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

lousubcap

Saturday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine is bracing for more Russian attacks in retaliation for its cross-border incursion into the Kursk region as Russia was moving in reinforcements, including troops, extra tanks, artillery and rocket systems, the authorities said.

On Saturday, Russia introduced “anti-terrorism measures” in three regions bordering Ukraine, Russian news agencies quoted officials as saying.

The measures by the National Anti-Terrorism Committee in Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk included the possible evacuation of residents, limits on transport in specific areas, tightened security around sensitive sites, and wiretaps of telephone and other communications, according to RIA news agency.

The statement said the decision, taken by Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB), was in response to Ukraine’s “unprecedented attempt to destablise the situation in a series of regions”.

Ukraine launched a surprise offensive in Kursk on Tuesday, in the most significant attack across the border since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said more troops and munitions were being deployed in the border area near Kursk ahead of a possible counteroffensive, as Ukraine’s advance into Kursk appeared to catch Russia off guard.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the incursion a “large-scale provocation” by Ukraine, and the military’s Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov has promised to crush it.

Russian authorities had already declared a “federal-level” state of emergency in Kursk."

lousubcap

Sunday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Explosions rang out on Saturday night in the centre and east of Kyiv, according to the AFP news agency, after Ukraine’s air force said Russian missiles were headed towards the city.

The Ministry of Defence in Moscow says its forces destroyed 14 Ukraine-launched drones and four missiles over Kursk, the Russian region in which Ukrainian troops are trying to gain a foothold after last week’s cross-border incursion.

More than 76,000 people have been evacuated from the border region. Struggling to contain the incursion, Russia has launched “counter-terror operations” in the nearby Belgorod and Bryansk regions, as well as Kursk.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged for the first time that Ukrainian forces had launched an offensive in Kursk. He said Kyiv is “proving that it can indeed restore justice and ensure the necessary pressure on the aggressor”."

lousubcap

Monday Middle East update:

"An Israeli strike on a school and mosque in Gaza on Saturday killed at least 93 displaced Palestinians, according to local officials. Palestinian Civil Defense said people had been performing dawn prayers. Israel confirmed it carried out the strike, saying it eliminated “at least 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists.” Irene Nasser, Abeer Salman, Ibrahim Dahman, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Lex Harvey, and Allegra Goodwin report for CNN.

Hamas yesterday rejected the invitation by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to attend Thursday’s final round of ceasefire negotiations. In a statement, Hamas said there were several reasons, including new Israeli conditions, Israel’s assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and recent deadly Israeli airstrikes. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

The Israeli military yesterday ordered civilians to evacuate from part of the humanitarian zone it established in Khan Younis, saying it was planning to fight in the area because Hamas had “embedded terrorist infrastructure” there. Vivek Shankar and Matthew Mpoke Bigg report for the New York Times.

An Israeli security unit found to have committed gross human rights violations will continue to receive U.S. funding, the Biden administration announced Friday, saying its actions have been “effectively remediated.” The determination ends a lengthy investigation of the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion. John Hudson reports for the Washington Post. Readers may be interested in Charles O. (Cob) Blaha’s analysis of the State Department’s decision for Just Security.

The United States has sent a guided missile submarine to the Middle East, with Defense Secretary Lloyed Austin saying the United States would “take every possible step” to defend Israel. Francesca Gillett reports for BBC News.

New Israeli intelligence suggests Iran is preparing to attack Israel within days, two sources with direct knowledge of the issue told Axios. Barak Ravid reports.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets toward northern Israel yesterday after an Israeli strike on southern Lebanon injured 12 people, state media reported. Jeremy Diamond, Lauren Izso, Irene Nasser, and Eyad Kourdi report for CNN."

lousubcap

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia today evacuated civilians from parts of a second border region, just days after Ukraine launched its most significant incursion since Moscow’s invasion in 2022. Apparently caught by surprise, Russia stabilized the front in the Kursk region yesterday, according to Russian bloggers. Guy Faulconbridge and Lidia Kelly report for Reuters.

