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

lousubcap

Monday Middle East update:

"The Israeli military issued fresh evacuation orders yesterday in areas of an eastern Gaza City suburb, setting off a new wave of displacement. Israeli airstrikes on central Gaza have killed at least 10 Palestinians since Saturday night, health officials said. Nidal Al-Mughrabi reports for Reuters.

A senior Israeli minister yesterday said Israel will stay in Gaza “for years.”Jason Burke and William Christou report for the Guardian.

The Biden administration warned Israel that its decision to stop issuing administrative detention orders against West Bank Israeli settlers suspected of attacking Palestinians could increase violence in the territory. Israel’s Defense Ministry said the decision was an “internal step taken out of a commitment to democratic principles.” Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

Israel and Lebanon are nearing a ceasefire agreement to end the Israel-Hezbollah war, according to Israeli and U.S. officials. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.Iran is preparing to “respond” to Israel, a senior adviser to the country's supreme leader said in an interview published yesterday. Elwely Elwelly reports for Reuters."

lousubcap

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Russia will continue to test and start mass-producing the hypersonic ballistic missile launched at Ukraine on Thursday. Katharina Krebs, Darya Tarasova, and Christian Edwards report for CNN.

Trump is considering selecting ex-intelligence chief Richard Grenell to be a special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine war, sources say. Gram Slattery, Nathan Layne, and Humeyra Pamuk report for Reuters.

Russia’s air defence systems destroyed seven Ukrainian missiles overnight over the Kursk region, Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov wrote on his Telegram channel.

Ukraine’s air defences had earlier downed 50 of 73 Russian drones launched on various targets, the Ukrainian military said."

lousubcap

Russia-Ukraine additional reading: 

Russia’s invasion forces are “advancing at a significantly quicker rate than they did in the entirety of 2023,” especially around Vuhledar and Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk Oblast, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War reported in their Sunday afternoon assessment.  In perspective: Russian forces “gained at least 1,103 square kilometers” since September 1—compared to just 387 square kilometers in all of 2023, ISW writes.

Developing: Russia’s military may be trying to split Ukraine into at least three different parts, according to an alleged Russian document reviewed by Ukrainian intelligence. Those three parts, according to ISW, include: “one acknowledging the full Russian annexation of occupied Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson oblasts and occupied Crimea”;  “another establishing a pro-Russian puppet state centered in Kyiv under Russian military occupation”;  “and a third part designating Ukraine's western regions as ‘disputed territories’ to be divided among Ukraine's westernmost neighboring countries.”

lousubcap

Inside your body, aging unfolds at remarkably different rates

Gretchen Reynolds

https://www.yahoo.com/news/inside-body-aging-unfolds-remarkably-143534490.html?utm_
Yep-the non-linear deal is real for me and in deference to this thread will defer any further discussion...

lousubcap

Tuesday Middle East update:

"Israel and Lebanon have reached a ceasefire agreement to end the Israel-Hezbollah war, a senior U.S. official said yesterday. According to senior Lebanese sources, Biden and France’s Emmanuel Macron are expected to announce a ceasefire within 36 hours. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Laila Bassam reports for Reuters.

The Israeli cabinet is expected to agree to a ceasefire deal in Lebanon today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson told CNN, with sources saying Netanyahu had approved the plan “in principle.” Jeremy Diamond reports.

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 31 people across Lebanon yesterday, including in areas not subjected to evacuation warnings. Sally Abou Aljoud, Josef Federman, and Sam Metz report for AP News.

The Israeli military said it carried out strikes on the Syria-Lebanon border yesterday evening, targeting “transit routes” used by Iran to “transfer weapons” to Hezbollah. Syrian state media said the strikes injured at least two people and damaged several bridges. BBC News reports; Jaidaa Taha reports for Reuters.

A winter storm flooded the tent encampments of displaced Palestinians across Gaza yesterday, with Hamas-run Government Media Office reporting some 10,000 tents were either washed away or damaged. Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Mohammed Salem report for Reuters. 

Violent thefts by criminal gangs are becoming the main obstacle to distributing supplies in southern Gaza amid severe food shortages, aid workers and local residents say. Yolande Knell and Rushdi Abualouf report for BBC News.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei yesterday called for “death sentences, not arrest warrants” to be issued for Israeli leaders, commenting on the International Criminal Court’s recent arrest warrants. Parisa Hafezi and Elwely Elwelly report for Reuters."

lousubcap

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia staged its largest-ever drone attack on Ukraine overnight, Ukrainian officials said today, adding that the strikes damaged residential buildings in the Kyiv region and hit critical infrastructure. Valentyn Ogirenko reports for Reuters. 

Russian forces are advancing in Ukraine at the fastest rate since the start of the 2022 invasion, capturing almost 235 square kilometers (91 square miles) in Ukraine over the past week, according to analysts and war bloggers. Guy Faulconbridge and Lidia Kelly report for Reuters.

North Korea is expanding a key weapons manufacturing complex used to assemble a type of short-range missile used by Russia in Ukraine, U.S.-based researchers concluded. Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, and Josh Smith report for Reuters.

Human rights groups are fiercely criticizing Biden’s decision to give Ukraine anti-personnel landmines, pointing to the weapons “special and long-term dangers.” Robbie Gramer, Nahal Toosi, and Jack Detsch report for POLITICO."

lousubcap

Wednesday Middle East Update:

"Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire yesterday, which took effect today at 4am local time, U.S., Israeli, and French officials said. According to President Biden, the deal, which is “designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities,” will see Hezbollah retreat north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops over a 60-day period, with the Lebanese military and U.N. peacekeepers redeploying to secure the region. Rebecca Tan, Mohamad El Chamaa, Abbie Cheeseman, Shira Rubin, and Karen DeYoung report for Washington Post.

The agreed ceasefire deal stipulates that only "official military and security forces" in Lebanon are authorized to carry arms in the country. Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel “maintains full freedom of military action” to respond to Hezbollah, it is not clear if the agreement explicitly allows Israel to strike if it believes the group has violated the agreement. Rebecca Tan, Mohamad El Chamaa, Abbie Cheeseman, Shira Rubin, and Karen DeYoung report for Washington Post; Laila Bassam and Maya Gebeily report for Reuters. 

Hours after the ceasefire came into effect, displaced families began returning to southern and eastern Lebanon, the country’s state-run news agency said. Both the Lebanese and Israeli militaries warned civilians against immediately returning to southern areas where Israeli soldiers are still deployed. Euan Ward reports for the New York Times. 

The United States will work with Lebanon’s army to ensure compliance with the ceasefire but will not deploy U.S. combat troops in the area, a senior U.S. official said yesterday. Humeyra Pamuk, Eric Beech, Jeff Mason, and David Brunnstrom report for Reuters. 

Hezbollah will remain active after its war with Israel ends, a senior Hezbollah official who is also a member of Lebanon's parliament said yesterday. Laila Bassam reports for Reuters.Iran’s government welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon this morning and called for a similar deal in Gaza with Hamas. Andrés R. Martínez reports for the New York Times.

A Hamas official today said the group "appreciates" Lebanon's right to reach an agreement that protects its people and hopes for a Gaza ceasefire deal. Nidal Al-Mughrabi reports for Reuters.

Biden yesterday said the Lebanon ceasefire creates an opportunity for a broader Middle East peace deal and that his administration “will make another push” to “reach a ceasefire in Gaza.” Washington also remains ready to conclude a deal with Saudi Arabia on normalizing Saudi-Israeli relations, Biden said. Yasmeen Abutaleb reports for the Washington Post; Jeff Mason reports for Reuters."

