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

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Monday Middle East update:

"The Israeli military on Saturday said it launched a “precise strike” on two schools turned shelters in northern Gaza that Hamas was using as a military base. Gazan rescue services said at least four people were killed in the first strike, while a second strike on a different school in Gaza City killed three and injured 20. Erika Solomon and Rawan Sheikh Ahmad report for the New York Times.

The White House is reassessing its strategy for a ceasefire and hostage deal, U.S. officials say, as President Biden’s top aides weigh whether there is a point in presenting a new proposal as both sides harden their positions. Meanwhile, CIA director William Burns said on Saturday a more detailed proposal is expected in the coming days. Barak Ravid reports for Axios; Michael Holden reports for Reuters.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed yesterday they shot down a U.S.-made drone flying over the country. The United States launched airstrikes over Houthi-controlled territory afterward, the militia said. The U.S. military said it was aware of the claim but has “received no reports” of U.S. military drones being downed over Yemen. Jon Gambrell reports for AP News."

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Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Iran has sent short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, according to U.S. and European officials. Europe and the United States are said to be working on a sanctions response to Tehran’s move. Laurence Norman, Michael R. Gordon, and Alexander Ward report for the Wall Street Journal.

The United States has pushed back against Ukraine’s calls to lift weapons restrictions preventing it from striking deep inside Russia with Western weapons. “There’s no one capability that will, in and of itself, be decisive in this campaign,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Friday. Koen Verhelst reports for POLITICO.

A Russian offensive toward the Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk has stalled along one key section of the front, but Moscow’s troops are continuing to advance in other parts of eastern Ukraine. Andrew E. Kramer reports for the New York Times.  In its regular update, the General Staff of the Ukrainian military detailed heavy fighting throughout the Pokrovsk sector, including Novohrodivka. It said 29 attempted Russian advances had been repelled, with seven skirmishes continuing.

Russia said it had taken control of Novohrodivka, some 12km (7 miles) from Pokrovsk, a strategically important town in eastern Ukraine. Novohrodivka had a population of 14,000 people before the war.

Ukraine’s Air Force said air defence units destroyed 15 of 23 Russian attack drones and one guided air missile. Two of the drones and three other missiles did not reach their targets, the Air Force said."

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Update on Russia-Ukraine:

"Battlefield update: Russian invasion forces are advancing closer to the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, with some reportedly less than five miles away. Recent aerial attacks have left half of Pokrovsk without power and trains to the city are no longer operating, the BBC reports on location. “The city is quickly becoming deserted. Just two months ago, 48,000 people were still living here. Today half of them have already left,” Abdujalil Abdurasulov writes. 

Why it matters: “Pokrovsk is a key transportation hub. If it falls, then Russian forces will cut off one of the main supply routes in the region. This will likely force Ukraine to retreat from Chasiv Yar and the front line will move closer to Kramatorsk. For Ukraine, this would effectively mean the loss of almost the entire Donetsk region, which the Kremlin has fought to capture since the beginning of their invasion.” Read more, here."

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America Must Free Itself from the Tyranny of the Penny (a good read)

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/01/magazine/worthless-pennies-united-states-economy.html?unlocked_article_

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Tuesday Middle East update:

"An overnight Israeli strike on a designated humanitarian zone in Gaza killed at least 40 people and injured at least 60, Gaza Civil Defense said today. The IDF said its forces struck a Hamas command and control center hidden at the Mawasi camp. Kelly Kasulis Cho and Hajar Harb report for the Washington Post.

The Israeli military yesterday detained a U.N. convoy at gunpoint as it was traveling to northern Gaza to roll out the polio vaccination campaign there, the U.N. aid agency for Palestinians said. UNRWA’s head said the staff members have since been released. The IDF said it had intelligence suggesting there were “Palestinian suspects” on the convoy. The New York Times reports.

Hamas yesterday denied it had made new demands in ceasefire talks, again blaming Israel for the impasse in negotiations. It follows two U.S. officials saying last week that Hamas had recently hardened its position. The New York Times reports."

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Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Over 140 Ukrainian drones targeted several Russian regions overnight, killing one person and injuring three, Russian officials reported today. It marks one of Ukraine’s biggest drone attacks on Russia since the war began. AP News reports.

