First, a link to an article of commentary from Indian Punchline; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (This is the first ELSEWHERE entry. Scroll down for today’s YEMEN, GAZA, UKRAINE and MEDIA.) — MCM

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Venezuela is not about drugs or migration. It is Trump’s ‘Ukraine moment,’ by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  The Trump administration is disregarding the vehemence of world opinion against any violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, which was truly reflected in the UN Security Council meeting last week. READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to three reports: from the Cradle and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (* See footnote about most recent previous YEMEN entry. Scroll up or down for ELSEWHERE, GAZA, UKRAINE and MEDIA.) — MCM

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FROM DEC. 26  Saudi Arabia bombs UAE-backed separatists in Yemen. From the Cradle. Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on Friday targeting UAE-backed militants in Yemen, according to media outlets affiliated with the Emirati-sponsored Southern Transitional Council. READ MORE . . .

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Saudi-led coalition in Yemen warns UAE-backed separatists of immediate action. From AP. CAIRO — The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen today warned it would immediately respond to any military movements of separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates that undermine de-escalation efforts in the southern region of Yemen, as the United States urged diplomacy. Click HERE to read and for locator map. Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish., and HERE for others. 

For today, links to five reports: from Middle East Eye, Middle East Monitor, Anadolu Ajansi, and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (Scroll down for GAZA 12-26-25 and up or down for ELSEWHERE, YEMEN, UKRAINE and MEDIA.) — MCM

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Northern Gaza declared a disaster zone amid Israeli fuel and water blockades. From Middle East Eye. Municipalities in northern Gaza say Israeli forces have turned the area into a disaster zone by continuing to block the entry of water, fuel, spare parts and reconstruction materials. READ MORE . . .

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FROM DEC. 26  Egypt accuses Netanyahu of blocking 2nd phase of Gaza ceasefire. From Middle East Monitor. Egypt on Thursday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of working to obstruct implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, and seeking to inflame regional tensions, Anadolu reports. READ MORE . . .

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Trump team ‘frustrated’ with Netanyahu over fears he would undermine prosess: report. From Anadolu. ISTANBUL — Tension is mounting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump’s top advisers, with the U.S. team growing “increasingly frustrated” by Netanyahu’s attempts to undermine the peace process, Axios reported Friday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM DEC. 26  Hamas calls on Israel to allow impartial investigation into Oct. 7 attacks. From Middle East Eye. Hamas has called on Israel to allow an impartial international investigation into its attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and has rejected that it killed civilians or committed atrocities. READ MORE . . .

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FROM DEC. 26  Dozens of Palestinian doctors graduate in Gaza ‘among rubble and rivers of blood.’ From the Cradle. A group of 168 Palestinian doctors in Gaza received their advanced medical certifications on Dec. 25 in a ceremony held amid the rubble of Al-Shifa Hospital, a frequent target of Israeli attacks since the start of the genocide. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to three reports: from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 12-26-25. Scroll up or down for ELSEWHERE, YEMEN, GAZA and MEDIA.) — MCM

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Russia attacks Kyiv with missiles and drones, killing 1 and wounding many ahead of Ukraine talks, by Samya Kullab and Vasilia Stepanenko | AP   KYIV — Russia attacked Ukraine’s capital with missiles and drones early this morning, killing one person and wounding 27, authorities said. A day before talks between Ukraine and the U.S., ballistic missiles and drones hit the city for hours. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. Click HERE for report from AFP.

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FROM DEC. 26  Zelensky open to ‘painful territorial concessions’ ahead of Trump meeting. From the Cradle. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he hopes to reach an agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump on a framework to end the war against Russia during their upcoming meeting, Axios reported on Friday. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to two reports from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (Scroll down for MEDIA 12-26-25, and scroll up for ELSEWHERE, YEMEN, GAZA and UKRAINE so far.) — MCM

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FROM DEC. 26  American reporter fights for accountability after Israeli tank strike in Lebanon. Reported by Frank Langfitt  | NPR  An American journalist wounded in an Israeli tank strike in Lebanon returns home to press the U.S. government to investigate the incident, which killed a Reuters reporter, as a targeted attack. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM DEC. 26  A Texas doctor spins vinyl to give patients relief. Reported by Olivia Aldridge | NPR  AUSTIN, Texas —”I think of this record player as a time machine,” Dr.Tyler Jorgensen said. “You know, something starts spinning — an old, familiar song on a record player — and now you’re back at home, you’re out of the hospital, you’re with your family, you’re with your loved ones.” Click HERE to listen and read.

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For today, one link: to a report from Anadolu Ajansi; others are accessible by clicking on its namebelow. (Scroll down for WEST BANK 12-21-25 and for UKRAINE, LEBANON, SYRIA and MEDIA.) — MCM

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Illegal Israeli settlers attack sheep farm in West Bank, steal 150 animals, by Qais Abu Samra and Lina Altawell | Anadolu  RAMALLAH, Palestine / ISTANBUL — Illegal Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian sheep farm near the city of Ramallah early Friday, assaulting workers and stealing around 150 sheep. READ MORE . . .

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* NOTE: Up-to-the minute entries today seem to be accessible to visitors via at least two browsers. See more on subject at MEDIA 12-25-25.

