For today, links to reports from Tass, Reuters, the Associated Press, the Kyiv Independent, Agence France-Presse, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (UKRAINE and ASSANGE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Russian troops take control of several Ukrainian strategic strongholds near Chasov Yar. From Tass. DONETSK — Russian troops have taken control of several Ukrainian strategic strongholds near Chasov Yar in the Donetsk People’s Republic, adviser to the DPR head Igor Kimakovsky said today. “Our . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says it downed two of three Russian drones overnight. From Reuters. Ukraine’s air force shot down two out of three Russia-launched Shahed drones overnight, the Ukrainian military said today. Separately, Ukraine’s energy ministry said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky holds meeting on drone production, electronic warfare, by Elsa Court and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a three-hour meeting today on drone production and electronic warfare systems with senior members of the military and government. Drones . . . READ MORE . . .

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France expects China to send ‘clear message’ to Russia over Ukraine war. From AFP. France’s top diplomat said today that Paris expects China to send “clear messages” to its close partner Russia over its war in Ukraine, after meetings with his counterpart in Beijing. “We . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 31  France will deliver hundreds of armored vehicles to Ukraine, defense minister says. From AP. PARIS  — French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said France is to deliver “hundreds” of armored vehicles by the beginninG of next year to Ukraine as part of a new package of military aid for the country that just entered its third year of war since the full-scale Russian invasion. In an interview . . . READ MORE . . .

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Relatives of Ukrainian POWs highlight their cases, including allegations of torture. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR  UN human rights experts say there are credible allegations that Ukrainian POWs have been tortured by Russian forces. Family members of some spoke to NPR about these cases.  Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MARCH 29  How much of your tax dollars is going to Israel and Ukraine. Reported by Sarah Gonzalez, Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi, Jess Jiang and Sam Yellowhorse Kesler | NPR  There’s been a lot of disagreement in Congress and in the country about whether the U.S. should continue to financially support the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. In this episode of Planet Money . . . Click HERE to read brief intro and to listen.

For today, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Truthout and from the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Fighting rages across Gaza amid revival of truce talks, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO – Israeli strikes have killed 77 Palestinians in Gaza in the past 24 hours, the territory’s health authorities said to, as Egypt hosted an Israeli delegation for a new round of talks. The Israeli military said it killed a senior Islamic Jihad militant . . . READ MORE . . .

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An Israeli air strike in Gaza kills 2 Palestinians, by Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike hit a tent camp inside a hospital in central Gaza today, killing two Palestinians and wounding another 15. The strike hit one of several . . . READ MORE . . .

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More clarity needed on future defence spending, Israel’s central bank chief says, by Steven Scheer | Reuters  Israel’s central bank chief today called on the government to enact responsible fiscal policy by reining in non-defense spending to offset any further expansion in the military budget. Amir Yaron, governor of the Bank of Israel, said . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 30  Palestinian Authority announces formation of a new cabinet amid reform pressures. Reported by Carrie Kahn | NPR  The Palestinian Authority president has announced a newly revamped cabinet, but there is widespread skepticism that it will bring about meaningful reform — or govern Gaza’s reconstruction. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM MARCH 30 These Israeli military veterans are against Gaza occupation. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley | NPR  A group of Israeli military veterans say they know the reality behind their country’s occupation of Palestinian territories, and want it to stop. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM MARCH 30  The U.S. and Israel’s relationship is at a contentious balancing point. Scott Simon of NPR speaks with Princeton Professor Daniel Kurtzer, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, about how the relationship between the U.S. and Israel has changed with the war in Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MARCH 26  Israel remains Intent on genocide despite World Court orders, by Marjorie Cohn | Truthout / ScheerPost  Israel is continuing its genocidal campaign against the Palestinians in Gaza and hindering humanitarian relief efforts despite specific orders from the International Court of Justice to refrain from these very actions. On Jan. 26 . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 30  History says the Palestinians will remain, by Vijay Prashad | Tricontinental Institute for Social Research / Consortium News  In February, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law and a senior advisor during his presidency, sat down for a conversation with Professor Tarek Masoud at Harvard. In it, Kushner talked about “Gaza’s waterfront property,” which, he said . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to two reports from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (UKRAINE and GAZA entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM MARCH 30  NBC hires, then immediately fires, former Republican party chair as commentator. Scott Simon of NPR talks with Jonah Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the conservative website The Dispatch, about former Republican party chair Ronna McDaniel very brief stint at NBC. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM MARCH 30  Remembering NPR host Bob Edwards. From NPR. On Saturday afternoon, a memorial service was held at NPR headquarters for longtime Morning Edition host Bob Edwards. Here’s a bit of what his colleagues said. Click HERE to listen and read.

For today, links to a report from the Associated Press, Tass, the Kyiv Independent, and the Kyiv Post; to commentary from Indian Punchline, and to the same commentary as reprinted in the International Affairs, a Russian online periodical, with its own introduction; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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2 dead as Russia launches attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. From AP.  KYIV, Ukraine — A Russian cruise missile strike on infrastructure in Ukraine’s western Lviv region killed one man, while another man died in an attack in the northeast officials said today. READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces repel nine Ukrainian counterattacks in Avdeyevka area — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian Armed Forces have improved their frontline positions and repelled nine counterattacks by Ukrainian troops in the Avdeyevka area, the Russian Defense Ministry said. It noted . . . READ MORE . . .

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Putin signs decree to conscript 150,000 Russians for military service, by Nate Ostiller | The Kyiv Independent  Russian President Vladimir Putin today signed a decree to conscript 150,000 citizens as part of the regularly occurring spring conscription campaign, Russia’s Defense Ministry said. Russia conducts two conscription campaigns per year, in spring and fall. READ MORE . . .

