Links to SIX reports: from Agence France-Presse, the Cradle, the Associated Press, China Global Television Network, Kuwait News Agency, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for GAZA 2-16-26 and WEST BANK, IRAN and UKRAINE.) — MCM

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Hamas says Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ must compel Israel to stop Gaza truce violations. From AFP. GAZA — Hamas said today that U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly formed “Board of Peace” should pressure Israel to halt its ongoing violations of the Gaza ceasefire. READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for same AFP report in French, and HERE for headlines of others.

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FROM FEB. 16  African Union backs full UN membership for Palestine. From the Cradle. The African Union issued a landmark declaration during its 39th summit on Feb. 15, calling for Palestine to be granted full UN membership and rejecting forced displacement of Palestinians as a “violation of international law.” READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for Feb. 14 report from AP.  Click HERE and HERE for reports from CGTN and KUNA.

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A look at how the Trump administration is approaching Iran, Ukraine and Gaza. Steve Inskeep of NPR talks with Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute about how the Trump administration’s approach to Iran, Ukraine and Gaza aligns with national security. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Links to FIVE reports: from the Cradle and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for WEST BANK 2-16-26, and up or down for GAZA, IRAN and UKRAINE.) — MCM

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FROM FEB. 16  Israel’s new West Bank registration process declares Palestinian land ‘state property.’ From the Cradle. The Israeli government has approved a land registration process, which will allow Israel to claim territory in the occupied West Bank as “state property” if Palestinians cannot prove ownership, a move that has been described as “de facto annexation.” READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 16  African Union backs full UN membership for Palestine. From the Cradle. The African Union issued a landmark declaration during its 39th summit on Feb. 15, calling for Palestine to be granted full UN membership and rejecting forced displacement of Palestinians as a “violation of international law.” READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for Feb. 14 report from AP.  Click HERE and HERE for reports from CGTN and KUNA.

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Links to 10 reports: from Agence France-Presse, Middle East Eye, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and the Cradle, and to a discussion from ScheerPost; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials and those of participants below. (Scroll down for IRAN 2-16-26, and up or down for GAZA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE.) — MCM

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NEWER  Iran FM says agreed with U.S. ‘on guiding principles’ for deal. From AFP. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said today the latest talks with the United States saw them agree on “a set of guiding principles” that would pave the way for a deal. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for longer AFP report in French, and HERE for headlines of others.  Click HERE for report from Middle East Eye.

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Iran temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz as it held latest round of indirect talks with U.S., by Jamey Keaten and Stephanie Liechtenstein | AP  GENEVA — Iran announced the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz today for live fire military drills in a rare show of force as its negotiators held another round of indirect talks with the United States in Geneva over its disputed nuclear program. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.  Click HERE for earlier report from NPR.

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Khamenei vows to send U.S. aircraft carriers ‘to the bottom of the sea’ amid round two of talks.  From the Cradle. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned on 17 February that Tehran will sink US aircraft carriers “to the bottom of the sea,” coinciding with a second round of negotiations between Washington and the Islamic Republic in Geneva. READ MORE . . .

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Iran-U.S. talks restart as Khamenei warns Islamic Republic will not be destroyed. From Middle East Eye. Talks mediated by Oman have begun near Geneva between Iranian and U.S. delegations over Iran’s nuclear programme, as Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned President Donald Trump he would not be able to “destroy” the Islamic Republic. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 16  IRGC launches ‘smart control’ naval drills in Strait of Hormuz. From the Cradle. The naval forces of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have begun military drills in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Press TV reported on Monday, amid the ongoing U.S. buildup of military power in the region. READ MORE . . .

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Former deputy special envoy for Iran discusses U.S.-Iran nuclear talks. Reported by Steve Inskeep | NPR  As the U.S. and Iran continue to engage indirectly in nuclear talks, Richard Nephew, former deputy special envoy for Iran in the Biden administration, talks about some of the remaining challenges. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Trump administration tries to resolve three crises with Iran, Ukraine and Gaza. Reported by Greg Myre and Leila Fadel | NPR  This week, the Trump administration seeks diplomatic deals on three fronts, as it tries to make a nuclear deal with Iran, end the Russia-Ukraine war and advance a ceasefire in Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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A look at how the Trump administration is approaching Iran, Ukraine and Gaza. Steve Inskeep of NPR talks with Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute about how the Trump administration’s approach to Iran, Ukraine and Gaza aligns with national security. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM FEB. 15  The World This Week. From ScheerPost. Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, Consortium News editor-in-chief Joe Lauria and international affairs writer Patrick Lawrence speak about Russia and Europe (for an hour) and Iran and Israel (for another) — amid Trump administration turmoil concerning ongoing Epstein files revelations and Constitutional questions. Click HERE for video and introduction.

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Links to FOUR reports: from the Associated Press and National Public Radio, and to a discussion from ScheerPost; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials and those of participants below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 2-15-26.  Scroll up for GAZA, WEST BANK and IRAN.) — MCM

NOTE: Again, other perspectives are at the Moscow Times (based in Belgium); Kyiv Post and the Kyiv Independent (both operating under martial law); and Tass (a Russian state news service). Each is a click away. Time no longer permits regular inclusion of links to their content.