Moscow said it had “foiled attempts” by Ukraine’s forces to “break through deep into Russian territory” using armoured vehicles. It said some of the fighting took place near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, some 25km (16 miles) and 30km (20 miles) from the border.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said that air defence units destroyed 14 Ukraine-launched drones and four Tochka-U tactical ballistic missiles over the Kursk region.

Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of starting a fire on the grounds of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear watchdog said its experts based at the facility had seen strong, dark smoke coming from the northern area of the plant following multiple explosions.The fire was later extinguished and there was no indication that radiation levels had risen.

Ukrainian forces destroyed 53 out of 57 Russian attack drones, Kyiv’s air force said. The drones were destroyed across various parts of Ukraine and included four North Korean-made missiles, the air force said."

JohnInCarolina

lousubcap

Tuesday Middle East update:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed his defense minister yesterday after Yoav Gallant reportedly disparaged his goal of achieving a “total victory” over Hamas in Gaza, telling lawmakers in a private security briefing yesterday that it was “nonsense.” Adam Rasgon, Isabel Kershner, Eric Schmitt, and Michael Levenson report for the New York Times.

Egypt today condemned a visit to the Temple Mount by Israeli officials and Israeli settlers, calling it “irresponsible” and accusing them of “storming the courtyards of Al Aqsa mosque.” Gianluca Pacchiani reports for the Times of Israel.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss the situation in the Middle East with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow today, the Kremlin announced. Abbas will travel to Turkey afterward for talks with President Recep Erdogan. Reuters reports.

Iranian officials said today that only a ceasefire deal in Gaza stemming from hoped-for talks this week would restrain Tehran from direct retaliation against Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Parisa Hafezi and Laila Bassam report for Reuters.

The White House yesterday said that U.S. intelligence indicates it is increasingly likely Iran will attack Israel this week, in line with Israel’s latest intelligence assessment. Barak Ravid reports for Axios."

lousubcap

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is taking “insane” steps that threaten to escalate the war beyond his country, Russia’s security services said today. Ukraine’s top commander said his forces now control 386 square miles of the Kursk region, to which Putin has vowed a “worthy response.” The Guardian reports.

Kursk Governor Alexei Smirnov told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Ukrainian ground attacks on his region had resulted in the loss of 28 settlements and that the incursion was about 12km deep and 40km wide.

Putin, who held a meeting with senior officials on the situation, said Ukraine was trying to destabilise Russia and that there would be a “worthy response“. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, which also lies on the border with Ukraine, said some residents were being evacuated amid increased Ukrainian military activity. Russia’s state news agency TASS later reported that 11,000 people had been evacuated from the Krasnaya Yaruga district.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said its experts were unable to determine what caused a fire at a dormant cooling tower at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine. Moscow and Kyiv have each blamed the other for the fire.

China urged de-escalation amid Ukraine’s Kursk incursion. “China will continue to maintain communication with the international community and play a constructive role in promoting a political solution to the crisis,” a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said in a statement.'

lousubcap

Wednesday Middle East update:

"A Hamas official said yesterday that the group will not take part in Thursday’s round of ceasefire talks because its leaders do not think Israel has been negotiating in good faith. “Netanyahu is not interested in reaching an agreement that ends the aggression completely … he wants to prolong the war, and even expand it at the regional level,” the official said. Adam Rasgon and Hwaida Saad report for the New York Times.

Israel was less flexible in recent Gaza ceasefire talks, documents detailing its newest negotiating positions show. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied that he is trying to block a ceasefire deal by hardening Israel’s position, but in private, has added new conditions to Israel’s demands. Ronen Bergman, Patrick Kingsley, and Adam Rasgon report for the New York Times.

President Biden said he expects Iran to hold off on possibly attacking Israel if a ceasefire and hostage release deal is reached in the next few days. Meanwhile, Biden’s top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk arrived in Cairo yesterday ahead of a visit to Doha today. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

The Biden administration has approved around $20 billion in new weapons sales to Israel over the next several years. Notification of the pending sale was sent to Congress yesterday. Kyle Melnick and Karen DeYoung report for the Washington Post."

