For today, links to nine reports: from Reuters, the Anadolu Agency, the Kyiv Independent, Kyiv Post, Tass, National Public Radio, the Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or addresses below. (SYRIA, LEBANON, WEST BANK and GAZA entries for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  UKRAINE 2-22-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM   

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Russia launches largest drone attack on Ukraine, Kyiv says. From Reuters. KYIV — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said today that Russia launched more than 200 drones in an overnight attack, the largest of the war, as he condemned Russia’s “aerial terror” and called for unity among Ukraine’s allies. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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U.S. aid to Ukraine provided as grants, not loans: Zelenskyy, by Esra Tekin | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — The U.S. aid to Ukraine was provided as grants, not loans, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today, rejecting claims that $500 billion in assistance should be treated as debt. READ MORE . . .

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UK PM says no talks ‘about Ukraine, without Ukraine’ on eve of DC trip, by Christopher Stewart | Kyiv Post  UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer today reiterated the UK’s “ironclad support” for Ukraine before heading to Washington with French President Macron to meet Trump. READ MORE . . .

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Russia says its Ka-52M helicopter destroyed Ukrainian troops, vehicles in Kursk Region. From Tass. MOSCOW — A Ka-52M helicopter struck Ukrainian troops and armored vehicles with missiles near the border in the Kursk Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. READ MORE . . .

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Why Ukrainians are skeptical of a ceasefire deal even after 3 years of war. Ayesha Rascoe of NPR speaks with Ukrainian journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk about how Ukrainians feel about the ceasefire discussions that don’t include them — three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Click HERE later to listen and, still later, read.

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FROM FEB. 22  Trump-Putin summit preparations are underway, Russia says. From AP. Preparations are underway for a face-to-face meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said Saturday. The meeting would be a clear departure from Western . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kremlin hails Putin-Trump dialogue as promising. From AFP. The Kremlin today hailed dialogue between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin — two “extraordinary” presidents — as “promising”, and vowed it would “never” give up territory seized in eastern Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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Putin says Russian soldiers in Ukraine ‘defending Russia’s future.’ From AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin said today his soldiers in Ukraine are defending “national interests” and vowed “unchanged” determination to strengthen the country’s armed forces in a rapidly changing world. The comments . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to a report from National Public Radio, to a conversation from ScheerPost, and to a related website; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (SYRIA, LEBANON, WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, or scroll up.  MEDIA 2-21-25 is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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FROM FEB. 22  A Mississippi judge’s order against a local newspaper sparks censorship claims. Reported by Michael McEwen | NPR  A judge in Mississippi has ordered a small town newspaper to take down an editorial critical of city officials. The paper’s owner calls it a violation of free speech.  Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM FEB. 21  Unmasking censorship: How independent journalism is challenging media control in the age of big tech. Robert Scheer of ScheerPost talks with Shealeigh Voitl and Andy Lee Roth of Project Censored about media and independent journalism, including “alarming” censorship trends, the influence of the internet, and “systemic inequalities” and “failures within our democratic structures.” Click HERE for video and transcript of conversation, and HERE for Project Censored.

First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll down. GAZA 2-21-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Hamas frees the sixth and final hostage in the latest exchange, by Wafaa Shurafa, Mohammed and Jahjouh and Melanie Lidman | AP  TEL AVIV — The Israeli military says the sixth and final hostage has been released by Hamas in the latest exchange today and has arrived back in Israel. READ MORE . . .

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Hamas frees five hostages in Gaza after body of Shiri Bibas returned. From Reuters. Hamas freed five hostages and was set to release one more from Gaza today in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, after Israel confirmed that a body handed over hours earlier was that of hostage Shiri Bibas. READ MORE . . .

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Arab leaders meet in Saudi Arabia to hash out Gaza plan to counter Trump. From AFP. RIYADH — Arab leaders met in Riyadh on Friday to craft a plan for Gaza’s post-war reconstruction to counter U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for the United States to take over the territory without its Palestinian inhabitants. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to three reports: from Reuters, the Cradle and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. SYRIA 2-20-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Dancing in Damascus, Syrians clink to culture under Islamists’ rule. From Reuters. Despite concerns that Islamist rule would restrict artistic freedoms, Anas Zeidan, an official currently responsible for museums and antiquities, emphasized the administration’s support for the arts. “The government is not against art,” he said. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for Reuters video.

