Links to a commentary from Common Dreams via Consortium News and to five reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, the Moscow Times, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll down for today’s IRAN and WEST BANK so far, and for UKRAINE 10-20-26.) — MCM

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A framework for peace in Ukraine, by Jeffrey Sachs | Common Dreams / Consortium News  The war in Ukraine can be ended permanently on terms that protect Ukraine’s statehood, meet Russia’s security concerns and lay the foundation for a durable European security order. READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Trump envoy Witkoff meets Putin in St. Petersburg for Ukraine war talks. From AP. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg today about Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes Kyiv to make a deal that stops the fighting. Click HERE for report with photos. Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. Click HERE for later report from Reuters.

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Putin releases American jailed in Russia after U.S. envoy arrives for Ukraine talks. From the Moscow Times. President Vladimir Putin ordered the release of Stephen James Hubbard, an American teacher who was taken from his home in Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion, state media reported today, as . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM TODAY AND OCT. 20  Two former U.S. ambassadors to Ukraine speak with NPR about developments in efforts to end the war. Reported by Steve Inskeep, Sarah Handel, Gabriel J. Sánchez and Scott Detrow | NPR / NPR  Inskeep speaks with former ambassador John Herbst, and Detrow with former Ambassador William Taylor — as envoy Steve Witkoff heads to Moscow after meeting with Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy. Click HERE for today’s interview, and HERE for yesterday’s.

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TO BE CONTINUED

Links to report and analysis from the Cradle, and to a report from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll up or down for today’s UKRAINE and WEST BANK so far, and down for IRAN 10-20-26.) — MCM

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Iran shuts key border crossing with Iran under U.S. pressure. From the Cradle. Iraq shut the strategic Sheeb border crossing with Iran today, sources told western media outlets, framing the move as a result of intensified U.S. pressure on Baghdad to strangle the Islamic Republic. READ MORE . . .

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FROM OCT. 20  Iran says supertanker carrying over 2 million barrels of oil hit mine near Hormuz. From Middle East Monitor. A supertanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil exploded and caught fire after striking a naval mine south of the Strait of Hormuz, the Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

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FROM OCT. 19  The shadow of a new war looms as Iran prepares for the worst, by a Cradle correspondent. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh arrived in Beirut amid renewed U.S. and Israeli threats to attack Iran. In meetings with officials and journalists, he outlined Tehran’s preparations for a war that could last months, making clear . . . READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

Links to six reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll down for today’s UKRAINE, IRAN and YEMEN so far, and for ALL OF IT 10-19-26.) — MCM

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Giant heat storms are scorching the earth. This is the story of the biggest one on record. Reported by Maurice Tamman, Ben Welsh, Pete Mckenzie, Charlie Szymanski , Delgerzaya Delgerjargal , Robbie Corey-Boulet, Loucoumane Coulibaly , Jeff Horwitz and Joan Faus | Reuters  In less than a lifetime, about six and a half decades, heat waves have evolved from sporadic, isolated episodes to massive, cascading weather events that can blanket vast swaths of the planet for months or even years at a time. Click HERE for report with photos, and related Reuters report with video. 

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FROM OCT. 19  French President Macron decries violent protests in nationwide address. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley and Michel Martin | NPR  French President Emmanuel Macron denounced this weekend’s violence in a nationwide address after protests over rising living costs and poor school conditions turned violent. Click HERE to listen and read.

Links to six reports: from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, the Cradle, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for this date’s IRAN, YEMEN and ALL OF IT so far, and down for UKRAINE 10-17-26.) — MCM

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FROM OCT. 19  Ukraine and Russia exchange strikes, as relations between Trump and Zelenskyy sour. Reported by Charles Maynes and Michel Martin | NPR  Ukraine carried out a massive drone strikes on Russia, which launched deadly attacks on its smaller neighbor over the weekend. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM OCT. 19  Putin proposes three-way summit with Xi, Trump to end Ukraine war: report. From the Cradle. Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed holding a summit next month with U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine on terms favorable to Moscow, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing informed sources. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE to report from Reuters.

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FROM OCT. 19  Kremlin hawks savour Trump-Zelenskiy rift — if it lasts, by Andrew Osborn | Reuters  MOSCOW — Kremlin hawks are savouring a public rift between Donald ⁠Trump ⁠and Volodymyr Zelenskiy after a damaging week for ⁠Ukraine’s president and a beneficial one for Russia, but the champagne is still on ice in Moscow. READ MORE . . .

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Links to three reports: from the Cradle and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll up or down for today’s ALL OF IT, UKRAINE and YEMEN, and down for IRAN 10-15-26.) — MCM

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FROM OCT. 19  Lavrov lands in Tehran, meets top Iranian officials for talks on ‘de-escalation.’ From the Cradle. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Tehran on Monday for a visit aimed at “de-escalation,” coinciding with mounting U.S. threats against Iran and a vow by the Islamic Republic to retaliate much more forcefully to any new attack. READ MORE . . .

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FROM OCT. 19  UAE government-linked jet lands in Tehran as regional tensions rise. From Middle East Eye. A Boeing jet known to carry senior UAE officials landed in Tehran on Monday for the second time in a few days, amid fears that the US could resume attacking Iran and spark new strikes on Gulf states. READ MORE . . .

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FROM OCT. 18  Iran appoints veteran arms industry chief as defense minister, vows major military expansion. From the Cradle. Tehran appointed a new Defense Minister, military industry veteran Mehrdad Akhlaghi, on Saturday during a vote of confidence at an open session of the Iranian parliament. READ MORE . . .

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