Lebanon, 11-2-26

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First, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll down for this date’s UKRAINE, IRAN and ALL OF IT so far, and for LEBANON 9-28-26.) — MCM

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Israel’s attacks damaged nearly a quarter of Lebanon’s agricultural land: report. From the Cradle. Israel’s war and occupation in Lebanon have damaged around 22.5 percent of the country’s agricultural land, Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani said in an interview today with Turkish news outlet Anadolu Agency. READ MORE . . .

Ukraine, 11-2-26

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Links to four reports: from the Associated Press and the Moscow Times; others are accessible by clicking on its name or initials. (Scroll up or down for this date’s LEBANON, IRAN and ALL OF IT, and down for UKRAINE 11-1-26.) — MCM

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Ukraine and Russia report fake emergency alerts after cyberattack targets apps, by Derek Gatopoulos and Susie Blann0 | AP  KYIV — Authorities in Ukraine and Russia said their emergency alert mobile apps had been targeted by cyberattacks, with users in Ukraine receiving false warnings of an imminent nuclear threat. It was not clear if the attacks late Sunday were related. Click HERE for report with photos. Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. 

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Ukrainian drones hit major oil transport hub in Samara Region. From the Moscow Times. Ukrainian drones struck one of Europe’s largest oil transport hubs in Russia’s Samara region, independent media reported today, as local authorities confirmed the overnight attack in the southern region without detailing any damage or casualties. READ MORE . . .

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Oleshky ceasefire and aid operation end without any violations, Lantratova says. From the Moscow Times. A ceasefire in and around the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine concluded this weekend without any violations being reported, Russia’s human rights chief said today, adding that discussions are under way to provide for regular humanitarian deliveries to civilians remaining in the area. READ MORE . . .

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A brief ceasefire opens a perilous escape window from Kherson’s riverside kill zone, by Hanna Arhirova and Volodymyr Yurchuk | AP  KOZATSKE, Ukraine — Before the war, the whole region, now nearly 70% under Russian control, had about 1 million residents. The riverside is designated a red zone, the highest level of military danger. With the ceasefire over, . . . Click HERE for report with video. Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

Iran, 11-2-26

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Links to two reports: from National Public Radio and the Associated Press, and to commentary from the Cradle; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or intitials. (Scroll up or down this date’s LEBANON, UKRAINE and ALL OF IT, and down for IRAN 11-1-26.) — MCM

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FROM NOV. 1  Gulf leaders meet in Qatar in effort to stave off new escalation in U.S and Iran war. Reported by Aya Batrawy and Sacha Pfeiffer | NPR  Qatar has been leading intense mediation efforts over the past 72 hours to prevent a new round of possible U.S. attacks on Iran after Tuesday’s midterm elections. The uncertainty has the entire Gulf region on edge. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM NOV. 1  United Arab Emirates says military solutions offer no quick off-ramps to crisis with Iran, by Sarah El Deeb | AP  MANAMA — The United Arab Emirates’ presidential adviser said Sunday his country hopes a diplomatic breakthrough in Qatar-led mediations is possible to avert a new round of confrontation between the U.S. and Iran. Report with locator map is HERE.

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FROM OCT. 28  Regional security runs through Iran, by Peiman Salehi | The Cradle  The presence of Saudi, Turkish, and Pakistani officials in Tehran on Oct. 26 reflected a growing recognition that Iran cannot be excluded from any serious regional security arrangement. Despite the U.S.–Israeli war against Iran, Tehran remains . . . READ MORE . . .

All of it, 11-2-26

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Links to two interviews: from Against the Stream via Consortium News, and from Yale Climate Connections via Informed Comment; other published material s accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll down for this date’s UKRAINE and IRAN, and for ALL OF IT 11-1-26.) — MCM

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FROM NOV. 1  Watch: Who rules America? Patrik Baab of the German program Against the Stream talks with Joe Lauria, editor-in-chief of Consortium News. From CN intro: “Who really governs the United States? The elected politicians — or the economic interests that fund their election campaigns? The U.S. midterm elections are on Tuesday.” Click HERE for 42-minute subtitled video and timed segment-by-segment table of contents. 

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FROM NOV. 1  Why whales are climate heroes — who need humans’ protection. Daisy Simmons of Yale Climate Connections talks with marine biologist Chris Johnson, who leads the World Wildlife Fund’s Protecting Whales & Dolphins Initiative. Click HERE for Simmons’ intro, transcript of their conversation, and photos.

Gaza, 11-1-26

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First, a link to a report from Reuters; headlines of others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll down for this date’s ALL OF IT, IRAN and UKRAINE, and for GAZA 10-30-26.) — MCM

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Israeli strikes kill eight people in Gaza, medics say. From Reuters. CAIRO — Israeli strikes killed at least eight Palestinians, including five police officers, in the Gaza Strip in two separate attacks today, according to medics and the Hamas-run interior ministry. READ MORE . . .

All of it, 11-1-26

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Links to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press and to a discussion from Consortium News; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for this date’s GAZA, IRAN and UKRAINE, and down for ALL OF IT 10-31-26.) — MCM

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White House maps path to govern without Congress if Democrats win, by Nandita Bose and Tim Reid | Reuters  WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s White House has spent months preparing for a possible Democratic takeover of Congress, developing plans to keep advancing major parts of his agenda through executive power while bracing for investigations of . . . READ MORE . . .

