OT subject but worth a main-stream read- OT News Feeds...

JohnInCarolina

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Monday Middle East update:

"Qatar on Saturday said it is pausing its Gaza ceasefire mediation efforts over a failure by Israel and Hamas to make progress. Jared Malsin, Summer Said, and Alexander Ward report for the Wall Street Journal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the September pager attacks, a spokesperson said today, the first confirmation of Israel’s role in the operation. Eugenia Yousef reports for CNN.

The U.N. Human Rights office said on Friday that nearly 70 percent of the people killed in attacks in Gaza whose details could be verified were women and children, “indicating a systematic violation of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.” Tim Lister, Ibrahim Dahman, and Tamar Michaelis report for CNN.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said yesterday that his country has defeated Hezbollah and must “continue to put pressure in order to bring about the fruits of that victory.” Steven Scheer reports for Reuters.

The United States and the United Kingdom launched raids on the Yemeni capital Sanaa, Houthi-run media reported on Sunday. Separately, the United States on Saturday carried out a series of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Ahmed Tolba and Mohammed Ghobari report for Reuters; Oren Liebermann reports for CNN. "

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Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia has assembled a force of 50,000 soldiers in preparation for a Russian-North Korean offensive intended to reclaim territory seized by Ukraine in the Kursk region, U.S. and Ukrainian officials say. Julian E. Barnes, Eric Schmitt, and Michael Schwirtz report for the New York Times.

Russia and Ukraine carried out their largest drone attacks against each other since the start of the war over the weekend, with drones targeting Moscow forcing flights to be diverted from the capital’s airports. Alex Boyd reports for BBC News.

In the last 48 hours, Russia fired 145 drones at Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, more than any previous single nighttime attack during the conflict.

Russia also said it had downed 34 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow, the largest attempted attack on the capital since the start of the war in 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a mutual defense partnership treaty with North Korea, according to a decree published Saturday. Reuters reports. 

Trump spoke with Putin on Thursday and advised him to not escalate the war in Ukraine, several sources say. Ellen Nakashima, John Hudson, and Josh Dawsey report for the Washington Post.

The incoming Trump administration will focus on achieving peace in Ukraine rather than enabling the country to gain back territory, a former Trump adviser told BBC News. Sofia Ferreira Santos reports. "

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China Opposes New Philippine Maritime Law, Vows to Protect South China Sea ‘Sovereignty’

Another potential US-China flashpoint:
https://gcaptain.com/china-opposes-new-philippine-maritime-law-vows-to-protect-south-china-sea-sovereignty/?subscriber=true&goal=0_

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Tuesday Middle East update:

"Trump’s win means “the time has come” to annex parts of the West Bank, Israel’s finance minister said yesterday, the strongest indication to date of Trump’s election emboldening Israeli hardliners. Louisa Loveluck, Claire Parker, and Cate Brown report for the Washington Post.

The Biden administration deadline for Israel to improve Palestinians’ access to aid or face restrictions on U.S. military assistance  is due to expire later today. International aid organizations today said Israel failed to meet U.S. demands, with conditions in Gaza at their worst since the war began. Julia Frankel and Samy Magdy report for AP News; Jennifer Hansler reports for CNN.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman yesterday accused Israel of committing “genocide” against Palestinians during a Riyadh summit. The Washington Post reports.

Israel denied or impeded the majority of Gaza aid missions in October amid a “severe deterioration” in the operating environment for humanitarian groups in the territory, a U.N. aid agency (OCHA) said yesterday. Amanda Coletta reports for the Washington Post.

The state of health care in Gaza is now “apocalyptic,” World Health Organization officials said yesterday. Rebecca Tan and Annabelle Timsit report for the Washington Post.

Israel’s newly-appointed Defense Minister Israel Katz said “there will be no ceasefire and there will be no respite” in Lebanon, contradicting the Israeli foreign minister’s suggestion yesterday that “certain progress” was being made on ceasefire talks. Tala Ramadan reports for Reuters; William Christou reports for the Guardian.

Iran is building a “defensive tunnel” in Tehran following Israeli strikes on targets in the country, an Iranian news agency reported today. Reuters reports."

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Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday that Ukrainian troops “continue to hold back” the “nearly 50,000-strong enemy group” in Kursk. Ivana Kottasová and Svitlana Vlasova report for CNN.

North Korea has ratified a mutual defence treaty with Russia – signed by the two countries’ leaders in June – which calls for each side to come to the other’s aid in case of an armed attack, North Korea’s state media, KCNA, said on Tuesday.

The Kremlin dismissed reports that United States President-elect Donald Trump had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin as “pure fiction.” The denial comes after anonymous sources claimed Trump had told Putin on a call that Moscow should not escalate its war in Ukraine.

The European Union has supplied Ukraine with more than 980,000 shells for the war and plans to pass the 1 million mark by the end of this year, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said."

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Wednesday Middle east update:

"The United States will keep supplying military aid to Israel after assessing that the country is not in violation of U.S. law, a State Department spokesperson said yesterday, after the Biden administration’s deadline for improving the Gaza aid supply expired. Edward Wong and Farnaz Fassihi report for the New York Times.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken today said Israel failed to live up to all of the U.S. demands to ease civilian suffering in Gaza, adding that the United States wants “real and extended” humanitarian pauses in fighting. Michael Birnbaum reports for the Washington Post; the Guardian reports.

Israel largely failed to comply with the Biden administration’s three core demands on Gaza aid, a Washington Post analysis based on interviews with humanitarian workers found. Miriam Berger reports.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield yesterday stressed that “there must be no forcible displacement, nor policy of starvation in Gaza” by Israel in remarks to the Security Council. Michelle Nichols reports for Reuters.

Conditions in Gaza are “unfit for human survival,” the acting U.N. relief chief told the U.N. Security Council yesterday. 

Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Monday unsuccessfully targeted two U.S. Navy warships with multiple drones and missiles, the Defense Department said yesterday. Jon Gambrell and Tara Copp report for AP News.

More on the attack:

Two U.S. Navy destroyers successfully fended off a significant multi-pronged attack while navigating the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait on Monday.

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed the incident on Tuesday, stating that the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Stockdale and USS Spruance repelled a barrage of drones and missiles, including “at least eight one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (UAVs), five anti-ship ballistic missiles, and three anti-ship cruise missiles.”

The coordinated assault, which occurred on November 11, was thwarted without any damage to the vessels or injuries to personnel."

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Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine has received a $1.35 billion humanitarian and social program grant from the United States, the country’s prime minister said today. Olena Harmash reports for Reuters.

Blinken yesterday left for Brussels to meet with NATO and European officials to discuss Ukraine’s war against Russia, the State Department said. Michael Crowley reports for the New York Times. 

Ukraine shot down 46 of 110 Russian drones launched overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said. An additional 60 Russian drones were lost in Ukrainian airspace and two travelled towards Belarus. Russian forces also launched three missiles during the overnight attack, in addition to guided aerial bombs, the Air Force said.

Russian air defence systems destroyed 13 Ukrainian drones overnight in regions bordering Ukraine, Russia’s Ministry of Defence said.

North Korean troops have begun engaging in combat alongside Russian forces, the United States State Department said. Spokesperson Vedant Patel said that more than “10,000 DPRK [North Korean] soldiers have been sent to eastern Russia”, the vast majority to the Kursk region, where they have “begun engaging in combat operations with Russian forces”."

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From Fareed Zakaria-

The Task for Europe

“Europeans should pay Donald Trump the compliment of believing what he does and says, not what they desperately want to hear,” Phillips Payson O’Brien writes for The Atlantic. “He has clearly indicated that he wants the United States out of the Ukraine war as soon as possible.”   That means European capitals must step up support for Kyiv. And there’s plenty they can do, O’Brien writes, for instance “by openly deploying their forces at least to western Ukraine. They could take over air-defense responsibilities—shooting down Russian missiles and drones without directly killing Russian soldiers. European forces could also openly assist in training Ukrainian forces in Ukraine and assist with air defense and training. Moves like these will reassure the Ukrainian people that they are not alone if the U.S. withdraws—and that their future is in Europe.”   Europe has been plagued by lackluster defense cooperation for decades, and Trump’s reentry into the White House will make improvement an urgent task. The EU can expect trade friction with Trump’s administration. Broadly speaking, “Europeans need to get their own house in order,” Sophia Besch and Liana Fix write for Carnegie’s Emissary blog. “They must unite rather than scramble to individually win Trump’s favor and, in the process, lose any collective leverage they may have. … Europeans have a tendency to feel morally superior to the United States, especially with Trump at the helm. However, this time, Europeans will have to get their hands dirty. They now must consider their strengths, have their opening offers ready, and avoid rushing to give up all leverage immediately. It’s going to be a long four years.”

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Thursday Middle East update:

"A Human Rights Watch report released yesterday accuses Israel of using evacuation orders to pursue the “deliberate and massive forced displacement” of civilians in Gaza, concluding that its actions may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and at least in buffer zones and security corridors, “ethnic cleansing.” Peter Beaumont reports for the Guardian.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aide Ron Dermer told Trump this week that Israel is rushing to advance a ceasefire deal in Lebanon as a “gift” to the President-elect, Israeli officials said. Shira Rubin, Suzan Haidamous, and John Hudson report for the Washington Post.

Israel’s military has expanded its ground operation in southern Lebanon, Defense Minister Israel Katz said yesterday. Mohammed Tawfeeq and Lauren Izso report for CNN.

Israeli ministers are insisting on retaining the capacity to strike Lebanon at any moment as part of ceasefire conditions, France’s foreign minister said yesterday. Several diplomats said it would be “all but impossible” to convince Hezbollah or Lebanon to accept the demand. John Irish reports for Reuters."

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Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine is prioritizing the security of an eventual ceasefire agreement over retention of territory amid Trump’s push for an accelerated negotiations timetable, according to senior Ukrainian officials. Meanwhile, diplomats say Ukraine’s European allies are also bracing for the prospect of land-for-security concessions. Andrew E. Kramer reports for the New York Times; Ellen Francis reports for the Washington Post.

A car bombing in Crimea yesterday killed a senior Russian naval officer. An official in Ukraine’s security services told local media the agency had orchestrated the attack, saying the target was a “war criminal” who ordered missile strikes on civilian targets. Pjotr Sauer reports for the Guardian. 

Trump’s pick for U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) refused to reiterate her previous support for NATO membership for Ukraine, with her spokesperson saying she is aligning with Trump’s approach. Andrew Kaczynski reports for CNN.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels, as the outgoing Biden administration seeks to cement support for Ukraine ahead of Donald Trump’s return as president.

Blinken assured NATO the Biden administration would bolster its support for Ukraine in the months before Trump’s return, adding that the deployment of North Korean troops in the Ukraine war “demands and will get a firm response”.

The US has opened a new air defence base in northern Poland, with President Andrzej Duda saying it shows Washington is a “guarantor of Poland’s security” and that the country is secure as a member of NATO.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin have discussed Ukraine war developments on a call, according to Saudi Arabia’s state news agency."

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Looks at why the popular vote numbers are where they are-
Home » Opinion » James K. Galbraith » The Democrats committed suicide this year

The Democrats committed suicide this year

Nov 13,2024 - Last updated at Nov 13,2024. (Byline: Austin-coming to you from Amman)

https://www.jordantimes.com/opinion/james-k-galbraith/democrats-committed-suicide-year

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Friday Middle East update:

"Israeli strikes on Damascus, Syria yesterday killed at least 15 people and injured 16 others, Syrian state media reported. The Israeli military said it was targeting an Islamic Jihad center and operatives. Mostafa Salem and Eyad Kourdi report for CNN.

Hospitals in northern Gaza are running out of food for patients and healthcare workers amid relentless shelling, medical officials say. Hazem Balousha, Hajar Harb, Heba Farouk Mahfouz, and Claire Parker report for the Washington Post.

A top Iranian official today held talks with Lebanese leaders on the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah war, as Lebanese media reported that U.S. Amb. Lisa Johnson gave a ceasefire draft to Lebanon’s parliament speaker, who has been leading the talks representing Hezbollah. Bassem Mroue and David Rising report for AP News.

An Israeli strike on a civil defense center in Lebanon's city of Baalbek yesterday killed 12 emergency rescue workers, including the city’s civil defense chief, the regional governor said. The Lebanese Health Ministry said eight others were killed in a separate attack on the city. Liam Stack, Aaron Boxerman, and Euan Ward report for the New York Times; Maya Gebeily reports for Reuters.

The U.N. will bolster its peacekeeping mission in Lebanon to support the Lebanese army once a truce is agreed, the U.N. peacekeeping chief said yesterday, adding that the mission would not directly enforce a ceasefire. Riham Alkousaa and Emilie Madi report for Reuters.

Israel’s late October attack on Iran destroyed an active top secret nuclear weapons research facility near Tehran, Israeli and U.S. officials say. Barak Ravid reports for Axios."