Russia said it destroyed more than 70 Ukrainian drones, including 12 that were heading towards Moscow, in the early hours of Tuesday. The drones prompted flight suspensions from the capital’s three airports, and there were reports of a fire at a Moscow apartment block.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said it captured the Ukrainian village of Memryk, about 20km (12 miles) east of the strategically important city of Pokrovsk, inflicted losses on Ukrainian forces in at least two other nearby villages and repelled eight enemy attacks in the Donetsk region. Ukraine did not mention Memryk in its daily update.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry said yesterday it had summoned a senior Iranian diplomat to warn of “devastating and irreparable consequences” for bilateral relations if reports that Tehran had supplied Russia with short-range ballistic missiles were true. Reuters reports."

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Wednesday Middle East update:

"Israeli airstrikes on a designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza yesterday killed 19 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The reported death toll is lower than what had been provided by the Gaza Civil Defense, which earlier said their services had recovered 40 bodies from the site of the strike. Meanwhile, weapons experts and an analysis dby the New York Times found strong evidence that Israel used 2,000-pound bombs in the strike. Ephrat Livni, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad, and Abu Bakr Bashir report for the New York Times.

The IDF released a video of a Gaza tunnel where it says six hostages were held in “horrific conditions” before they were murdered by Hamas. The video was filmed by the military last Friday and made public yesterday. Maayan Lubell reports for Reuters.

An Israeli official has floated the option of offering Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar safe passage out of Gaza once all remaining hostages in the Palestinian territory are released. Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Minister said yesterday that its forces are close to completing their Gaza mission and their focus will turn to the country’s northern border with Lebanon. Hira Humayan and Tara John report for CNN and Reuters reports.

The Israeli military yesterday said it was “highly likely” it “unintentionally” killed a U.S. citizen near a demonstration last week in the West Bank. Responding to the comments, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for “fundamental changes” in the way the IDF operates in the West Bank, “including changes to their rules of engagement.” Blinken’s comments seemed to contrast with President Biden’s remarks hours later. “Apparently it was an accident, ricocheted off the ground and just got hit by accident. I’m working that out now,” Biden said. Karen DeYoung, Michael Birnbaum, and Loveday Morris report for the Washington Post."

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Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"President Biden has hinted at lifting restrictions on Ukraine using U.S. long-range missiles against Russia, saying the U.S. administration was “working that out now.” Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously warned such action could lead to “very serious problems.” Meanwhile, Sec. Blinken and U.K. Foreign Secretary Lammy are in Kyiv to discuss the issue with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy. Thomas Mackintosh reports for BBC News.

Beijing is giving Moscow “very substantial” help to strengthen its war machine, and in exchange, China is receiving top secret Russian military technology, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said yesterday. Stuart Lau reports for POLITICO.

The West is pushing Ukraine to think about a credible plan and realistic goals for what it can achieve in the next year of war, European diplomats say. Max Colchester and Laurence Norman report for the Wall Street Journal.

Ukraine is using “dragon drones” to spew fiery substances on Russia’s front lines, according to videos that have emerged online. Yuliya Talmazan reports for NBC News."

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Thursday Middle East update:

"The U.N. aid agency for Palestinians said an Israeli air strike on a school it runs in central Gaza killed six employees. Gaza Civil Defense said a total of 18 people were killed in the strike and another 44 wounded. The Israeli military said it carried out a “precise strike on terrorists” planning attacks from the school, and that it had taken measures to reduce civilian harm. David Gritten reports for BBC News; Abeer Salman, Kareem Khadder, Lauren Izso, Kara Fox, Sana Noor Haq, and Mohammad Al Sawalhi report for CNN.

Nearly 530,000 children in Gaza have received the first of two doses of a polio vaccine as of yesterday, UNRWA said yesterday. The New York Times reports.

President Biden yesterday said he was “outraged” by the killing of a U.S. activist by Israeli forces in the West Bank last week. A new Washington Post analysis found that Aysenur Egyi was killed over 30 minutes after the height of a protest she was attending, challenging Israel’s account of events. Miriam Berger, Loveday Morris, Meg Kelly, Jarrett Ley, and Sufian Taha report. 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian yesterday slammed the West, saying in Baghdad that Israel is “committing massacres” in Gaza and using E.U. and U.S. weapons to do so. Qassim Abdul-Zahra reports for AP News.

Israeli forces in northern Israel exchanged fire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah yesterday. Israel’s military reported that around 90 projectiles were launched into Israel following Israeli Air Force strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. An Israeli soldier was severely injured. The New York Times reports."

