Links to two reports: from National Public Radio and the Associated Press, and to commentary from the Cradle; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or intitials. (Scroll up or down this date’s LEBANON, UKRAINE and ALL OF IT, and down for IRAN 11-1-26.) — MCM

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FROM NOV. 1  Gulf leaders meet in Qatar in effort to stave off new escalation in U.S and Iran war. Reported by Aya Batrawy and Sacha Pfeiffer | NPR  Qatar has been leading intense mediation efforts over the past 72 hours to prevent a new round of possible U.S. attacks on Iran after Tuesday’s midterm elections. The uncertainty has the entire Gulf region on edge. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM NOV. 1  United Arab Emirates says military solutions offer no quick off-ramps to crisis with Iran, by Sarah El Deeb | AP  MANAMA — The United Arab Emirates’ presidential adviser said Sunday his country hopes a diplomatic breakthrough in Qatar-led mediations is possible to avert a new round of confrontation between the U.S. and Iran. Report with locator map is HERE.

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FROM OCT. 28  Regional security runs through Iran, by Peiman Salehi | The Cradle  The presence of Saudi, Turkish, and Pakistani officials in Tehran on Oct. 26 reflected a growing recognition that Iran cannot be excluded from any serious regional security arrangement. Despite the U.S.–Israeli war against Iran, Tehran remains . . . READ MORE . . .