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

lousubcap

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:
"Fatal explosions rocked Ukraine’s southern port city of Odessa yesterday as President Volodymr Zelenskyy was meeting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Ukraine’s navy said five people were killed and Zelenskyy said the strike had left an unspecified number of people “dead and wounded.” The BBC reports that no members of either delegation were injured. Zelenskyy accused Russia of “not caring who they target,” saying Moscow had “either gone crazy or they don’t control what their terrorist army is doing.” In a statement, Russia’s defense ministry said, “The goal has been achieved. The target has been hit.” George Wright reports for BBC News.

Lithuanian intelligence agencies reported today that Russia has enough resources to fight Ukraine at the current intensity for at least two more years, owing to high oil prices, sanctions evasion, and state investment. “Moscow is able to evaluate the lessons learned and improve its combat effectiveness,” the agencies added in the report that was embargoed for release today. Andrius Sytas reports for Reuters."

lousubcap

Friday Israel-Hamas update:

"Hamas negotiators left Cairo yesterday without a breakthrough in talks over a ceasefire in Gaza, the group said, as hopes for an imminent ceasefire ahead of Ramadan continued to dim. U.S. officials have said that Israel has “more or less” accepted the deal, while a Hamas official said the negotiations had come to a “standstill,” blaming Israel for “clearly undermining any horizon for an agreement.” Aaron Boxerman reports for the New York Times.

Israel has “prepared a new land crossing directly into northern Gaza,” a senior U.S. administration official said yesterday, following weeks of U.S. pressure as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens. “This third crossing will allow for aid to flow directly to the population in northern Gaza that is in dire need of assistance,” the official said, adding that “as the UN confirmed today, we expect the first deliveries to transit this crossing over the coming weeks, starting with a pilot and then ramping up.” Jennifer Hansler reports for CNN.

President Biden reaffirmed Israel’s “right to go after Hamas” following the Oct. 7 attacks but said that Israel has a “fundamental responsibility” to protect civilians in Gaza. Speaking yesterday at the State of Union address, Biden reiterated U.S. support for a two-state solution, saying “no other path” would guarantee “Israel’s security and democracy” and that “Palestinians can live with peace and dignity.” Biden added, “This war has taken a greater toll on innocent civilians than all previous wars in Gaza combined.” CNNreports.

The U.S. military will build a port offshore of Gaza to deliver more humanitarian aid into the enclave by sea, President Biden announced yesterday. The temporary port will increase humanitarian assistance by “hundreds of additional truckloads” per day, officials say. Biden said the port will involve a temporary pier to transport supplies from the sea to the shore, adding that Israel “must do its part” by allowing more aid to enter. It is not clear who will build the causeway or secure the aid on land, leaving crucial questions unanswered about how the operation will succeed. George Wright and Tom Bateman report for BBC News."

lousubcap

Fairly quiet on the Red Sea -Houthis front:
U.S. forces shot down four anti-ship cruise missiles and one drone over Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen yesterday, the U.S. Central Command said, adding that the strikes were taken in “self-defense.”

lousubcap

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine’s air defense shot down 33 out of 37 Russian drones launched in an overnight attack that damaged an infrastructure facility in the southern Odessa region,Ukrainian officials said today. Reuters reports.

Britain yesterday announced that it would provide 10,000 drones to arm Ukraine in its fight against Russia. The announcement, made by British Defense Secretary Grant Schapps during a visit with President Volodymr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, includes a complete investment package of £325 million.

A new poll conducted by the Associated Press showed few Americans want the country to take a more active role in solving the world’s problems, including in Ukraine where the latest round of funding is tied up in Congress. The poll showed only about a quarter think the US should take a more active role. About one-third say its current role is about right."

lousubcap

Frictionless conduit here but worth a quick read:

“After over 200 years of non-alignment, Sweden now enjoys the protection granted under Article 5, the ultimate guarantee of Allies’ freedom and security,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said following the news Thursday from Brussels. “Sweden brings with it capable armed forces and a first-class defense industry,” he said, and added, “Sweden’s accession makes NATO stronger, Sweden safer, and the whole alliance more secure.” 

 “Our shared democratic values—and our willingness to stand up for them—is what makes NATO the greatest military alliance in the history of the world,” said U.S. President Joe Biden in a statement Thursday. “It is what draws nations to our cause. It is what underpins our unity. And together with our newest Ally Sweden—NATO will continue to stand for freedom and democracy for generations to come,” he said.

 “Sweden's decision is another reminder that Putin's war is not the result of NATO enlargement, it is the cause of NATO enlargement,” said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in his own statement Thursday. “Together, we will continue the Alliance’s urgent, vital work to defend every inch of NATO territory, strengthen Euro-Atlantic security, and build a safer world,” Austin said. 

 “Thank you all allies for welcoming us as the 32nd member” of NATO, said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, writing Thursday on social media. “We will strive for unity, solidarity and burden-sharing, and will fully adhere to the Washington Treaty values: freedom, democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law,” he said.

