Links to reports from National Public Radio and Reuters, and to a memorandum from Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity* via Consortium News; other published material or at least headlines is accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for UKRAINE, LEBANON, WEST BANK, GAZA, IRAN and MEDIA, and down for CUBA 5-23-26.) — MCM

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FROM JUNE 2  Rubio testifies on Capitol Hill about Cuba. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR  Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Cuba needs systemic reforms. But the administration is talking to Cuban officials like ex-leader Raul Castro’s grandson. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM MAY 28  Cuba sees higher risk of U.S. military aggression as talks stall. From Reuters. Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal sees the risk of U.S. military aggression against the island growing as negotiations between the nations stagnate, she said on Thursday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 29  Avoiding catastrophic failure in Cuba. From VIPS.* Dear President Trump: We are deeply concerned that the current U.S. approach to Cuba makes an ugly humanitarian disaster — for which the U.S. will be responsible — increasingly likely. We also believe that any military option will draw us into a losing war. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MAY 19 Cuba is out of oil. What now? Reported by Fiona Geiran, Tinbete Ermyas and Scott Detrow | NPR  Detrow speaks with Jorge Piñon, an energy researcher at the University of Texas at Austin and a former oil executive, about the energy crisis taking place in Cuba. Click HERE to listen and read.

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TO BE CONTINUED

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*  As VIPS apparently doesn’t have a website, this link is to a collection of links to VIPS memorandums on the Consortium News website.

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