For today, links to four reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK, SYRIA, and UKRAINE entries  for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Hamas frees 8 more hostages as Gaza truce holds. Israel is set to release 110 prisoners, by Wafaa Shurafa, Mohammad Jahjouh and Joseph Krauss | AP  KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Hamas-led militants freed eight hostages on Thursday in the latest release since a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took hold earlier this month. Israel was expected to release another 110 Palestinian prisoners. Click HERE for report including photos and video, and HERE for report from Reuters.

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Diplomat trying to end Gaza war warns an attack on U.S. forces could widen it. Reported by A Martínez and Eyder Peralta | NPR  The prime minister of Qatar is in Washington for talks with U.S. officials trying to iron out the framework of a deal to pause or end the war in Gaza, and get Israeli hostages released. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Gaza checkpoint to be staffed by scores of armed American contractors. From Reuters. WASHINGTON — UG Solutions, a small U.S. security firm, is hiring nearly 100 U.S. special forces veterans to help run a checkpoint in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas truce, according to a company spokesperson and a recruitment e-mail, introducing armed American contractors into the heart of one of the world’s most . . . Click HERE for report including photos and video.

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FROM JAN. 29  On Holocaust day, Palestinians have overcome Israel’s genocidal war and returned home, by David Hearst | Middle East Eye  As world statesmen gathered at Auschwitz, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who had endured 15 months of genocidal bombing, starvation and disease at the hands of a state born in the aftermath of the Holocaust marched for hours back into northern Gaza. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to five reports: from Middle East Monitor, Middle East Eye, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, and HERE.) — MCM

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10 Palestinians killed in Israel airstrike in West Bank.From Middle East Monitor. At least ten Palestinians were killed and four others were seriously injured last night when an Israeli drone targeted them in Tamun town, southeast of Tubas in the occupied West Bank, according to medical sources according to the Palestinian Information Centre. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Middle East Eye and HERE for Jan. 28 report from the Cradle.

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FROM JAN. 29  Israel’s military operation in West Bank ‘may continue for several days,’ army says. From Middle East Monitor. Israeli occupation forces’ ongoing military operation in the northern West Bank “may continue for several days and possibly longer . . . as long as necessary to achieve its security goals,” a military spokesperson told Anadolu on Wednesday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN.  29  Israeli troops to remain in Janin refugee camp, defence minister says, by Raneen Sawafta, James Mackenzie and Ali Sawafta | Reuters  JENIN, West Bank / JERUSALEM / RAMALLAH — Israeli troops will remain in the Palestinians’ Jenin refugee camp once the large-scale raid they launched last week is complete, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday as a crackdown in the occupied West Bank extended into a second week. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to four reports: from the Cradle, Middle East Monitor, Middle East Eye, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Ahmad al-Sharaa named ‘transitional president’ of Syria, constitution dissolved. From the Cradle. The Military Operations Department of the de facto government in Syria announced on Wednesday that Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, will assume the presidency of the country during a “transitionaL phase.” READ MORE . . . Click HERE, HERE and HERE for report from Middle East Monitor and Jan. 29 reports from Middle East Eye and Reuters.

For today, links to eight reports from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Kyiv Post, the Moscow Times, the Kyiv Independent, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA, WEST BANK and SYRIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM   

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A Russian drone strikes an apartment building in Ukraine, killing at least 4. From AP.  KYIV — A Russian drone blasted a hole in an apartment building in northeastern Ukraine during a nighttime attack, killing at least four people and injuring nine others, officials said today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for reports from AFP and Kyiv Post.

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FROM JAN. 29  Chasiv Yar Falls to Russian Forces After Nearly a Year of Intense Fighting. From the Moscow Times. The key eastern Ukrainian stronghold of Chasiv Yar has fallen to advancing Russian forces, five Ukrainian and European military and government sources have independently confirmed to The Moscow Times. Neither the Ukrainian nor Russian militaries . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 29  Putin says Ukraine peace talks possible, but not with Zelensky. From AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin said late Tuesday that his country could hold peace talks with Ukraine, but still ruled out speaking directly with President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he described as an “illegitimate” leader. READ MORE . . .

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Lithuania open to sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, chief commander says, by Tim Zadorozhnyy | The Kyiv Independent  Lithuania will likely consider deploying military personnel to Ukraine for a c potential peacekeeping mission, Lithuanian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Raimundas Vaiksnoras said today, according to the LRT broadcaster. READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces pound Ukrainian military-industrial sites, UAV assembly workshops over day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces struck Ukrainian military-industrial facilities and unmanned aerial vehicle assembly workshops over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian woman looks back on the Russian missile attack that changed her life. Reported by Elissa Nadworny | NPR  London art student Svitlana Dolbysheva was back in Ukraine for the holidays working for a foreign TV crew in Kharkiv when a Russian missile hit the hotel where she was staying. She was badly injured. Click HERE to listen and read.

For today, a link to a report from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. Entry for 1-30-25 is likely to start early and be longer than usual. (UKRAINE and COVID ETC. entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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With Gaza ceasefire, Yemen’s Houthi rebels halt attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Reported by Greg Myre and Steve Inskeep | NPR  With the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Houthi rebels in Yemen have stopped missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea and have also released a shipping crew held hostage for over a year. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, only one link: to a report from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. Entry for 1-30-25 is likely to start early and be longer than usual. (GAZA and COVID ETC. entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM   

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Trump’s callout of Russia’s Vladimir Putin is raising eyebrows. Reported by Franco Ordoñez | NPR  President Trump is threatening sanctions and tariffs on Russia if Putin doesn’t reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. Some are surprised, considering Trump’s affinity for the Russian leader. Click HERE to listen and read.

For now, links to reports from National Public Radio and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entry for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Trump’s health secretary pick, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faces confirmation hearing. Reported by Selena Simmons-Duffin and Will Stone | NPR  Kennedy’s confirmation hearings for the Cabinet position Secretary of Health and Human Services will be live-streamed by NPR beginning at 10 a.m. today EST. The first is before the Senate Finance Committee. Click HERE to watch them.

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From anti-vaccine advocacy to raw milk, many of RFK Jr.’s views fall outside the mainstream, by Linley Sanders | AP  WASHINGTON — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine advocacy is outside the mainstream. His previous statements on abortion could alienate Republicans. But a new poll finds that not all of his controversial health goals are unpopular — in fact, at least one . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 28  How can RFK Jr. reform food? Here’s the power he’d have if confirmed as HHS secretary. Reported by Allison Aubrey | NPR  The HHS Secretary nominee has said he’d like to end subsidies for junk food and sugary drinks via federal programs such as SNAP, which, at $100 billion a year, is the U.S.’s top anti-hunger program. Click HERE to listen and read.

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to eight reports: from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Middle East Monitor, the Cradle, and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (WEST BANK, LEBANON, SYRIA, UKRAINE and COVID ETC. entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE., HERE and HERE. GAZA 1-27-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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FROM JAN. 27  Northern Gaza is shattered. The spirit of returning Palestinians is not, by Osama Saleh, Abdul-Kareem Hana and Samy Magdy | AP  WADI GAZA, Gaza Strip — They walked for hours loaded with whatever clothes, food and blankets they could carry. Many . . . Click HERE for report including photos and brief video, and HERE and HERE  for two reports today from Reuters.

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FROM JAN. 27  Huge health challenges face Gaza residents returning to their homes, by Tammy Webber | AP  Hospitals and clinics destroyed. Millions of tons of debris contaminated with toxic substances, unexploded ordnance and human remains. Tens of thousands of people with injuries that will require a lifetime of care. Click HERE for report including photos.

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FROM JAN. 27  Thousands of Palestinians return to north Gaza for the first time amid ceasefire. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf and Anas Baba | NPR  The Israeli military has unblocked roads going north in Gaza, allowing many Palestinians to return for the first time since the beginning of the war. Including NPR’s Anas Baba, who fled 15 months ago. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM JAN. 27  200,000 Palestinians return to northern Gaza. From Middle East Monitor. Some 200,000 Palestinians returned to northern Gaza Monday morning, after Israel removed a road block preventing their entry to the besieged area. Thousands moved on foot . . . Click HERE for this report including brief video.

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FROM JAN. 26  Trump calls for ethnic cleansing of Gaza’s population to Egypt, Jordan. From the Cradle. While flying on Air Force One on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that the residents of Gaza should be “cleaned out” and ethnically cleansed to neighboring Arab countries after Israel’s U.S.-backed bombing campaign turned the enclave into a “demolition site.” READ MORE . . .

For today, links to three reports: from the Cradle, Middle East Monitor, and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA, SYRIA, LEBANON, UKRAINE and COVID ETC. entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. WEST BANK 1-25-25 entry is HERE. (GAZA 1-27-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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FROM JAN. 27  Israel to demolish entire village east of Bethlehem in latest West Bank land grab. From the Cradle. On Sunday, Israeli authorities notified the residents of Khirbet al-Numan village, located east of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, of plans to demolish all homes and displace dozens of Palestinian families in order to annex their land to the boundaries of occupied Jerusalem. READ MORE . . .

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Israel Occupation Forces demolish three Palestinian homes.  From Middle East Monitor. The Israeli authorities are continuing their demolition and bulldozing operations in the occupied West Bank, while forcing a citizen in 1948-occupied Palestine to demolish his home, according to the Palestinian Information Centre. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 27  UN experts dismayed by Israeli escalation in occupied West Bank. From Middle East Eye.  Israli attacks on the occupied West Bank are going to deepen suffering and violence on Palestinians, a group of UN special rapporteurs and independent experts warned on Monday. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to two reports: from Middle East Eye and the Cradle, and to an article of commentary from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA, WEST BANK, SYRIA, UKRAINE and COVID ETC. entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. LEBANON 1-25-25 entry is HERE. LEBANON 1-25-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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FROM JAN. 27  Israeli strikes kill two in Lebanon despite ceasefire extension. From Middle East Eye. Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli fire killed two people on Monday and wounded 17 others in the south in a second day of violence as residents tried again to return to border villages. The ministry said Israeli fire killed 24 returnees on Sunday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 26  Residents return to Lebanese border villages as Israeli withdrawal deadline expires. From the Cradle. Residents of south Lebanon who were displaced during the war returned to their towns and villages on Sunday upon the expiration of the 60-day ceasefire implementation period. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 27  In Lebanon, civilians amass to secure liberation, by Khalil Harb | The Cradle  The image that Israel sought to project — both to its settlers and to the wider Arab world — of a resistance subdued, a nation defeated, and a broken will crumbled at dawn on Sunday as the 60-day deadline for the implementation of the ceasefire with Hezbollah approached. READ MORE . . .