For today, links to report from Reuters, the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (GAZA entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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Moscow says Russia, China agree that Russia must be present in Ukraine talks. From Reuters.  Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, said it was impossible to discuss a Ukraine settlement without Moscow’s participation, the Russian foreign ministry said today. Li’s European tour will also include Poland, Ukraine and . . . READ MORE . . .

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Death toll rises from Russian drone strike on Ukrainian port city, as China’s envoy tours Moscow, by Susie Blann | AP  KYIV — The death toll rose to 10 today from a Russian drone strike that destroyed an apartment block in Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa the previous day. Russia’s defense ministry said 38 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight into today over the Crimean peninsula. And in Moscow, China’s special envoy on Ukraine. . . READ MORE . . .

A link to a report from Consortium News; others are accessible by click on its name below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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MSM target Galloway at victory party, by Joe Lauria | Special to Consortium News  Hours afters after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was “beyond alarming” that George Galloway had been elected to Parliament in a by-election at Rochdale, mainstream media reporters descended on the newly elected MP’s headquarters to confront him. Galloway’s supporters, working people and their families, had . . . Click HERE to read, listen and view video. Coverage by CN of election outcome is HERE.

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

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NEWER  U.S. military aircraft airdrop thousands of meals into Gaza in emergency humanitarian aid operation, by Tara Copp | AP  WASHINGTON — U.S. military C-130 cargo planes dropped food in pallets over Gaza today in the opening stage of an emergency humanitarian assistance . . . READ MORE . . .

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Biden says U.S. military to airdrop food and supplies into Gaza, by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Nandita Bose | Reuters  U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Friday plans for a military airdrop of food and supplies into Gaza. He said it would take place in the coming days but offered . . . READ MORE . . .

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Many of those killed or wounded in Gaza stampede for aid were shot by Israel’s army, EU arm says, by Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Many of the Palestinians killed or wounded in the chaos as they tried to get bags of flour from an aid convoy were hit by Israeli army fire, the European Union’s diplomatic service said today, urging an international investigation. Outrage . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from Tass, the Moscow Times, the Kyiv Post, and the New York Times, and to two pieces of commentary about the NYT report from ScheerPost and other commentary from the Berkshire Eagle and the Kyiv Independent; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA entry for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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If Austin talks about risk of NATO-Russia conflict, it means U.S. has a plan for it — Lavrov. From Tass. ANTALYA, Turkey — U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, by saying that NATO and Russia could end up fighting each other if Ukraine is defeated, proved that the U.S. has a plan for it, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a diplomatic conference in Antalya. “The meaning of this statement . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian drone attacks kill two in Kharkiv, Odesa. From the Moscow Times.  Overnight Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Odesa regions killed at least two people, authorities said early today. Odesa officials said a Russian drone attack damaged multiple high-rise apartment buildings in the port city, killing a young man and injuring . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Number of dead from Russian drone strike rises to 5, including one child. From Kyiv Post.  An overnight Russian drone attack in Odesa destroyed 18 apartments in a high-rise building, killing five people, including one two-year-old, and at least eight more were injured. Emergency services said . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 25  Ukraine’s CIA deepened over a decade: Kiev officials courted agency, becoming vital to U.S. efforts against Russia, by Adam Entous and Michael Schwirtz | The New York Times  Nestled in.a dense forest, the Ukrainian military base appears abandoned and destroyed, the command center a burned-out . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 29  The CIA in Ukraine — an ex-CIA agent’s view, by John Kiriakou | Original to ScheerPost  The New York Times on Feb. 25 published an explosive story of what purports to be the history of the CIA in Ukraine from the Maidan coup of 2014 to the present.  The story is one of initial bilateral distrust, but a mutual fear and hatred of Russia, that progresses to a relationship so intimate . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 29  The CIA in Ukraine — the NYT gets a guided tour, by Patrick Lawrence | Original to ScheerPost  If you have paid attention to what various polls and officials in the U.S. and elsewhere in the West have been doing and saying about Ukraine lately, you know the look and sound of desperation. You would be desperate, too, if . . . READ MORE . . .

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The economic toll of 10 years of Russia’s war against Ukraine in charts, by Dominic Culverwell | The Kyiv Independent  Russia’s 10-year aggression against Ukraine has caused widespread and sure to be long-lasting damage to the country’s economy and demographics. Positive growth predictions were squashed in 2014 and 2022. Nevertheless, Ukraine’s country’s financial sector and economy . . . READ MORE . . .

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As Ukraine loses ground, it gains some victories in the sky, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle  On the ground, Ukrainian soldiers are on the defensive, outgunned and outmanned by Russia. In the air, it’s a different story. Over 13 days through Thursday . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine destroyed 13 Russian military aircraft in 2 weeks. How? by Kateryna Denisova | The Kyiv Independent  Ukraine reported the downing of 13 Russian warplanes within the last two weeks, among the highest Russian Air Force losses since the early days of the full-scale invasion. This list includes . . . READ MORE . . .

For now, links to reports from Tass, the Associated Press, the Kyiv Independent, the Kyiv Post, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. NOTE: The Agence France-Presse website that furnishes news advisories has been “under maintenance” beginning sometime on Feb. 28 or 29. (GAZA entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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Russian troops pound Ukrainian military-industrial sites in precision strikes over week. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops delivered 23 combined strikes by precision weapons against Ukrainian military-industrial sites, army and mercenaries’ deployment sites over the past week in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today. READ MORE . . .

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The French president raised the prospect of Western troops in Ukraine. What was he thinking? by Silvie Corbet | AP  PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron appeared isolated on the European stage this week after saying the possibility of Western troops being sent to Ukraine could not be ruled out. French officials later sought to clarify . . .READ MORE . . .

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France rules out sending troops to Ukraine — foreign minister. From Tass. PARIS — France does not intend to send its troops to Ukraine, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said on the radio station France Inter. “The French will not die for Ukraine. We will not send troops,” he said. On Feb. 26 . . . READ MORE . . .

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Dutch PM Rutte signs Dutch-Ukrainian long-term security agreement in Kharkiv. From the Kyiv Independent. President Volodymyr Zelensky and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte signed a 10-year agreement on security cooperation between Ukraine and the Netherlands in Kharkiv, Zelensky announced today. “The document,” Zelensky said, “includes . . . READ MORE . . .

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Western allies slam Scholz for foot-in-mouth comment about UK, French troops in Ukraine, by Leo Chiu | Kyiv Post  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz came under harsh criticism after suggesting that UK and French troops having been deployed in Ukraine to assist the latter with firing the long-range missiles they have supplied. Scholz had said . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 29  Ukraine says it identified 511 war crime suspects, convicted 81, by Max Hunder | Reuters  KYIV — Ukraine has identified 511 people suspected of war crimes since Russia’s Feb. 2022 invasion and has already handed down 81 convictions, its prosecutor general said in Kyiv on Thursday. Andriy Kostin was speaking at a war crimes conference alongside . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

A link to a report by a Substack writer; others are accessible by clicking on his address below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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The general who would not be silenced, by Seymour M. Hersh | SeymourHersh.Substack.com  James C. Pfautz had what seemed to be the perfect résumé when I first called on him, in late 1985 at his home in suburban Washington. He had retired a month or so earlier from the Air Force as a two-star general after what was . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, and Reuters, and to an interview from El Pass; others are accessible by clicking on their initials or names below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and a HERSH entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM   

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The death toll in Gaza hits a grim new milestone, Reported by A Martínez and Aya Batrawy | NPR  The health ministry says soon the death toll will reach 30,000 people — many of them women and children. But officials say the actual number is much higher. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Strike on Palestinians waiting for aid kills 70, Gaza officials say, taking war’s toll past 30,000, by Wafaa Shurafa and Kareem Chehaeb | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — A strike early today on a crowd of Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza City killed at least 70 people, bringing the death toll since the start of the Israel-Hamas war to more than 30,000, health officials said. Gaza City and the surrounding . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel appropriates 650 acres of West Bank land near big settlement. From Reuters. JERUSALEM — Israel appropriated several tracts of land abutting a major Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank today, but a source briefed on the decision told Reuters there was currently no plan for construction there. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist government . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Palestinian Authority receives $114 mln from Israel, Norway says. From Reuters. OSLO — The Palestinian Authority has received 407 million shekel ($114 million) from Israel, with more funds on the way in the coming days, following an agreement earlier this month to release frozen tax funds, the Norwegian government said today. Norway on Feb. 18 said it had agreed to assist . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 27  The prime minister of the Palestinian Authority has resigned. What comes next? Reported by Fatma Tanis | NPR  The Palestinian prime minister in the occupied West Bank has announced that he is resigning, as pressure mounts for the moribund leadership to reform and possibly take charge of Gaza after the war. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM FEB. 28  Why the Palestinian prime minister and his government resigned. Steve Inskeep of NPR talks with Mustafa Barghouti of the Palestinian National Initiative about the resignation of the Palestinian Authority’s prime minister and his government. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Borrell: ‘Trump has not won yet, just as Putin has not won yet, but Europe has to wake up.’ Claudi Pérez of El País talks with Josep Borrell, foreign minister of the European Union. From Pérez’s introduction: “One war in Europe has just entered its third year: Ukraine. Another in the Middle East — Gaza — is . . .” READ MORE . . .  Click HERE to read in Spanish.

For today, links to reports from the Moscow Times, the Kyiv Independent, the Kyiv Post, Reuters, Tass, and National Public Radio, to commentary from MintPress News via Consortium News, and to an interview from El País; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date and a HERSH entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Putin sends message of defiance to West in state of nation address. From the Moscow Times. President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual State of the Nation address today, accusing the West of instigating the war in Ukraine, and also highlighting state social support programs and the Russian economy’s resilience against Western sanctions. “The West . . . READ MORE . . .

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Congress reaches deal to avert government shutdown with no plans for Ukraine aid, by Olena Goncharova | The Ukraine Independent  U.S. congressional leaders announced on Wednesday a tentative agreement to avert a government shutdown, but there is currently no immediate plan in place to approve the $95 billion emergency national security funds intended for Ukraine, Israel, and other allies. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian air force downs three more Russian fighter-bombers, bringing total to 12 in 13 days, by Julia Struck | Kyiv Post  The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) brought down three more Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers today, totaling 12 Su planes brought down in the last 13 days and 13 Russian planes overall including . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says it has shot down three more Russian warplanes. From Reuters.  KYIV — Ukraine’s military said today it had shot down three more Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers, the latest successes it has reported against Moscow’s air force. The Ukrainian military said last week that Russia had lost six warplanes in three days. Since receiving . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kiev loses over 490 troops in Avdeyevka area in past day — Russia’s top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Ukrainian military lost over 490 troops and 7 tanks near Avdeyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past day, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a general briefing on the special military operation in Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian spec ops disaster: 20 reported killed by ambush in small boat landing in Crimea, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  Russian shore defenders in the occupied territory Crimea scored a victory today, ambushing and killing nearly two dozen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s most highly-trained and skilled special operations troops. The early morning engagement . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 28  Congressional leaders hope to avoid a shutdown. But Ukraine aid is still unclear. Reported by Tamara Keith and Eric McDaniel | NPR  Congressional leaders emerged from an Oval Office meeting on Tuesday saying they were optimistic that they could reach a deal before a Friday deadline to avert a partial government shutdown. But . . . Click HERE to listen and read.

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‘Shock therapy’: War in Ukraine attracts foreigners to see scars of Russia’s invasion, by Dominic Culverwell | The Ukraine Independent  Ukraine’s tourism industry predictably plummeted after Russia’s invasion. Even the initial flurry of journalists and political delegations who came to the country following the invasion has waned. But as tourists gradually begin to return, the sector has adapted by offering war tourism opportunities. READ MORE . . .

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Worthy & unworthy victims: Navalny & Lira, by Alan MacLeod | MintPress News / Consortium News  MintPress conducted a quantitative analysis of the media coverage of the two political figures who recently died in prison: Alexey Navalny this month in Russia’s Siberia and Gonzalo Lira in January in Ukraine. Both died under suspicious . . . READ MORE . . .

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Borrell: ‘Trump has not won yet, just as Putin has not won yet, but Europe has to wake up.’ Claudi Pérez of El País talks with Josep Borrell, foreign minister of the European Union. From Pérez’s introduction: “One war in Europe has just entered its third year: Ukraine. Another in the Middle East — Gaza — is . . .” READ MORE . . .  Click HERE to read in Spanish.

For today, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse, and, via Global Research, to a link to commentary initially published last Oct. 27 and again on Feb. 24; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.)  — MCM

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Hamas raises stakes in Gaza truce talks with Ramadan call, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Jana Choukeir | Reuters  Hamas today urged Palestinians to march to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque at the start of Ramadan next month, raising the stakes in negotiations for a truce in Gaza, which U.S. President Joe Biden hopes will be in place by then. The call by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh . . . READ MORE  . . .

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VIDEO  Families of hostages held in Gaza, supporters, launch 4-day march from southern  Israel. Video by Alon Bernstein for AP. Families of hostages held in Gaza and their supporters launched a four day march today from southern Israel to Jerusalem to demand their loved ones be set free. Click HERE for video.

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Israel presses on with settlement plans despite U.S. criticism. From Reuters. JERUSALEM — Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich pledged to continue expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank, defying international pressure on Israel to stop building on land Palestinians see as the core of a future independent state. Late on Tuesday . . . READ MORE . . .

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Palestinian FM believes Hamas supports formation of a ‘technocratic’ government. From AFP. Palestinian foreign minister Riyad Al-Maliki said today he believes Hamas understands the need to form a new technocratic government in the Palestinian territories rather than a coalition including the Islamist movement. READ MORE . . .

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British lawmakers fear for their safety after threats and abuse over Gaza, by Elizabeth Piper and Andrew Macaskill | Reuters After the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that sparked the war in Gaza, more than 10 British politicians spoken to by Reuters said the abuse directed at them had become more intense. The conflict in the Palestinian enclave has . . . READ MORE . . .

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What the mass media needs to cover on Israel/Gaza conflict, by Ralph Nader | nader.org / Global Research  Last Oct. 27, I suggested subjects the mainstream media needed to cover relating to the saturation bombing of Gaza and its defenseless civilian families and infrastructure. Four months later, despite massive reporting, the attention to these subjects is still thin and more deserving of reporting than ever. 1. How did Hamas, with tiny Gaza surrounded . . .  READ MORE . . . Click HERE for article as it first appeared.