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraone update:

"Russia’s Defense Ministry yesterday alleged that Ukraine had struck its territory again with U.S.-supplied missiles, adding that Moscow is preparing “retaliatory actions.” The ministry also said the attacks partly succeeded in damaging military infrastructure and wounding some soldiers, an unusual admission that “could serve as a pretext for strong retaliation.” Constant Méheut reports for the New York Times. 

Russia is still working on deploying its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, which is part of its strategic nuclear arsenal, the country’s state news agency said today. Reuters reports. 

The experimental ballistic missile Russia fired at Ukraine last week carried multiple warheads but no explosives and caused minimal damage, according to Ukrainian government sources. Tom Balmforth and Gerry Doyle report for Reuters.

Russia conducted its largest ever drone attack on Ukraine overnight, damaging the grid in Ternopil and cutting power to about 70 percent of the region, as well as damaging residential buildings in the Kyiv region, Ukrainian officials said.

Of 188 drones used overnight, Ukraine shot down 76 and lost track of 96.

Russia’s air defence systems destroyed 39 Ukrainian drones overnight over seven regions, the Russian Defence Ministry said."

lousubcap

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

Russia is pressing ahead to put its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile – part of its strategic nuclear arsenal – on combat duty, according to state-run news agency TASS.

Ukraine’s air defences downed 36 of 89 Russian drones launched in attacks overnight, while Russian air defence systems destroyed 22 Ukrainian drones overnight, both sides reported.

Ukraine should consider lowering the age of military service for its soldiers to 18 from 25, an anonymous senior United States administration official has said, adding that Kyiv is not mobilising or training enough new soldiers to replace those lost on the battlefield.

Donald Trump has tapped Keith Kellogg, a retired US lieutenant general who presented him with a plan to end the war in Ukraine, to serve as a special envoy for the conflict, the president-elect has announced. Kellogg was chief of staff for the White House National Security Council during Trump’s 2017-2021 term and national security adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence.

Self add:
(I hope he has higher standards than Mike Flynn...)

lousubcap

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia unleashed its second major attack this month on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, triggering severe power cuts that affected at least one million people across three western regions. The attacks cut power to 523,000 consumers in the Lviv region, 215,000 in the Volyn region and 280,000 in the Rivne region, regional governors reported.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia used 91 missiles and 97 drones in the attack, with 12 hitting their targets, most of which were energy and fuel facilities.

President Vladimir Putin said Moscow had struck in response to Ukraine’s attacks on Russian territory with US medium-range ATACMS missiles. He warned future targets could include “decision-making centres” in Kyiv using its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile – which Moscow claims is incapable of being intercepted.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of a “despicable escalation”, saying it had used cruise missiles with cluster munitions in the attack. Zelenskyy said he was speaking to Western leaders – including NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz – to forge a response to the Russian attempt to “drag out the war”.

US President Joe Biden labelled Moscow’s attack “outrageous”, saying it serves as “another reminder of the urgency and importance of supporting the Ukrainian people in their defence against Russian aggression”.

Russian air defences destroyed or downed 30 Ukrainian drones in the southern Rostov region early on Friday, Regional Governor Yuri Slyusar said.

Putin said during a news conference in Kazakhstan that Russia would use “precisely all means of destruction available” against Ukraine if Kyiv were to acquire nuclear arms, adding that he would be “watching their every move”.

Putin added that there were no conditions to start talks with Ukraine on a possible peace settlement, but that terms he set out in June, including Kyiv dropping its NATO ambitions, remained unchanged."

lousubcap

And this Middle East snippet:
 “Saudi Arabia abandons pursuit of US defence treaty over Israel stalemate,” by Reuters’ Samia Nakhoul and Pesha Magid: “[W]ith public anger in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East at fever pitch over Israel's military actions in Gaza, Crown Prince MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN has again made recognition of Israel conditional on it taking concrete steps to create a Palestinian state, two Saudi and three Western sources said.”

lousubcap

Saturday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine has lost about 40 percent of the territory it captured in Russia’s Kursk region in a surprise incursion in August, amid intensifying Russian counter-assaults.