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia declared a state of emergency in the Belgorod region as Ukraine’s surprise incursion enters its second week. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday said Ukraine now controls 74 towns and villages in the border Kursk region. Meanwhile, U.S. officials say that Kyiv’s incursion has forced Russia to withdraw some of its military forces from Ukraine. BBC News reports; Isabel Coles, Michael R. Gordon, and Ievgeniia Sivorka report for the Wall Street Journal.

President Joe Biden said Ukraine’s military incursion into Russia had “created a real dilemma” for Russian President Vladimir Putin. In his first substantive comments since Kyiv launched its surprise attack on August 6, Biden said he had been briefed on developments every four to five hours. Officials stressed the US had no role in planning or preparation for the attack.

Lithuanian Minister of Defence Laurynas Kasciunas said Russia was moving troops from its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad to Kursk.

Russia convened an informal gathering of the UN Security Council and criticised Ukraine’s allies for not condemning Kyiv’s incursion. “We will not recognise the aggressor as the victim,” said senior Slovenian diplomat Klemen Ponikvar, one of several members to accuse Russia of hypocrisy, double standards and wasting the council’s time. Moscow began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine’s internationally-recognised territory."

lousubcap

Thursday Middle East update:

"Mediators in Gaza ceasefire talks are making a last-ditch effort today to revive stalled negotiations. Israel has sent a delegation to the talks, while Hamas has said it will not participate, although the group is willing to speak to mediators afterwards if there are “developments or a serious response from Israel,” a source said. Mostafa Salem, Nic Robertson, and Ben Wedeman report for CNN.

Israel has published plans for one of its proposed new settlements in the occupied West Bank, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said yesterday. “No anti-Israel or anti-Zionist decision will stop the development of the settlement. We will continue to fight against the dangerous idea of a Palestinian state,” Smotrich said. Steven Scheer and Ali Sawafta report for Reuters.

Israel has achieved all it can militarily in Gaza, according to U.S. officials, who say continued bombings will only increase risks to civilians, while the possibility of further weakening Hamas has diminished. National security officials say that while Israel has severely set back Hamas, it would never be able to completely eliminate the group. Helene Cooper, Julian E. Barnes, Eric Schmitt, and Adam Rasgon report for the New York Times.

Netanyahu denied reports that he spoke with former President Trump yesterday about a ceasefire and hostage release deal. Reuters reports."

lousubcap

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:
"Ukraine is using British-supplied tanks “in line with international law” in its incursion into Russia, a U.K. Defense Ministry spokesperson said today. Ukraine’s surprise offensive is continuing for a tenth day, with evacuations continuing in Kursk and Belgorod regions. Guy Faulconbridge and Maxim Rodionov report for Reuters; Matthew Luxmoore and Ann M. Simmons report for the Wall Street Journal.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s forces were advancing in the Russian region of Kursk with Kyiv claiming control of at least 1,000 square kilometres (386sq miles) of Russia. Ukraine said the week-old offensive was creating a strategic buffer zone to protect its border areas from Russian attacks.

Moscow said the area under Ukraine’s control was about half that claimed by Kyiv and that it had thwarted their attempts to push deeper into five areas in the Kursk region.

Ukraine said its army would allow the evacuation of civilians from the Kursk region into Russia and Ukraine and admit international humanitarian organisations to the area.

Russia’s Belgorod border region declared a state of emergency amid what the governor said was daily Ukrainian bombardment.

Ukraine’s General Staff said Kyiv hit four Russian military airfields overnight in the Russian regions of Voronezh, Kursk and Nizhny Novgorod, targeting fuel stores and aerial weapons. Zelenskyy called the attack “timely” and “accurate”. Moscow said it shot down 117 of the Ukrainian drones as well as four missiles.

Germany issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian man suspected of involvement in blowing up the Nord Stream pipeline nearly two years ago, Polish prosecutors said yesterday. Melissa Eddy and Julian E. Barnes report for the New York Times."

lousubcap

More on the Nord Stream pipeline job: From Defense One:

Ukrainian forces were indeed behind the Nord Stream pipeline bombing in September 2022, according to a lengthy report published Wednesday in the Wall Street Journal (gift link). According to several sources, Ukraine’s top military officer at the time, Valeriy Zaluzhniy, forged ahead with the project despite President Volodymir Zelenskyy requesting the operation be called off. 

 The story is packed with interesting details, including apparent opsec blunders, which Dmitri Alperovitch recounted in a social media thread Wednesday evening.

 For what it’s worth, Zaluzhniy denies the allegations. Story, here. 

lousubcap

Friday Middle East update:

"Representatives from Israel, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt are set to continue negotiations today over a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. Hamas is not attending the talks, which began yesterday in Doha, but says it will reengage if it receives a “clear commitment” from Israel on its latest proposal. Frances Vinall and Victoria Bisset report for the Washington Post.

The Israeli army today ordered a fresh evacuation of areas in southern and central Gaza previously designated as a humanitarian safe zone, saying the areas had been used by Hamas “as a base for firing mortars and rockets towards Israel.” Reuters reports.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday pledged a visit to Gaza “even if it costs my life.” It was not immediately clear whether such a visit was feasible, as Abbas has not been to the enclave since Hamas seized power there in 2007. The New York Times reports.

U.S. officials said some progress was made yesterday in the first day of Gaza hostage and ceasefire talks, without providing details. Barak Ravid reports for Axios."

lousubcap

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine has captured the Russian town of Sudzha, around six miles from the border, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday. It would be Ukraine’s first capture of a Russian urban center since its surprise incursion began 11 days ago. Meanwhile, the Kremlin accused NATO and the West of having direct involvement in planning Kyiv’s Kursk attack. Constant Méheut reports for the New York Times; BBC News reports.

Ukraine has set up a military administrative office to “maintain law and order” in Russia’s western Kursk region, according to its top military commander. Ukraine’s intelligence also announced yesterday the detention of over 100 Russian troops, in what it said was the “largest mass capture” of enemy soldiers at one time. Ian Aikman and Jonathan Beale report for BBC News; Siobhán O’Grady, Tetiana Burianova, David L. Stern, and Robyn Dixon report for the Washington Post.

Belarusian President and key Putin ally Aleksandr Lukashenko has called for peace between Russia and Ukraine, saying, “Let’s sit down at the negotiating table” to end the conflict. His plea is set to be broadcast on Russian state-owned channel Rossia 1 on Sunday. Veronika Melkozerova reports for POLITICO.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence did not respond to the Ukrainian claims about Sudzha. The ministry said earlier that Russian forces had blocked Ukrainian attempts to take several settlements in the region and that they had retaken the village of Krupets.

Serhiy Tsehotskiy, an officer with Ukraine’s 59th Motorized Brigade, told national television there had been no letup in Russian military pressure in Ukraine’s partially-occupied eastern Donetsk region. “The enemy, despite what is happening on the territory of Russia, is still … keeping the bulk of its troops in this direction and trying to achieve success,” Tsehotskiy said.

Ukraine’s air force said it shot down all 29 Russian drones targeting eight Ukrainian regions, and the attack caused only minor damage."

lousubcap

Saturday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia’s Belgorod region bordering Ukraine will evacuate residents from five villages and close access to them, Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said, as the area comes under heavy attack from invading Ukrainian forces.

Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskii said that Kyiv’s forces were advancing 1-3km (0.6 and 1.8 miles) in some areas in Russia’s Kursk region. Kyiv has claimed to have taken control of 82 settlements over an area of 1,150sq km (444 square miles) in the region since August 6.

Kursk regional Governor Alexei Smirnov later said that Ukraine had destroyed a road bridge over the Seym river in the region’s Glushkovsky district. The strike is hindering civilian evacuations by land, Russia’s state-run TASS news agency reported, citing local security services. An estimated 20,000 people are reportedly evacuating from the area.

Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian reconnaissance and sabotage unit, which was armed with weapons from NATO countries, in the Kursk region, Russia’s RIA state-run media agency reported on Friday, citing unidentified security sources.

Nikolai Patrushev, an influential aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, told the Izvestia newspaper in an interview that the West and the United States-led NATO alliance had helped to plan Ukraine’s surprise attack on Russia’s Kursk region. Without “direct support” from the West, Kyiv would not have ventured into Russian territory, he said."

lousubcap

Sunday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukrainian forces on Sunday said they struck another bridge in the Kursk region, seeking to disrupt Moscow’s combat operations in the area.

Earlier on Sunday, Ukrainian drones attacked an oil storage facility in Russia’s southern Rostov region, sparking a large fuel fire, the regional governor confirmed.

“In the south-east of the Rostov region, air defences repelled a drone attack. As a result of falling debris on the territory of industrial storage facilities in Proletarsk, a diesel fuel fire broke out,” Governor Vasily Golubev said on Telegram. No injuries were reported and a second drone attack was thawarted shortly afterwards, he said."

lousubcap

Monday Middle East update:

"Hamas yesterday rejected an updated U.S. proposal for a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for “putting obstacles in the way.” The group said the new U.S. proposal “aligns with” Netanyahu’s stance, reverses previous Israeli concessions, and would not allow for a permanent ceasefire or full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called on Friday for a weeklong ceasefire to allow for vaccinations against polio. The announcement came hours before the Hamas-run health ministry confirmed the first case of the disease in the enclave in years. Farnaz Fassihi and Ephrat Livni report for the New York Times.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today that this is probably “the best, maybe the last” chance for a Gaza ceasefire and the return of hostages. Blinken met Israeli officials today including Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog and will travel to Egypt tomorrow. Rachel Pannett and Joyce Lau report for the Washington Post."

lousubcap

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine says it has destroyed a second strategic bridge in a week as its incursion into Russia’s Kursk region continues. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday that Kyiv’s attack aims to create a “buffer zone” to prevent cross-border attacks by Moscow’s forces. 

Russian state media also reported today that Russian forces captured 19 Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region. André Rhoden-Paul and James Gregory report for BBC News; Radina Gigova and Maria Kostenko report for CNN.

Russia yesterday denied a report that Ukraine’s Kursk incursion had derailed indirect talks over suspending attacks on energy and power targets, saying there had been no talks with Ukraine about civilian infrastructure facilities. Reuters reports. 

The safety situation at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is “deteriorating” following a nearby drone strike, the U.N. energy watchdog said Saturday. Miranda Nazzaro reports for The Hill.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its forces took control of the village of Svyrydonivka, about 15km (nine miles) from the key town of Pokrovsk in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

The military administration in Kyiv said Russia carried out its third ballistic missile attack on the Ukrainian capital this month but initial data suggested the weapons were shot down on approach. Separately, the air force’s Oleshchuk said eight Russian attack drones and five out of eight missiles launched across the country, including Kyiv, were destroyed.

Zelenskyy said Russia had launched more than 40 missiles, 750 guided aerial bombs and 200 attack drones in the past week against Ukrainian villages and cities.

 Russia has complained to Germany over its investigation into the 2022 explosions that ruptured the Nord Stream gas pipelines, RIA news agency reported, after a key suspect escaped arrest in Poland. German media had reported that German prosecutors had identified a Ukrainian diving instructor as a major suspect in attack and issued a warrant to arrest him in Poland.

The Kremlin said Monday it “will not talk” to Ukraine given its incursion into Russia’s Kursk region. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told the Russian Shot Telegram channel, that “at the moment it would be completely inappropriate to enter into a negotiating process”."

lousubcap

Tuesday Middle East update:

"U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday that Israel has accepted a proposal to bridge gaps in ceasefire negotiations, saying it is “now incumbent on Hamas to do the same.” Blinken is continuing his diplomatic tour of the Middle East, and will visit Egypt and Qatar this week to press Hamas leadership to accept the deal. Jennifer Hansler, Alex Marquardt, and Michael Conte report for CNN; Laura Kelly reports for The Hill. 

Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched near the Democratic National Convention on its opening day, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to U.S. support for Israel. President Biden said the protesters “have a point” as he emphasized his commitment to getting a ceasefire deal. Mike Wendling reports for BBC News; Rebecca Falconer reports for Axios.

The Israeli military said yesterday it had targeted several of Hezbollah’s weapons storage facilities in Lebanon, close to the Syrian border. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at least nine people had been injured in the strikes, including two children. The New York Times reports."

lousubcap

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine’s invasion of Russia’s Kursk region shows that Moscow’s threats of retaliation are a bluff. Zelenskyy also urged Kyiv’s allies to loosen the restrictions on using their weapons against targets on Russian territory. Warren Murray reports for The Guardian.

Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of Pokrovsk, a key city in the Donbas region, as Russian forces continue to advance in the east of the country, despite Ukraine’s ongoing offensive into Russia’s Kursk region. Ido Vock reports for BBC News.

The Czech Republic will buy ammunition for Ukraine with income from frozen Russian assets, the country’s defense ministry said today. Reuters reports.

Russia said Ukraine attacked the third and last bridge across the River Seym in the Kursk region, where Kyiv mounted a surprise incursion across the border on August 6.

In his first comments on the offensive’s objectives, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the aim of the offensive was to create a “buffer zone” and limit the ability of Russia to launch long-range attacks on Ukraine. Ukrainian forces were in control of more than 1,250 square kilometres (483 square miles) of land and 92 settlements in the Kursk region, he added later.

Vasily Golubev, the governor of Russia’s southern Rostov region, said more than 40 Russian firefighters had been injured tackling a days-long fire at an oil facility hit by a Ukrainian drone."

lousubcap

Are Athletes Born or Made? A New Study Reveals Which Fitness Traits Are Primarily Genetic.

If you feel like your athletic performance is falling short, this new research might explain why

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/genetic-fitness-traits/

lousubcap

The articles keep coming today-

Why toilet paper keeps getting smaller and smaller

https://thehustle.co/news/why-toilet-paper-keeps-getting-smaller-and-smaller?utm_=

lousubcap

Wednesday Middle East update:

" U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Egypt’s president yesterday to continue a diplomatic push to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. The New York Times reports.

Hamas directly criticized President Biden yesterday, saying his comments at the Democratic National Convention that the group is “backing away” from a ceasefire deal demonstrated “blind bias” toward Israel. The rare direct criticism casts doubt on the prospects of an agreement, which the Biden administration had hoped to reach this week. John Hudson, Shira Rubin, and Heba Farouk Mahfouz report for the Washington Post.

A senior U.S. official pushed back at reported comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he had “convinced” Blinken the ceasefire deal must see Israeli troops remain in parts of Gaza. Tom Bateman reports for BBC News.

Turkey’s foreign minister spoke with Blinken yesterday about the latest ceasefire negotiation efforts, a Turkey foreign ministry spokesperson said. Reuters reports.

The Israeli military and Lebanon’s Hezbollah traded cross-border strikes today, leaving at least one person dead deep inside Lebanon. Israel said it struck a Hezbollah weapons storage facility. In response, Hezbollah said it targeted an Israeli military base in the Golan Heights. The New York Times reports.

A senior Iranian military official hinted yesterday that a retaliation against Israel over the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran may be delayed. U.S. officials believe Tehran is exercising restraint amid Gaza ceasefire negotiations. Farnaz Fassihi reports for the New York Times; Lara Seligman, Alexander Ward, and Alan Cullison report for the Wall Street Journal. "

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russian authorities said today that Moscow came under the largest attack yet by Ukrainian drones since the start of 2022, and that it destroyed all of them. Russia’s military also said it captured the town of Niu-York in eastern Ukraine, a claim Ukraine has not confirmed. NBC News reports; Paul Kirby reports for BBC News.

Ukraine’s parliament passed a bill yesterday creating a legal path to ban a Russian-aligned branch of the Orthodox church. The measure, awaiting Zelenskyy’s signature, would further a post-Soviet split between two of the world’s largest Orthodox communities. Andrew E. Kramer reports for the New York Times.

Ukraine’s top military commander Oleksandr Syrskii said his forces had pushed 28-35km (17-22 miles) into Russia, capturing 1,263sq km (488sq miles) of territory, including 93 settlements, since launching their incursion into the Kursk region on August 6.

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov announced the formation of new military groupings in Kursk and two other border regions as Moscow tries to push back the Ukrainians without using soldiers fighting on the front line deep inside Ukraine.

Ukraine’s military said its forces came under pressure on the Toretsk and Pokrovsk fronts where Russia is concentrating its main attack in eastern Ukraine. It said Ukrainian forces had repelled 49 Russian attacks on Tuesday and that 13 more were continuing."