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Russian and Ukrainian officials are in Geneva for U.S.-brokered talks after almost four years of war, by Emma Burrows and Jamey Keaten | AP  GENEVA — Delegations from Moscow and Kyiv were in Geneva today for another round of U.S.-brokered peace talks, but expectations for any breakthroughs in Geneva were low. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Trump administration tries to resolve three crises with Iran, Ukraine and Gaza. Reported by Greg Myre and Leila Fadel | NPR  This week, the Trump administration seeks diplomatic deals on three fronts, as it tries to make a nuclear deal with Iran, end the Russia-Ukraine war and advance a ceasefire in Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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A look at how the Trump administration is approaching Iran, Ukraine and Gaza. Steve Inskeep of NPR talks with Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute about how the Trump administration’s approach to Iran, Ukraine and Gaza aligns with national security. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM FEB. 15  The World This Week. From ScheerPost. Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, Consortium News editor-in-chief Joe Lauria and international affairs writer Patrick Lawrence speak about Russia and Europe (for an hour) and Iran and Israel (for another) — amid Trump administration turmoil concerning ongoing Epstein files revelations and Constitutional questions. Click HERE for video and introduction.

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For now, a link to commentary from Common Dreams, and links to SEVEN reports: from National Public Radio, Middle East Eye, the Cradle, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for GAZA 2-14-26 and LEBANON, IRAN, WEST BANK and MEDIA so far.) — MCM

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Happy Presidents Day to the squalid Epstein class, by Robert Reich | Common Dreams  These people are an interconnected world of hugely rich, prominent, entitled, smug, powerful, self-important (mostly) men. Trump is honorary chairman. READ MORE . . .

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With no Gaza disarmament deal, UN group hasn’t begun major work to clear explosives. Reported by Daniel Estrin | NPR  The United Nations group that clears explosives from conflict zones says it has not started major clearing operations in Gaza, because Israel and Hamas have not yet agreed on the terms for disarmament of the territory. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM FEB. 15  Israel kills 10 Palestinians in Gaza ahead of ‘Board of Peace’ meeting. From Middle East Eye. Israeli forces killed at least 10 Palestinians in air strikes across the Gaza Strip late on Saturday and into Sunday, according to the health ministry. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 15  Israel continues to block Gaza technocrats from entering strip as killings continue unabated. From the Cradle. The High Representative for Gaza of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace stated at the Munich Security Conference on Friday that the Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with governing Gaza in place of Hamas cannot enter the strip if violations of the ceasefire continue. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 12  Palestinians living along the ‘Yellow Line’ endure daily Israeli attacks, by Ahmed Dremly and Ahmed Alsammak | Middle East Eye  Since the ceasefire was signed in October, Israeli forces have repeatedly violated it through numerous air strikes, shootings, home demolitions and detentions. Many of the 591-plus killings have occurred near the so-called Yellow Line stretching across northern, eastern and southern Gaza. READ MORE . . .

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Indonesia says 8,000 troops ready for possible peacekeeping mission in Gaza by June, by Niniek Karmini | AP  JAKARTA — Indonesia’s military said Sunday that up to 8,000 troops are expected to be ready by the end of June for a potential deployment to Gaza as part of a humanitarian and peace mission, the first firm commitment to a critical element of U.S. President Donald Trump’s postwar reconstruction plan. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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Occupation, PA inaction and financial troubles drive education crisis in Palestine, by Aziza Nofal | Middle East Eye  RAMALLAH, occupied Palestine — An ongoing financial crisis within the Palestinian Authority has led to cuts in teaching hours and reduced salaries for public sector workers, including teachers, undermining the quality of education. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 13  Israeli army closes dozens of cases involving killing of Palestinians inside torture camps. From the Cradle. The Israeli military has closed dozens of war-crimes investigations into its soldiers arising from the first two years of its genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, the Jerusalem Post reported on Feb. 8. READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

A link to commentary from Common Dreams, and links to TWO reports: from Middle East Eye and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (Scroll down for LEBANON 2-13-26, and up or down for GAZA, IRAN, WEST BANK and MEDIA.) — MCM

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Happy Presidents Day to the squalid Epstein class, by Robert Reich | Common Dreams  These people are an interconnected world of hugely rich, prominent, entitled, smug, powerful, self-important (mostly) men. Trump is honorary chairman. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli strike in eastern Lebanon kills four near Syrian border. From Middle East Eye. An Israeli drone strike in eastern Lebanon killed four people on Sunday evening after targeting a vehicle near the Syrian border, Lebanese state media reported, as Israel continues expanding its cross-border attacks on the country. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 15  Israeli violations in Lebanon persist as US-backed internal pressure against Hezbollah grows. From the Cradle. The Israeli army continued its blatant violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon on Sunday, hours after a late-night wave of violent attacks on the country’s south. READ MORE . . .