 A few hours later, Kristersson took a seat in the U.S. Capitol, a guest of honor for Thursday evening’s State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress. “With Sweden as a NATO Ally, our already close bilateral bonds will grow even stronger,” Kristersson said afterward in a note of thanks. 

 Biden opened his fourth SOTU with a dire warning about the future of Europe and a plea to Congress to pass a supplemental aid package for Ukraine."

 

lousubcap

Monday Israel-Hamas update:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday he intends to press ahead with an offensive in Rafah, the region where around half of Gaza’s 2.3 million displaced civilian population are seeking refuge. “We’ll go there. We’re not going to leave them. You know, I have a red line. You know what the red line is? That October 7 doesn’t happen again,” Netanyahu said, referencing President Biden’s ‘red line’ comments over a prospective Rafah invasion. “We’ve destroyed three-quarters of Hamas’ fighting terrorism battalions. And we’re close to finishing the last part in warfare,” Netanyahu said, adding that fighting would not “take more than two months.” He also directly addressed criticism from Biden, who has said that the Israeli leader is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel.” Netanyahu said he did not know “exactly what the president meant” and that the Israeli people support his rejection of a Palestinian state. Paul Ronzheimer and Carlo Martuscelli report for POLITICO.

Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh blamed Israel for the collapse of ceasefire talks ahead of Ramadan, saying in a televised address yesterday, “We don’t want an agreement that doesn’t end the war on Gaza.” Haniyeh said Israel had not committed to end the fighting and withdrawing troops from Gaza. Haniyeh added that Hamas is open to continuing negotiations on “any formulas that will end this aggression.” Rachel Pannett reports for the Washington Post."

lousubcap

Red Sea and the Houthis Monday update:
"The United States, France, and Britain downed dozens of drones in the Red Sea on Saturday night after the Iran-backed Houthis targeted a bulk carrier and U.S. destroyers in the region, the U.S. military said in a statement. Reuters reports."

lousubcap

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:
Three people were killed in Russian shelling and drone attacks on towns in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, while at least a dozen people were injured in a Russian missile attack in the early hours of Sunday morning on the town of Myrnohrad, about 40km (25 miles) from the front line in Donetsk.

Kyiv said Russia launched 39 Iranian-made Shahed attack drones across central and southern regions, including the Kyiv region. The Air Force said 35 were shot down over 10 regions. It did not say whether there was any damage.

St Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport was closed briefly after a Ukrainian drone was detected in the neighbouring Leningrad region. The Russian Defence Ministry said the drone was shot down. There were no reports of damage or casualties.

Ukraine rejected Pope Francis’s call to “raise the white flag” and hold negotiations with Russia saying that Kyiv will “never” surrender. “Our flag is a yellow and blue one. This is the flag by which we live, die, and prevail. We shall never raise any other flags,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on social media.

lousubcap

Tuesday Israel-Hamas update:

"Israel attacked an underground space in central Gaza used by Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of Hamas’s military wing, an Israeli military spokesperson said yesterday, adding that investigators were still analyzing the outcome of the strike. A spokesperson for the Israeli military emphasized that Israel had not finished verifying the results of the attack by Israeli warplanes, which occurred overnight between Saturday and Sunday, and said the strike hit a location previously used by Issa and another senior Hamas military official responsible for the group’s weapons. Hamas has not commented at the time of writing, although if Issa were killed in the strike, he would be the highest-ranking Hamas commander to have been killed since the war erupted. Adam Rasgon reports for the New York Times.

An Israeli offensive into Rafah is not imminent, multiple Israeli officials said yesterday. The officials added that the Israeli military has yet to build up the forces needed to proceed with a Rafah offensive, and plans are yet to be finalized for a civilian evacuation of the city. Jeremy Diamond and Richard Allen Greene report for CNN.

A new American intelligence assessment released yesterday raised doubts over whether Netanyahu could stay in power, claiming that “distrust of Netanyahu’s ability to rule has deepened and broadened across the public from its already high levels before the war, and we expect large protests demanding his resignation and new elections.” The report predicted that Israel would struggle to achieve its goal of “destroying Hamas,” adding that “Israel probably will face lingering armed resistance from Hamas for years to come, and the military will struggle to neutralize Hamas’s underground infrastructure, which allows insurgents to hide, regain strength and surprise Israeli forces.” Julian E. Barnes reports for the New York Times."

lousubcap

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia is producing nearly three times more artillery shells than the United States and Europe for Ukraine, according to NATO intelligence estimates of Russian defense production shared with CNN, as well as sources familiar with Western efforts to arm Ukraine. “What we are in now is a production war,” a senior NATO official said, adding that Russia is running artillery factories “24/7.” 

Former President Trump will not fund Ukraine’s fight against Russia if he is reelected as U.S. president, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said. “He will not give a penny in the Ukraine-Russia war. That is why the war will end,” Orban, a long-term ally of Trump, said after meeting with him in Florida last week. Orban added that Trump had “pretty detailed plans” on how to end the Russia-Ukraine war, but did not elaborate. Trump has previously pledged to end the war “within 24 hours” if elected. Jaroslav Lukiv reports for BBC News.