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Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"A new Russian offensive appears to be nearly underway in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, Ukrainian troops said this week. Siobhán O'Grady and Serhii Korolchuk report for the Washington Post.

Russia will “welcome” negotiations on the Ukraine war if initiated by Trump, Moscow's ambassador to the U.N. said yesterday, stressing that any talks need to be based on the “realities” of Russian advances. Emma Farge reports for Reuters.

The Ukrainian military has said it shot down 21 out of 59 Russian attack drones launched overnight on Thursday."

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Saturday Russia-Ukraine update:

"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in nearly two years and urged Moscow to pull its forces from Ukraine and begin talks with Kyiv.The Kremlin described the call as a “detailed and frank exchange of views over the situation in Ukraine”. It said Putin told Scholz that any agreement to end the war should “proceed from the new territorial realities and, most importantly, address the root causes of the conflict”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised Scholz’s phone call with Putin, saying it opened a “Pandora’s box” that undermined efforts to isolate the Russian leader and end the war in Ukraine with a “fair peace”. “This is exactly what Putin has long wanted: it is extremely important for him to weaken his isolation and to conduct ordinary negotiations,” he said.

Ukraine is fighting to liberate all territory captured by Russia in the last decade, and is not shifting its focus in the war, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov told a news conference in Norway."

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How America voted, which counties shifted towards Trump and a look at voter turnout

Karina ZaietsRamon PadillaCarlie Procell

USA TODAY (November 15, 2024)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/11/15/how-did-america-vote-2024-election-analysis/76292995007/

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Sunday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine’s military said its air defence units were trying to repel a Russian air attack on the capital. The Reuters news agency reported that a residential building was on fire after it was hit by Russia.

Polish armed forces said the country has activated its aircraft to ensure that its airspace is secured after Russia launched a missile attack on Ukraine.

Russian forces have captured the villages of Makarivka and Hryhorivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, Russia’s Ministry of Defence said. Moscow’s claim could not be independently verified immediately.

Leaders of the Group of Seven alliance have reaffirmed support for Ukraine “for as long as it takes” as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he wants to end the war through talks next year.

In a statement marking the upcoming 1,000 days of the Russian invasion, the G7 industrialised nations said Russia is solely responsible for preventing a fair settlement to end the war in Ukraine."

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Monday Middle East update:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aide allegedly leaked classified information to foreign press in a bid to influence public opinion on hostage negotiations, according to a court release published yesterday. Mike Schwartz and Catherine Nicholls report for CNN.

Pope Francis said Israel’s attacks in Gaza “should be investigated to determine if they meet the legal definition of genocide,” Italian media reports. Anthony Faiola reports for the Washington Post.

Two waves of Israeli airstrikes hit central Beirut yesterday, killing Hezbollah’s top spokesman and head of media relations. Isabel Kershner, Euan Ward, and Hwaida Saad report for the New York Times. 

Amos Hochstein, the White House envoy overseeing the efforts to secure an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement is set to visit Beirut on Tuesday, Lebanese sources say. Maya Gebeily reports for Reuters."

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Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"In a major policy reversal, President Biden authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to strike inside Russia, officials said. Senior Russian lawmakers yesterday warned that Washington’s decision to authorize the strikes “could lead to World War Three.” Adam Entous, Eric Schmitt, and Julian E. Barnes report for the New York Times; Reuters reports. Washington’s decision to let Kyiv strike deep into Russia with long-range US missiles escalates the conflict and could lead to another world war, senior Russian lawmakers said on Sunday.

Russia’s air defence units destroyed 59 Ukrainian drones overnight, including two heading towards Moscow. Russia’s Ministry of Defence said 45 of the drones were destroyed over the Bryansk region.

Russia unleashed its largest air strike on Ukraine in almost three months on Sunday, launching 120 missiles and 90 drones. At least seven people were killed and severe damage was caused to the power system, officials said.

The Ukrainian air force said it repelled 104 of the incoming 120 missiles and shot down 42 drones. Another 41 disappeared from radar, it said.Washington’s decision to let Kyiv strike deep into Russia with long-range US missiles escalates the conflict and could lead to another world war, senior Russian lawmakers said on Sunday.

French President Emmanuel Macron said a major Russian air barrage against Ukraine showed that President Vladimir Putin “does not want peace and is not ready to negotiate”."

