A link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll down for GAZA, UKRAINE, IRAN and MEDIA, and for LEBANON 5-15-26.) — MCM

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Lebanon, Israel agree to ‘ceasefire extension’ as daily Israeli attacks claim nearly 3,000 Lebanese lives. From the Cradle. The U.S. State Department announced on Friday that Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend the so-called “ceasefire” for an additional 45 days after negotiations in Washington, D.C., and a week of intense Israeli bombings. READ MORE . . .

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Links to a report from the Associated Press and to an interview from the Chris Hedges Report via Consortium News; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for LEBANON, UKRAINE, IRAN and MEDIA, and down for GAZA 5-15-26.) — MCM

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Israel says it killed the leader of Hamas’s military wing. From AP. JERUSALEM — Israel’s army said Friday it has killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, one of the senior commanders in Hamas’s military who had directed the planning and execution of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 15  A history of Palestinian resistance. Chris Hedges of the Chris Hedges Report talks with author and historian Ramzy Baroud about his and his family’s experiences in the Palestinians’ powerful resistance to Zionism, today’s national liberation movement, and his new book, Before the Flood: A Gaza Family Memoir Across Three Generations of Colonial Invasion, Occupation, and War in Palestine. Click HERE for video of their conversation, a transcript, and a print commentary by Hedges. 

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Links to FOUR reports: from National Public Radio, the Moscow Times, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for LEBANON, GAZA, IRAN and MEDIA, and down for UKRAINE 5-14-26.) — MCM

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The war in Ukraine is at a standstill as societal fatigue grows in Russia. Reported by Charles Maynes, Joanna Kakissis and Elissa Nadworny | NPR  With the peace process stalled, there are signs of growing public fatigue in Russia with the Kremlin’s war as Ukraine uses robotic warfare to stay in the fight. Click HERE later to listen and, still later, read.

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FROM MAY 15  Ukrainian drones kill 4 and set Ryazan oil refinery ablaze. From the Moscow Times. A Ukrainian drone barrage killed at least four people and ignited a huge fire at an oil refinery in the city of Ryazan on Friday, in what appeared to be a direct retaliation for a deadly Russian strike on Kyiv a day earlier. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 15  Russia and Ukraine begin first phase of large POW exchange. From the Moscow Times. Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 205 prisoners of war on Friday, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying it represented the first phase of a large swap that U.S. President Donald Trump announced last week. READ MORE . . .

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Four civilians killed during Victory Day ceasefire: displomat. From Tass. Four civilians were killed and 47 injured in Russia during the May 9-11 ceasefire on the occasion of Victory Day, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large for the crimes of the Kiev regime Rodion Miroshnik told TASS. READ MORE . . .

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Below, links to SIX reports and analyses: from the Cradle, Reuters, Informed Comment via ScheerPost, the Associated Press and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for GAZA, UKRAINE and MEDIA, and down for IRAN 5-15-26.) — MCM

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EU states in ‘direct talks’ with Iran for safe passage: report. From the Cradle. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting network reported today that several European governments have opened direct channels with Tehran to discuss safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. READ MORE . . .

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Trump’s geopolitical brinkmanship has hit a wall with Iran. From Reuters. WASHINGTON — During his first year back in office, U.S. President Donald Trump’s blustery negotiating style won him concessions from countries on issues ranging from tariffs to armed conflict. But with Iran . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 15  Trump to ‘decide soon’ on removing sanctions against Chinese firms buying Iranian oil. From the Cradle. U.S. President Donald Trump said that he was considering lifting Washington’s sanctions on Chinese companies doing business with Iran, following his trip to China and meetings with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. READ MORE . . .

