NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

First, here is a link to a report from the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its name or initials. (Scroll down for today’s GAZA, IRAN, UKRAINE and ALL OF IT, and for COVID ETC. 8-13-26.) — MCM

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Ex-Fauci advisor pleads guilty to plotting to conceal Covid research, by | AP  GREENBELT, Md. — A former senior adviser to infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci pleaded guilty Tuesday to plotting to conceal federal records related to research on the origins of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

First, here is a link to a report from the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its name or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s COVID ETC., IRAN, UKRAINE and ALL OF IT, and down for GAZA 8-18-26.) — MCM

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Israel’s military to investigate Gaza attacks, and other major developments in the Middle East. From AP.  The Israeli military said today it will conduct criminal investigations into the killings of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl and her family and the separate killings of 15 paramedics, following a review of troop conduct during the war in Gaza. Meanwhile . . .  Click HERE for report including photos. Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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TO BE CONTINUED

NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

First, here is a link to a report from the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its name or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s COVID ETC., GAZA, UKRAINE and ALL OF IT, and down for IRAN 8-18-26.) — MCM

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NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

For now, links to five reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, and the Moscow Times; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s COVID ETC., GAZA, IRAN and ALL OF IT, and down for UKRAINE 8-18-26.) — MCM

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Ukraine’s new defence minister appointed amid political turmoil. From Reuters. KYIV – Ukrainian lawmakers appointed a new defence minister today, hours after his ousted predecessor dealt a major blow to President Volodymyr Zelensky with a call for elections in wartime. READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for earlier report with photos from AP in English and Spanish.

NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here is a link to an essay from the Chris Hedges Report via ScheerPost; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll up for today’s COVID ETC., GAZA, IRAN and UKRAINE so far, and down for ALL OF IT 8-16-26.) — MCM

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FROM AUG. 17  The dead, by Christopher Hedges | The Chris Hedges Report / ScheerPost  MECHANIC FALLS, Maine — I am standing in Maple Grove Cemetery. In front of me, within a radius of a few feet, are three rectangular granite headstones that read “HEDGES,” “BLAIR” and “PRINCE.” READ MORE . . .

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NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here are links to three reports: from Reuters, National Public Radio, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll down for today’s UKRAINE, SYRIA, IRAN and GAZA, and for WEST BANK 8-17-26.) — MCM

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Israeli settler confronts Palestinian American at his besieged West Bank home, by Pesha Magid, Ammar Awad and Sinan Abu Mayzer | Reuters  QUSRA, West Bank — Palestinian American Loui Ridi raised a giant American flag over his West Bank home, hoping it might deter . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 17  Palestinian family in West Bank fear settler violence will rob them of home. Reported by Frank Langfitt | NPR  The family of a Palestinian-American man remain holed up in his West Bank home for more than a week, after Israeli settlers laid siege to the house and the Israeli army then turned it into a closed military area. Click HERE to listen and read.  Click HERE for Aug. 18 report from AP including photos.

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NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here are links to two reports: from the Moscow Times and Reuters; headlines of others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll up or down for today’s WEST BANK, SYRIA, IRAN and GAZA, and down for UKRAINE 8-17-26.) — MCM

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Over 600 Ukrainian drones target Moscow region in major air assault. From the Moscow Times. Ukraine launched 637 drones at Moscow and the surrounding region between Monday night and this morning, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, marking one of the largest air assaults on the Russian capital since the start of the war. READ MORE . . .

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FROM AUG. 17  Russian attacks on Ukraine kill 10 ahead of Trump-Zelenskiy meeting, by Vitalii Hnidyi and Anna Voitenko | Reuters  KHARKIV, Ukraine — Russian attacks on major Ukrainian cities killed at least 10 people on Monday, hours before President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was expected to press his case in Washington against a quick deal to end Moscow’s war. READ MORE . . .

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NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here are links to reports from the Cradle and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s WEST BANK, IRAN and GAZA, and down for SYRIA 8-14-26.) — MCM

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Israel bombs Syrian military base as U.S. praises Damascus’s ‘de-escalatory’ policy toward Tel Aviv. From the Cradle. Israel launched a new wave of strikes on Syria today, despite no threat being posed to it by the extremist-led authorities in Damascus, which fought against Tel Aviv’s adversaries for years. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from AP.

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NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here are links to reports from Middle East Eye and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its name or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s WEST BANK, UKRAINE, SYRIA and GAZA, and down for IRAN 8-17–26.) — MCM

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Trump posts map labeling Strait of Hormuz as ‘NEW U.S. territory.’ From Middle East Eye. US President Donald Trump has posted an image on social media labelling the Strait of Hormuz as “NEW U.S. Territory.” Click HERE for report including illustration.

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Trump says U.S. has no planned talks with Iran and other news from the Middle East. From AP. A projectile hit a ship as it sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz early today, according to the British military’s UK Maritime Trade Operations center, and an Iranian official said the waterway would not be reopened until the United States meets Iran’s conditions. Click HERE for report with a photo and two locator maps. Click HERE for most of same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here are links to five reports: from National Public Radio and the Cradle, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up for today’s WEST BANK, UKRAINE, SYRIA and IRAN, and down for GAZA 8-17-26.) — MCM

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Kushner optimistic about Gaza ceasefire plan after meeting with Netanyahu. Reported by Daniel Estrin and Sacha Pfeiffer | NPR  A marathon meeting between President Trump’s envoy Jared Kushner and Israel’s prime minister ended without firm commitment to the latest U.S. plan for a Gaza ceasefire. Click HERE to listen and, later, read. Click HERE for a related NPR interview and HERE for an Aug. 17 NPR report. Click HERE for report from the Cradle.

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UN reveals only three percent of Gaza’s farmland remains usable. From the Cradle. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization today announced that only three percent of Gaza’s cropland remains “accessible and undamaged” according to satellite image analysis. READ MORE . . .

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Has Hamas ended? by Tamer Ajrami | Middle East Monitor  A partial military defeat does not mean the end of a political movement. READ MORE . . .

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