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A article on the use of ATACMS by Ukraine-
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c789x0y91vvo?at_campaign_type=owned&at_medium=emails&at_

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Tuesday Middle East update:

"A large convoy of trucks carrying aid to Gaza was “violently looted” while traveling through the territory, with drivers forced to unload supplies at gunpoint, the U.N. aid agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) said yesterday. It was not immediately clear who was responsible. Hiba Yazbek and Erika Solomon report for the New York Times.

The Biden administration imposed sanctions on Israel’s largest settlement development organization “involved in settlement and illegal outpost development in the West Bank,” the Treasury Department said yesterday. Jennifer Hansler reports for CNN.  

A group of at least 20 White House staffers criticized the Biden administration for failing to follow through on its Gaza aid demands in a letter seen by POLITICO. Joseph Gedeon, Robbie Gramer, and Eric Bazail-Eimil report. 

The United States yesterday warned Turkey against hosting Hamas leadership. Simon Lewis and Daphne Psaledakis report for Reuters.

The U.S. Senate will vote tomorrow on legislation filed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) that would block some arms sales to Israel. The legislation is not expected to pass. Patricia Zengerle reports for Reuters."

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Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update: Depending on who's counting-it is day 1,000 of the war.

"U.K. media reports that Ukraine fired U.S. long-range missiles inside Russia for the first time today and struck a military facility in Bryansk, citing the Russian defense ministry. Ukraine’s military confirmed that it had struck an ammunition warehouse in Bryansk, but did not confirm which weapon was used. BBC News reports. 

The United Kingdom is expected to give Ukraine Storm Shadow missiles to strike inside Russia, following President Biden’s policy change. Dan Sabbagh, Andrew Roth, Pjotr Sauer, and Jessica Elgot report for the Guardian.

Russian President Vladimir Putin today signed into law a revised nuclear doctrine saying any massive aerial attack on Russia could trigger a nuclear response. AP News reports.'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the eastern front-line towns of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk as Kyiv marks 1,000 days since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The world’s chemical weapons watchdog said it found traces of tear gas in samples taken last month on the front line with Russia in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region. The team was not mandated to assign blame, but Ukraine and the US have claimed Russia has illegally deployed tear gas to clear trenches.

ATACMS comments across the spectrum:

The United States said Russia is escalating its war in Ukraine by deploying North Korean troops after the Kremlin warned Washington it was adding “fuel to the fire” by allowing Kyiv’s forces to strike far into Russia with US-made weapons.

Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles to attack Russian territory would mark a radical escalation of the conflict, triggering “an adequate and tangible” response.

Changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine have been drawn up and just need to be formalised, according to Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s press secretary.

French President Emmanuel Macron said US President Joe Biden’s administration made a “good decision” to allow Ukraine to use US-made weapons to strike inside Russia.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot also signalled that allowing Kyiv to strike military targets inside Russia remained an option for France, which has provided long-range missiles to Ukraine.

Polish President Andrzej Duda said the decision to allow Ukraine to use US-made weapons to strike deep into Russia may be a decisive moment in the war.

A German government spokesperson said Berlin is sticking with its decision not to provide long-range missiles to Ukraine despite Washington’s move.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said he strongly opposes the US’s decision, calling it an “unprecedented escalation of tensions” aimed at thwarting peace negotiation.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also labelled the move “astonishingly dangerous”.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he hopes the bloc can agree to allow Ukraine to use arms to strike inside Russia. He also expressed concerns about reports of Iran, North Korea and China producing and supplying weapons systems to Russia for its war in Ukraine."

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Wednesday middle East update:

"During a visit to Gaza yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a $5 million reward and promise of safe passage out of the territory to anyone who returns a captive. It is unclear whether the prize would apply to returning the body of a hostage who had died in captivity. Ephrat Livni reports for the New York Times; Steven Scheer reports for Reuters.

Israel has issued 1,126 arrest warrants for ultra-Orthodox conscripts who have not responded to drafting orders. Tamar Michaelis reports for CNN.

Senior Hamas negotiators are no longer in Doha, Qatari officials said yesterday, stressing that the group's office in the country is not permanently closed. David Gritten and Rushdi Abualouf report for BBC News.

An agreement to end the Israel-Hezbollah war is “within our grasp,” the Biden administration’s Israel and Lebanon envoy Amos Hochstein said yesterday, following talks in Lebanon. Kareem Chehayeb, Wafaa Shurafa, and Fatma Khaled report for AP News."