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Araghchi: BRICS looks at Iran with different eyes after ‘American failure,‘ by Juan Cole | Informed Comment / ScheerPost  The BRICS (a broad geopolitical group including Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Arab Emirates) held a summit for foreign ministers in New Delhi on May 14-15 that was overshadowed by the relatively fruitless Trump meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Iran, which attended as an observer, was naturally a big subject of conversation. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 15  Israeli forces set up a camp in the Iraqi desert during Iran war, officials say, by Qassim Abdul-Zehra and Abby Sewell | AP  BAGHDAD — Israeli forces set up a post in the desert in Iraq at the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, Iraqi and U.S. officials told AP. Its existence was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, which described it as . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 15  Iran has been confiscating property from critics of the regime. Reported by Emily Feng | NPR  Iran’s government has been confiscating property from people it deems traitors or critics of the regime. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Links to reports and commentary from National Public Radio, Middle East Monitor, West Bank Alerts, and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up for LEBANON, GAZA, UKRAINE and IRAN, and down for MEDIA 5-9-26.) — MCM

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FROM MAY 15  From proposal to print: How books make it to store shelves. Reported by Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi | NPR  Our Planet Money team has gotten an inside peek at the publishing industry as they follow the journey of their book. They explain how economic forces shape what choices a bookstore makes. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MAY 15  Mainstream U.S. media complicit in selling Gaza genocide, sweeping new analysis finds. From Middle East Monitor U.S. media is systematically biased in favour of Israel, an analysis by the Intercept has uncovered. Investigation of more than 12,000 articles and 5,000 TV segments found mainstream U.S. coverage was “one-sided, racist and dehumanising,” helping Israel justify its genocide in Gaza. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 7  When democracy fails, by Cara Marianna | West Bank Alerts / The Floutist I’m dissatisfied, it’s time to state bluntly, with reporting events from the West Bank. It seems increasingly obvious that documenting and reporting Israel’s brutality is not enough. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 14  Israel sues NYT over column exposing systematic policy of sexual abuse for Palestinian prisoners. From the Cradle. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced on Thursday it is launching a defamation lawsuit against the New York Times following its publication of a column by journalist Nicholas Kristof detailing the systematic rape and sexual assault of Palestinian detainees by Israeli guards. READ MORE . . .

Links to EIGHT reports: from the Cradle, Reuters, Middle East Monitor, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll down for GAZA, LEBANON and WEST BANK, and for IRAN 5-14-26.) — MCM

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Iranian FM says ‘no trust’ in talks with US, declares Hormuz open to all nations ‘except those waging war’ on Tehran. From the Cradle. Today Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz remains open to vessels except those “at war” with Tehran, and stressed that Iran has “no trust” in the U.S. regarding negotiations. READ MORE . . .

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UAE pours billions to fast-track new oil pipeline in bid to bypass Hormuz. From the Cradle. ABU DHABI — Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates has ordered the state-owned ADNOC to fast-track the West–East Pipeline project, with the project expected to begin operating in 2027. READ MORE . . .

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Saudi Arabia ‘raises possibility’ of non-aggression pact with Iran to quell regional tensions: report. From the Cradle. Saudi Arabia has “floated” the possibility of reaching a “non-aggression pact” between Iran and neighboring states modeled on the 1975 Helsinki Accords, which eased tensions during the Cold War in Europe, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. READ MORE . . .

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BRICS talks end without joint statement, exposing divisions over war in Iran. From Reuters. NEW DELHI — Top diplomats from BRICS nations, including rivals Iran and the United Arab Emirates, failed to issue a joint statement today after a two-day meeting in Delhi, leaving host India to release only a chair’s statement that exposed their differences. READ MORE . . .

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Trump says U.S. and China are aligned on Iran, Tehran must make a deal soon, by Trevor Hunnicutt and Jana Choukeir | Reuters  ABOARD AIR FORCE / DUBAI ― U.S. President Donald Trump said his patience with Iran was running out and that Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed during their talks in Beijing that Tehran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Middle East Monitor.

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FROM MAY 14  Dozens of China-linked vessels cross Hormuz under Iranian supervision. From the Cradle. Several Chinese-linked vessels have crossed the Strait of Hormuz under Iran’s newly established “management protocol” over the past day, Fars News Agency reported on Thursday. READ MORE . . .

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Is the U.S. running out of weapons in the Iran war? Reported by Lauren Hodges, Ailsa Chang and Tinbete Ermvas | NPR  Ailsa Chang speaks with former CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr about the status of America’s weapons stockpile amid the war with Iran. Click HERE to listen and read.

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A link to a report from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll up for IRAN and WEST BANK, and down for GAZA 5-14-26.) — MCM

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Mainstream U.S. media complicit in selling Gaza genocide, sweeping new analysis finds. From Middle East Monitor U.S. media is systematically biased in favour of Israel, an analysis by the Intercept has uncovered. Investigation of more than 12,000 articles and 5,000 TV segments found mainstream U.S. coverage was “one-sided, racist and dehumanising,” helping Israel justify its genocide in Gaza. READ MORE . . .

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Links to reports from the Associated Press and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for IRAN, GAZA and WEST BANK, and down for LEBANON 5-14-26.) — MCM

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War worsens Lebanon’s economic crisis, with job losses, price gouging and slow business, by Malak Harb and Kareem Chehayeb | AP  The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have sent economic shock waves across the Mideast. In Lebanon, those woes have been compounded by the country’s existing economic problems and by largely unregulated markets that are vulnerable to price gouging. Click HERE for report including video and photos.

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Israel confirms 19th soldier killed by Hezbollah as FPV drone attacks intensify. From the Cradle. The Israeli army released a statement today announcing the killing of a new soldier by the Lebanese resistance, bringing the number of troops killed by Hezbollah to 19 since the start of the war and ground invasion in south Lebanon. READ MORE . . .

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For now, links to reports from Middle East Eye and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll up or down for IRAN, GAZA and LEBANON, and down for WEST  BANK 5-13-26.) — MCM

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How the West Bank is being ethnically cleansed, by Peter Osborne | Middle East Eye  Armed, funded and openly endorsed by Israel’s far-right government, settlers are terrorising Palestinians with impunity. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 14  Israel begins illegal settlement construction atop historic Hebron municipality building in West Bank. From Middle East Monitor. Israel began illegal settlement construction works atop the historic Hebron municipality building in the southern West Bank, municipal authorities said Thursday, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

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Links to TEN reports, commentaries and analyses: from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, Middle East Monitor, Indian Punchline, and Declassified Australia (the last via Consortium News) others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll down for UKRAINE, LEBANON and GAZA, and for IRAN 5-13-26.) — MCM

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Ship reported seized off UAE coast heads to Iranian waters, by Adam Schreck and  Melanie Lidman | AP  DUBAI — A ship anchored off the United Arab Emirates was seized and taken toward Iran and another was attacked and sank, authorities said today, in a renewed escalation on shipping near the Strait of Hormuz. READ MORE . . .

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Iranian FM blasts UAE at BRICS summit over ‘direct involvement’ in U.S.-Israeli war. From the Cradle. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the UAE of being an “active partner” in the U.S.-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic during a BRICS meeting in New Delhi. READ MORE . . .

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Iran urges BRICS nations to condemn war, Indian-flagged vessel sunk. From Reuters. NEW DELHI — Iran’s foreign minister urged BRICS nations today to condemn what he called violations of international law by the United States and Israel, as diplomats from emerging economies met for talks in Delhi in the shadow of war in the Middle East. READ MORE . . .

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Iran implements new system to collect fees from ships in Strait of Hormuz. Reported by Jackie Northam | NPR  Iran has set up a new agency to collect tolls from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.  Click HERE for May 13 report from Middle East Monitor.

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Israeli premier made secret trip to UAE to meet President bin Zayed. From Middle East Monitor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed Wednesday that he made a secret trip to the United Arab Emirates to sit down with that country’s leader amid the war against Iran, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 13  In Hormuz deadlock, U.S. and Iran refuse to back down. Reported by Tom Bowman and Aya Batrawy | NPR  The U.S. and Iran remain deadlocked in the Strait of Hormuz, with no clear way forward. Click HERE to listen and read.

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India’s quasi-alliance with Israel and UAE won’t have happy ending, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  When U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee disclosed on Monday that Israel secretly deployed Iron Dome missile-defence batteries and highly trained special forces to operate it to the United Arab Emirates in order to shield the Persian Gulf monarchy during the war against Iran, one could tell with fair certainty that it was . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 11  Unasked questions about the war on Iran, by Alison Broinowski | Declassified Australia / Consortium News  Most of the Western media refuse to join the dots and explain Israel’s decades-long obsession with defanging Tehran. READ MORE . . .

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