Ukraine has summoned the Vatican’s envoy after the Pope said the country should “have the courage to raise the white flag” against Russia. In a statement about the summoning of Archbishop Kulbokas, Ukraine’s foreign ministry “noted that instead of appeals that legalize the right of the strong and encourage them [Russia] to further disregard the norms of international law, the head of the Holy See would be expected to send signals to the world community about the need to immediately join forces to ensure the victory of good over evil, as well as appeals to the attacker, not to the victim.” Kathryn Armstrong reports for BBC News.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the situation along the front line in the east was “much better” and that Ukraine had “recovered” its strategic position with Russian troops no longer advancing after their capture last month of the eastern city of Avdiivka.

Ukraine said its air defences shot down 15 out of 25 Russian drones launched in an overnight attack on the southern Odesa region but an infrastructure facility and some commercial buildings were hit. Ten of the Shahed drones were destroyed in the skies above the Black Sea port of Odesa."

lousubcap

Tuesday Red Sea-Houthis update:
"Yemen’s Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles at a Liberian-flagged container ship in the Red Sea but did not hit the vessel or cause injuries, U.S. Central Command said yesterday. Afterwards, the United States conducted “six self-defense strikes destroying an unmanned underwater vessel and 18 anti-ship missiles” at weapons presenting “an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region,” it added. "

Gulfcoastguy

I'm glad that I'm not catholic.

lousubcap

Wednesday Israel-Hamas update:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated plans for an offensive in Rafah at a conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee yesterday, saying, “we must destroy the remaining Hamas battalions in Rafah. If not, Hamas will regroup, rearm and reconquer Gaza and then we’re back to square one. And that’s an intolerable threat that we cannot accept. We will finish the job in Rafah while enabling the civilian population to get out of harm’s way. We’ve taken measures to minimize civilian casualties that no other army has taken in history.” Netanyahu added, “Some people would make you believe that the people of Israel are disunited … The truth of the matter is that the people of Israel overwhelmingly support the policies set forth by myself and my government.”

A convoy of six World Food Program (WFP) trucks were allowed to directly enter northern Gaza from Israel yesterday, the first time Israel had allowed aid trucks to use the route since the start of the war. It follows the Israeli military refusing entry to a WFP convoy last week trying to bring 200 tons of aid from central Gaza to the north, according to the U.N. agency. The Israeli military said the new route was part of a pilot program and comes amid growing pressure for Israel to allow more aid into the enclave. Lars Dolder and Adam Rasgon report for the New York Times.

The White House denied yesterday that President Biden had set any “red lines” for Israel in its military campaign in Gaza but warned again that Israel should not attack Rafah. “The president didn’t make any declarations or pronouncements or announcements,” said Jake Sullivan, the president’s national security adviser, referring to an interview Biden gave over the weekend in which he was asked whether he had a “red line” Israel should not cross. “We’re not going to engage in hypotheticals about what comes down the line, and the reports that purport to describe the president’s thinking are uninformed speculation,” Sullivan said. Peter Baker and Alan Yuhas report for the New York Times.

The United States carried out another airdrop of aid into Gaza with the assistance of the Royal Jordanian Air Force yesterday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said. The Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh added that five airdrops were completed yesterday, including one with aid from Egypt and another from Belgium.

Prospects for a potential ceasefire and prisoner-hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas remained dim yesterday, with an official from Qatar — which has played a key mediating role in the talks —  saying the two sides were “not near a deal.” “We are not near a deal, meaning that we are not seeing both sides converging on language that can resolve the current disagreements,” Majed al-Ansari said, without elaborating. Yesterday, a senior Hamas official, Mahmoud Mardawi, said his group was holding firm to its demands. “Hamas’s main demands have been known from the beginning and there is no change to them: a complete and total ceasefire, a withdrawal of the occupation army, the return of displaced people to their homes and the provision of aid to our people,” Mardawi said. Anushka Patil and Adam Rasgon report for the New York Times."

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The Biden administration announced yesterday a new $300 million military assistance package for Ukraine, made possible by cost savings from Defense Department contracts. Sullivan said at a press briefing, “This ammunition will keep Ukraine’s guns firing for a period, but only a short period. It is nowhere near enough to meet Ukraine’s battlefield needs, and it will not prevent Ukraine from running out of ammunition in the weeks to come.” He added there is still a “critical need” for Congress to pass the national security supplemental package. Ivana Saric reports for Axios.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is ready to use nuclear weapons if there is a threat to the Russian state but “there has never been such a need.” Putin also warned that if U.S. troops were deployed to Ukraine, Russia would treat them as interventionists. “Apart from Biden, there are enough other experts in the sphere of Russian-American relations and strategic restraint. So I don’t think that everything is going to go head-on here, but we are ready for it,” Putin said. “Weapons exist in order to use them. We have our own principles,” he added. Josh Pennington and Helen Regan report for CNN.

Groups of pro-Ukraine Russian volunteer fighters opposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin said they carried out cross-border raids from Ukraine into Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions. Russia’s Defence Ministry said it thwarted seven attacks and that some 234 fighters were killed.