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Links to an open letter to the UN Security Council via Common Dreams; to commentary from Common Dreams; and to links to SIX reports: from the Cradle, the Associated Press, Reuters, and France 24; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (Scroll down for IRAN 2-14-26, and up or down for GAZA, LEBANON, WEST BANK, and MEDIA.) — MCM

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An open letter to the UN Security Council, by Jeffrey Sachs | Common Dreams The current threat of an attack by the U.S. did not begin with any failure by Iran to negotiate. On the contrary, it began with the United States’ repudiation of negotiations that had already succeeded. READ MORE . . .

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Happy Presidents Day to the squalid Epstein class, by Robert Reich | Common Dreams  These people are an interconnected world of hugely rich, prominent, entitled, smug, powerful, self-important (mostly) men. Trump is honorary chairman. READ MORE . . .

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Netanyahu doubles down on ‘conditions’ for Iran–U.S. deal. From the Cradle. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a statement on Sunday outlining Tel Aviv’s five conditions for any agreement between Iran and the U.S., chief among them the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program. READ MORE . . .

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Iran meets UN nuclear watchdog in Geneva ahead of a second round of U.S. talks, by Jamey Keaten and Stephanie Liechtenstein | AP  GENEVA — Iran’s top diplomat met with the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency today, ahead of a second round of negotiations with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Iran says U.S. has developed ‘more realistic’ stance on nuclear issue ahead of Geneva talks. From France 24. Iran said today that the United States’s position on Iran’s nuclear programme “has moved towards a more realistic one,” a day ahead of a second round of U.S.-Iranian talks in Geneva. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for shorter version of report from RFI in French, and HERE for others.

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FROM FEB. 14  U.S. military preparing for potentially weeks-long Iran operations, by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali | Reuters  WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders an attack, according to two U.S. officials. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Cradle.

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Links to commentary from Common Dreams, and to FOUR reports: from the Cradle, Middle East Eye, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for WEST BANK 2-15-26, and up or down for GAZA, LEBANON, IRAN and MEDIA.) — MCM

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Happy Presidents Day to the squalid Epstein class, by Robert Reich | Common Dreams  These people are an interconnected world of hugely rich, prominent, entitled, smug, powerful, self-important (mostly) men. Trump is honorary chairman. READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Palestinian security forces express ‘deep regret’ after killing two children in West Bank’s Tubas. From the Cradle. The Palestinian Authority’s security forces released a statement today expressing “deep regret” over its killing of two children in the occupied West Bank governorate of Tubas on Sunday night. READ MORE . . .

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PA forces kill Palestinian toddler and teenager in West Bank shooting, by Mera Aladam | Middle East Eye  Palestinian Authority forces shot dead a three-year-old girl and her teenage brother in the occupied West Bank city of Tubas on Sunday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 15  Israel will begin contentious West Bank land registration in new step to deepen control, by Melanie Lidman | AP  TEL AVIV — Israel will begin a contentious land regulation process in a large part of the occupied West Bank, which could result in Israel gaining control over wide swaths of the area for future development, according to a government decision on Sunday. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. Click HERE for report from Middle East Eye.

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Links to THREE reports: from the Associated Press and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (Scroll down for MEDIA 2-15-26.  Scroll up for GAZA, LEBANON, IRAN and WEST BANK.) — MCM

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FROM FEB. 9  Landmark trial accusing social media companies of addicting children to their platforms begins, by Kaitlyn Huamani and Barbara Ortutay | AP  LOS ANGELES — The world’s biggest social media companies face several landmark trials this year that seek to hold them responsible for harms to children who use their platforms. Opening statements in one such trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court began on Feb. 9. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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FROM FEB. 15  Tech trials on social media addiction seen through a mother’s eyes. Reported by Sarah Robbins, Emily Kwong, Gabriel J. Sánchez and Jordan-Marie Smith | NPR  With multiple tech addiction trials expected this year, Julianna Arnold of the parents group Parents Rise says the legal pressure is overdue for Big Tech. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JAN. 28  To keep AI out of her classroom, this high school English teacher went analog. Reported by Lee V. Gaines | NPR  Chanea Bond teaches at Southwest High School in the Fort Worth Independent School District, which serves mostly students from low-income backgrounds. She says going almost entirely analog is the best way she’s found to keep generative artificial intelligence out of her American literature and composition classes. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Links to a report from the Associated Press and to two articles of commentary: from Peoples Dispatch and the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for VENEZUELA 2-14-26 and 9/11 TRUTH, UKRAINE and MEDIA.) — MCM

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U.S. military boards another oil tanker in Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean, by Ben Finley | AP  WASHINGTON — U.S. military forces boarded another sanctioned tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel from the Caribbean Sea in an effort to target illicit oil connected to Venezuela, the Pentagon said today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 14  The war on drugs or the war on the poor? by Laura Capote | Peoples Dispatch  The so-called “War on Drugs” seeks to achieve a facade for the development of various mechanisms of imperialist intervention that since the 1970s have involved a combination of methods ranging from military financing to countries in the region, installation of military bases, and explicit support for certain candidates in electoral contests. READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 12  This newsletter will make you angry. From the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research. Cauca, Colombia, is home to coca-growing campesino (peasant) communities, where families do not plant coca out of choice but because dispossession and state abandonment have closed off dignified livelihoods for them. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same article in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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