For today, links to five reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, and the Moscow Times; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 6-25-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  IRAN and GAZA entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Russia and Ukraine trade more long-range drone attacks that are a hallmark of their war, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Russian forces launched 363 Shahed and decoy drones as well as eight missiles at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force said today, claiming that air defenses stopped all but four of the drones and downed six cruise missiles. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian missile strike kills 5 in southeast Ukraine. From Reuters. At least five people were killed and more than 20 injured after a Russian missile strike hit the southeastern Ukrainian city of Samar today, Ukrainian officials said. It was the second such attack on the city in three days.  READ MORE . . .

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Umerov: Ukraine to push for Zelensky-Putin summit, by Kateryna Zakharchenko | Kyiv Post  After talks with Russia on humanitarian issues conclude, Kyiv plans to move on to the topic of arranging a meeting between the two leaders, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Thursday. Ukraine supported a U.S. proposal for . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Losing $300bln in frozen assets is a price worth paying to break Western grip on global finance, Putin says. From the Moscow Times. President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia is “ready” to part with its $300 billion in frozen assets in the West if doing so would help accelerate the shift away from Western-dominated financial systems. After Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine . . . READ MORE . . .

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First, a link to a report from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (WEST BANK 6-8-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down. GAZA, IRAN, SYRIA,  and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Report: Israeli forces detain 23 Palestinians in pre-dawn raids across West Bank. From Middle East Eye. Israeli forces detained 23 Palestinians during overnight raids across several areas of the occupied West Bank, including Nablus, Qalqilya and Hebron, Wafa news agency reported, citing security and local sources. READ MORE . . .

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For now, a link to reports from Middle East Eye and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA 6-25-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, IRAN, SYRIA and MEDIA reports for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Gaza rescuers say death toll from Israeli fire rises to 56. From AFP. Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli forces killed 56 people in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory today, updating a previous toll of 35. READ MORE . . .

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‘No breakthrough’ in Gaza truce efforts: report. From the Cradle. Hamas sources cited in Arab media on Wednsday said efforts to resume negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza are progressing “more effectively” than during the 12-day Israel–Iran war. However, the sources . . . READ MORE . . .

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First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Anadolu Agency, and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names orinitials below. (IRAN 6-25-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA, SYRIA and MEDIA entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Iran’s supreme leader warns against further American attacks in his first statement since ceasefire, by Farnoush Amiri and David Rising | AP  DUBAI — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today his country had delivered a “slap to America’s face” with its strike on an American base in Qatar, and warned against any further U.S. attacks in his first public comments since a ceasefire was declared with Israel after 12 days of war. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE to report from Anadolu Agency.

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Iran’s supreme leader claims victory over Israel, says it ‘almost collapsed,’ by Betul Yilmaz | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today claimed victory over Israel during their 12-day war. “With all that clamor,” he said, “with . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel may have used depleted uranium bombs in Iran strikes: report. From the Cradle. A well-informed source revealed to Fars News Agency today that Israel may have used depleted uranium munitions in its recent airstrikes targeting sensitive sites across Iran. Initial tests conducted . . . READ MORE . . .

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First, links to reports from the Associated Press, the Cradle, and Anadolu Agency; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (SYRIA 6-17-25  is HERE, or scroll down. WEST BANK, GAZA, IRAN and MEDIA entries for today are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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FROM JUNE  23  Suicide bomber kills at least 22 in Greek Orthodox church in Syria during Divine Liturgy, by Abdulrahman Shaheen and Kareem Chehayeb | AP  DWEIL’A, Syria — A suicide bomber in Syria opened fire then detonated an explosive vest inside a Greek Orthodox church filled with people praying on Sunday, killing at least 22 and wounding 63 others, state media reported. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Cradle.

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FROM JUNE 23  Mideast governments condemn suicide bombing of Syrian church as death toll rises to 25, by Ghaith AlSayed and Kareem Chehayeb | AP  DAMASCUS — The death toll from a suicide bomb attack on the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus at the weekend has risen to 25, state media said Monday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 23  EU ‘strongly condemns’ deadly church attack in Syria, by Melike Pala | Anadolu Agency  BRUSSELS — The EU on Monday “strongly” condemned the “terrorist attack” that targeted the Mar Ilyas Church in Damascus, and expressed support for the Syrian people. A suicide bomber from the ISIS (Daesh) terror group opened fire Sunday . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 24  Israel confirms ‘direct normalization talks’ with Syria. From the Cradle. Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi confirmed on Tuesday that Israel is engaged in direct, daily communication with Syria’s interim authorities, with the aim of exploring normalization. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to two collections of book recommendations from National Public Radio and, via ScheerPost, to commentary from Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (MEDIA 6-20-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA, IRAN and SYRIA entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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FROM JUNE 25  NPR staffers pick their favorite FICTION reads of 2025 so far. Organized by Meghan Collins Sullivan and Beth Novey | NPR  After long days focused on the facts, our newsroom reads a lot of fiction at home. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM JUNE 25  Here are the NONFICTION books NPR staffers have loved so far this year. Organized by Meghan Collins Sullivan and Beth Novey | NPR  A deep dive on gossip. Revolutionary history. A meditation on muscle. A graphic ode to NYC. A closer look at the color blue. And memoirs galore. We asked our newsroom colleagues to share the nonfiction titles they’ve enjoyed reading so far this year — here’s what they shared. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM JUNE 25  NYT gave green light to Trump’s Iran attack by treating it as a question of when, by Bryce Greene | Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting / ScheerPost  In the wake of the U.S. -supported Israeli attack on Iran, and days before the direct US bombing that followed, the New York Times editorial board (6/18/25) argued that . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to seven reports: from Middle East Monitor, the Associated Press, the Cradle, Reuters, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 6-24-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE and IRAN entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israel killed more than 90 Palestinians on Tuesday. From Middle East Monitor. More than 90 people were killed on Tuesday due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, as fierce clashes were reported between Israeli forces and resistance fighters in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, according to local press sources. READ MORE . . .