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French protest violence eases while scattered riots hit Germany ahead of school return, by Angela Charlton and Kirsten Grieshaber | AP  PARIS — French authorities expressed relief today after mass protests over rising living costs resulted in less violence than previous weekends. But police expect new demonstrations as high schools at the heart of the movement reopen Monday after their autumn break. Germany faced . . . Click HERE for report with video and photos. Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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The World This Week — Is the Trump era over? Joe Lauria of CN, retired CIA analyst Ray McGovern and former U.S. Marine Corps counterintelligence officer (and former U.N. weapons inspector) Scott Ritter on * prospects for ending the Iran and Ukraine wars, * related autumn 2026 diplomacy, * post-election maneuvering in Israel, * post-midterms possibilities in the United States, * street protests in France and Germany, * “Russiagate” in Europe, * tourism last week in Paris, and * dockworkers’ work stoppages in dozens of countries over Gaza. Click HERE for video of talk.

Iran, 11-1-26

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First, a link to a report from the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its name or initials. (Scroll up or down for this date’s GAZA, ALL OF IT and UKRAINE, and down for IRAN 10-30-26.) — MCM

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Iran’s top diplomat hopes U.S. shows ‘rationality,’ and other Mideast news. From AP. Iran’s top diplomat says he hopes there is “rationality” on the U.S. side as diplomatic efforts seek to avert a return to all-out war. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes on Gaza killed eight people, including a young boy. And Qatar’s national gas company said one of its vessels was struck in the Persian Gulf. Here is the latest news from the Middle East today. Click HERE for report with video and photos. Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

Ukraine, 11-1-26

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First, a link to a report from the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its name or initials. (Scroll up for this date’s GAZA, ALL OF IT and IRAN, and down for UKRAINE 10-30-26.) — MCM

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Civilians in Ukraine’s Kherson prepare for the return of war as localized ceasefire ends, by Hanna Arhirova and Volodymyr Yurchuk | AP  KHERSON, Ukraine — Civilians in Ukraine’s southeastern Kherson region prepared today for the end of a localized ceasefire that has marked the most significant truce between Kyiv and Moscow since . . . Click HERE for report with video and photos.

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MAY BE CONTINUED

Media, 10-31-26

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Links to a report from the Moscow Times and to video and transcript of an interview via Consortium News and ScheerPost; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll down for this date’s ALL OF IT. For MEDIA 9-30-26, click HERE.) — MCM

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FROM OCT. 30  Russia’s oldest independent newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, announces closure, by Mack Tubridy | The Moscow Times  Novaya Gazeta, Russia’s oldest and best-known independent newspaper, announced Friday that it will end its run after more than three decades in operation due to growing state pressure against its journalists. READ MORE . . .

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FROM OCT. 30  A people Israel can’t erase*, by Joshua Scheer | ScheerPost / Consortium News  Chris Hedges on his and Joe Sacco’s new book, Requiem for Gaza: “Physically, the book is beautiful. That also counts a lot for Joe. He writes into his contract the size of the book and the weight of the paper. If you notice, the paper weight is heavier than a normal book. That was important, and I think he’s probably right. The material is so incendiary. The New York Times already sent back a notice saying, ‘We’re not reviewing it. Don’t worry. We’re not touching it.’” Click HERE for video and transcript of Oct. 3 interview of Hedges by Art O’Connor in Dublin, Ireland, and for Scheer’s print introduction. 

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*  The interview was previously linked to under GAZA 10-30-26.

 

All of it, 10-31-26

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First, links to a segment from New England Public Media and to a report from the Berkshire Eagle; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. Also, a NOTE for context. (Scroll up for this date’s MEDIA, and down for ALL OF IT 10-28-26.) — MCM

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FROM OCT. 29  After tough primary, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal faces Nadia Milleron in general election, by Karen Brown | NEPM  After a tough Democratic primary against political newcomer Jeromie Whalen, U.S. representative Richard Neal has another challenger in the general election for Massachusetts first congressional district. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM OCT. 30  Ralph Nader blasts Rep. Richard Neal in letter backing niece’s challenge, by Talia Lissauer | The Berkshire Eagle   SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Ralph Nader calls U.S. Rep. Richard Neal “chronically absent,” a “corporate Democrat” and “too MAGA” in an open letter criticizing the incumbent as he faces off against Nader’s niece, independent challenger Nadia Milleron. Click HERE to read three paragraphs, or whole article with subscription to the Eagle.

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NOTE:

The Massachusetts 1st Congressional District, in which Neal and Milleron are running, includes Pittsfield, where I live. In 2024, when Milleron’s first campaign was amateurish and underfunded, I contributed to it and had a lawn sign and voted for her. This year, in addition, I’ve spent a few hours doing some work in her campaign — going door to door and telephoning.

Milleron has a real shot at winning. This week her uncle, Ralph Nader, who grew up in Winsted, in the Congressional district in Connecticut abutting hers, endorsed her and “blasted” Neal (as the page 1 Berkshire Eagle headline had it) in an open letter to Neal. Nader’s website, Nader.org, doesn’t link to the letter but is worth checking out.

I see Neal as a successful Congressional Democrat who has achieved a level of power in a corrupt system. Call him a Nancy Pelosi Democrat. His (lying) mailers make a case not for him but for his opponent. Can it be that someone in the Massachusetts Democratic Party has it in for him and crafted the mailers in such a way that they would torpedo his campaign for a 20th term in office? But he “approved” them.

Another term for Neal is not what the country needs. Nadia Milleron just may be. — MCM