Moscow said it brought down 25 Ukrainian drones over eight regions that were part of a sweeping attack on energy facilities including Russia’s second-biggest oil refinery.

Russia claimed to have taken control of the village of Nevelske in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. Ukraine’s general staff said Russian attacks in the area had been repelled."

lousubcap

Thursday Israel-Hamas update:

"The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said yesterday that at least one of its staff members was killed and 22 others injured when Israeli forces struck one of its food distribution centers in Rafah, southern Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged the strike, saying it had targeted and killed Hamas commander, Muhammad Abu Hasna. The IDF said Hasna was “involved in taking control of humanitarian aid and distributing it to Hamas terrorists.” Hamas confirmed the death of Hasna and said he was the deputy head of police operations in Rafah. Kareem Fahim, John Hudson, and Lior Soroka report for the Washington Post.

The strike on the UNRWA center yesterday killed five Palestinians, the Hamas-run health ministry said. 

Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he visited northern Gaza yesterday amid mounting pressure from allies to increase aid to that part of the enclave. Gallant viewed preparation work for the newly-announced maritime corridor during his visit and called “the humanitarian element” of getting aid into Gaza a “central issue,” according to a statement from the defense ministry. Cassandra Vinograd reports for the New York Times.

The United States conducted the ninth airdrop of humanitarian aid into northern Gaza yesterday. The forces airdropped “over 35,712 US meal equivalents and 28,800 bottles of water into Northern Gaza, an area of great need, allowing for civilian access to the critical aid,” CENTCOM said. Haley Britzky reports for CNN."

lousubcap

Red Sea-Hpouthis update:
"U.S. forces destroyed four drones and one surface-to-air missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen yesterday, U.S. Central Command said. The strike on the Houthis came after the group fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen into the Gulf of Aden, CENTCOM said. The missile did not hit any ships and no injuries were reported."

lousubcap

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:
"Ukraine has launched drone attacks on at least three oil refineries deep inside Russia, with a Ukrainian defense source saying that Kyiv is “implementing a well-planned strategy to decrease Russian economic potential.” The source added that the trio of facilities are among Russia’s largest refineries, and a representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine said yesterday a fourth oil refinery had also been hit. Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry said yesterday its air defenses destroyed 58 Ukrainian drones overnight, including some that traveled as far as the Leningrad region which borders Finland. Rob Picheta, Victoria Butenko, Martin Goillandeau, Josh Pennington, Olga Voitovych, and Anna Chernova report for CNN.

Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskii, Ukraine’s army chief, said the situation on the eastern front was “difficult” and that Russian forces continued to conduct offensive operations. He said Russian activity on the southern front had “decreased significantly”.

Ukraine-based anti-Putin Russian paramilitaries supporting Kyiv urged civilians to flee Belgorod and Kursk, threatening large-scale attacks on military targets in the Russian border cities."

lousubcap

Friday Israel-Hamas update:

"Hamas has presented a ceasefire proposal to mediators and the United States that includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, 100 of whom are serving life sentences, according to a proposal seen by Reuters. Hamas said the initial release of Israelis would include women, children, elderly, and ill hostages in exchange for the release of 700-1,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, according to the proposal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said yesterday that the new deal was still based on “unrealistic demands,” adding that an update on the matter would be handed to the war cabinet and extended security cabinet today. 

At least 20 people were killed and more than 100 injured while waiting for food aid in Gaza City last night, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. A statement from the ministry blamed Israeli forces for a “targeted” attack against “a gathering of civilians waiting for humanitarian aid.” The Israeli military has denied the accusation but said it would “assess the incident with the thoroughness that it deserves.” The New York Times reports. 

A private aid ship that departed from Cyprus on Tuesday arrived off the coast of Gaza today, towing a barge containing flour, rice, and protein. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said yesterday in a speech on the Senate floor that Netanyahu is a major obstacle to peace in the Middle East and called for new leadership in Israel, amounting to the sharpest critique yet from a senior U.S. elected official. Schumer said that while Netanyahu’s “highest priority is the security of Israel,” he “has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows,” adding that “Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah.” “At this critical juncture,” he said, “I believe a new election is the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel.” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called Schumer’s remarks “earth-shatteringly bad” and accused him of “calling on the people of Israel to overthrow their government.” Annie Karni reports for the New York Times.

Egypt is hoping to reach a deal for a ceasefire that would increase aid deliveries and allow displaced people in southern Gaza to move back north, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said today. Sisi said his ideal agreement would include “curbing the impact of this famine on people, and also allowing for the people in the centre and the south to move towards the north, with a very strong warning against incursion into Rafah.” It follows remarks made by Egypt’s foreign minister yesterday calling on Israel to open land crossings with Gaza to increase aid entering the enclave. Reuters reports."

lousubcap

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The leaders of Germany, France, and Poland are due to meet today in Berlin to discuss support for Ukraine. The three countries are among Ukraine’s key allies. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Wednesday, “We must do everything we can to organize as much support as possible for Ukraine.” AP News reports. 

Ukraine attacked a small oil refinery in Russia’s Kaluga region with drones early today, causing damage in an operation that was conducted by the GUR military spy agency, a Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters.