Military analysts say Ukraine’s military is experiencing manpower shortages, making it harder to rotate troops out of the more than 1,000km (620 miles) of front line or to build up reserve forces.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has reportedly urged NATO counterparts to issue an invitation to Kyiv to join the Western military alliance at a meeting in Brussels next week.

Zelenskyy said in an interview broadcast on Friday that offering Ukraine NATO membership while allowing Russia to keep for the moment territory it had captured could be a solution to end the “hot stage” of the 33-month-old war.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Russia-Ukraine war “has shown us the weakness of the rules-based international system”.

Outgoing European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the situation in Ukraine as “worsening” and said he is pessimistic that United States President-elect Donald Trump will improve it. Borrell said Ukraine is able to defend itself only as long as its allies support it."

lousubcap

Monday Middle East update:

"Israel’s Air Force said it struck alleged Hezbollah weapons smuggling sites near the Lebanon-Syria border crossing Saturday, claiming Hezbollah violated the recent U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement. Filip Timotija reports for The Hill.

Israel on Saturday said it had killed a World Central Kitchen (WCK) worker it accused of participating in Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks. A spokesperson for WCK said an Israeli strike on a vehicle killed three of its contractors, adding, “To the best of our knowledge, no WCK team members are affiliated with Hamas.” Tim Balk reports for the New York Times.

In a fresh ceasefire push, Egypt is in talks with Israel to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Gaza, Arab negotiators say. Summer Said and Omar Abdel-Baqui report for the Wall Street Journal.

Hamas released a video Saturday with proof of life from U.S. citizen and hostage Edan Alexander. The footage, which an Israeli official said is a positive sign from Hamas, calls on Trump to negotiate for Alexander’s release. Separately, the IDF today confirmed the death of the missing U.S.-Israeli soldier, Omer Maxim Neutra. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Jordana Miller reports for ABC News."

lousubcap

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia’s air defence systems destroyed 15 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions overnight, the RIA state news agency reported citing Russia’s Ministry of Defence.

The Russian Defence Ministry said its forces had gained control over two settlements, Illinka and Petrivka, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

The ministry also said its air defence shot down 55 Ukrainian drones in the past 24 hours.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged additional military support worth 650 million euros ($680 million) as he made a surprise visit to war-torn Ukraine, to reaffirm Berlin’s support for Kyiv in its fight against Russia.

Zelenskyy called on the outgoing United States President Joe Biden to help convince NATO members to invite Ukraine to join the alliance.

In Kyiv, Zelenskyy met European Council President Antonio Costa for talks and praised his decision to visit Ukraine immediately after starting his job. He told Costa and the European Union’s new head of diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, that Ukraine needs security guarantees from NATO and more weapons to defend itself before any talks with Russia.

The US is not considering returning to Ukraine the nuclear weapons it gave up after the Soviet Union collapsed, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, following reports that some unidentified Western officials had suggested to Biden to do just that before he leaves office. (Personal Edit-such a move would have been beyond stupid!)

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has accused China of providing Russia with weapons for its war against Ukraine and threatening peace in Europe and the Asia Pacific. Baerbock is scheduled to visit Beijing next week for a meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi."

Edit for this regarding Baltic undersea cables:

A Chinese commercial vessel and its crew is suspected of deliberately dragging an anchor for 100 miles to sever two critical data cables along the Baltic seabed. NATO warships have been surrounding the Chinese bulk carrier in international waters over the past week. Bojan Pancevski reports for the Wall Street Journal.

Botch

Not a lot has been said of this in the MSM, only by some independents and PBS.  But Syria's Butcher al assad is probably sweating bullets right now, rebel groups seem to be taking back their country.  