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Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The United States and Britain yesterday pledged almost $1.5 billion in additional aid to Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv by their top diplomats. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced over $700 million in humanitarian aid, while British Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed another $782 million. Lammy also said that the delivery of Iranian missiles to Russia has changed the debate about Kyiv using Western-supplied long-range missiles inside Russia. Matthew Lee and Illia Novikov report for AP News; James Landale and Malu Cursino report for BBC News.

Iran’s foreign minister yesterday denied that Tehran had supplied any ballistic missiles to Russia. Reuters reports. 

North Korea has continued to supply advanced short-range ballistic missiles to Russia despite sanctions “meant to prevent Pyongyang from developing such weapons and Moscow from importing them,” according to a report by a weapons research group. John Ismay reports for the New York Times.

Top Russian military commander Major-General Apti Alaudinov said his forces pushed Ukrainian troops out of “about 10 settlements” captured as part of a major offensive in the western Kursk region, Russia’s TASS news agency reported.

Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 44 of 64 drones launched by Russia overnight. Russian forces also used five missiles, the Ukrainian Air Force added in a statement posted on the Telegram messaging app.

Russian forces attacked energy facilities and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine’s northeastern town of Konotop overnight, officials in the Sumy region said via Telegram. The attack injured at least 13 people, according to the statement."

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Friday Middle East update:

"International condemnation grew yesterday of a deadly Israeli strike on a school that the U.N. aid agency for Palestinians said killed six of its staff members. Britain’s Foreign Secretary called the deaths of the U.N. workers “appalling,” while Qatar’s government called the strike a “horrifying massacre.” Liam Stack and Thomas Fuller report for the New York Times; Reuters reports.

Details are emerging of an apparent Israeli raid on a “Hezbollah missile production facility” in Syria. Israel has not commented on the operation, which U.S media say took place earlier this week. Syrian state media reported that 18 people were killed on Monday in the raid, with several dozens injured. Thomas Mackintosh reports for BBC News; Barak Ravid reports for Axios."

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Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"President Biden is poised to approve Ukraine’s use of long-range Western weapons in Russia, as long as it does not use U.S.-weapons, European officials say. The issue will be high on the agenda as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer makes his first official visit to Washington today. David E. Sanger, Helene Cooper, and Eric Schmitt report for the New York Times.

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday repeated his warnings about the West using long-range weapons to target Russia, saying Moscow would take “appropriate decisions” if NATO allowed Kyiv to strike inside Russian territory. BBC News reports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced yesterday that Russia had launched a counteroffensive in Ukrainian-controlled areas in Kursk. The counteroffensive had long been expected and was planned for, Zelenskyy said. Anastacia Galouchka and Lizzie Johnson report for the Washington Post.

Zelenskyy said yesterday that a Russian missile struck a cargo ship in the Black Sea that was ferrying wheat to Egypt. Matthew Mpoke Bigg, Andrew E. Kramer, and Maria Varenikova report for the New York Times.

The Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down 24 of 26 Russia-launched drones overnight over five regions, according to a statement posted on the Telegram messaging app.

Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said Russia’s counteroffensive against Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region is “marginal” at this stage.

Ukraine has accused Russia of using strategic bombers to strike a civilian grain vessel in a missile attack in the Black Sea near NATO member Romania.

Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attack an “unprecedented escalation” by Russia in its war against Ukraine.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and United States President Joe Biden will meet in Washington, DC, on Friday and are expected to discuss whether to let Ukraine use Western-supplied long-range missiles against Russia – something that Kyiv has long been pushing for."

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Below worth the read from Fareed Zakaria-

"Another Violent Election?

