For today, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, Reuters and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names and initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE,)— MCM

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Zelensky publishes decree on ‘historically’ Ukrainian regions, Russia furious. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today angered Moscow by accusing it of “oppressing” Ukrainians living in parts of Russia “historically inhabited by Ukrainians”. Russia and Ukraine have for years . . . READ MORE . . .

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Polish PM Donald Tusk pledges unity, end to border blockade during Kyiv visit, by Nate Ostiller and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv today during his first visit to Ukraine since assuming the position. One of Ukraine’s closest allies . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine shelling of Russian-controlled city of Donetsk kills 27, officials say. From Reuters. Twenty-seven people were killed and 25 injured when Ukrainian forces shelled the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, Denis Pushilin, the Russian-appointed head of the Donetsk region, said on Sunday. According to . . . READ MORE . . .

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Top adviser to Ukraine’s president makes the case for for the U.S. to resume aid. Steve Inskeep of NPR talks with Andriy Yermak, top aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, tells NPR’s Steve Inskeep about Ukraine’s “urgent” need for sustained military aid. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Reuters, and the Grayzone; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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At least 25 dead in a shelling of a market in Russian-occupied Ukraine, officials report. From AP. KYIV — At least 25 people were killed today by shelling at a market on the outskirts of the city of Donetsk in Russian-occupied Ukraine, local officials reported. A further 20 people were injured in the strike on the suburb of Tekstilshchik, including two children, said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian strike on Donetsk kills 13: Russian authority. From AFP. A Ukrainian strike on a market in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine left 13 people dead and 10 more wounded today, said the head of the region, which is under Russian control. The Moscow-installed head of the Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, said “at least 13 people were killed and ten injured following a terrible bombing on a market.” In a preliminary . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Ukraine’s SBU claims drone attack on Russian gas terminal near St. Petersburg, by Kateryna Zakharchenko and Alisa Orlova | Kyiv Post  Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) conducted a successful overnight drone attack on the Ust-Luga gas terminal in the Leningrad region of Russia, according to a source. The source said the operation saw direct hits . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Explosions, fires reported overnight deep in Russian rear in alleged long-range Ukrainian strikes. From the Kyiv Independent. Explosions and large fires were reported in several Russian cities overnight today, in an possible coordinated effort by Ukraine to strike key targets deep inside Russian territory. The terminal of Russia’s Novatek natural gas company caught fire in the port of Ust-Luga in Leningrad Oblast . . . READ MORE . . .

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Fire erupts at Russia’s Novatek Baltic Sea terminal after suspected Ukrainian drone attack. From Reuters. A fire broke out at a Baltic Sea terminal belonging to Novatek, Russia’s largest liquefied natural gas producer, after a suspected Ukrainian drone attack, forcing the company to suspend some operations there. The Ust-Luga complex, on the Gulf of Finland about 170 km west of St. Petersburg, processes . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 12  American citizen Gonzalo Lira dies from neglect in Ukrainian prison, by Alexander Rubinstein | The Grayzone  Chilean-American war commentator Gonzalo Lira died shortly before noon on Jan. 11 at a hospital in Kharkiv, where he had been imprisoned for eight months after being accused of justifying Russian war efforts in Ukraine. Lira had come to prominence in 2022 and was arrested in May 2023. A note written by him . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from Reuters and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date, so far, is HERE. — MCM

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Middle East missile attacks raise Gaza escalation risk, by Phil Stewart and Timour Azhari | Reuters  WASHINGTON / BAGHDAD — Missile attacks in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen on Saturday threw into sharp focus the increasing risk of the war in Gaza triggering a wider regional conflict pitting Iran and its allies against Israel and the United States. Iran said five of its Revolutionary Guards were killed in a missile strike on a house in Damascus which it blamed on Israel, and security sources in Lebanon said . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 20  As Israel-Hamas war approaches grim milestone, fears of widening conflict. Reported by Geoff Brumfiel | NPR  The death toll in Gaza is approaching 25,000 since Israel’s war against Hamas began. After a weeklong blackout, cell and internet services are slowly returning. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Israel is turning its attention to its northern border with Lebanon. Reported by Jane Arraf | NPR  We get the latest on the ground from the border between Israel and Lebanon, where tensions continue to escalate. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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There are 10 conflicts underway in the Middle East. Reported by Ayesha Rascoe | NPR  Ayesha Rascoe of NPR speaks with Robin Wright, a contributing writer for The New Yorker, about the multiple conflicts in the Middle East. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, links to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press and to commentary from the Washington Post and Declassified UK; other articles are accessible by clicking on their sources’ names or initials below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Iranian and Hezbollah commanders help direct Houthi attacks in Yemen, by Samia Nakhoul and Parisa Hafezi | Reuters DUBAI– Commanders from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group are on the ground in Yemen helping to direct and oversee Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, four regional and two Iranian sources told Reuters. Iran — which has armed, trained and funded the Houthis — stepped up . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 17  Yemen’s Houthi rebels attack a U.S.-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden with bomb-carrying drone, by Jon Gambrell | AP  JERUSALEM — A U.S.-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden came under attack Wednesday from a bomb-carrying drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, officials said. The attack on the Genco Picardy represented . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 16  The Houthis sink an arrow into the West’s Achilles’ heel, by David Ignatius | The Washington Post   The Houthis are a tribal militia in a faraway country that many Americans couldn’t identify on a map. But they have . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 12  Bombing Yemen as British as afternoon tea, by Mark Curtis | Declassified UK / Consortium News  UK air strikes on the Houthis in Yemen – who have dared to challenge Western support for Israel over Gaza – are taking place exactly 60 years after a brutal British bombing campaign in the country. The so-called Radfan revolt of early 1964 in modern-day Yemen . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from National Public Radio, the Associated, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and a YEMEN entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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War in Gaza drove them from their homes. Now, many Palestinians can’t even find tents, by Becky Sullivan, Anas Baba and Abu Bakr Bashir | NPR  RAFAH, the Gaza Strip — The tents and makeshift shelters have sprung up everywhere in recent weeks: on the streets, in the courtyards of hospitals and schools, on once-empty patches . . . Click HERE to read.

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Hostage families protest outside Netanyahu’s home, ramping up pressure for a truce-for-hostages deal, by Julia Frankel, Samy Magdy and Elena Becatoros | AP  JERUSALEM — Relatives of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza protested today outside the home of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israeli drones attack hospital in southern Gaza, Palestinian Red Crescent says, by Ibraheemabu Mustafa and Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  The Palestinian Red Crescent accused Israel of firing Friday at a hospital in Khan Younis, as a major advance in the main city in the southern Gaza Strip threatened the few healthcare facilities still open. The Gaza health ministry . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 19  Israel to allow flour shipments for Gaza through key port: U.S. From AFP. Israel will let shipments of flour for Palestinians through the Israeli port of Ashdod, north of Gaza, the White House said Friday after President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke. The . . . READ MORE . . .

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Switzerland says Israeli president subject of criminal complaints at Davos, by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber | Reuters  Swiss prosecutors, on Friday, confirmed that Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, had been the subject of criminal complaints during his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, as Israel finds itself accused of committing war crimes in Gaza. “The . . . READ MORE . . .

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Gaza militants show video of Israeli hostage, say he is dead. From AFP. A militant group allied to Hamas in Gaza released a video on Friday showing an Israeli hostage who they said had been killed in an Israeli air strike.”Despite . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 18  As Gaza’s communication blackout grinds on, some fear it is imperiling lives. Reported by Geoff Brumfiel | NPR  Gaza is approaching a week without internet and cellphone service. The lack of communications is making it difficult for the U.N. to distribute the small amount of food and supplies it can get into the territory, which has been under heavy Israeli bombardment since shortly after Hamas militants attacked Israel in October. Click HERE to listen and read.

For today, links to reports from Reuters, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA entry for this date and a YEMEN entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM JAN. 18  Ukraine buys six French Caesar howitzers, France to supply missiles, by John Irish | Reuters  PARIS — Ukraine has bought six Caesar howitzers, France’s defence minister said on Thursday, adding that Paris would send 50 precision-guided missiles a month to Kyiv to aid its fight against Russia’s invasion. He said Caesar manufacturer Nexter had . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia could win ‘in a matter of weeks’ unless US provides more aid to Ukraine — TV. From Tass. NEW YORK — Russia could win the conflict in Ukraine “in a matter of weeks” if Washington fails to provide another aid package to Kiev, NBC News reported, citing sources. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines warned . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM JAN. 18  Biden summoned congressional leaders to the White House to talk about Ukraine. From NPR. President Biden held a rare meeting with congressional leaders on Wednesday — a sign of how worried he is about funding for Ukraine. House Republicans have not agreed to a request for more aid. Click HERE to listen and read.

For today, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, Reuters, Tass, National Public Radio, the Telegraph and, via Popular Resistance, Common Dreams; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.)  — MCM

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NEWER  Biden, Netanyahu speak on Gaza for first time in a month, by Danny Kemp | AFP  U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about Gaza today, in their first conversation for nearly a month amid reports of tensions between the leaders. The call came . . . READ MORE . . .

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Rifts emerge among top Israeli officials over how to handle the war against Hamas in Gaza, by Julia Frankel, Najib Jobain and Bassem Mroue | AP  JERUSALEM — Rifts are emerging amongtop Israeli officials over the handling of the war against Hamas in Gaza. A member of the country’s War Cabinet . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S. says ‘no way’ to to solve Israel security, Gaza war without Palestinian state, by Simon Lewis and Humeyra Pamuk | Reuters   WASHINGTON — There is “no way” to solve Israel’s long-term security challenges in the region and the short-term challenges of rebuilding Gaza without the establishment of a Palestinian state, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said today. He said Israel . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  No more trust toward West for failing to stop Gaza tragedy — Erdogan. From Tass. ISTANBUL — There is no more trust toward the West, which has not taken any steps to prevent the crisis in Gaza, according to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. He said the organizations whose tasks include ensuring global security . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Anti-war protesters turn out in Tel Aviv for demonstration approved by police. Reported by Aya Batrawy | NPR  Israeli authorities permitted a rare anti-war protest in Tel Aviv. It drew several hundred people who called for an end to the fighting in Gaza, reflecting some of the divisions in Israel. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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NEWER  Moscow urges release of hostages as it welcomes Hamas, by Timothy Sigsworth | The Telegraph  Russia has pushed Hamas for a “speedy release” of the approximately 130 remaining hostages it is holding as it welcomed a delegation from the terror group to Moscow. Moussa Abu Marzouk and Basem Naim, two of the terror group’s most senior officials, met Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister and former ambassador to Israel, for . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Biden faces pushback within his own party for his unwavering support of Israel. Reported by Asma Khalid | NPR  President Biden takes the long view on Middle East peace. But in the short term — in an election year — that could be a problem. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM JAN. 16  150 Mennonites arrested at Capitol for peacefully demanding Gaza cease-fire, by Julia Conley | Common Dreams / Popular Resistance The faith-based pro-Palestinian rights group Mennonite Action on Tuesday said that 150 members and supporters were arrested by U.S. Capitol Police for holding a peaceful occupation of the Cannon House Office Building, demanding . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and the Kyiv Independent; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for today is HERE.) — MCM

