For now, links to reports, an interview and an analysis: from Reuters and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll down for today’s UKRAINE so far, and for IRAN 8-1-26.) — MCM

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Iran says no talks are underway or meeting plans with U.S. after Trump calls off attacks. From Reuters. Iran said on Monday that no talks were underway with the United States and there were no plans for any meetings, contradicting U.S. President Donald Trump, who had cited talks he said would take place that afternoon as justification for calling off attacks. READ MORE . . .

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Trump calls off strike against Iran, says a deal is close. Reported by Hadeel Al-Shalchi and Steve Inskeep | NPR  President Trump backed away from a threatened attack on Iran again, claiming regional diplomacy has opened a path to a deal. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Iran expert on Tehran’s view as Trump says there’s a pending deal. A Martínez of NPR speaks with Iran expert and analyst Karim Sadjadpour about the view from Iran as President Trump says there is potential to wind down the war. Cick HERE to listen and, later, read.

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How Iran is widening its pressure campaign to force U.S. concessions, by Samia Nakhoul | Reuters  BEIRUT — Iran is betting it can outlast Washington by turning the Middle East’s trade routes, shipping lanes and energy infrastructure into pressure points that steadily raise the cost of confrontation, according to Gulf officials and analysts. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

A link to a report from the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its name or initials. (Scroll up for today’s IRAN so far, and down for UKRAINE 8-1-26.) — MCM

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Russia fires glide bombs at a southern Ukraine city, killing 1 and wounding dozens, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Russian planes dropped eight powerful glide bombs in a span of 90 minutes on residential districts of the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, killing one person and wounding dozens of others, regional chief Ivan Fedorov said today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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TO BE CONTINUED

NOTE: I hadn’t intended to post any entries today but came across the subject of this one around 5:30 p.m. EDT.

A link to a program this evening from Lawyers Committee for 9/11 Inquiry; other material is accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll down for 9/11 TRUTH 7-31-26.) — MCM

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ADVISORY  Watch: WTC 7: The cover-up and evidence of foreknowledge.* From Lawyers Committee for 911 Inquiry. WTC 7 is the 47-story office building in New York City’s World Trade Center that came down in late afternoon of Sept. 11, 2001 — in the same controlled demolition fashion in which the Twin Towers had collapsed that morning. Two of the presenters here are Attorney Mick Harrison and architect Richard Gage. Click HERE for live show at 5 p.m Pacific Time / 8 p.m. EDT, and to watch trailer. Registration is required to watch full program.

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*  From the Committee’s description: The program (episode 6 of a series) “examines the aftermath and official investigations into World Trade Center Building 7. After earlier episodes presented arguments about fire, collapse behavior, computer modeling, and explosions, this episode turns to how official investigators covered up the crime, allowed the illegal destruction of evidence in a crime scene, and what witnesses and whistleblowers knew about the collapse before the building even came down.”

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No links today. But surely some others below are worth visitors’ attention. — MCM

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ADVISORY  The World This Week: ‘How close are we to nuclear war?’ at 8 p.m. EDT. Joe Lauria, editor-in-chief of Consortium News, hosts weapons expert Peter Kuznick, economist and filmmaker Richard Wolff, and former CIA analyst Ray McGovern. From CN intro: “Some NATO and Russian advisers think nuclear war is viable. Would a desperate Israel really nuke Iran?” Click HERE around 8 tonight EDT to livestream, and later for video of discussion.

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For now, links to two reports and a commentary: from the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, and Indian Punchline via Consortium News; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll down for today’s LEBANON, UKRAINE, GAZA and MEDIA, and for IRAN 7-31-26.) — MCM

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First, links to two reports from Agence France-Presse; headlines of others are accessible by clicking on its name or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s IRAN, UKRAINE, GAZA and MEDIA, and down for LEBANON 7-31-26.) — MCM

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Israel says it killed several Hezbollah fighters in south Lebanon. From AFP. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military said today that it killed several Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon and that an Israeli soldier was injured there despite a ceasefire. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AFP report in French, and HERE for others.