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Bomb attached to their armored vehicle kills 7 Israeli soldiers in Gaza, the military says, by Julia Frankel | AP  JERUSALEM — The Israeli military said today that seven Israeli soldiers were killed in the southern Gaza Stripwhen a Palestinian militant attached a bomb to their armored vehicle on Tuesday. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from the Cradle and Reuters. 

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Israel’s war with Iran is over, but its other war in Gaza grinds on. Reported by Aya Batrawy and Anas Baba | NPR  Palestinians say they’ve been forsaken by the world as the war in Gaza grinds on, while Iran and Israel’s ceasefire holds. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JUNE 24  Trump administration authorizes $30 million for Israeli-backed group distributing food in Gaza, by Matthew Lee and Ellen Knickmeyer | AP  WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has authorized providing $30 million to a U.S.- and Israeli-backed group that is distributing food in Gaza, a U.S. official said Tuesday, an operation that has drawn criticism from other humanitarian organizations. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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For today, links to eleven reports: from the Cradle, Reuters, National Public Radio, the Associated Press, and Middle East Monitor, and to commentary from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names and initials below. (IRAN 6-24-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Iran’s parliament passes vote to halt cooperation with IAEA. From the Cradle. The Iranian parliament today voted to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, after a 12-day Israeli war which Tehran says the UN nuclear agency paved the way for. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters, and HERE for June 24 report from the Cradle.

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UN nuclear chief says it’s possible Iran’s highly enriched uranium ‘is there.’ From Reuters. VIENNA — There is a chance that much of Iran’s highly enriched uranium survived Israeli and U.S. attacks because it may have been moved by Tehran soon after the first strikes, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said today. Israel repeatedly . . . READ MORE . . .

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‘High-profile’ Israeli military, intelligence sites hit by Iranian missiles: report. From the Cradle.  Iran’s 22 waves of ballistic missile and drone attacks against Israel targeted and directly struck several highly sensitive Israeli military sites, as well as technological and energy infrastructure, Tehran Times reported on Tuesday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 24  A shaky ceasefire emerges between Israel and Iran. Reported by Aya Batrawy | NPR  Over the last two weeks, there has been some support for Israel’s attacks on Iran from Gulf Arab states. There are also fears that Israel wants to fashion a new Middle East in its own image. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JUNE 24  A whirlwind 48 hours: How Trump’s Israel-Iran ceasefire agreement came together, by Aamer Madhani and Josh Boak | AP WASHINGTON — In a 48-hour whirlwind, President Trump veered from elated to indignant to triumphant as his fragile Israel-Iran ceasefire agreement came together, teetered toward collapse and ultimately coalesced. As he worked to seal the deal . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 24  Early U.S. intelligence report suggests U.S. strikes only set back Iran’s nuclear program by months, by Michelle L. Price, Mary Clare Jalonick, Stepanie Liechtenstein, and Sam McNeil | AP  WASHINGTON — A report issued by the Defense Intelligence Agency on Monday suggests that Iran’s nuclear program has been set back only a few months after U.S. strikes and was not “completely and fully obliterated” as President Trump has said, according to . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from NPR and Middle East Monitor.

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Six things to know about Iran’s supreme leader. Reported by Steve Inskeep| NPR  Some key facts about Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, based on past reporting on his very long career, along with fresh analysis from this week. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM JUNE 24  What Iran achieved during the conflict with Israel, by Rayhan Uddin | Middle East Eye  After an 11th hour exchange of fire, and a sweary address to reporters from Donald Trump, Israel and Iran have ceased hostilities. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to four reports: from the Kyiv Independent, Kyiv Post, Tass, and Reuters; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on ther names below. (UKRAINE 6-24-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and IRAN entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Zelensky, Trump talk on NATO summit sidelines, by Kateryna Denisova | The Kyiv Independent  President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump for a reported 50 minutes at the NATO summit in The Hague today. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

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Russia says battlegroup East destroyed up to 190 Ukrainian soldiers, 3 Starlink stations. From Tass. MOSCOW — Fighters of the battlegroup East destroyed up to 190 Ukrainian servicemen, 3 Starlink satellite communication stations and an ammunition depot over the past day, according to Alexey Yakovlev, spokesman for the battlegroup. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JUNE 24  Ukraine says Russian drone attack kills boy, two adults in Sumy. From Reuters. A Russian drone attack on a village in the Sumy area overnight killed an 8-year-old boy and two adults and injured another three people, the military administration of the region in northeast Ukraine said early on Tuesday. READ MORE . . .

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For now, links to reports from Anadolu Agency and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA 6-23-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE and IRAN entries for today, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israeli forces kill at least 50 more Gazans, including many seeking to reach food, by Ramzi Mahmoud and Betul Yilmaz | Anadolu Agency  GAZA CITY, Palestine / ISTANBUL  At least 50 civilians, most of them people trying to reach food, were killed, and over 200 others injured in fresh Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip today, medics said. READ MORE . . .

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Harvard study finds Israel ‘disappeared’ nearly 400,000 Palestinians in Gaza, half of them children: report. From the Cradle.  A new report published by the Harvard database reveals that Israel has “disappeared” at least 377,000 Palestinians since the start of its genocidal campaign against the Gaza Strip in 2023 — half of them believed to be children. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED