For today, links to reports from the Moscow Times, the Associated Press, Kyiv Post, Reuters, the Kyiv Independent, Tass, Agence France-Presse, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 8-13–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and WEST BANK entry for today are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Ukrainian drone attacks across southern Russia injure at least 16 people, From the Moscow Times. Authorities said the series of attacks hospitalized 13 people in Rostov-on-Don and three in the city of Belgorod. READ MORE . . .

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Explosions rock Russia’s Volgograd, Lukoil refinery hit overnight, by Julia Struck | Kyiv Post  A series of drone strikes hit Russia’s Volgograd region early today, igniting a fire at a major oil refinery. The region’s governor said falling drone debris . . . READ MORE . . .

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Top Kremlin aides and ministers to join Putin in Alaska. From the Moscow Times. Russia’s foreign, defense and finance ministers and two senior Kremlin aides will accompany President Vladimir Putin for his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska this week, officials in Moscow said today. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from the Kyiv Independent and Tass.

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Zelenskyy meets with UK’s Starmer as Europe braces for Trump-Putin summit, by Pan Pylas and AP  LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to London today in a show of the U.K.’s support for Ukraine a day before a critical U.S.-Russia summit is set to take place in Alaska. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for second AP report, and HERE for one from Kyiv Post. 

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FROM AUG. 13  Trump warns of ‘severe consequences’ if Putin does not agree to stop war after summit, by Geir Moulson, Sylvie Corbet, Stefanie Dario and Lorne Cook | AP  BERLIN — President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that there will be “very severe consequences” if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to stop the war against Ukraine after the two leaders meet for a summit later this week in Alaska. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE, HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters, NPR and AFP.

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FROM AUG. 13  Ukrainians want an end to Russia’s war, but remain wary of the Trump-Putin meeting. Reported by Greg Myre | NPR  Many Ukrainians want an end to years of war, but are reacting with wariness to President Trump’s upcoming meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Click HERE to listen and read.

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For today, links to eight reports: from Middle East Monitor, the Times of Israel, the Associated Press, Reuters, Middle East Eye, and the Cradle, and to commentary via Middle East Eye; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 8-12–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Netanyahu says he is on historic mission for greater Israel. From Middle East Monitor. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is on a historic and spiritual mission and strongly supports a “Greater Israel” vision — a mission, he claims, that includes the occupied Palestinian territories and parts of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Times of Israel.

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Israeli gunfire kills at least 25 seeking aid in Gaza as Netanyahu says he will allow Palestinians to leave, by Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy | AP  TEL AVIV — Israeli gunfire killed at least 25 people seeking aid in Gaza today, health officials and witnesses said, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters and Middle East Eye. 

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FROM AUG. 12  Gaza suffering has reached ‘unimaginable’ levels, say 26 foreign ministers. From Reuters. The foreign ministers of 26 countries on Tuesday called on Israel to allow unrestricted aid into Gaza. They included the foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, Australia and several of their European allies — but not Germany or Hungary. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 12  Israel is in talks to possibly resettle Palestinians from Gaza in South Sudan, by Sam Mednick | AP  TEL AVIV — Israel is in discussions with South Sudan about the possibility of resettling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to the war-torn East African country, part of a wider effort by Israel to facilitate mass emigration . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 12  Israel’s army formed special intel unit to ‘justify killing’ of hundreds of Gaza journalists. From the Cradle. Israeli investigative journalist Yuval Abraham said on Monday that Israel’s military intelligence created a special unit aimed specifically at justifying attacks in Gaza, including the killing of journalists. READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s plan for ‘full control’ of Gaza heralds a new Nakba — so the West is panicking, by Jonathan Cook | Middle East Eye  If you thought western capitals were finally losing patience with Israel’s engineering of a famine in Gaza nearly two years into the genocide, you may be disappointed. Even if the extreme hunger and malnourishment . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to eight reports: from the Associated Press, Kyiv Post, Reuters, Tass, Agence France-Presse, the Moscow Times, and the Kyiv Independent; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 8-12–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA entry for this date is HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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German chancellor says European leaders and Zelenskyy had ‘constructive’ meeting with Trump, by Stefanie Dazio and Lorne Cook | AP  BERLIN — European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a “constructive” discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump today, two days ahead of Trump’s planned meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

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Trump wants Ukraine to have say on territory talks with Russia, Macron says. From Reuters. BERLIN — U.S. President Donald Trump has said Ukraine must be involved in talks about territory in any ceasefire deal with Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron said today. READ MORE . . .

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Trilateral Russia-U.S.-Ukraine summit may be held next week — CBS. From Tass. WASHINGTON — The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is looking for a venue for a trilateral summit with Russia and Ukraine to be held at the end of next week, the CBS News television reported citing own sources. READ MORE . . .