I lived to see the killing/assassination/death of bin laden, Libya's khadaffi (pick your own spelling), and saddam hussain; if I could live long enough to see just four more vermin (al assad, un, trump, and putin) taken out, I could die a happy guy.  

fishlessman

Wow

lousubcap

Time for the Syrian rebel deal to get its own post:
Today:

Russia and Iran pledged “unconditional support” for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad yesterday, with Syrian state media reporting that Russian and Syrian fighter jets struck targets in rebel-controlled territory. The strikes killed at least 18 people in Idlib in northern Syria, according to local opposition-run civil defense forces. Vivian Yee reports for the New York Times; Ruth Michaelson reports for the Guardian. 

Hundreds of Iran-backed Iraqi militia fighters crossed into Syria yesterday to help the government fend off rebels who seized Aleppo last week, Syrian and Lebanese sources said, adding that Lebanon’s Hezbollah does not currently plan to join the fight. Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Maya Gebeily report for Reuters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed “the escalating situation” in Syria with President Masoud Pezeshkian, the Kremlin said yesterday. Meanwhile, Syria’s opposition leader told Reutersyesterday the Lebanon truce “opened the door” to the rebel offensive in Aleppo. Jonathan Spicer reports. 

The United States and the United Arab Emirates discussed lifting sanctions on Assad if he distances himself from Iran and cuts off Hezbollah weapons routes, sources say. The discussions took place before the start of the current rebel offensive in Aleppo. Maya Gebeily, Parisa Hafezi, and Alexander Cornwell report for Reuters.

lousubcap

Tuesday Middle East update:

"Israel and Hezbollah blamed each other for violating the ceasefire while maintaining they are committed to the agreement after exchanging fire late yesterday. Hezbollah said it fired rockets in a “warning defensive response” to “repeated” ceasefire violations. Israel responded with a round of airstrikes, which killed 11 people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Annabelle Timsit and Abbie Cheeseman report for the Washington Post; Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

The Biden administration is worried the Lebanon ceasefire could unravel, with top U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein expressing concern about Israel’s ongoing strikes to Israeli officials over the weekend. Separately, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller yesterday said the United States is “engaging” in a mechanism “to investigate and address reports of violations” of the truce. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Maya Gebeily and Adam Makary report for Reuters.

The U.N. aid agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) is suspending aid delivery through the main crossing into Gaza because of “breakdown in law and order,” the agency’s head said in a statement on Sunday, blaming Israel for failing to provide a safe passage route. Liam Stack reports for the New York Times.

The Israeli military has expanded its presence in central Gaza in recent months, fortifying military bases and demolishing Palestinian buildings, according to Israeli officials and a New York Times analysis. The move suggests Israel “may be preparing to exert long-term control over the area.” Aaron Boxerman, Aric Toler, Riley Mellen, and Patrick Kingsley report. "

Ike

Was starting to worry about you.  Thought you may have hi-jacked a sub and went over there and told everyone "don't make me stop this sub!"

lousubcap

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine’s Air Force said that Russia launched 110 drones to attack the country overnight. Of 110 drones, the Air Force shot down 52, while at least 50 were “lost”, it said.

Russia’s air defence systems destroyed 15 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions overnight, state news reported, citing the country’s Ministry of Defence.

NATO is highly unlikely to heed Ukraine’s call for a membership invitation at a meeting of the bloc set to be held on Tuesday, Reuters reported, citing senior NATO diplomats. In a letter to his NATO counterparts ahead of the meeting, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said an invitation would remove one of Russia’s main arguments for waging its war – preventing Ukraine from joining the alliance.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, held a meeting in which they discussed Russia’s use of new ballistic missiles, preparations for the next meeting of arms donors and plans for Washington’s military aid next year.

The United States will send Ukraine $725m of missiles, ammunition, antipersonnel mines and other weapons, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed, as President Joe Biden’s outgoing administration seeks to bolster Kyiv before leaving office in January.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that stepping up support for Ukraine is essential to put Kyiv in a strong position for peace talks with Russia, as he conceded there could be a negotiated end to the war."