* A NOTE on access is at bottom of page.

For today, links to seven reports: from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, the Kyiv Independent, Kyiv Post, the Moscow Times, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 12-25-25 and up or down for WEST BANK, LEBANON, SYRIA and MEDIA.) — MCM

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Ukraine marks third Christmas at war with Russia. Reported by Joanna Kakissis and Leila Fadel | NPR  Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine continue as Ukraine spent its third Christmas under Russian onslaught. Click HERE later to listen and, still later, read.

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Ukrainian parliament member talks about what it’s like to spend Christmas at war. Leila Fadel of NPR speaks with a Ukrainian member of parliament about celebrating Christmas in wartime, and soliciting U.S. support for Ukraine. Click HERE later to listen and, still later, read.

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Zelenskyy says meeting with Trump to happen ‘in the near future.’ From AP. KYIV — Signaling progress in talks to end the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today, “We are not losing a single day . . .  READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. Click HERE and HERE for reports from the Kyiv Independent and Kyiv Post.

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Russian troops to isolate large Ukrainian logistics center after liberating Kosovtsevo. From Tass. MOSCOW — Fighters of the 37th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade of Russia’s Battlegroup East have created necessary conditions for isolating a large Ukrainian army logistics center after liberating the settlement of Kosovtsevo in the Zaporozhye Region, according to a source in Russian defense circles. READ MORE . . .

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FROM DEC. 25  Kremlin slams Zelensky’s ‘uncouth’ Christmas address. From the Moscow Times. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Christmas address as “uncouth” and “bitter,” saying it questioned his ability to engage in ongoing negotiations to end the war. READ MORE . . .

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* NOTE: Up-to-the minute entries today seem to be accessible to visitors via at least two browsers. See more on subject at MEDIA 12-25-25.

* A NOTE on access is at bottom of page.

For today, links to three reports: from Agence France-Presse and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for LEBANON 12-25-25 and up or down for WEST BANK, UKRAINE, SYRIA and MEDIA.) — MCM

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Israeli army says striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. From AFP. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military announced a series of strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon today, including weapons depots and a training complex. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AFP report in French, and HERE for headlines of others. Click HERE for report from the Cradle.

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FROM DEC. 23  Lebanese army rejects claims soldier killed by Israel was ‘Hezbollah member.’ From the Cradle. The Lebanese Armed Forces rejected claims that one of its soldiers killed by an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday had dual affiliations with Hezbollah, calling such allegations “malicious attacks” designed to “undermine the military institution.” READ MORE . . .

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* NOTE: Up-to-the minute entries today seem to be accessible to visitors via at least two browsers. See more on subject at MEDIA 12-25-25.

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* A NOTE on access is at bottom of page.

For today, links to six reports: from the Associated Press, Kurdistan24, Agence France-Presse, the Cradle, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for SYRIA 12-25-25, and up or down for WEST BANK, UKRAINE, LEBANON and MEDIA.) — MCM

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NEWER  Mosque bombing in Syria leaves 8 dead and 18 wounded, by Ghaith Alsayed and Sally Abou Aljoud | AP  IDLIB, Syria — A bombing at a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs during Friday prayers killed at least eight people and wounded 18 others, authorities said, as long-standing sectarian, ethnic and political fault lines continue to destabilize the country, even as large-scale fighting has subsided. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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Explosion hits mosque in Syrian city of Homs, leaving three dead. From Kurdistan24. ERBIL, Iraq – The explosion today struck the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in Homs, killing at least three people and wounding several others. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for earlier AFP report in French, and HERE for headlines of others. Click HERE for report from the Cradle. 

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FROM DEC. 24  Syrian Druze fighters ‘covertly’ armed by Israel since Assad’s fall: report. From the Cradle. Israel has been “covertly” supplying Syria’s Druze minority with weapons, ammunition, and military supplies since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government last year, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday. READ MORE . . .

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Anger in Israel as Turkey deploys radar systems in Syria. From Middle East Monitor. Tensions are rising between Israel and Turkey over the Turkish deployment of radar systems inside Syria, which is expected to significantly limit Israel’s freedom of movement in Syrian airspace. READ MORE . . .

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* NOTE: Up-to-the minute entries today seem to be accessible to visitors via at least two browsers. See more on subject at MEDIA 12-25-25.

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* A NOTE on access is at bottom of page.

For today, links to an interview from National Public Radio and to an article of commentary from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (Scroll down for MEDIA 12-25-25, and scroll up for WEST BANK, UKRAINE, LEBANON and SYRIA.) — MCM

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FROM NOV. 15  A new film envisions a future where reality TV turns lethal. Reported by Sacha Pfeiffer | NPR  Director Edgar Wright talks about his new film, which imagines a world where every encounter could mean death in a dark, action-packed dystopia. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM DEC. 24  The 10 worst Hollywood films by Middle Eastern filmmakers, by Joseph Fahim | Middle East Eye  Over the past 25 years, Tinseltown has given considerable opportunities to Middle Eastern directors, only for those efforts to flounder miserably. There are a number of factors at play. READ MORE . . .

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* NOTE: Up-to-the minute entries today seem to be accessible to visitors via at least two browsers. See more on subject at MEDIA 12-25-25.

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