For today, a link to a report from National Public Radio and to commentary from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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How do people in war zones feel as Trump takes office? Reported by Joanna Kakissis, Charles Maynes and Greg Myre | NPR  President-elect Trump has promised to end two foreign conflicts. NPR correspondents in Israel, Russia and Ukraine asked people about their hopes and fears as Trump takes office. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JAN. 17  Biden and Blinken bow out as embodiments of a genocidal status quo, by Oscar Rickett | Middle East Eye  In May last year, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken took to the stage at a bar in Kyiv to play guitar on a rendition of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.” Like Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to seven reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and National Public Radio; and to four articles of commentary: from Middle East Eye, ScheerPost, Jonathan-Cook.net and MintPress News (the last three via Consortium News); others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Ceasefire brings hope in devastated Gaza after 15 months of war. From Reuters.  JERUSALEM / CAIRO — Palestinians headed for the rubble of their former homes in the Gaza Strip today and Israelis prepared to receive the first hostages held by Hamas after a ceasefire deal took effect that could pave the way for an end to the 15-month-old war. READ MORE . . .

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Gaza ceasefire takes hold after another delay, raising hopes of ending the war and freeing hostages, by Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy and Tia Goldenberg | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold in the Gaza Strip today, ushering in an initial six-week period of calm and raising hopes for the release of dozens of militant-held hostages and an end to the devastating 15-month war. A last-minute . . . READ MORE . . .

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First trucks carrying aid arrive in Gaza after ceasefire: UN. From AFP.  GENEVA — Trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza today after a truce between Israel and Hamas went into effect, the United Nations said. READ MORE . . .

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People in Gaza rush to see what’s left of their homes on first day of Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Reported by Aya Batrawy and Ayesha Rascoe | NPR  An assessment of the first hours of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas- and the mood in Gaza — after more than 15 months of war. Click HERE to listen and, later, read, and HERE for report from AP.

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Hamas says expects list ‘shortly’ of 90 Palestinian prisoners for exchange. From AFP. The militant group said in a statement, “The occupation is expected to hand over shortly a list containing the names of 90 prisoners from . . .READ MORE . . .

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Israelis react to the ceasefire deal going into effect 15 months after the war began. Reported by Greg Myre and Ayesha Rascoe | NPR  A look at how the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel is being received in Israel, where protests over domestic politics have continued throughout the war. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JAN. 17  Trump owns the Gaza ceasefire. But how will he impose it? by Sean Mathews | Middle East Eye  Donald Trump pushed a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip across the finish line, but the U.S. President-elect’s troubleshooting is going to be tested like never before — now that he has to impose the deal on a country itching to resume fighting and a defiant Hamas. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 16  The Ceasefire Charade. by Chris Hedges | ScheerPost / Consortium News  Israel, going back decades, has played a duplicitous game. It signs a deal with the Palestinians that is to be implemented in phases. It will, I expect, be little more than a presidential inauguration bombing pause. Israel has no intention of halting its merry-go-round of death. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 17  Starmer’s support for Gaza ceasefire riddled with lies, | by Jonathan Cook / Consortium News  There are so many lies, deceptions and misdirections in Sir Keir Starmer’s statement on the ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hamas this week that they need to be picked apart line by line. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 17  L.A. fire cuts . . . billions for Israel & Ukraine, by Robert Inlakesh | MintPress News / Consortium News  Months before the wildfires ravaged Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass approved the budget for the next fiscal year which included a $17.5 million reduction to the fire department’s funding. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley cautioned that . . . READ MORE . . .

 

For today, links to three reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.)— MCM

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NEWER  Trump to revive TikTok, but wants 50% U.S. ownership, by David Shepardson | Reuters  WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said he would revive TikTok access in the U.S. by executive order after he is sworn in on Monday, but said he wants the popular social media app to be at least half owned by U.S. investors. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from AP. 

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TikTok is offline in the U.S. after Supreme Court upholds ban. Reported by Bobby Allyn | NPR  The ban could be short lived, however. President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday he will “most likely” give the app a 90-day reprieve once he assumes office on Monday. Click HERE to listen and read.

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and Tass, and to two articles of commentary from the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research and MintPress News, both via Consortium News; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM JAN. 17  Trump vowed to end the war in Ukraine quickly but Moscow and Kyiv are digging in before any talks. From AP.  President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to broker a peace deal in Ukraine, but as he prepares to take office, peace seems as elusive as ever. READ MORE . . .

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Russian army liberated Vozdvizhenka in Donetsk People’s Republic. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian army has liberated the settlement of Vozdvizhenka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Defense Ministry said in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 17  Ending the War in Ukraine, by Vijay Prashad Tricontinental Institute for Social Research / Consortium News  Mark Rutte, the secretary general of the NATO, gave a speech last Dec. 12 in Brussels as a poem rather than the typical bureaucratic prose. There are four stanzas that I wish to share: READ MORE . . . A longer version of the author’s commentary is HERE.

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FROM JAN. 17  L.A. fire cuts . . . billions for Israel & Ukraine, by Robert Inlakesh | MintPress News / Consortium News  Months before the wildfires ravaged Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass approved the budget for the next fiscal year which included a $17.5 million reduction to the fire department’s funding. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley cautioned that . . . READ MORE . . .

 

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

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Israeli cabinet approves Gaza ceasefire accord, due to take effect Sunday. From Reuters. JERUSALEM — Israel’s Cabinet approved a deal with Palestinian militant group Hamas for a ceasefire and release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said today, a day ahead of the agreement’s scheduled start. READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for report from AP and to listen to report from NPR.  

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What the ceasefire deal could mean for Netanyahu and Israeli politics. Scott Simon of NPR speaks with Yossi Mekelberg of Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Program, about the Israeli political response to a negotiated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, a link to just one report: from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE,HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Macron calls for full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, ‘state monopoly’ on arms during Beirut visit. From the Cradle. In his first trip to Lebanon in more than four years, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the country’s capital, Beirut, on Friday and held talks with officials on the ceasefire agreement that ended over a year of fighting between . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, just one link: to a report from National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (GAZA, LEBANON and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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In Syria, some celebrations are tempered by rising prices and scarcity. Reported by Carrie Kahn of NPR Syrians are still celebrating the fall of the Bashar Al-Assad regime, but that enthusiasm is tempered these days. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, just one link: to a report from Agence France-Presse, others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (GAZA, LEBANON and SYRIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM   

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Russian attack kills three in Kyiv. From AFP.  A Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian capital killed three people today, Ukrainian leaders said, in branding it a “heinous” attack, while Moscow called it “retaliation” for bombardments on its territory. READ MORE . . .

 

For today, links to eight reports: from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, the Cradle, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (LEBANON, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE. A POETRY entry is HERE). — MCM

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Israel’s security Cabinet recommends approval of ceasefire in Gaza; deal now goes to full Cabinet, by Sam Mednick and Samy Magdy | AP  JERUSALEM — Israel’s security Cabinet recommended approval today of a ceasefire deal after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed an agreement had been reached that would pause the 15-month war with Hamas in Gaza and release dozens of hostages held by militants there. READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE listen to report from NPR and read one from the Cradle.

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Hamas refutes Netanyahu’s claim it is blocking ceasefire deal. From Middle East Monitor. Hamas is committed to the ceasefire deal in Gaza,  member of the movement’s Political Bureau, Ezzat Al-Rishq, said on Thursday, refuting claims by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it had backtracked on parts of the deal. Earlier in the day . . . READ MORE . . .

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Netanyahu’s pledge to resume Gaza war breaches ceasefire deal: officials. From Middle East Monitor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge to his coalition partners to resume the war in Gaza after implementing the first stage of the ceasefire deal with Hamas, would breach the terms of the deal, informed officials have said. READ MORE . . .

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Gaza’s devastated health system needs $10bn, at least five years to rebuild: WHO. From the Cradle. “The needs are massive,” said Rick Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization’s representative in the Palestinian territories, following an initial assessment completed by the UN agency. READ MORE . . .

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Biden adviser Amos Hochstein discusses how the Gaza ceasefire deal came together. Michel Martin of NPR talks with Amos Hochstein, senior adviser to President Biden, about the latest ceasefire deal in Gaza and his earlier negotiations for a ceasefire in Lebanon. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JAN. 16  Satellite photos show the Gaza Strip before and after the devastation of the Israel-Hamas war, by Jon Gambrell | AP  DUBAI — The Israel-Hamas war, now nearing a potential ceasefire, has devastated the Gaza Strip. Satellite photos offer some sense . . . Click HERE for article and photos. 

For today, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE. A POETRY entry is HERE.) —MCM

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FROM JAN. 15  Saudi Arabia, Kuwait offer ‘conditional funding’ for Lebanon’s reconstruction. From the Cradle. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have signaled readiness to financially support the reconstruction of Lebanon after the brutal Israeli war on the country, but under certain conditions – according to a report Wednesday from Al-Akhbar newspaper. READ MORE . . .