First, links to reports from the Cradle and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll down for today’s GAZA, UKRAINE, IRAN and LEBANON so far, and for MEDIA 5- -26.) — MCM

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Israel funneling millions through Trump-linked firms to spread digital propaganda in the U.S.: report. From the Cradle. Public disclosures filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act reveal that a firm operated by Brad Parscale, the former campaign manager for U.S. President Donald Trump, has funneled approximately $13 million from the Israeli government to a “web of right−wing businesses” and Republican digital strategy firms, The Intercept reported today. READ MORE . . .

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American journalist charged with acting as an agent for the Chinese government. Reported by Steve Inskeep | NPR  The FBI alleged in federal court that an American journalist who worked for Chinese state media illegally acted as an agent for the Chinese government. Click HERE to listen and read. 

For now, links to reports from the Cradle and Middle East Eye and to commentaries from or via Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll up or down for today’s UKRAINE, IRAN and LEBANON so far, and down for GAZA 5-28-26.) — MCM

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Israel’s Netanyahu orders army to seize 70 percent of Gaza. From Middle East Eye. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he had ordered the army to occupy 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, in the latest violation of the October ceasefire. He said that “at this point, we are fully in control of 60 percent of the territory of the Gaza Strip.” READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from the Cradle.

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FROM MAY 28  Netanyahu’s theatre of ruin, by Jasim Al-Azzawi | Middle East Monitor  Benjamin Netanyahu has defeated nobody. Not one enemy. Not one objective. After Gaza, after Lebanon, after Syria, after Iran, after all the airstrikes and the assassinations and the pager operations and the . . . READ MORE . . .

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Stop blaming Netanyahu, stupid . . . by Jamal Kanj | Middle East Monitor  By blaming Netanyahu et al., the Zionist-managed Western media and liberals in the U.S. and Europe want you to believe that there is a moral daylight between the politics of the Israeli governing coalition and the state they lead. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to SEVEN reports: from Middle East Eye, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, the Moscow Times, and Reuters; others or just headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s MEDIA, GAZA, IRAN and LEBANON so far, and down for UKRAINE 5-28-26.) — MCM

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NEWER  NATO vows to defend ‘every inch’ of territory after Russian drone hits Romania. From Middle East Eye. NATO accused Russia of “reckless” behaviour and said it would defend “every inch of Allied territory” after Romania said a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building during an attack on neighbouring Ukraine. Romania’s defence ministry said radar systems . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 28  Russia brushes off U.S. call not to launch ‘systemic strikes’ on Kyiv. From Reuters. WASHINGTON — The United States on Thursday levelled unusually harsh criticism against Russia and called for it to refrain from its promised “systematic strikes” against Kyiv, but Moscow brushed off the appeal and reiterated a warning to foreign diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital. READ MORE . . .  

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TO BE CONTINUED

First, links to SIX reports: from National Public Radio, the Cradle, Reuters, and the Associated Press; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s MEDIA, GAZA, UKRAINE and LEBANON so far, and down for IRAN 5-28-26.) — MCM

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President Trump’s whiplash diplomacy on Iran continues. Reported by A Martínez and Franco Ordoñez | NPR  After a weekend of diplomatic whiplash, uncertainty remains around where President Trump’s negotiations to end the war with Iran stands. Click HERE to listen and read, and HERE for link to second Iran war-related report today from NPR‘s “Morning Edition.”

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FROM MAY 28  U.S. Treasury slaps sanctions on Iranian authority overseeing Hormuz. From the Cradle. The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced on Wednesday the designation of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority as an officially blacklisted entity, effectively freezing the agency’s assets and banning any global business with it. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 28  Iran, U.S. reach deal to extend ceasefire, pending Trump’s approval, by Jonathan Landay, Steve Holland and Yomna Ehab | Reuters   WASHINGTON / CAIRO — The United States and Iran reached an agreement on Thursday to extend their ceasefire and lift restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, sources said, though U.S. President Donald Trump has yet to approve it and Iranian state media said it had not been ‌finalized. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from AP.

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FROM MAY 28  A look at Trump’s plan to build on the Abraham Accords. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR  President Trump is pushing Saudi Arabia and Qatar to normalize relations with Israel, as part of an end to the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. Experts call that unrealistic. Click HERE to listen and read.

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to THREE reports: from the Cradle, Middle East Eye and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its name or initials. (Scroll up for today’s MEDIA, GAZA, UKRAINE and IRAN so far, and down for LEBANON 5-28-26.) — MCM

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Parliament speaker rejects Lebanon-Israel talks. From the Cradle. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri slammed direct talks between Beirut and Tel Aviv today, hours ahead of a new round of negotiations that will involve Israeli and Lebanese military delegations, in violation of the country’s laws, warning that Lebanon does not hold “a single card.”  READ MORE . . .

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On average, 11 children killed or wounded every day in past week in Lebanon: UNICEF. From Middle East Eye. A total of 77 children have been killed or injured in the last seven days by Israeli attacks, UNICEF said. Since the ceasefire began in April, 55 children have been killed, and 212 wounded, according to the agency. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 28  As Israel expands attacks in Lebanon, a city flees. Reported by Jane Arraf | NPR  Refugees cram roads from southern Lebanon as Israeli airstrikes target Hezbollah in the city of Tyre. Click HERE to listen and read.