Russia attacked several Ukrainian regions with 36 drones, hitting civilian infrastructure and knocking out television and radio signals in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Air defences destroyed 22 of the drones. Five were shot down over the southern Mykolaiv and southeastern Dnipropetrovsk regions, local officials said.

Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for the GUR intelligence directorate, said armed groups of Russians opposed to the Kremlin were pressing an incursion into Russian territory and had turned the Kursk and Belgorod border regions into “active combat zones”. Russia’s National Guard (Rosgvardia) said it was repelling attacks by pro-Ukrainian armed groups near the village of Tyotkino in the Kursk region."

lousubcap

Friday Red Sea-Houthis update: (Things are heating up.)

"CAIRO, March 14 (Reuters) – The Houthis plan to attack ships in the Indian Ocean, as they travel toward the Cape of Good Hope, the group announced on Thursday.

Two Houthi spokesmen – Brig. Gen. Yahya Sare’e and Mohammed Abdulsalam – each took to X to post that the Houthis will now target ships linked to Israel traveling in the Indian Ocean on the way to the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of South Africa. Commercial vessels have been traversing around the Cape of Good Hope instead of going through the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks on ships.

The Houthis say they are targeting ships linked to Israel, although they have also expanded to include American and British ships in retaliation for joint strikes conducted by the two countries. While statements by Sare’e and Abdulsalam both said the Houthis would target ships linked to Israel in the Indian Ocean, likely, American and British ships will also come under fire.

“They are putting at risk 12 to 15 percent of the world’s commerce that flows through [the Red Sea]. That doesn’t just impact the United States,” Deputy Pentagon Secretary Sabrina Singh said. “It doesn’t just impact Israel. That affects the entire world, including the people in Yemen.”

The Houthis do have capabilities to shoot into the Indian Ocean, depending on where they launch from in Yemen and where the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden come together, Behnam Ben Taleblu, an Iran expert at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, told USNI News Thursday.

Their weapons can go at least 650 kilometers, while the drones can go up to 2,000, Ben Taleblu said. But they cannot hit ships that are going around the Cape of Good Hope.

The Houthis have their grievances against Israel and its bombardment of Gaza, but it is now able to act on them because of weapons provided by Iran. As an Iranian proxy group, the Houthis also help Iran expand the conflict to a wider region, which helps them with political gain.

The Houthis have state-level capabilities as a non-state actor, he said."

lousubcap

The Russian elections:

"Russian elections began Friday, and are set to run through the weekend. Outsiders broadly expect Vladimir Putin to “win” another six-year term in office, potentially extending his rule into a fourth consecutive decade.

 Reminder: Putin imprisoned his only significant election challenger in the Arctic,where Alexy Navalny died suddenly and mysteriously almost exactly one month ago.

 Already there are numerous allegations of suspicious activity at polling stations around the country, including the alleged use of disappearing ink that dissolves when heat is applied, as demonstrated in this video; another person allegedly poured green ink into a ballot box; other voters are taking selfies with a cardboard cutout of fired Fox personality Tucker Carlson. The BBC’s Francis Scarr is gathering some of the more colorful windows into Russian voting in a thread on social media, here. 

 On repeat: Russia’s leaders are still calling Ukraine’s Jewish president a Nazi.One in particular, former President Dmitry Medvedev, insists Ukraine must submit its “complete and unconditional surrender” before paying reparations to Russia for harming the invading forces and defending its territory. 

 Putin repeated those false Nazi allegations both in January and again in Februaryduring his interview-turned-diatribe with right-wing propagandist Tucker Carlson. 

 Medvedev also called for dissolving Ukraine in terms of United Nations definitions and as a matter of international law. Those were just a few key elements of his message Thursday, when he laid out on Telegram what he described as his “soft Russian formula for peace” in Ukraine. 

 Another note on Putin: “Russia has been at war for 19 of his 24 years at the helm,” the European Parliament said this week in their own elections preview. And this time around, “Observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe will not be present, as was previously the case with the September 2021 parliamentary elections.” This is because “Recent changes to Russia's electoral laws make it virtually impossible to conduct any meaningful monitoring, and have significantly restricted the role of the media,” the parliament writes. 

 For these elections, “The objective of the Kremlin, however, is not just victory, but a landslide result, both in turnout and percentage of votes,” said the European lawmakers. “This would legitimise Putin's legacy and his war of aggression, relegating the remaining opposition to an even more marginalised role, and allowing Putin to implement, unchecked, his vision for the next six years.”'

lousubcap

Monday Israel-Hamas update:

"Israel will send a high-level delegation headed by its Mossad chief to Qatar today for mediated talks with Hamas in efforts to secure a six-week Gaza ceasefire under which Hamas would free 40 hostages, an Israeli official said. This stage of the negotiations could take at least two weeks, the official estimated, citing difficulties that Hamas’ foreign delegates may have in communicating with the group. Reuters reports.

Netanyahu reaffirmed his determination to launch an offensive in Rafah, defying international criticism. Netanyahu said the offensive in the city “will happen” and will take “several weeks.” 