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A Ukrainian drone attack on an oil depot inside Russia causes a massive blaze, officials say. From AP. A Ukrainian drone struck an oil storage depot in western Russia today, causing a massive blaze, officials said, as Kyiv’s forces apparently extended their attacks on Russian soil ahead of the war’s two-year anniversary. Four oil reservoirs with a total capacity. . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Moscow summons French ambassador over ‘growing’ role in Ukraine. From AFP. Russia today summoned France’s ambassador in Moscow and issued a formal complaint over his country’s alleged “growing involvement” in the war in Ukraine. The move comes just days after Moscow claimed evidence it had killed a group of French mercenaries in a strike on the northeastern city of Kharkiv. Moscow said . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER   EU confirms intent to hit Russia with new sanctions by Feb. 24. From Tass. BRUSSELS — The European Union intends to introduce new sanctions against Russia by the second anniversary of the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, an EU spokesperson said. “Yes, I can confirm . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Recent campaigns against journalists raise concerns about press freedom in Ukraine, by Dinara Khalilova | The Kyiv Independent  Investigative journalists in Ukraine came under two attacks in just the past week, one involving a threatening home visit and another using covert surveillance. “These . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Substack; other articles are accessible by clicking on their sources’ names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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Israeli strike kills 16 in southern Gaza; no word on whether medicines reached hostages, by Najib Jobain, Bassem Mroue and Melanie Lidman | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike on a home killed 16 people, half of them children, in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, medics said early today. The military continued to strike targets where it has told civilians to seek refuge. Meanwhile . . . READ MORE . . .

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Khan Younis battle threatens biggest hospital still working, by Bassam Masoud, Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Dan Williams | Reuters  GAZA / DOHA — Israeli forces fighting to seize the southern Gaza Strip’s main city pounded areas near the biggest hospital still functioning in the enclave today, sending patients and residents fleeing a battle they feared would lay the city to waste. The heaviest battle of the year so far was under way in Khan Younis, a city that . . . READ MORE . . .

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What Palestinians in Gaza may fear even more than Israeli bombardment. Reported by Lauren Frayer | NPR  BEIT HANINA AL-BALAD, Israeli-Occupied West Bank — Since 1948, the extended family of 56-year-old Sakher Abu Dahouk has moved several times — from what is now Beer Sheva, Israel, to Jordan, to the Israeli-occupied West Bank — as Israel seized territory in subsequent wars, redrew boundaries and . . . Click HERE to listen and read.

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The political costs of Biden’s wars, by Seymour M. Hersh | seymourhersh.substack.com It’s doubtful President Biden understands the cost of his unwillingness to stop supplying weapons to Israel and to demand a ceasefire from Israeli President Netanyahu, who has proclaimed that Israel will continue the war until all elements of Hamas are destroyed. Netanyahu is . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Kyiv Post, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and Reuters, and to commentary from Substack; other articles are accessible by clicking on their sources’ names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date, so far, is HERE). — MCM

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Ukraine confirms St. Petersburg attack, claims drone flew over Putin’s Valdai residence, by Kateryna Zakharchenko | Kyiv Post  Ukrainian drones struck an oil depot in Russia’s St Petersburg overnight, a source in Kyiv’s security services has confirmed, with one of them reportedly having flown over President Putin’s Valdai residence. It marks the first time the northern city — some 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine — has been attacked since . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia strikes Ukraine with drones, missiles in overnight attacks. From AFP.  Kyiv said today that Russian forces used nearly three dozen Iranian-designed drones to attack Ukraine overnight, while also firing guided missiles at the northeastern city of Kharkiv. The aerial attack . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces hit over 40 Ukrainian artillery units in Krasny Liman area. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia’s Battlegroup Center has hit more than 40 Ukrainian artillery units in the Krasny Liman area, the battlegroup’s spokesman Alexander Savchuk said. “In the course of counterbattery . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine starts to rebuild towns and cities even as the war rages on, by Dan Peleschuk | Reuters  TROSTIANETS, Ukraine — Badly damaged in fighting with Russian forces almost two years ago, the town of Trostianets is one of six Ukrainian settlements being rebuilt with state funds in a pilot programme to develop the skills and experience needed for . . . READ MORE . . .

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The political costs of Biden’s wars, by Seymour M. Hersh | seymourhersh.substack.com  Does President Biden understand that the American-led attacks on the Houthis in Yemen, even if successful, won’t undo the political damage he is suffering for his continued support of a losing war in Ukraine? It’s unlikely. More . . . READ MORE . . .