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TO BE CONTINUED

Links to FIVE reports: from the Cradle, Reuters, Middle East Eye, and Middle East Monitor; and to a analysis from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll down for GAZA, IRAN and UKRAINE, and for LEBANON 5-26-26.) — MCM

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New Israeli airstrike hits Beirut as mass destruction reported in Lebanon’s ancient city of Tyre. From the Cradle. Israel bombed the Lebanese capital today for the first time in weeks, marking the second attack on Beirut since the so-called ceasefire, coinciding with an unprecedented escalation against south Lebanon. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Israeli army orders evacuation of six more southern Lebanon towns. From Middle East Eye. The Israeli army has issued another forced displacement order for six more towns and villages in southern Lebanon, saying attacks are forthcoming.  READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 27  Israel orders forced evacuation of Lebanon’s Tyre ahead of new carpet bombing campaign. From the Cradle. On Wednesday, the Israeli military issued forced displacement orders for the entire population of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre (Sur) and the surrounding neighborhoods and Palestinian refugee camps, ordering residents to flee north of the Zahrani River immediately. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 27 Hezbollah says it carried out attacks on Israeli troops, positions on Tuesday. From Middle East Monitor. Hezbollah said on Tuesday it had carried out 32 attacks targeting Israeli troops, military vehicles and positions in different areas of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. The figures were compiled by Anadolu Agency based on . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 27  Israel’s colonization of south Lebanon is already under way, by Paul Khalifeh | Middle East Eye  Despite official Israeli denials and the refusal of some Lebanese to acknowledge the reality, the colonisation of south Lebanon is neither a myth nor a fantasy. It is a concrete and structured project. READ MORE . . .

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Links to THREE reports: from Middle East Eye, Middle East Monitor, and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll up or down for LEBANON, IRAN and UKRAINE, and for GAZA 5-20-26.) — MCM

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Hamas warns Gaza ceasefire risks collapse after string of Israeli assassinations. From Middle East Eye. Hamas warned today that the ceasefire agreement in Gaza is at risk of collapse following an escalation in Israeli air strikes this month. The Palestinian group said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel plans to expand control over Gaza in coming months. From Middle East Monitor. Israel is planning, in coordination with the United States, to expand its occupation of the Gaza Strip. According to Israel’s Channel 14, the plan includes a major expansion of the so-called Yellow Line in Gaza, alongside . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 27  Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ has zero dollars’ despite $17bn in pledges: report. From the Cradle. The official World Bank-administered fund for US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” for Gaza currently contains “zero dollars,” the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, despite approximately $17 billion in pledges. READ MORE . . .

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Links to SIX reports: from the Associated Press, the Cradle, Reuters, and National Public Radio;, and to an analysis from Middle East Eye; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for LEBANON, GAZA and UKRAINE, and down for IRAN 5-27-26.) — MCM

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FROM MAY 27  U.S. strikes Iran again, official says, after Trump denies deal on Strait of Hormuz, by Phil Stewart, Trevor Hunnicutt, Enas Alashray and Elwely Elwelly | Reuters  WASHINGTON — ⁠The U.S. military carried out new strikes targeting an Iranian drone operation that posed a threat to U.S. forces and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official said, hours after President Donald Trump dismissed an Iranian report of a deal to restore traffic through the strategic waterway. READ MORE . . .  Click  HERE for report from AP.

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Former U.S. special envoy on the mixed messages coming from Trump and Iran. A Martínez of NPR speaks with Robert Malley, former U.S. special envoy for Iran, about mixed messages from the Trump administration and Iranian leadership about a potential deal to end the war. Click HERE to listen and, later, read; and HERE for links to  both Iran war-related reports today on NPR’s “Morning Edition.” 

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FROM MAY 26  Why Trump is using Iran to revive the Abraham Accords, by Sean Mathews | Middle East Eye  President Donald Trump’s injection of the Abraham Accords into talks with Iran underscores how the Islamic Republic is getting the better of the U.S. at the negotiating table, and Trump is trying to distract from it, according to current and former U.S. and Arab officials. READ MORE . . .

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Links to a report from the Associated Press and to an interview from the Glenn Diesen Show; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll up for LEBANON, GAZA and IRAN, and down for UKRAINE 5-27-26.) — MCM

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Zelensky says he’s pressing U.S. for more Patriot missiles for Ukraine to counter Russian strikes. From AP. KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today he’s being “very persistent” in pressing the United States to provide his country with more Patriot air defense missiles that can counter devastating Russian ballistic missile attacks. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish.

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FROM MAY 27  McGovern: Russia escalates with new strategy? Glenn Diesen of the Glen Diesen Show talks with Ray McGovern, a former CIA analyst whose assignments included Russia and Russian-Chinese relations. Click HERE for video of 42-minute interview.

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For now, links to TWO reports: from Middle East Eye and West Bank Alerts; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll down for today’s UKRAINE, IRAN and LEBANON so far, and for WEST BANK 5-25-26.) — MCM

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Israeli settlers, soldiers attack and loot West Bank villages, by Oren Ziv | Middle East Eye  JILJILYA, occupied West Bank — While settlers frequently raid Palestinian communities and steal livestock, in cases here and elsewhere on the West Bank last week operations were carried out in coordination with — and under the protection of — the Israeli army, which secured the theft and assisted the settlers throughout. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 25  ‘Naked sadism,‘ by Cara Marianna | West Bank Alerts  A text arrived on Friday, May 15, from the village of Kisan. It was Adnan. He had sent a video then circulating throughout the West Bank. It showed a young Jewish settler mercilessly beating a Palestinian family’s dog while it was tied up and unable to escape. Click HERE for report including brief video.

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TO BE CONTINUED