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Pope calls for ‘general exchange’ of prisoners of Russo-Ukrainian war in Easter message. From Kyiv Post. In front of tens of thousands of Catholics on Easter Sunday at Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Pope Francis called for Russia and Ukraine to do a full prisoner swap. “In , , , READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 28  Ukraine’s survival hangs in the balance, by Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  The American embassy in Moscow issued an advisory on March 7 to the effect that “extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts” and warning U.S. citizens to “avoid large gatherings.” The American claim that Washington shared the “information” with the Russians hinted . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 29  View from India: The U.S. is determined to destabilise Russia. From The International Affairs. The State Department scrambled within two hours of the horrific attack on the mall in Moscow’s Crocus City Hall on March 22 with a statement declaring that Ukraine was not responsible for the attack. The U.S.’s European allies also . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to commentary from Consortium News and ScheerPost; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE. The MARCH 29 ASSANGE entry is HERE.) — MCM

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UK legal shambles in case of Assange, by Craig Murray | CraigMurrary.org.uk / Consortium News  The latest judgment by the High Court in the Julian Assange case achieved completely the objectives of the U.K. and U.S. states. Above all, Julian remains in the hell which is Belmarsh . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 27  A mockery of British justice, by Chris Hedges | ScheerPost  Prosecutors representing the United States, whether by design or incompetence, refused — in the two-day hearing I attended in London in February — to provide guarantees that Julian Assange would be afforded First Amendment rights and would be spared the death penalty if extradited to the U.S. The inability to give . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE and ASSANGE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Israel kills dozens in airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Israel sustained its aerial and ground bombardment of the Gaza Strip today, killing dozens of Palestinians, as fighting raged around Gaza City’s main Al Shifa hospital, Palestinian officials and the Israeli military said. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 29  Netanyahu says Israel will return to table for cease-fire talks with Hamas. From AP. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will return to the table for cease-fire talks with Hamas. Friday’s announcement marks yet another attempt to reach a deal to pause Israel’s devastating war in Gaza against Hamas in exchange for  . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, and the Kyiv Post, and to commentary from Indian Punchline and Marianne; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA and ASSANGE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Zelenskyy fires more aides in a reshuffle as Russia launches drones and missiles across Ukraine. From AP. KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today dismissed his longtime presidential assistant, three advisers and two presidential representatives in a continuing reshuffle, while Russia unleashed fresh attacks overnight. READ MORE . . .

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Russia moves 5,000 children from Belgorod after Kyiv attacks. From AFP. Five thousand children have been evacuated from Russia’s Belgorod region bordering Ukraine following weeks of deadly bombardment by Kyiv, the region’s governor said today. Regional authorities last week said 9,000 minors would be moved to other . . .  READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 29   Kyiv’s top general says Ukraine needs fewer troops than expected. From Reuters. KYIV — Ukraine’s military will need to mobilise fewer people than initially expected to fend off Russia’s two-year-old invasion, Kyiv’s top general said on Friday. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in December . . . READ MORE . . .

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France-led coalition of allies could portend Western troops to Ukraine, by Viktoriia Stepanenko | Kyiv Post  Following a Feb. 26 European leaders conference in Paris about strengthening support for Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters that despite the lack of consensus on sending ground troops to Ukraine, “nothing could be ruled out.” Other EU leaders promptly denied that any such plan was on the cards, including . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 14  France all dressed up and nowhere to go, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  Angst in the French mind is understandable as five centuries of western dominance of the world order is drawing to a close. This predicament condemns France to a diplomacy that . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 7  From caution to panic: What Macron’s turn hides, by Laurent Valdiguié | Marianne  What happened to the president when he considered sending troops to Ukraine? Several confidential defense reports explain . . . Click HERE for article in English, and HERE for it in French.

For today, a link to a discussion on CN Live! Other reports and commentaries from Consortium News are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM MARCH 28  The Assange dilemma for the U.S. Elizabeth Vos and Joe Lauria of Consortium News host law professor Marjorie Cohn, journalists Craig Murray and Chris Hedges, and constitutional lawyer Bruce Afran on CN Live! to discuss this week’s ruling by the British High Court ruling on WikiLeak publisher Julian Assange. Click HERE to watch and listen.

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Common Dreams via Consortium News; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (UKRAINE, MEDIA and ASSANGE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM MARCH 28  Israel must open more land crossings for Gaza aid, UN court says. From AP. In a legally binding order, the top United Nations court says Israel must open more land crossings into Gaza for food, water, fuel and other supplies. The International Court of Justice . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 28  Israel has not received everything it has asked for, top U.S. general says. From Reuters. The United States’ top general said on Thursday that Israel had not received every weapon it has asked for, in part because some of it could affect the U.S. military’s readiness and there were capacity limitations. Washington gives $3.8 billion in annual . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 28  Freed Israeli Hostage recounts time in captivity. Reported by Daniel Estrin | NPR  Former Israeli hostage Luis Har speaks to NPR about how he endured 129 days of captivity in Gaza. He was freed in February by an Israeli special forces raid. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MARCH 25  Not a single Palestinian is free, by Manal A. Jamal | Common Dreams | Consortium News  From Israel, to the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), to the Gaza Strip, Israel has put in place a complex system of laws, policies, and regulations that fundamentally curtail the rights and freedoms of nearly every Palestinian and Arab (approximately 7.4 million people) in this . . . READ MORE . . .