First, links to a report from National Public Radio and to some history from Z Network via Consortium News; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll down for today’s ALL OF IT so far, and for Iran 7-3-26.) — MCM

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FROM JULY 3  Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a powerful bargaining chip. Reported by Aya Batrawy and Tom Bowman | NPR  Despite efforts by U.S. negotiators, Iran says it wants to charge a toll for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. It’s yet another unresolved issue of the U.S.-Iran war. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM JUNE 17  A constant in Iranian history, by M. Reza Behnam | Z Network / Consortium News  The Strait of Hormuz has served as a central artery for Persian political and economic power, historical consciousness and culture across millennia. READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

Five links: to an essay from Otherwords via ScheerPost; to a transcript of an author interview from Salon; via Black Agenda Report and ScheerPost; to video from Black Agenda Report of an interview of the same author; to a book review from the Nation; and to a commentary from Black Agenda Report. (Scroll up for today’s IRAN so far, and down for ALL OF IT 6-28-26.) — MCM

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FROM JULY 1  At 250, American democracy is under siege, by Mitchell Zimmerman | Otherwords / ScheerPost  This Fourth of July marks the 250th birthday of a new kind of nation state — based not on ancestral ties to a land or on the territorial reach of monarchs, but on shared principles about the rights of citizens and the purpose of the state.  READ MORE . . .

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FROM DATE UNCERTAIN  Gerald Horne on the real story of American independence. Interview conducted by Elias Isquith | Salon / Black Agenda Report / ScheerPost  If University of Houston professor Gerald Horne is right in his new book, The Counter-Revolution of 1776: Slave Resistance and the Origins of the United States of America, Isquith writes in his intro, “then the traditional narrative of the creation of the U.S. is almost completely wrong.” READ MORE . . . 

Click HERE for video of another interview of Horne, entitled “The farce of you lie,” by Margaret Kimberley of Black Agenda Report.

Click HERE for a review by Horne in the July/August issue of the Nation of historian Joseph J. Ellis’s The Great Contradiction: The Tragic Side of the American Founding (2026). 

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FROM JULY 1  Barack Obama, George Washington and the 4th of July, by Margaret Kimberley | Black Agenda Report  The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence once again raises the issue of the lies that were taught as historical fact and how those lies impact Black people to this day. READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

NOTE Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here are links to three reports: from the Cradle and Middle East Monitor, and to commentary from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll down for LEBANON, IRAN and UKRAINE, and for GAZA 7-2-26.) — MCM

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FROM JULY 2  Gaza marks 1,000 marks 1,000 days of genocide as Palestinians reaffirm right to resist ‘by all forms.’ From the Cradle. Palestinian resistance factions released a joint statement on July 2 marking 1,000 days of Israeli genocide in the besieged Gaza Strip, while affirming their right to resistance against occupation “by all forms.” READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 2  At least 21,000 children killed in Gaza after 1,000 days of war, Save the Children says. From Middle East Monitor. At least 21,000 children have been confirmed killed in Gaza during 1,000 days of war, while hundreds of thousands more have been displaced and deprived of education, Save the Children said on Thursday. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for a second July 2 report from Middle East Monitor.

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How many UN findings will the West ignore? by Hossam Shaker | Middle East Eye  Most European and Western states have clung to a rigid position that ignores glaring truth, despite genocidal intentions being openly expressed in advance by senior Israeli leaders, who continued to boast of what their army and authorities were doing on the ground. READ MORE . . .

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NOTE Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here are links to an analysis via the New Arab and (for the second time) to a discussion from Middle East Monitor; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll up or down for GAZA, IRAN and UKRAINE, and down for LEBANON 7-1-26.) — MCM 

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FROM JULY 1  How the Lebanon framework agreement reshapes the U.S.-Iran standoff, by Mouin Rabban | The New Arab  Most commentary on the June 26 U.S.-Israel-Lebanon Trilateral Framework agreement has focused on the text of the document, and specifically the extent to which Lebanon’s leadership, under the pretext of restoring sovereign hegemony to the Lebanese state, in practice forfeits it to Israel. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JULY 1  Inside the collapse of global accountability for Israel.* Nassim Ahmed of Middle East Monitor talks with Mouin Rabbani of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs. The last 10 minutes or so of the interview concern the above-mentioned Trilateral Framework agreement and how it does not square with the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran. Click HERE for video and advance to about 45 minutes in.

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* The whole interview was previously reposted at GAZA 7-1-26.

NOTE Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here are links to reports from Middle East Eye and the Cradle, and to commentary from National Public Radio; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down GAZA, LEBANON and UKRAINE, down and for IRAN 7-2-26.) — MCM

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Israeli jets entered Iran to attack negotiator plane after Islamabad talks: NYT. From Middle East Eye. Israeli fighter jets entered Iranian airspace as Tehran’s top negotiators were engaged in diplomatic efforts with the United States, according to a New York Times report that says American officials feared Israel was plotting to kill two senior Iranian officials involved in peace negotiations. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Cradle.

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FROM JULY 2 Are the wars in Ukraine and Iran showing the limits of global powers? Considered by Mary Louise Kelly, Joanna Kakissis and Greg Myre | NPR  A look at the Russian attacks on Kyiv and the overall state of the wars between Russia and Ukraine and the U.S. and Iran. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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NOTE Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here are links to three reports: from Reuters and National Public Radio, and to an NPR commentary; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up for GAZA, LEBANON and IRAN, and down for UKRAINE 7-2-26.) — MCM

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Ukrainian strikes on western Russia kill 2. From Reuters. At least two people were killed in Ukrainian drone attacks on western Russia, local authorities said this morning, while media reported that several industrial sites also suffered damage. READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s frontline advances slow as Ukraine fights back. Reported by Joanna Kakissis and A Martínez | NPR  Nearly four and a half years after Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s frontline advances have slowed almost to a halt as Ukrainian counterattacks and defensive tactics become increasingly effective. Click HERE to listen and, later, read. Click HERE to link to a second report today from NPR’s “Morning Edition.”

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FROM JULY 2 Are the wars in Ukraine and Iran showing the limits of global powers? Considered by Mary Louise Kelly, Joanna Kakissis and Greg Myre | NPR  A look at the Russian attacks on Kyiv and the overall state of the wars between Russia and Ukraine and the U.S. and Iran. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here are links to reports from the Cradle, Middle East Monitor, and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names. (Scroll down for UKRAINE and IRAN, and for GAZA 7-1-26.) — MCM

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Board of Peace prepares gated camps under expanding Israeli occupation. From the Cradle. Israel and the U.S.-led Board of Peace are planning to transfer Palestinians in Gaza into so-called “humanitarian shelters,” in order to “disconnect” the strip’s population “from Hamas” while Israeli forces solidify and expand their occupation, Israeli media reported on Monday. READ MORE . . .

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Israel to keep troops in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza indefinitely. From Middle East Monitor. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Israeli forces would remain in what he described as “security zones” in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza for an indefinite period, with no timetable for withdrawal. READ MORE . . .

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Trump’s Board of Peace says UNRWA has ‘no place’ in Gaza. From Middle East Eye. “We are turning a page on the complex of perpetual aid dependency and conflict,” U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace said a post on X. “The people of Gaza deserve better.” READ MORE . . .

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NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here are links to five reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, Tass, and the Moscow Times; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for IRAN, and down for UKRAINE 7-1-26.) — MCM

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NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .

Here is a link to a report from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on its name. (Scroll down for SUDAN, SYRIA, GAZA, IRAN and UKRAINE, and for LEBANON 6-30-26.) — MCM

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Israeli army demolishes homes, sets up checkpoints in occupied areas of southern Lebanon: report. From Middle East Monitor. The Israeli army set up checkpoints between the so-called “yellow zone” and the border area in southern Lebanon, as it continues its military presence inside Lebanese territory, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported today, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

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