For today, links to nine reports (to in Spanish only): from the Associated Press, Agencia EFE, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (Scroll down for VENEZUELA 1-8-26 and up or down for YEMEN, UKRAINE, PHOTO and 9/11 TRUTH.) — MCM

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U.S. intercepts fifth sanctioned tanker as it exerts control over Venezuelan oil distribution, by Konstantin Toropin and Aamer Madhani | AP  WASHINGTON — U.S. forces boarded another oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea on today, the U.S. military said, as the Trump administration continues to target sanctioned tankers traveling to and from Venezuela. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.  Click HERE for report from EFE in Spanish only, and HERE for others. 

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Trump meets with oil executives at the White House on Friday, seeking investments in Venezuela, by Josh Boak | AP  WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is meeting with oil executives at the White House today in hopes of securing $100 billion in investments to revive Venezuela’s ability to fully tap into its expansive reserves of petroleum — a plan that rides on . . . READ MORE . . .

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As Trump promises Venezuelan renaissance, locals struggle with crumbling economy, by Regina Garcia Cano and Matt Sedensky | AP  CARACAS — At a sprawling street market in Venezuela’s capital city, utility worker Ana Calderón wishes she could afford the ingredients to make a pot of soup. READ MORE . . .

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After Venezuela frees fewer than 1% of prisoners, activists try to stay hopeful, by Regina Garcia Cano and Megan Janetsky| AP  GUATIRE, Venezuela — A day after Venezuela ’s government pledged to free a “significant number” of prisoners, a local human rights group said only eight people had been released, or less than 1% of the citizens and foreigners the group says are detained for political reasons. READ MORE. . .  Click HERE for a Jan. 8 AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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Three from NPR. “Trump to meet with U.S. oil executives for help reviving Venezuela’s oil industry,” by Scott Horsley; “Trump says the U.S. could be in Venezuela for ‘years.’ What that could look like,” by Danielle Kurtzleben and A Martínez; and “A long U.S. stay in Venezuela? What past interventions reveal,” by Steve Inskeep. Click HERE for links to all three, and others.

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