For now, links to four reports and an article of commentary: from the Cable, Reuters, and jonathan-cook.net; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (Scroll down for GAZA 1-23-26 and today’s IRAN and UKRAINE so far.) — MCM

–   –   –

Belgium closes airspace to all Israel-bound arms shipments. From the Cradle. Belgium has formally banned all overflights and stopovers on its territory by aircraft carrying weapons and military equipment destined for Israel, the Belgian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

UAE to bankroll first Israeli-approved surveillance ghetto for Palestinians in Gaza. From the Cradle. The UAE is set to fund the construction of a tightly surveilled ghetto for Palestinians on the ruins of Rafah in southern Gaza, providing a limited number of Palestinians with basic services as long as they submit to biometric data collection and security vetting, the Guardian reported today. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JAN. 23  Israeli army preps ‘rapid assaults’ in northern Gaza to confront continued Palestinian resistance: report. From the Cradle. Israel’s military is preparing a series of new attacks on the ruins of the northern Gaza Strip to “collapse” the ceasefire in order to deal with Palestinian resistance fighters, who have rearmed and reorganized in recent months. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JAN. 23  Israel aims to ensure that more Palestinians are let out of Gaza than back in, by Alexander Cornwell | Reuters  TEL AVIV — Israel wants to restrict the number of Palestinians entering Gaza through the border crossing with Egypt to ensure that more are allowed out than in, three sources briefed on the matter said ahead of the border’s expected opening next week. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JAN. 23  Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ is Gaza’s nail in the coffin, by Jonathan Cook | Jonathan-Cook.net  U.S. President Donald Trump has declared the three-month “ceasefire” in Gaza a great success, and now wants to move on to phase two of his so-called “peace plan.” What does success look like? READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

TO BE CONTINUED

First, links to two reports from the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (Scroll down for IRAN 1-22-26, and for today’s GAZA and UKRAINE so far.) — MCM

–   –   –

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commander warns the US, says his force has its ‘finger on the trigger,’ by Elena Becatoros | AP  DUBAI — Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard is “more ready than ever, finger on the trigger,” its commander said today, as U.S. warships headed toward the Middle East. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

–   –   –

Scale of Iran’s nationwide protests and bloody crackdown come into focus even as internet is out, by Jon Gambrell | AP  DUBAI — Cities and towns smell of smoke as fire-damaged mosques and government offices line streets. Banks have been torched, their ATMs smashed. Officials estimate the damage to be at least $125 million. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

–   –   –

TO BE CONTINUED

First, links to three reports: from the Associated Press and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 1-23-26.  Scroll up for today’s GAZA and IRAN so far.) — MCM

–   –   –

Freezing and in the dark, Kyiv residents are stranded in tower blocks as Russia targets power system, by Derek Gatopoulo and Vasilia Stepanenko | AP  KYIV — This city of about 3 million people is dominated by tower blocks, now left without power for most of the day. Residents plan their lives around electricity schedules. Food is chosen for shelf life, water filtered into bottles and stored in buckets. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Zelenskyy says trilateral talks concluded constructively, and more are possible next week, by Samya Kullab and Elise Morton | AP  KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today two days of trilateral talks with Russia and the United States in Abu Dhabi concluded with “constructive” discussions on “possible parameters for ending the war.” READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. Click HERE for report from the Cradle.

–   –   –

TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to five reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 1-22-26 and today’s GAZA, VENEZUELA and MEDIA so far.) — MCM

–   –   –

Ukraine, Russia, U.S. to discuss fraught issue of territorial concessions in Abu Dhabi, by Kamila Hrabchuk and Kostya Manenkov | AP  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the future of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region would be a key focus as negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the United States meet in Abu Dhabi today for talks to end Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. Click HERE for report from Reuters.

–   –   –

EU sends emergency generators to Ukraine as France plans to coordinate aid, by John Irish and Alessandro ‌Parodi | Reuters  PARIS — The European Union is deploying emergency generators to Ukraine, saying Russian bombings have left a million people without power and heating, while France . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Zelenskyy gives scorching critique of Europe in Davos speech. Reported by Joanna Kakissis and A Martínez | NPR  At Davos, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Europe is divided and unprepared for a more dangerous world, urging unity and less reliance on the U.S. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine discusses Zelenskyy’s Davos speech. Leila Fadel of NPR asks William Taylor, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, about his thoughts following President Zelenskyy’s speech at Davos. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

TO BE CONTINUED

First, a link to a report from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking their names or initials below. (Scroll down for GAZA 1-22-26, and up or down for today’s UKRAINE, VENEZUELA and MEDIA so far.) — MCM

–   –   –

Palestinians say Jared Kushner’s vision for Gaza erases what’s left of their homes. Reported by Aya Batrawy and A Martínez | NPR  Kushner unveiled a vision of a futuristic cityscape for Gaza that includes skyscrapers and advanced industrial zones, but Palestinians fear his vision erases what remains of their homes. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to two reports from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (Scroll down for VENEZUELA 1-17-26, and up or down for today’s GAZA, UKRAINE and MEDIA so far.) — MCM

–   –   –

Dollars trickle into Venezuela’s economy after first sales of country’s oil by U.S. Reported by Carrie Kahn | NPR  The first sales of Venezuelan oil by the U.S. seem to have stabilized prices for now, but there are many questions about the long-term viability of U.S. control of the Venezuelan economy. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