The Israeli military launched an overnight raid on Gaza’s largest hospital, al-Shifa, acting on what it said was Israeli intelligence that the complex was being used by senior Hamas members. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described the raid as a “precise operation” and said around 80 people were arrested, adding that measures were being taken to protect patients and medical workers. Hamas officials accused Israel of directly targeting hospital buildings without concern for staff, patients, or displaced people sheltering within. The Hamas-run health ministry called the raid a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.” The Washington Post reports. 

White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said yesterday that it is up to the Israeli people and their government to decide to hold new elections, days after Schumer called for such a move. Kirby said Biden “understands that that’s up to the Israeli people” on whether they hold new elections, adding that Israel is “a democratic country” and cited Washington’s need to “respect their sovereignty.” “In the meantime, [Netanyahu] is the prime minister of Israel. [Biden and Netanyahu] are two leaders that have had a long working relationship. They don’t agree on everything. We don’t agree on everything with respect to what’s going on in Gaza, but that’s the government that is in place, and that’s the government, the war cabinet, that we’re gonna continue to work with,” Kirby said. Shauneen Miranda reports for Axios.

Kirby said yesterday that the White House still has not seen a “credible” plan from the Israeli government on how it would protect civilians in Rafah if it moves ahead with an offensive in the city. “We will not support, cannot support, an operation in Rafah that doesn’t have an executable, verifiable, achievable plan to take care of the 1.5 million people that are trying to find refuge in Rafah,” Kirby said. He added that while the Israeli government has said they have an evacuation plan using “humanitarian islands,” the United States is only open to “any credible plan plan[sic] to take care of them. But we haven’t seen it yet.” Sam Fossum reports for CNN."

lousubcap

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Putin warned the West today that a direct conflict between Russia and the U.S.-led NATO military alliance would mean the planet was one step away from World War III.Asked about the remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron that deployment of ground troops in Ukraine could not be ruled out, Putin said, “It is clear to everyone that this will be one step away from a full-scale World War Three. I think hardly anyone is interested in this.” Putin added that NATO military personnel were already present in Ukraine, with Russian troops picking up on both English and French being spoken on the battlefield. Guy Gaulconbridge reports for Reuters.

Ukraine launched a fresh wave of attacks inside Russian territory yesterday, killing at least two people, according to local officials. The Russian Defense Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four in the Moscow region. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that a fifth drone, close to the capital’s Domodedovo airport, was downed yesterday morning. The Defense Ministry added that four drones were shot down in the Yaroslavl region, located around 500 miles from the Ukrainian border, marking some of the farthest launched by Ukraine so far. Katie Marie Davies reports for AP News."

lousubcap

Tuesday Israel-Hamas update:

"Israel and Hamas for the first time in months are negotiating details of a possible deal to release Israeli hostages and for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, according to two Israeli officials and a source with direct knowledge. Israeli officials said that while there are still gaps between the parties, Hamas’s response last week to a hostage deal framework proposed by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have allowed negotiations to progress. The main sticking point remains Hamas’s demand that Israeli forces withdraw from the corridor it created south of Gaza City, which prevents the return of Palestinians to the north of the Strip. Other sticking points include Hamas’s demand for a permanent ceasefire, and the ability to choose which Palestinian prisoners will be released, especially those who are serving life sentences. A senior Israeli official said an Israeli negotiations team will stay in Doha to continue talks. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam brigades, said that its forces were “engaged in fierce clashes with enemy forces” at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital after Israeli forces used tanks and bulldozers to raid the medical complex yesterday. The Israeli military said that Hamas fighters had shot at its soldiers from within the complex and soldiers had returned fire, while the Hamas-run health ministry said Israeli forces had launched missiles at the complex and fired into surgery rooms. Israel said its forces killed 20 militants, including the head of operations for Hamas’s internal security forces, Faiq Mabhouh, who was “armed and hiding in a compound” at the hospital. Hamas has not confirmed his death or role in the group. The New York Times reports. 

At the request of President Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed yesterday to send a team of military, intelligence, and humanitarian officials to Washington to discuss alternatives to a promised Israeli invasion of Rafah, the city that has become the last refuge for roughly half of Gaza’s population, according to Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan. "

lousubcap

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has hailed the “return” of Crimea to Russia at a concert marking the 10th anniversary of the illegal annexation of the territory from Ukraine. Putin said Crimea had “returned to its home harbor” and that it would move forward with Russia “hand in hand.” Putin made the comments while addressing thousands in Moscow’s Red Square, a day after claiming a landslide election victory. China, Saudi Arabia and India all congratulated Putin, while the Western governments and the United States condemned the vote as a sham. Vicky Wong reports for BBC News.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin today sought to convince European allies that the Biden administration is still committed to supporting Ukraine, even as Washington has essentially run out of money to continue arming Kyiv and amid few indicators that Congress will move to approve new funding. Austin is leading the monthly meeting known as the Ukraine defense contact group held in Germany, including around 50 allies that have been militarily supporting Ukraine. “The United States will not let Ukraine fail …. This coalition will not let Ukraine fail,” Austin said at the start of the meeting. Idrees Ali reports for Reuters.

Ukrainian air defence systems shot down 17 out of 22 Russian Shahed drones that targeted nine Ukrainian regions. The attack triggered a fire in a residential building in the central city of Kryvyi Rih, but emergency services were able to evacuate residents and disable the drone’s payload before it blew up. Russia also fired seven missiles at northeastern Ukraine, including the Sumy region.

Authorities said the intensity of ground and air attacks on the Sumy region had increased since the start of the year. The regional government said the area had been struck more than 3,000 times, compared with a total of some 8,000 strikes in 2023. The number of aerial bomb attacks had tripled and Russian saboteurs were highly active, officials said.

Ukrainian Presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak told the Reuters news agency that Russian President Vladimir Putin planned to escalate the war after the Russian leader suggested a “security zone” be established in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region to “protect” Russian territory."

lousubcap

Wednesday Israel-Hamas update:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brushed aside disagreement with the Biden administration over a planned invasion of Rafah, saying yesterday that his government would press ahead despite pleas for restraint from the United States and other key allies. Netanyahu insisted that sending troops into Rafah was necessary to eliminate what he said were Hamas battalions in the city, telling Israeli lawmakers he made it “as clear as possible to [president Biden] that we are determined to complete the elimination of these battalions in Rafah, and there is no way to do this without a ground incursion.” 

Netanyahu is tentatively scheduled to speak virtually to Senate Republicans during their regular lunch meeting today, two Senate sources familiar with the plan told Axios. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken today will make his sixth trip to the Middle East since the Oct. 7 attacks. Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt in his latest attempt to foster a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, a plan on how to govern post-war Gaza, and a potential deal for Riyadh to normalize relations with Israel. But in a sign of the increasingly chilly relationship between top U.S. leaders and Netanyahu, this could be the first visit to the region without a stop in Israel — an extraordinary rebuke of Washington’s closest ally in the Middle East. Michael Birnbaum reports for the Washington Post.

The White House is expected to meet with an Israeli delegation early next week to discuss Israel’s plans for an invasion of Rafah. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, told reporters on Air Force One yesterday that the Biden administration expected the Israeli officials to arrive in Washington “likely” early next week. 

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, yesterday reiterated the Biden administration’s increasingly deep rift with Netanyahu over his handling of the war. Brown said he has not seen Israel’s blueprint for its offensive in Rafah, while Austin warned that Israel could end up facing “strategic defeat” if it fails to adequately protect civilians. “Israel has a right to defend itself,” Austin said. “But there’s also a need to protect the civilians in the battlespace. And again, the two things aren’t mutually exclusive.” Missy Ryan reports for the Washington Post."

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The European Union is pressing ahead with a plan to use profits generated from Russian assets frozen in Europe to help provide weapons and other funds for Ukraine, a senior official said yesterday. E.U. foreign policy chief Josep Borrell received the go ahead for the plan from most of the bloc’s foreign ministers this week and hopes that E.U. leaders will endorse it at a summit starting in Brussels tomorrow. The European Union is holding around $217 billion in Russian central bank assets, most of it frozen in Belgium, which the bloc estimates could provide around 3 billion euros in interest each year. Lorne Cook reports for AP News.

Russia plans to evacuate about 9,000 children from the border region of Belgorod because it is being shelled continuously by Ukraine, an official said yesterday, reflecting Kyiv’s increasing focus on striking targets behind a barely shifting frontline.The region’s governor said the children will be moved farther east, away from the Ukraine border, in one of the biggest evacuations publicly announced in the region since the war began in Feb. 2022. AP News reports.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to Kyiv’s allies to supply more air defences, saying Russia had launched 130 missiles, more than 320 attack drones and almost 900 guided bombs on the country so far this month.

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed its forces had captured the village of Orlivka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, 9.5km (5.9 miles) from Avdiivka, which Russian troops seized last month. The Ukrainian General Staff said earlier that its forces had repelled nine Russian army attacks in the vicinity of Orlivka."

lousubcap

Thursday Israel-Hamas update:

"​​Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday said his government will soon approve a plan for evacuating civilians from Rafah and that a planned military offensive into the area would proceed “to complete the victory over Hamas.” In a message to Israeli citizens, Netanyahu said he told President Biden “it is impossible to complete the victory without the IDF entering Rafah” and said that “Israel always did what was essential for our safety, and we will do so this time as well,” but suggested an operation into Rafah was not imminent. “While we are preparing to enter Rafah, which will take some time, we continue to operate with all our might,” he said. CNN reports. 

Israel’s response to Hamas’s latest counterproposal on a ceasefire and hostage release deal “was negative in general” and did not meet the group’s demands, according to Hamas spokesperson Osama Hamdan. “In fact, they [Israel] backed away from agreements previously made to the mediators,” Hamdan said yesterday at a press conference in Beirut. He added it was a “continuation of their policy of procrastination, which could hamper the negotiations or even lead them to a dead end.” CNN reports. 