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Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"President Biden authorized the provision of antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine, two U.S. officials said, marking another major policy shift. Some human rights groups criticized the move, citing the risk to civilians. Michael Birnbaum and Alex Horton report for the Washington Post. 

The United States closed its embassy in Kyiv today, issuing a rare warning that Russia might launch “a significant air attack” and instructing its employees to shelter in place. Marc Santora reports for the New York Times. 

Ukraine’s military used U.S.-made ATACMS yesterday for the first time to strike into Russia, senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials confirmed. Marc Santora and Eric Schmitt report for the New York Times. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to discussing a Ukraine ceasefire deal with Trump but has ruled out any major territorial concessions and insists that Kyiv abandon ambitions to join NATO, sources say. Guy Faulconbridge reports for Reuters.

A crisis deflation hotline between the Kremlin and the White House is not currently being used, the Kremlin said today, amid the highest tensions between Russia and the West in decades. Lidia Kelly reports for Reuters.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine’s use of the ATACMS marked a “new phase of the Western war” against Russia and Moscow will react “accordingly”.

Russia’s air defence systems destroyed 44 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 20 over the northwestern Novgorod region and 24 over several central and western regions, according to Russia’s Defence Ministry.

Ukraine has insisted that it will “never submit” in defending against Russia’s invasion and warned that the world must offer no appeasement to Putin, who formally approved lowering the threshold for Russia’s use of nuclear weapons. The document lays out that Russia could consider using nuclear weapons if it was subject to a conventional missile assault on it supported by a nuclear power."

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The latest on Russia-Ukraine:

"Developing: Ukraine’s military used British-supplied cruise missiles to strike targets inside Russia for the first time, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing parts of the Storm Shadow missiles that were allegedly spotted in Russia’s Kursk region this week. If confirmed, the action follows Ukraine’s recent use of U.S.-provided long-range missiles to strike Russian targets in the Kursk region as well. 

 Worth noting: Few observers believe these long-range authorizations and strikes will alter the course of the war. In fact, as Jack Watling of the London-based Royal United Services Institute wrote on Tuesday, “Ukraine fired the majority of the UK’s Storm Shadow arsenal at Russian deep targets in 2023 yet failed to degrade Russian command and control to a level that the Ukrainian military could take advantage of.” What they could lead to, however, are “exploitable opportunities in Russia’s defenses,” said Watling. “The question is whether the Ukrainian military is capable of exploiting the gap created.”

 New: Ukraine’s president says if President-elect Trump cuts military funding to Kyiv, “I think we will lose” against Russia’s invasion troops. “We will fight. We have our production, but it's not enough to prevail,” he said in an interview with Trey Yingst of Fox that aired Tuesday. "

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Thursday Middle East update:

"Palestinians are “facing diminishing conditions for survival” with no aid delivered to the territory in 40 days, the U.N. warned, adding that all its delivery attempts this month had been denied or impeded. David Gritten reports for BBC News.

The United States yesterday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza because it was not contingent on the release of hostages. Farnaz Fassihi reports for the New York Times. 

The U.S. Senate yesterday blocked three resolutions that would have halted some U.S. arms transfers to Israel. Roughly a third of Senate Democrats supported blocking the sales, underscoring party divisions. Patricia Zengerle reports for Reuters; Jacob Magid reports for the Times of Israel. 

Hamas’ acting Gaza chief yesterday said there will be no hostages-for-prisoners swap deal with Israel unless the war ends. Nidal Al-Mughrabi reports for Reuters.

Biden administration envoy Amos Hochstein has arrived in Israel to continue ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah after reporting “additional progress” following talks in Beirut. Meanwhile, Israel’s foreign minister and defense ministers said yesterday that Israel will agree to a ceasefire only if it retains the freedom to strike Hezbollah if the deal is violated. Hugo Bachega reports for BBC News; Tia Goldberg and Kareem Chehayeb report for AP News. 

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem yesterday said that the ceasefire is now in Israel’s hands following the group’s review of a U.S.-drafted proposal. He rejected the notion that Israel could keep striking Hezbollah if the deal is violated after a truce is reached. Maya Gebeily reports for Reuters. "

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Friday Middle East update:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office yesterday condemned the International Criminal Court's decision to issue arrest warrants for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. In a rare show of unity, Israeli opposition politicians also condemned the warrants. Jonathan Saul reports for Reuters.

The Gaza war death toll has surpassed 44,000, the Hamas-run health ministry said yesterday, adding that over half of the verified fatalities were women and children. Wafaa Shurafa and Fatma Khaled report for AP News.