JohnInCarolina

https://www.thebulwark.com/p/democrats-in-array?r=1emko&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

lousubcap

Thursday Middle East update:

"Israel has not agreed to withdraw its troops from the Philadelphi corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border, Netanyahu’s office said yesterday, denying an Israeli media report. Separately, Israel’s defense minister said yesterday that over 150 tunnels had been demolished along the Philadelphi Corridor and Hamas’s Rafah Brigade had now been defeated, adding that the military was “looking to the north now.” Reuters reports; The New York Times reports.

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Israelis clashed with police outside a military conscription center in Jerusalem yesterday. Gabby Sobelman and Erika Solomon report for the New York Times.

 President Biden spoke with Netanyahu yesterday and “stressed the urgency of bringing the ceasefire and hostage release deal to closure,” the White House said. Biden was expected to urge Netanyahu to show more flexibility on the Egypt-Gaza border. Barak Ravid reports for Axios."

lousubcap

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"A drone attack sparked a fire at a “defense ministry facility” in the Volgograd region of southern Russia today, officials said. Meanwhile, Russia has started installing concrete shelters in the Kursk region amid Kyiv’s continued incursion. AP News reports; Reuters reports.

The U.S. embassy in Moscow yesterday rejected Russian accusations of U.S. involvement in Ukraine’s Kursk incursion, after the foreign ministry summoned Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Holmes to protest the “provocative actions” of U.S. journalists who reported from areas under Ukrainian control. Robyn Dixon reports for the Washington Post.

Ukraine said it had destroyed several Russian pontoon crossings over the Seym River with US-made HIMARS rocket systems to defend its incursion into Russia’s Kursk region. Moscow said its forces had halted Kyiv’s advance into its territory.

Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces came under repeated Russian attacks around the frontline town of Pokrovsk in the east. The military said there were 46 Russian attacks on the front throughout Wednesday and that 44 were repelled. Two were continuing as of 19:00 GMT. The General Staff said 238 Russian soldiers were killed or wounded in the same area. It did not disclose Ukrainian losses.

Ukrainian forces destroyed 50 out of 69 Russian attack drones launched across the country overnight. It did not elaborate on casualties or damage.

In Russia, the Defence Ministry said air defence shot down 11 drones over Moscow and its surrounding region. The attack was one of the biggest on Moscow since the start of the war in 2022."

lousubcap

Friday Middle East update:

"Israel, Egypt, and the United States held talks in Cairo yesterday on how to secure the Egypt-Gaza border, U.S. and Israeli officials said. Israel’s demand that the IDF continue to be deployed along the Philadelphi corridor has become a main sticking point in negotiations. Separately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday denied that Israel is considering agreeing to the presence of an international force along the strip. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

A Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal is “now in sight,” U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the U.N. Security Council yesterday, despite growing indications from Israel and Hamas that a breakthrough is not imminent. Bethan McKernan reports for the Guardian."

lousubcap

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday visited the border Sumy region for the first time since Ukrainian forces launched their incursion into Kursk. Zelenskyy also said on social media that Ukraine had captured another village in the region, but did not say which. Separately, Ukraine’s air force yesterday confirmed it used a U.S.-made GBU-39 bomb to strike a Russian platoon command post in Kursk. Illia Novikov reports for AP News.  

Negative remarks about Putin on social media have increased since Ukraine launched an incursion two weeks ago, according to a firm that tracks Russian attitudes. Julian E. Barnes reports for the New York Times.

As Ukraine’s advance into Kursk has slowed, Russia’s drive toward Pokrovsk, a stronghold in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, has also gained momentum. In recent days, Russian troops have seized at least three settlements and reached a town along a railroad to Pokrovsk, a logistics hub for Ukraine’s army in the region. Constant Méheut reports for the New York Times.

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday said that Ukraine attempted to strike a nuclear power plant in the Kursk region. Moscow has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency of the incident, Putin said. A Ukrainian official dismissed the claim as “propaganda.” John Bacon reports for USA Today"

lousubcap

No one’s ready for this

Our basic assumptions about photos capturing reality are about to go up in smoke.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/22/24225972/ai-photo-era-what-is-reality-google-pixel-9?utm_=