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Israeli soldier injured in ‘close-quarters encounter’ with Hezbollah in Lebanon: Israeli army. From AFP. The Israeli military said one of its soldiers was moderately injured during a “close-quarters encounter” with Hezbollah members in southern Lebanon overnight on Saturday, despite a ceasefire. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AFP report in French, and HERE for others.

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ADVISORY  The World This Week: ‘How close are we to nuclear war?’ at 8 p.m. EDT. Joe Lauria, editor-in-chief of Consortium News, hosts weapons expert Peter Kuznick, economist and filmmaker Richard Wolff, and former CIA analyst Ray McGovern. From CN intro: “Some NATO and Russian advisers think nuclear war is viable. Would a desperate Israel really nuke Iran?” Click HERE around 8 tonight EDT to livestream, and later for video of discussion.

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For now, links to three reports and a commentary: from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and Indian Punchline via Consortium News; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s IRAN, LEBANON, GAZA and MEDIA, and down for UKRAINE 7-31-26.) — MCM

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Russia pounds Kyiv, kills 10 as Ukraine appeals for Patriot interceptors. From Reuters. Russia pounded Kyiv and the region in a heavy ballistic missile attack early today, killing 10 people, as President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Ukraine had run out of interceptor missiles for its U.S. Patriot air defense systems. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine sinks Russian-owned container ship in Black Sea: Rosatom. From AFP.  Ukrainian drones sank a Russian-owned container ship in the Black Sea early today, forcing its 17-member crew to abandon the vessel, the ship’s owner said. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for similar AFP report in French, and HERE for headlines of others.

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FROM JULY 29  U.S. conjoins wars in Eurasia, western Asia, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline / Consortium News  On Friday, July 24, even as U.S. President Donald Trump was announcing the end of the latest round of the conflict with Iran, the Pentagon unobtrusively extended the war theatre to the Caspian Sea in a hugely consequential geopolitical thrust — which hardly figured in the Western news cycle. READ MORE . . .

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Links to two reports: from the Associated Press and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its name or initials. (Scroll up or down for today’s IRAN, LEBANON, UKRAINE and MEDIA, and down for GAZA 7-31-26.) — MCM

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Hamas’s agreement to disarm raises hope in Gaza, by Toqa Ezzidin | AP  CAIRO — For Palestinians in Gaza, President Donald Trump’s announcement that Hamas had agreed to disarm was a small sign of hope that Israel’s attacks might end, allowing them to rebuild their lives and what remains of their homes. But it also clashed with the reality on . . . Click HERE for report including video and photos.

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FROM JULY 31  Trump’s plan for Gaza faces huge hurdles ahead. Reported by Frank Langfitt and Juana Summers | NPR  President Trump announced a “historic breakthrough” in his plan to bring peace to Gaza, but huge hurdles remain.. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Links to three reports from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its name or initials. (Scroll up for today’s IRAN, LEBANON, UKRAINE and GAZA, and down for MEDIA 7-29-26.) — MCM

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Truth Social launches paid early access to Trump posts. Reported by Bobby Allyn | NPR  The latest offering from President Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, stands out. Trump Media & Technology Group is now shopping to traders and investors . . . Click HERE to listen and read more. 

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FROM JULY 29 ‘Odyssey’ translator Emily Wilson says Nolan shouldn’t have written the movie himself. Reported by Dave Davies | NPR  Christopher Nolan‘s new film, “ The Odyssey,” is a box-office hit. But University of Pennsylvania classics scholar Emily Wilson, who published her own translation of Homer’s epic in 2017, says Nolan’s script . . . Click HERE to read more and listen.

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FROM JULY 31  Small bookstores are popping up across the country. What’s behind the boom. Reported by Reagan Jones | NPR  Small bookstores are opening up around the country and finding new ways to bring people in. Click HERE to listen and read.

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First, a link to a report from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll down for today’s WEST BANK, GAZA and 9/11 TRUTH so far, and for LEBANON 7-30-26.) — MCM

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Lebanese army chief says Israel seeks to fuel internal strife. From Middle East Monitor. Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal said Israel was seeking to stir internal divisions in Lebanon, urging national unity to counter such efforts. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED