For today, links to four reports: from the Associated Press and the Anadolu Agency; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE. SYRIA 2-2-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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At least 19 killed mostly women in a car bomb explosion in northern Syria, by Kareem Chehayeb and Omar Albam | AP DAMASCUS — A car bomb exploded on the outskirts of the northern Syrian city of Manjib today, killing at least 19 people, all but one of them women, and leaving more than a dozen wounded, hospital workers said. READ MORE . . .

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Syria’s interim president to visit Türkiye, by Serdar Dincel | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa will pay an official visit to the Turkish capital Ankara on Tuesday. READ MORE . . .

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Israeli PM Netanyahu visits D.C. for talks with President Trump. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf and Michel Martin | NPR  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Washington for talks with President Trump, as negotiations on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire are supposedly due to begin. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Israel’s ambassador to the U.N. discusses Netanyahu’s visit to the U.S. Reported by Steve Inskeep | NPR  With Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Washington as negotiations for the next phase of the ceasefire with Hamas get under way, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, is interviewed. Click HERE to listen and read.

For today, links to five reports from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA, WEST BANK and SYRIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE. UKRAINE 2-2-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM   

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FROM FEB. 2  Russia and Ukraine trade blame over an attack on a boarding school in Russia’s Kursk region. From AP. KYIV — Competing claims emerged over a deadly attack on a boarding school in Sudzha, a city in Russia’s Kursk region that has been under Ukrainian control for five months, with Ukraine and Russia accusing each other of carrying out the strike. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from AFP and the Kyiv Independent.

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FROM FEB. 2  Both Ukraine, Russia must ‘give a little’: Trump envoy. From AFP,  U.S. President Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy said Sunday that both Kyiv and Moscow would have to make concessions if they are to successfully negotiate a solution to the ongoing war. Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB.  2  Ukraine says U.S. push for truce, elections is ‘failed plan’ unless it consists of more, by Tom Balmforth | Reuters  KYIV — An aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday a U.S. call for Ukraine to hold an election after agreeing a ceasefire with Russia looked like a “failed plan” if that is all it consists of, though more details were needed. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, and to two articles of commentary from Consortium News, the second originating from the Grayzone; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names below. (WEST BANK, SYRIA, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. GAZA 2-1-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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Israel’s Netanyahu heads to U.S. to discuss ‘victory over Hamas’ with Trump, by Tia Goldenberg | AP  TEL AVIV — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today he will discuss “victory over Hamas,” countering Iran and expanding diplomatic relations with Arab countries in his meeting Tuesday with U.S. President Donald Trump. READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s Netanyahu says negotiations start Monday for next phase of Gaza ceasefire. From Reuters. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will start negotiations on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire when he meets U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff, on Monday in Washington, Mr Netanyahu’s office said late Saturday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 30  The ceasefire so far, by Michel Moushabeck | Truthout / Consortium News  The fragile, incomplete and long overdue Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement has brought huge relief to the millions of Palestinians who have been under daily threat of airstrikes, bombardment and forced starvation for over 15 months. The numerous scenes . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 29  The Christian Zionist leading the ICJ, by Max Blumenthal | The Grayzone / Consortium News  President Nawaf Salam of the International Court of Justice resigned on Jan. 14, to become prime minister of Lebanon, and was succeeded by Justice Julia Sebutinde of Uganda. Many observers were stunned when Sebutinde voted “no” on all . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for earlier version of commentary, from the Grayzone.

For today, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA, SYRIA, UKRAINE and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. WEST BANK 1-31-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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Palestinian resistance fights back as Israel continues violent assault on West Bank cities. From the Cradle. Palestinian resistance factions in the occupied West Bank are confronting invading Israeli forces, who are carrying out violent operations across the territory, particularly in Jenin. READ MORE . . .

For today, a link to a report from Consortium News; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA, WEST BANK, SYRIA and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. UKRAINE 2-1-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM   

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FROM FEB. 1  What DeepSeek says about Nuland’s role in Ukraine war, by Cathy Vogan | Special to Consortium News  News of a Chinese AI program named DeepSeek outperforming Western AI for a fraction of the cost to develop has captured headlines around the world, especially as it caused shares of Western AI companies to plummet. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to a report from Common Dreams and to commentary from Indian Punchline and Middle East Eye; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA, WEST BANK, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. MEDIA 1-31-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

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FROM JAN. 31  Doctor says LA Times disingenuously spun his RFK Jr. op-ed, by Brett Wilkins | Common Dreams  A public health expert on Friday accused the Los Angeles Times of distorting a highly critical opinion piece he authored in order to paint Health and Human Services secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a positive . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 1  Syria enters new era amidst uncertainties, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  The appointment of Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham as Interim President on Wednesday marks the advent of a new era in Syria’s history. The New York Times in a feature article on al-Sharaa called the HTS an “Islamist rebel group once linked to Al Qaeda.” [Emphasis added.] READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 31  ‘The Brutalist’: What this Oscar contender really says about the American Dream and Israel, by Joseph Fahim | Middle East Eye  When Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist” premiered at the Venice film festival last September, few film experts believed it could have any impact on the erratic U.S. box office. A nearly four-hour-long immigrant drama . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to nine reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, Middle East Eye, Middle East Monitor, National Public Radio, and the Anadolu Agency, and to commentary from Antiwar.com and ScheerPost; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names below. (SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Hamas frees 3 hostages and Israel releases Palestinian prisoners in 4th exchange of ceasefire, by Mohammad Jahjouh and Imad Isseid | AP  KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Hamas militants freed three male hostages held for more than a year in the Gaza Strip today and Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in the fourth such exchange of a ceasefire deal that has halted 15 months of intense fighting. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Bus of Palestinian captives leaves Ofer prison after Gaza ceasefire deal, by Mohammed Turkman, Fayha Shalash and Alex MacDonald | Middle East Eye  RAMALLAH — A bus carrying Palestinian captives arrived at the West Bank town of Beitunia today following the handover of Israeli captives in Gaza. They departed from Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank and arrived at Beitunia near Ramallah, where . . . READ MORE . . .

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A U.S. dual citizen is among 3 Israeli hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf and Daniel Estrin | NPR  TEL AVIV — The three Israeli hostages released by Hamas today after more than 15 months in captivity in Gaza are U.S. and Israeli dual citizen Keith Siegel, 65, Yarden Bibas, 35, and Ofer Kalderon, 54. Kalderon also holds French citizenship. Click HERE to listen and read report, which includes photos.

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Nearly half a million people returned to northern areas of Gaza Strip: UN. From Middle East Monitor. The UN on Friday said “nearly half a million people have returned to northern areas of the Gaza Strip” since the ceasefire took effect, Anadolu Agency reports. READ MORE . . .

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Palestinian Authority tells U.S. it is ready to ‘clash’ with Hamas for control of Gaza, by Sean Mathews | Middle East Eye  The Palestinian Authority has told the U.S. it is ready to “clash” with Hamas if needed to take power in the Gaza Strip, during a pitch to President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, at a meeting in Riyadh. READ MORE . . .

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Trump and Netanyahu expected to meet once on Tuesday — U.S. official. From Reuters. WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet at the White House on Tuesday, a U.S. official said on Friday. The meeting is set to take place amid a fragile six-week ceasefire . . . READ MORE . . .

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Palestinians worry about what Netanyahu’s visit to the White House signals for Gaza. Scott Simon of NPR speaks with Maha Nassar, a professor at the University of Arizona, about how Palestinians will view the Israeli Prime Minister’s visit to the White House next week. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Sisi invites Trump to Egypt for talks on Middle East crises, by Yusuf Alioğlu and Rania R.a. Abushamala | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received a phone call from Donald Trump, during which he invited the U.S. leader to visit Egypt to discuss ongoing crises in the Middle East, his office said today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 31  This is what Palestinian unity looks like, by Ramzy Baroud | Antiwar.com  Even those of us who have long emphasized the importance of the Palestinian people’s voice, experience, and collective action in Palestinian history must have been shocked by the cultural revolution resulting from the Israeli war on Gaza. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 31  Thirty years of middle east lies just keep coming back to haunt, by Jonathan Cook | ScheerPost  The story: Did you believe it 30 years ago when they told you that the Oslo Accords would bring peace to the Middle East? That Israel would finally withdraw from the Palestinian Territories . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Libertarian Institute and the Associated Press; other articles are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM JAN. 30  DNI nominee Tulsi Gabbard in heated exchange with Sen. Mark Kelly, by Kyle Anzalone | The Libertarian Institute  During the confirmation hearing for Director of National Intelligence, Sen. Mark Kelly attacked nominee Tulsi Gabbard over her past criticisms of U.S. policy in Syria. Kelly asserted that Gabbard was repeating Russian talking points, while Tulsi argued . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for Jan. 30 report from AP.

For today, links to eight reports: from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Tass, Antiwar.com, and Newsweek; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA and SYRIA and entries for this date are HERE and HERE.)  — MCM   

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Russian drone and missile attacks kill 8 in Ukraine. From AP. KYIV — At least eight people died overnight as Russian drone and missile strikes pounded Ukraine’s towns and cities, local officials said today. Meanwhile, Moscow’s troops continued . . . READ MORE . . .Click HERE and HERE for reports from Kyiv Post and the Kyiv Independent.

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UN condemns Russian missile attack in Odesa that wounded 7. From AFP. The UN today condemned a Russian missile attack on the city of Odesa in southern Ukraine that wounded at least seven people and damaged historic buildings. The Black Sea port, known for . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia says advancing towards flashpoint Ukrainian city. From AFP. Russia said today it had captured a village flanking the eastern flashpoint city of Toretsk in Ukraine as Kyiv said four people had died in overnight Russian strikes. READ MORE . . .

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Russian air defense systems shot down 10 HIMARS projectiles, 108 Ukrainian UAVs. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian Armed Forces hit the infrastructure of military airfields, as well as storage and preparation sites for the launch of Ukrainian drones over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 30  Ukrainian media outlet leaks alleged Trump plan to end Ukraine war, by Dave DeCamp | Antiwar.com / Popular Resistance  The Ukrainian news outlet Strana has published leaked details of President Trump’s alleged plan to end the war in Ukraine in 100 days. According to Newsweek, which said it couldn’t verify if the details were accurate, . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for Jan. 27 report from Newsweek.