America was warned. In 2020, as then-President Donald Trump sowed doubt about US elections—notably, questioning the validity of mail-in ballots—some wondered if he would accept a loss. Fareed observed in late September 2020 that Trump might lose the election, refuse to admit it, and try to stay in the White House anyway. The violence of Jan. 6, 2021 was predicted, too, although not so widely. For instance, writing in the centrist publication The American Interest, Stephen John Stedman and Thomas Westphal warned in June 2020: “[E]ven when evidence and consensus points to a clear loss at the polls, an incumbent may refuse to accept the verdict and urge followers to resist forcefully.” All of the forms of political violence they acknowledged as possible during or after the 2020 vote “result in broken lives and begin a cycle of violence that will be difficult to de-escalate,” Stedman and Westphal wrote. So, what will happen this time? The Economist insists the US will see power transferred, but the magazine also warns of danger. If Trump wins in November, Democrats could mount legal challenges. (That’s a normal post-election development, usually undertaken by both major parties after various state and federal contests. But it usually does not reach the scale of 2020’s myriad claims by Trump supporters of outright fraud.) Defeated Democrats could also follow Republicans’ January 2021 precedent and attempt to block certification of the presidential result. But Harris will likely concede if she loses, the magazine suspects. “If Ms Harris wins,” The Economist writes, by contrast, “Mr Trump will not be so gracious. In that … scenario, the complexity of America’s voting system collides with the MAGA conspiracy machine. … As a legal strategy this would probably fail again, as it did in 2020. … Yet a new ‘stop the steal’ movement could fail legally while succeeding politically. In the last election a shocking number of House Republicans voted to reject the result. Since then the party has only become more beholden to Mr Trump. Members either sincerely believe the other side wins only when it steals elections, or go along with that idea in public. … One possible consequence of this myth is political violence. The Capitol will be so well policed in January 2025 that there will be no repeat of the riots on January 6th. But local police, the Secret Service and the FBI will have to prepare for protesters descending on statehouses, and for the risk of assassination attempts against lawmakers.” A solid margin of victory for either candidate would probably minimize the risk. But, as The Economist notes, that’s not how this election is shaping up. Polls indicate a near-even race both in key swing states and nationally. Harassment and threats have taken their toll on election workers. At Foreign Policy in June, Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware cited militant threats on both the right and left. At Axios this month, Zachary Basu, Erin Doherty, and Sophia Cai wrote that five factors are producing a “perfect storm of election chaos” this year: Trump’s wild claims about election integrity, a close race, lawsuits already filed by the Republican National Committee, the violent recent history of 2021, and a “cesspool of disinformation.”"

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Saturday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s border region of Kursk had produced the desired result of slowing Moscow’s advance on another front in the east of his country.

He said Russia had about 40,000 soldiers on the Kursk front. “So far we have seen no serious [Russian] success.”

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its troops had taken back 10 villages of 100 that Ukraine had occupied in Kursk. The comments from either side could not be independently verified.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Russia had launched 8,060 Iran-developed Shahed drones at Ukraine since it began its full-scale invasion two and a half years ago, resulting in “lost homes and lost lives”.

The US Department of State has approved the sale of dozens of F-35 fighter jets to its NATO ally Romania, a deal worth $7.2bn. Romania occupies a strategic position at the gateway to Ukraine and the Black Sea."

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Late Sunday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Military leaders from the United States and China have met in Beijing for routine talks and discussed ongoing issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war, Taiwan, and clashes in the South China Sea.

Poland would support ending welfare payments to Ukrainian men of fighting age in Europe to push them to return home and fight Russia’s invasion, the Polish foreign minister has said.

Ukraine’s spy chief says that increased Russian production of guided bombs, as well as shipments of artillery ammunition from North Korea, were posing problems for Ukrainian forces on the battlefield.

Ukraine’s spy chief says that increased Russian production of guided bombs, as well as shipments of artillery ammunition from North Korea, were posing problems for Ukrainian forces on the battlefield.

The head of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency, Kyrylo Budanov, said on Saturday that North Korea’s military aid to Russia poses the greatest concern compared to the support provided by Moscow’s other allies.

“They supply huge amounts of artillery ammunition, which is essential for Russia,” he said, pointing to the escalation of hostilities on the battlefield following such deliveries."

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Monday Middle East update:

"Israel’s military said it targeted Hezbollah “weapons storage facilities” in airstrikes across Lebanon on Saturday. One of the strikes injured four people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Mohammed Tawfeeq reports for CNN.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that time is “running out” to reach an agreement with Hezbollah to halt fighting at the border, according to a statement by Gallant’s office today. AP News reports.

Yemen’s Houthis yesterday claimed responsibility for a rare missile attack on Israel. A spokesperson claimed the group had fired at a military target, adding, “The enemy should expect more strikes and quality operations.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that the Houthis will pay a “heavy price” for the assault. Adam Rasgon reports for the New York Times; Federica Di Sario reports for POLITICO."