FROM JAN. 19  What was the state of Chavismo under Maduro? Reported by Ailsa Chang, Daniel Ofman and Patrick Jarenwattananon | NPR  Chang speaks with Javier Corrales, author of a book on Hugo Chavez and a professor at Amherst College, about the legacy of Chavez’s rule in Venezuela today. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED

Links to five reports: from National Public Radio and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (Scroll down for MEDIA 1-18-26. Scroll up for today’s UKRAINE, GAZA and VENEZUELA so far.) — MCM

–   –   –

FROM JAN. 22  Pentagon vows to end ‘woke distractions’ at military’s independent newspaper. Reported by Steve Walsh | NPR  The editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes responds to a Defense Department announcement that it will assume greater control over the military newspaper. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

–   –   –

FROM JAN. 19  Employees of Post Gazette haven’t given up on saving Pittsburgh’s daily paper. Reported by Julia Maruca | NPR  Owners of Pittsburgh’s only daily paper plan to shutter the paper in May after a long labor dispute. Employees are looking at changes needed for survival. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

FROM JAN. 14  How are Iranians accessing the internet despite government efforts? Reported by John Ruwitch and Ailsa Chang | NPR  Iranians are using Starlink to get online during the government’s near-total internet shutdown. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

FROM JAN. 14  FBI searches journalist’s home as part of leak investigation. Reported by Ryan Lucas | NPR  The FBI searched the home of a Washington Post journalist who the DOJ says was receiving classified information from a Pentagon contractor. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

FROM JAN. 22  Lebanese court summons journalist Hassan Illaik over criticism of president. From the Cradle.Prominent Lebanese journalist Hassan Illaik has been summoned for questioning by a court over his recent criticism of comments made by the country’s president, as well as Beirut’s inaction and failure to protect Lebanon from constant Israeli violations. READ MORE . . .

.

Links to two reports from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (Scroll down for LEBANON 12-26-25 or click HERE. Scroll down for GAZA, UKRAINE, WEST BANK, SYRIA and YEMEN.) — MCM

–   –   –

Lebanese court summons journalist Hassan Illaik over criticism of president. From the Cradle.Prominent Lebanese journalist Hassan Illaik has been summoned for questioning by a court over his recent criticism of comments made by the country’s president, as well as Beirut’s inaction and failure to protect Lebanon from constant Israeli violations. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Dozens displaced by deadly new wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon. From the Cradle. Scores of Lebanese citizens have been displaced as a result of Israel’s latest wave of airstrikes on southern Lebanon, which were the heaviest in months and resulted in over a dozen casualties. READ MORE . . .

.

Links to five reports: from Middle East Eye, the Cradle, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for GAZA 1-21-26, and up or down for LEBANON, UKRAINE, WEST BANK, SYRIA and YEMEN.) — MCM

–   –   –

UK confirms phone call between Cameron and ICC’s Karim Khan, by Sondos Asem and Namir Shabibi | Middle East Eye  LONDON — The UK government has confirmed for the first time a phone call between David Cameron and Karim Khan in which the then British foreign secretary is alleged to have threatened the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court over his investigation into Israeli war crimes in Gaza. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Jared Kushner unveils ‘free market Gaza’ with coastal towers and data centres. From Middle East Eye. Jared Kushner,  U.S. President Donald Trump’s son in law and special envoy, has unveiled a plan to turn Gaza into a region modelled on “free market principles.” READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Cradle.

–   –   –

People dig through garbage for things to burn to keep warm — a far cry from Trump’s vision, by Toqa Ezzidin and Julia Frankel | AP  CAIRO — At the World Economic Forum in Davos, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that “record levels” of humanitarian aid had entered Gaza since the October start of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. Son-in law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff touted the devastated territory’s development potential. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Netanyahu skips ‘Board of Peace’ signing in Davos over fears of arrest. From the Cradle. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to attend the signing ceremony for U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” in Switzerland today, over fears he would be arrested for war crimes commited in Gaza if he set foot in the country. READ MORE . . .

.

Links to three reports from the Associated Press, and to commentary from Consortium News; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 1-20-26, and up or down for LEBANON, GAZA, WEST BANK, SYRIA and YEMEN.) — MCM

–   –   –  

France’s navy intercepts an oil tanker in the Mediterranean sailing from Russia, by John Leicester | AP PARIS — France’s navy, working with intelligence provided by the United Kingdom, today intercepted an oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea that traveled from Russia, in a mission targeting the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet, officials said. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –  

Zelenskyy slams European response to Russia’s war as Ukraine is caught in its own ‘Groundhog Day,’ by Kamila Hrabchuk and Kostya Manenkov | AP DAVOS, Switzerland — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today blasted his European allies for what he portrayed as the continent’s slow, fragmented and inadequate response to Russia’s invasion nearly four years ago and its continued international aggression. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM JAN. 21  Trump to meet with Zelenskyy as Ukraine endures a bitter winter after Russian attacks, by Kamila Hrabchuk | AP  KYIV — About 4,000 buildings in Kyiv lacked heat Wednesday and nearly 60% of the Ukrainian capital was without power, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, after days of Russian bombardment of Ukraine’s power grid. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

–   –   –

FROM JAN. 21  All unquiet on the Ukrainian front, by Patrick Lawrence | Special to Consortium News  Sometimes wars have occasions that can be read — immediately, soon or in time — as turning points, clarifying moments. D–Day, June 6, 1944, is an obvious case: The Allies and the Red Army were in Berlin less than   year later. READ MORE . . .

.