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FROM FEB. 21  Western-backed Syrian govt imposes strict fasting rules on non-Muslims for Rama. From the Cradle. Syria’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued a circular requesting the revival of an old law stating it is forbidden to break the fast in public during the month of Ramadan out of respect for the feelings of those fasting. If approved . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 20  The new head of Syria has governed before. Here’s what his leadership looked like. Reported by Emily Feng | NPR  The head of a rebel group is now the head of Syria. How will he lead a country destroyed by civil war and sectarianism? NPR found clues in a region in northern Syria, where he governed for years. Click HERE to listen and read.

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For now, links to 14 reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, National Public Radio, Kyiv Post, Tass, and the Kyiv Independent; others are accessible by clicking on thei names or initials below. (GAZA and SYRIA entries for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll up. UKRAINE 2-21-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM   

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After years of firm support, 10 days upended the U.S. approach to Ukraine, by Justin Spike | AP  KYIV — Kyiv had benefited from years of staunch support by its allies in the United States and Europe which had provided crucial military and financial support to help defend against Moscow’s grinding incursions. But . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia, U.S. representatives to meet again within two weeks, senior Russian diplomat says. From Reuters. A second meeting between representatives of Russia and the United States is planned for the next two weeks, the RIA state news agency reported today, citing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. READ MORE . . .

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Trump says Zelensky and Putin must ‘get together.’ From AFP. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia’s Vladimir Putin will have to “get together” to end the war between Moscow and Kyiv. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 21  As Trump works more closely with Russia, Ukraine is left in a bind. Reported by Franco Ordoñez and Greg Myre | NPR  President Trump is diverging from decades of U.S. foreign policy when it comes to Russia. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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‘Trump recruited as Moscow asset,’ says ex-KGB spy chief, by Stash Luczkiw | Kyiv Post  U.S. President Donald Trump was groomed 37 years ago as a potential Soviet asset, according to Alnur Mussayev, the former head of Kazakhstan’s security services, who had been a KGB officer in Moscow at the time. In a Facebook . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 21  U.S. proposes rival UN action on Ukraine, pitting it against Europe, by Michelle Nichols, Steve Holland and Nandita Bose | Reuters   UNITED NATIONS — The United States on Friday proposed a draft United Nations resolution to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a move . . . READ MORE . . .    Click HERE for Feb. 22 report from AFP.

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U.S. demands that Ukraine withdraw UNGA resolution condemning Russia, Kiev refuses — WP. From Tass. WASHINGTON — The U.S. administration has demanded that Kiev withdraw its draft resolution to the UN General Assembly condemning Russia for its special military operation and the Ukrainian side refused, the Washington Post reported. READ MORE . . .

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No Russia’s fault in Ukraine crisis, says Trump. From Tass.. WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump does not see Russia’s fault in the Ukrainian conflict and says that Vladimir Zelensky and ex-U.S. President Joe Biden are the ones to blame. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 21  In reversal, Trump says Russia attacked Ukraine, by Nandita Bose and Steve Holland | Reuters  WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump reversed course on Friday and said Russia did in fact invade Ukraine, and that Kyiv would soon sign a minerals agreement with the United States as part of efforts to end the Ukraine war. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s work on finalizing minerals deal to start on Feb. 24, parliament speaker says, by Daria Shulzhenko and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Ukraine will start working to conclude an agreement with the U.S. for its natural resources on Monday, Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of Ukraine’s parliament, told Japanese media outlet NHK.  The U.S. is . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces hit Ukrainian attack drone warehouses, drone operator sites — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian military struck Ukrainian military infrastructure over the past day, the Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 21  U.S. envoy praises Zelenskyy after Trump’s censure of the Ukrainian leader, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — President Donald Trump’s envoy to Ukraine and Russia said on Friday that he had held “extensive and positive discussions” with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the three-year war with Russia and praised the Ukrainian leader as . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 21  U.S. could cut Ukraine’s access to Starlink internet services over minerals, say sources, by Andrea Shalal and Joey Roulette | Reuters  WASHINGTON — U.S. negotiators pressing Kyiv for access to Ukraine‘s critical minerals have raised the possibility of cutting the country’s access to Elon Musk’s vital Starlink satellite internet system, according to three sources . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scoll or down.  LEBANON 2-20-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Lebanese PM tells U.S. delegation ‘no justification’ for Israeli occupation. From the Cradle. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met a delegation from the U.S. Congress today in Beirut, urging Washington to pressure Israel to fully withdraw its forces from the country. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to four reports: from Middle East Eye, the Cradle, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (LEBANON, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  WEST BANK 2-20-25 entry is HERE or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israeli forces kill 13-year-old Palestinian child in the occupied West Bank. From Middle East Eye. Israeli forces shot and killed 13-year-old Ayman Nassar al-Haimoni in the Hebron area of the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Earlier today . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for related report.