Netanyahu spoke virtually with Republican senators yesterday during a closed-door meeting, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) declined a request by Netanyahu to address the Senate Democratic Caucus. A spokesperson for Schumer said that Netanyahu had offered to speak to the Democrats as well, but Schumer declined, saying Schumer “made it clear that he does not think these discussions should happen in a partisan manner. That’s not helpful to Israel.” The split-screen underscores cracks in what was once rock-solid bipartisan support for Israel’s government. Sahil Kapur and Frank Thorp V report for NBC News.

The United States has submitted a draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council calling for “an immediate ceasefire tied to the release of hostages” in Gaza, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday in Saudi Arabia."

lousubcap

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia launched its largest missile attack in weeks on Kyiv today, injuring at least 10 people and damaging residential buildings and industrial facilities, city officials said. The air force said it downed all inbound missiles. Reuters reports. 

The Netherlands is providing Ukraine with 350 million euros for F-16 fighter jet ammunition and advanced reconnaissance drones, Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced in Kyiv yesterday. “I’m very confident that we will start delivering F-16s this summer … in the second half of the year the Dutch F-16s will be going this way,” Ollongren said. Max Hunder reports for Reuters.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told senior generals that the country’s soldiers “continue to squeeze the enemy out of their positions” in eastern Ukraine. Shoigu said Moscow would bolster its military by adding two new armies and 30 new formations, including 14 divisions and 16 brigades, by the end of this year.

A Ukrainian intelligence source told the Reuters news agency that Ukrainian drones attacked the Engels airbase – home to Russia’s long-range strategic bomber fleet – about 730km (about 450 miles) southeast of Moscow. The governor of the region around the base said Ukrainian drones had been brought down. There were no reports of damage.

Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion has entered a new phase, pitting homegrown drone technology against a 2,000 kilometer (1,200 mile) swathe of largely Soviet-era oil facilities.

At least nine major refineries have been successfully attacked this year, currently taking offline 11% of the country’s total capacity by some estimates. As the conflict at the front lines has shifted in Moscow’s favor, the drone campaign is becoming a key plank of Ukraine’s defense — both in its symbolism and its strategic aims."

lousubcap

A perspective-The GOP of today-
Insights, analysis and must reads from CNN's Fareed Zakaria and the Global Public Square team, compiled by Global Briefing editor Chris Good
March 21, 2024

The New GOP At the very top of the Republican Party, salacious things are happening. Below the surface, the GOP has evolved in important ways First, the florid news of former President Donald Trump’s problems. Running to retake the White House and firmly ensconced as the leader of his party, Trump faces an unprecedented set of court cases and money woes. Trump has already posted a $91.63 million bond as he appeals a defamation judgment. His lawyers say he is unable to find an underwriter to help him post a $464 million bond while he appeals a civil-fraud ruling. Trump’s cash crunch has prompted a mix of schadenfreude, rubber-necking, and sober analysis. The New Yorker’s John Cassidy writes: “If the appeals court rejects Trump’s requests (to shrink the bond payment), then, at least in theory, (New York Attorney General Letitia) James’s office could start legal action as early as next week to freeze his bank accounts and seize some of his real-estate assets. At a moment when Trump’s legal team has been enjoying a run of success in delaying the four criminal cases against their client, (Trump’s claim that he can’t pay the bond) came as a reminder of the deep legal and financial peril that Trump is in.” At CNN Opinion, Frida Ghitis points out that US adversaries surely have noticed Trump needs money. This presents a national-security risk, Ghitis argues, as foreign actors could prey on Trump’s financial vulnerability. With all that happening, it’s easy to forget that the GOP has also changed substantively in terms of politics and policy. The party’s cast of Reaganite leaders—like former Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and former House Speakers John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Paul Ryan (R-Wis.)—has been replaced. Two recent profiles explore newly significant figures. In The New Yorker, David D. Kirkpatrick examines the suddenly anointed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), a staunch Trump supporter, self-professed right-wing hardliner, and social conservative who evinces politeness, consideration, and mild manners completely antithetical to Trump’s personal style. At Politico Magazine, Ian Ward profiles Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), a populist nudging his party further away from conservative orthodoxy and toward wealth redistribution, trade barriers, and foreign-policy isolationism that, one observer remarks, recalls the GOP between the world wars. The New York Times’ editorial board recently lamented that the GOP is now a Trump personality cult. At The Atlantic, Damon Linker identifies a sweeping ideological and demographic transformation. Gone is the small-government, pro-business Reagan consensus, Linker argues; demographically, the GOP is becoming a cross-racial coalition of non-college-educated voters. “(T)he relatively few voters who pine for a Reagan restoration aren’t going to find it in the present-day Republican Party,” Linker writes. “They might not fully find it in the Democratic Party of Joe Biden either. But at least there, they can make common cause with centrist factions open to the Reaganite mix of low taxes, liberal immigration, free trade, and hawkish internationalism combined with a civil religion of American exceptionalism. In the post-Trump GOP, such views are actively unwelcome (aside from the tax cuts). … No matter who Trump’s successor turns out to be, that person will be someone who speaks the language of non-college-educated voters and views the world as they do. The GOP is now a vehicle for right-wing populism.”