For today, links to five reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, Anadolu Agency, and the Cradle, and to an article of commentary from Middle East Monitor; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names below. (IRAN 6-27-25 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 holds funeral for top military commanders and scientists killed by Israel. From Reuters. Mourners dressed in black lined streets in Iran’s capital Tehran today as a funeral was held for senior military commanders, nuclear scientists and some of the civilians killed during this month’s war with Israel. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from AP.

For now, links to reports from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Kyiv Post, and the Kyiv Independent; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 6-27-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and IRAN entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Russian drones kill 2 and injure 17 in Odesa as Ukraine destroys helicopters in Crimea. From AP. KYIV —Russian drones struck the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight, killing two people and injuring at least 17, Ukrainian authorities said today. Meanwhile, three attack helicopters and an anti-aircraft missile system were destroyed in the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from AFP,  Reuters, Kyiv Post and the Kyiv Independent.

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FROM JUNE 27  Putin says Russia and Ukraine nowhere close on peace terms. From AFP. President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russian and Ukrainian demands for peace remain “absolutely contradictory,” as recent talks failed to bring the two sides closer to a ceasefire. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to a report from the Cradle and an article from the Indian Express; links to others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (IRAN 6-26-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Iranian oil exports to China hit record high despite ‘maximum pressure’ U.S. sanctions. From the Cradle. Chinese imports of Iranian oil have witnessed a significant jump in the month of June due to a surge in shipments prior to the recent war and a rise in demand from independent refineries. READ MORE . . .

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How the U.S. helped oust Iran’s government in 1953 and reinstate the Shah, by Aishwarya Khosla | The Indian Express  NEW DELHI —  When US missiles struck Iran’s key nuclear facilities on June 22, history seemed to repeat itself. Seventy-two years ago, a covert CIA operation toppled Iran’s democratically elected government. Now, as American rhetoric drifts once more toward regime change, the ghosts of 1953 are stirring again. Click HERE to read first seven or eight paragraphs of article.

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For today, links to eleven reports: from Reuters, the Cradle, Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their inItials below. (GAZA 6-26-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  IRAN and UKRAINE entries for today are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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UN chief says US-backed Gaza aid operation unsafe, ‘is killing people,’ by Michelle Nichols | Reuters  UNITED NATIONS — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said today that a U.S.-backed aid operation in Gaza is “inherently unsafe” . . . READ MORE . . .

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Doctors warn flour sacks entering Gaza laced with Oxycodone: report. From the Cradle. Information is emerging about the smuggling of the highly addictive opioid pain medication Oxycodone into the Gaza Strip in bags of flour being distributed as humanitarian aid — some of the medication also crushed into powder and mixed into the flour itself. READ MORE . . .

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‘Killing fields’: Israeli soldiers ordered to shoot unarmed Palestinians at GHF sites. From the Cradle. Israeli soldiers say they are receiving direct orders to shoot unarmed Palestinians seeking food aid at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution points, even when no threat is present, according to several testimonies published by Haaretz on Thursday. READ MORE . . .

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U.S., Israel outline ‘two-state vision’ to stop Gaza genocide, expand Abraham Accords: report. From the Cradle. U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have reached a preliminary agreement on a new strategic vision for West Asia, according to a report by Israel Hayom published today. The proposal includes . . . READ MORE . . .

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‘Killing fields’: Israeli soldiers ordered to shoot unarmed Palestinians at GHF sites. From the Cradle. Israeli soldiers say they are receiving direct orders to shoot unarmed Palestinians seeking food aid at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution points, even when no threat is present, according to several testimonies published by Haaretz on Thursday. READ MORE . . .

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Gaza rescuers say 62 killed by Israeli forces. From AFP. Gaza’s civil defence agency said that Israeli forces killed at least 62 people today, including 10 who were waiting for aid in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory. READ MORE . . .

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An Israeli strike kills 18 Palestinians in central Gaza as turmoil mounts over food distribution, by Wafaa Shurafa, Kareem Chehayeb and Sam Metz | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli strike hit a street in central Gaza on Thursday where witnesses said a crowd of people was getting bags of flour from a Palestinian police unit that had confiscated the goods from gangs looting aid convoys. The strike was the latest . . ..  READ MORE . . .

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U.S. to fund Gaza food plan mired in chaos and killings. Reported by Aya Batrawy and A Martínez | NPR  A new Israeli-backed plan to control the limited food supplies in Gaza has been deadly, and mired in chaos. Despite this, the Trump administration says it’s allocating $30 million for the plan. . . . Click HERE to listen and, later, read. Links to previous reports HERE.

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FROM JUNE 26  Israel stops aid to northern Gaza, officials say, as clans deny Hamas is stealing it. From Reuters. Israel has stopped aid from entering northern Gaza but is still allowing it to enter from the south, two officials said on Thursday, after images circulated of masked men on aid trucks – who clan leaders said were protecting aid, not in fact members of Hamas stealing it. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for June 27 report from Middle East Monitor, and HERE for June 26 report from the Cradle.

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Battling to survive, Hamas faces defiant clans and doubts over Iran, by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Jonathan Saul and Alexander Cornwell | Reuters  CAIRO / LONDON — Short of commanders, deprived of much of its tunnel network and unsure of support from its ally Iran, Hamas is battling to survive in Gaza in the face of rebellious local clans and relentless Israeli military pressure. READ MORE . . .

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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MAY BE CONTNUED

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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MAY BE CONTINUED

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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