), announced last May, was on schedule. READ MORE . . .

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For today, a lyrical poem from Ireland, written to fit a melody composed years before. (LEBANON, WEST BANK, SYRIA, GAZA and UKRAINE entry for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.  POETRY 2-14-25 is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Teddy Bears’ Picnic
By Jimmy Kennedy

If you go down to the woods today
You’re sure of a big surprise.
If you go down to the woods today
You’d better go in disguise!

For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain,
Because today’s the day the
Teddy Bears have their picnic.

Picnic time for Teddy Bears
The little Teddy Bears are having
A lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.

See them gaily gad about.
They love to play and shout,
They never have any care;
At six o’clock their Mommies and Daddies
Will take them home to bed,
Because they’re tired little Teddy Bears

Every Teddy Bear who’s been good
Is sure of a treat today.
There’s lots of marvelous things to eat
And wonderful games to play.

Beneath the trees where nobody sees
They’ll hide and seek as long as they please
‘Cause that’s the way the
Teddy Bears have their picnic.

. . .

If you go down to the woods today,
You’d better not go alone!
It’s lovely down in the woods today,
But safer to stay at home!

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