President Biden yesterday described the ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant as “outrageous.” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also said the United States “fundamentally rejects” the warrants. Sammy Westfall reports for the Washington Post; the Guardian reports.

Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Slovenia said they are prepared to comply with the ICC’s arrest warrant, while Germany is “examining” how to respond. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said he will invite Netanyahu to visit Budapest, calling the warrants a “defamation” of international law. The Guardian reports; Csongor Körömi reports for POLITICO.

Lebanon is seeking changes to a U.S. ceasefire proposal to expedite Israel’s withdrawal from the south and preserve both parties’ “right to self-defense,” a senior Lebanese official said yesterday. Laila Bassam reports for Reuters."

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Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday said the Kremlin fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine, which he warned U.S. air defense systems would be unable to stop, adding that it “could be used to attack any Ukrainian ally whose missiles are used to attack Russia.” Hanna Arhirova, Illia Novikov, Aamer Madhani, and Tara Copp report for AP News.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday said Russia’s use of an experimental ballistic missile is a “clear and severe escalation,” with Ukraine’s parliament reportedly postponing today’s sitting because of “potential security issues.” Pjotr Sauer and Dan Sabbagh report for the Guardian.

Russia is supplying North Korea with oil transfers in violation of U.N. sanctions, according to analysis by the U.K.'s Open Source Centre and BBC News. Jean Mackenzie reports.

Russia supplied air defense missiles to North Korea in exchange for troops to support its war against Ukraine, a South Korean official said today. Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung report for AP News.

An anonymous US official told the Reuters news agency that Russia notified Washington shortly before the missile strike, while another official said the US had briefed Kyiv and allies to prepare for the possible use of such weapons.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said air defence forces had shot down two British Storm Shadow cruise missiles fired by Ukraine, while Russia’s ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin has warned that Britain “is now directly involved in this war”.

Russia said a new US ballistic missile defence base in northern Poland will lead to an increase in the overall level of nuclear danger. Warsaw has said “threats” from Moscow only strengthen the argument for NATO defences."

lousubcap

Saturday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised more combat test-firing of an experimental hypersonic missile – the Oreshnik – which was launched at Ukraine on Thursday.

Ukraine is seeking updated air defence systems from its allies in response to the new threat from Russian hypersonic missiles, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Experts believe the Oreshnik can fly at 10 times the speed of sound and may be able to strike targets up to 5,500km (3,400 miles) away.

General Sergei Karakayev, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads.

China’s Foreign Ministry repeated calls for “calm” and “restraint” in the war after Russia confirmed it had fired a new ballistic missile at Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said in his nightly address that Russia’s escalation of the conflict was making a mockery of international calls for de-escalation. “From Russia, this is a mockery of the position of states such as China, states of the Global South, some leaders who call for restraint every time,” he said.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed the alarm felt by some over the latest development in Russia’s war on Ukraine. “The war in the east is entering a decisive phase. We all know this,” he said. “The events of the last several dozen hours show that the threat is very serious and real when it comes to global conflict.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the use of the hypersonic missile as a “terrible escalation, just like the use of North Korean soldiers, who are now being deployed and dying in this war for Putin’s imperial dream.”

NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks on Tuesday after Russia launched an attack with the experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile.

A source in the Ukrainian military said Russian forces are advancing by “200-300 metres a day” near the Ukrainian hub of Kurakhove in the eastern Donetsk region. The source described the situation as “worse” than around the town of Pokrovsk, also a key prize for Russia."

lousubcap

Sunday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine has lost more than 40 percent of the territory in Russia’s Kursk region that it rapidly seized in a surprise incursion in August as Russian forces have mounted waves of counterassaults, a senior Ukrainian military source told the Reuters news agency.

Russia’s air defence systems destroyed 34 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 27 over the Kursk region bordering Ukraine, Russia’s Defence Ministry has said on Telegram.

Putin claimed that the mass deployment of the Oreshnik intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) could rival the destructive power of nuclear weapons, highlighting its precision and strategic potential.

Western allies should not put any limits on support for Ukraine and “not set and express red lines”, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has told the BBC.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will discuss the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday during his visit to Ankara, a Turkish official has said.

Addressing the Third Food Security Summit in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed confidence that his country has a good chance of ending the war with Russia by 2025, The Kyiv Independent has reported."