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Russian army says it captured 2 villages near Dobropillia in eastern Ukraine. From AFP. Russia’s military said today that it captured two villages close to Dobropillia, a former coal mining town in eastern Ukraine that remains under the Ukrainian army’s control. READ MORE  . . .  Click HERE for Aug. 12 report from the Moscow Times.

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Local Ukrainian counterattacks retake lost ground, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  News reports and unit statements say Ukrainian troops have retaken lost ground in the northern Sumy region and elsewhere, but successful counter-attacks by Kyiv’s forces . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia aims to build 79,000 Shahed-type drones in 2025, Ukraine’s military intelligence says, by Tim Zadorozhnyy | The Kyiv Independent  Russia plans to produce 79,000 Shahed-type drones in 2025, Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, said on Tuesday. READ MORE . . .

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First, a link to a report from Reuters; headlines of others are accessible by clicking on its namebelow. (GAZA 8-11-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  UKRAINE and  MEDIA entries for today, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israel bombards Gaza City overnight, Hamas leader due in Cairo. From Reuters. CAIRO — Israeli planes and tanks kept bombarding eastern areas of Gaza City overnight, killing at least 11, witnesses and medics said today, with Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya due in Cairo for talks to revive a US-backed ceasefire plan. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to eight reports: from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, the Moscow Times, the Kyiv Independent, Reuters, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names and initials below. (UKRAINE 8-11–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and MEDIA entries for today, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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EU leaders urge Trump to defend Europe’s security interests at his upcoming summit with Putin, by Lorne Cook | AP  BRUSSELS — European Union leaders today appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to defend their security interests at a key summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin later this week over the war in Ukraine. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from AFP.

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Russian forces breach Ukrainian defenses in drive toward Pokrovsk. From the Moscow Times. Russian troops have pierced a small but important section of the front line in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, positioning themselves for a possible encirclement of the nearby city of Pokrovsk, military analysts said on Monday. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for report from Kyiv Post and the Kyiv Independent.

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Russia makes sudden advance in Ukraine before summit, maps show, by Andrew Osborn | Reuters  MOSCOW — Russian forces have made a sudden thrust into eastern Ukraine near the coal mining town of Dobropillia, a move that may be designed to increase the pressure on Kyiv to give up land as the U.S. and Russian presidents prepare to meet. READ MORE . . .

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Russian troops strike Ukrainian military-industrial sites. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops struck Ukrainian military-industrial sites, ammunition depots and an army training center over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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Land swaps with Russia are not only unpopular in Ukraine. They’re also illegal, by Samya Kullab | AP  KYIV — A peace deal that requires Kyiv to accept swapping Ukrainian territory with Russia would not only be deeply unpopular. It also would be illegal under its constitution. That’s why . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For now, links to commentary from the Associated Press and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (MEDIA 8-11-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA and UKRAINE entries for today, so far, are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Journalist killing in Gaza sends a chilling message, by David Bauder | AP  Israel’s targeted killing of an Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza over the weekend was noteworthy even for a conflict remarkably blood-soaked for journalists, leaving some experts to marvel that any news at all emerges from the territory. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 11  The brave MEE contributor who never lost hope, by Mera Aladam | Middle East Eye  Mohammed Qreiqeh was well-known for his eloquent way of speaking, a skill he displayed to the world on Sunday in a live TV report just moments before Israel killed him. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

For today, links to 12 reports: from Al Jazeera, the Associated Press, Reuters, Middle East Eye, the Cradle, and National Public Radio, and to an interview from NPR; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 8-10–25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israel widely condemned after killing of 5 Al Jazeera staff in Gaza, by Caolán Magee, Stephen Quillen, Maziar Motamedi and Farah Najjar | Al Jazeera  Funerals have been held for five Al Jazeera staff assassinated by Israel in a targeted attack in Gaza City. Utter sadness, grief in every corner of Gaza as  . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel targets and kills Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif in Gaza as journalist toll grows, by Sam Metz and Samy Magdy | AP  JERUSALEM — Israel’s military targeted and killed an Al Jazeera correspondent and others with an airstrike late Sunday in Gaza, after press advocates said an Israeli “smear campaign” stepped up when Anas al-Sharif cried on air over starvation in the territory. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters and Middle East Eye.

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Israel assassinates entire Al Jazeera crew ahead of Gaza City occupation. From the Cradle. Prominent Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif and five others were assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on a media tent at Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital late on 10 August. Killed alongside of him were . . .  READ MORE . . .

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Israeli airstrike kills a prominent Al Jazeera journalist and colleagues. Reported by Aya Batrawy | NPR  Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif and four of his colleagues were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday night in Gaza City. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM AUG. 10  Israel kills Al Jazeera journalist it says was Hamas leader. From Reuters. Israel’s military said it killed Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al Sharif in a strike on Gaza City on Sunday, accusing him of heading a Hamas cell. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Al Jazeera.

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Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu defends military escalation in Gaza. Reported by Emily Feng and A Martínez | NPR  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made his case on Sunday about why Israel is moving to take control of the rest of the Gaza Strip, pushing back against mounting criticism of the escalation. Click HERE to listen and, later, read

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Some former world leaders taking up efforts for peace in the Middle East. Steve Inskeep of NPR asks former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, who now works with human rights group The Elders, about her upcoming visit to Egypt’s border with Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM AUG. 10  Netanyahu defends new military offensive in Gaza and says it will be wider than announced, by Wafaa Shurafa, Sam Metz and Samy Magdy | AP  JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday defended a new military offensive in Gaza that’s more sweeping than previously announced, declaring in the face of growing condemnation at home and abroad that Israel “has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.” READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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For today, links to a report from the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (WEST BANK 8-9-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Video appears to show the moment a Palestinian activist is killed as an Israeli settler opens fire, by Sam Mednick | AP  TEL AVIV — New video footage appears to show the moment a Palestinian activist was killed as an Israeli settler fired toward him during a confrontation with unarmed Palestinians in the occupied West Bank last month. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, and the Cradle, and to two interviews from NPR; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 8-10-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, WEST BANK and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Vance says U.S. ‘done funding Ukraine war,’ urges Europe to take lead. From the Cradle. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that Washington will no longer fund the purchase of weapons for Ukraine in support of its war with Russia, while demanding that NATO nations play a larger role. READ MORE . . .

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On the front lines in eastern Ukraine, peace feels far away, by Hanna Arhirova | AP  DONETSK REGION, Ukraine — Explosions from Russia’s weapons keep Ukrainian soldiers underground, and they doubt that . . . READ MORE . . .

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What’s at stake in the planned Trump-Putin meeting on Friday. Reported by Franco Ordoñez and A Martínez | NPR  President Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker discusses planned Trump-Putin meeting. Leila Fadel of NPR speaks with U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker about the planned meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin and prospects for Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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A look at the prospects for a ceasefire in Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin meeting. Leila Fadel of NPR talks with former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst about the prospects of a ceasefire ahead of President Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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For today, links to 10 reports: from Al Jazeera, the Associated Press, Reuters, Middle East Eye, the Cradle, National Public Radio, and MintPress News; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (MEDIA 8-9-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Israel widely condemned after killing of 5 Al Jazeera staff in Gaza, by Caolán Magee, Stephen Quillen, Maziar Motamedi and Farah Najjar | Al Jazeera  Funerals have been held for five Al Jazeera staff assassinated by Israel in a targeted attack in Gaza City. Utter sadness, grief in every corner of Gaza as  . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel targets and kills Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif in Gaza as journalist toll grows, by Sam Metz and Samy Magdy | AP  JERUSALEM — Israel’s military targeted and killed an Al Jazeera correspondent and others with an airstrike late Sunday in Gaza, after press advocates said an Israeli “smear campaign” stepped up when Anas al-Sharif cried on air over starvation in the territory. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for report from Reuters and Middle East Eye.

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Israel assassinates entire Al Jazeera crew ahead of Gaza City occupation. From the Cradle. Prominent Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif and five others were assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on a media tent at Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital late on 10 August. Killed alongside of him were . . .  READ MORE . . .

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Germany’s leading newspaper calls murdered Al Jazeera reporter ‘terrorist posing as journalist.’ From the Cradle. German newspaper Bild has parroted the Israeli army’s claims that slain Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif was “terrorist disguised as a journalist,” hours after the prominent reporter was targeted and killed in a strike on Gaza City. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli airstrike kills a prominent Al Jazeera journalist and colleagues. Reported by Aya Batrawy | NPR  Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif and four of his colleagues were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday night in Gaza City. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM AUG. 10  Israel kills Al Jazeera journalist it says was Hamas leader. From Reuters. Israel’s military said it killed Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al Sharif in a strike on Gaza City on Sunday, accusing him of heading a Hamas cell. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Al Jazeera.

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FROM AUG. 7  Israel’s biggest U.S. donor now owns CBS, by Alan MacLeod | MintPressNews / ScheerPost  After reaching an agreement with President Trump, David Ellison — son of the second-richest man in the world, Larry Ellison — has acquired Paramount Global, the media giant that owns CBS News. Larry Ellison, the largest . . . READ MORE . . .

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