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Netanyahu invades Palestinian home, orders ‘expanded’ West Bank raids. From the Cradle. Israeli forces “will launch additional operational activity against terror centers,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saidtoday during a military briefing inside the occupied West Bank city of Tulkarem. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Middle East Monitor.

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For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, and to commentary from Middle East Eye and Common Dreams; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. GAZA 2-20-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Netanyahu decries release of wrong body as a ceasefire violation. Hamas pledges to investigate, by Areej Hazboun | AP  JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed revenge today for what he described as a “cruel and malicious violation” of the ceasefire agreement after authorities determined that a body released by Hamas was not an Israeli mother of two small boys, as the militant group had promised. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Trump is abandoning Europe. Europe should abandon its appeasement of Israel, by David Hearst | Middle East Eye  First came King Abdullah of Jordan. Now British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 18  Why Trump’s plan for Gaza is so dangerous, by Ramzy Baroud | Common Dreams / Consortium News  What makes U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about taking “long-term ownership” of Gaza to “clean out” the “mess,” dangerous is . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to nine reports: from Reuters, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, the Moscow Times, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (LEBANON, WEST BANK and GAZA entries for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  UKRAINE 2-20-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM   

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NEWER  Russia could concede $300 billion in frozen assets as part of Ukraine settlement, sources say. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Russia could agree to using $300 billion of sovereign assets frozen in Europe for reconstruction in Ukraine but will insist that . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

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Trump adviser says he expects Zelenskiy to sign minerals agreement, by Steve Holland and Doina Chiacu | Reuters  WASHINGTON — White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said today he expects Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to sign a minerals agreement with the United States as part of efforts to end the Ukraine war. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

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Trump envoy Witkoff says he met with Putin during trip to Russia. From the Moscow Times. U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East confirmed in a video that he met with Russia’s Vladimir Putin during a recent trip to Moscow, where he secured the release of an American prisoner. READ MORE . . .

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Trump’s attempts to denigrate Zelenskyy have led to a surge in Ukrainian unity, by Hanna Arhirova | AP  KYIV — Days before the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainians are as somber and tense as they were right before Moscow launched the war. Only now, they aren’t just worried about their longtime enemy. Ukraine’s stunning new threat . . . READ MORE . . .

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In U.S. reversal, President Trump attacks Zelenskyy and blames Ukraine for war. Reported by Greg Myre and Steve Inskeep | NPR  President Trump has recently made a series of statements in which he sounds more aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin than with Ukraine. So what is Trump’s ultimate goal? Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM FEB. 20  Breaking down the political tension between the U.S. and Ukraine. Reported by Joanna Kakissis and Greg Myre | NPR  For three years, the U.S. has been Ukraine’s leading supporter in its war with Russia. Yet with a series of stunning moves, President Trump is now sounding more aligned with Russia than with Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Russian troops liberate seven communities in Ukraine operation over week. From Tass. MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Russian troops liberated seven communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), the Kharkov and Kursk Regions over the week of February 15-21 in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from MintPress News and National Public Radio; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON, WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE or scroll up.  MEDIA 2-8-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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FROM FEB. 18  USAID’s giant network of ‘independent’ media, by Alan MacLeod | MintPress News / Consortium News  The Trump administration’s decision to pause U.S. Agency for International Development funding has plunged hundreds of so-called “independent media” outlets into crisis, thereby exposing a worldwide network of thousands of journalists, all working to promote U.S. interests in their home countries. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 20  Americans are reading fewer books for less time. People want to know why. Reported by Ailsa Chang and Brittany Luse | NPR  According to a Gallup survey from 2022, Americans are reading fewer books per year than ever before. And the time that people spend reading has dropped over the years, too. Click HERE to listen and read.