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Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The head of NATO’s military committee said on Saturday that Ukraine “has the solid legal and military right to strike deep inside Russia to gain combat advantage.” The comment reflects the beliefs of several U.S. allies, even as Washington balks at allowing Kyiv to strike Russia using U.S-made weapons. Lolita C. Baldor reports for AP News.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told US broadcaster CNN that Ukrainian forces were suffering high losses because Western arms were arriving too slowly. Zelenskyy said the situation in the east was “very tough” and that half of Ukraine’s brigades fighting there were not fully equipped.

Ukraine’s Air Force said air defence units destroyed 10 out of 14 drones that Russia launched overnight into Sunday. It also said that Russia launched two Iskander M-ballistic missiles and one Kh-59 guided air missile targeting the southern region of Odesa. The guided air missile was destroyed, the Air Force said. It did not say what happened to the Iskander missiles or whether there was any damage as a result of the attack.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its air defence units destroyed 29 Ukrainian drones targeting seven Russian regions. Fifteen of the drones were brought down over the Bryansk region that borders Ukraine."

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Tuesday Middle East update:

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet yesterday made the safe return of Israeli citizens to northern Israel an official war goal. It comes amid ongoing cross-border fighting with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which has led to the evacuation of about 60,000 people from northern Israel. Jaroslav Lukiv reports for BBC News; Josef Federman and Julia Frankel report for AP News.

Senior Biden adviser Amos Hochstein cautioned Netanyahu yesterday against starting a wider war against Lebanon, three sources told Axios. In the same meeting, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told Hochstein that “military action” was “the only way” to end the cross-border violence and return its citizens to the north. Barak Ravid reports; Liam Stack reports for the New York Times.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to Egypt tomorrow “to discuss ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza,” but his visit to the region will exclude a stop in Israel, the State Department said. It marks the first time since Oct. 7 that Blinken has visited the Middle East without visiting Israel. Kylie Atwood and Jennifer Haslan report for CNN."

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Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russian President Vladmir Putin yesterday ordered the country’s military to boost its number of troops by 180,000, bringing the total to 1.5 million. AP News reports.

U.S. military aid packages to Ukraine have shrunk in recent months as the stockpiles of weapons and equipment the Pentagon is willing to send Kyiv has diminished. The shift comes amid concerns about U.S. military readiness being affected as U.S. arms manufacturers try to recover from the demand created by the war against Russia. Natasha Bertrand and Oren Liebermann report for CNN.

Ukraine’s Air Force said it shot down 53 of the 56 Russian drones that targeted the country’s central, northern and southern regions. Air defence units destroyed nearly 20 drones that were heading towards Kyiv itself, the military said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking in his nightly video address, said there had been 100 battles over the past 24 hours on the eastern front with the heaviest fighting in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove sectors.

Russia ordered the evacuation of settlements close to the Ukrainian border in the Kursk region and said it had retaken two villages – Uspenovka and Borki – Ukraine captured last month in a surprise cross-border incursion."

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Wednesday Middle East update:

"Hundreds of pagers carried by Hezbollah members exploded simultaneously across Lebanon yesterday, killing at least 11 people and wounding at least 2,700, including Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon. Pagers also exploded in Syria, injuring at least 14, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Israel’s Mossad spy agency planted explosives inside 5,000 pagers imported by the group months before the detonations, sources told Reuters. Patrick Kingsley, Euan Ward, Ronen Bergman and Michael Levenson report for the New York Times.

Israel blew up the pagers yesterday out of concern that Hezbollah may have discovered its secret operation, three U.S. officials told Axios. “It was a use it or lose it moment,” one official said. A former Israeli official said Israeli intelligence services planned to use the pagers it managed to “plant” in Hezbollah’s ranks “as a surprise opening blow in an all-out war to try to cripple Hezbollah.” Separately, two U.S. officials said Israel did not inform Washington in advance about the operation. Barak Ravid reports.

Hezbollah today vowed to retaliate against Israel, while the Lebanese government condemned the attack as “criminal Israeli aggression.” CNN reports.

While the exploding pagers seemed to carry a Taiwanese brand, Taiwanese firm Gold Apollo has denied involvement, saying the pagers were made by a Hungarian firm it signed a deal with. BBC News reports. 

World leaders have reacted to the pager attack against Hezbollah. Russia’s foreign ministry called the attack “an act of hybrid warfare against Lebanon,” while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Lebanon’s prime minister that efforts to stop Israel will continue. Egypt’s president also told the United States that it supports Lebanon. Reuters reports. 

The majority of Palestinians believe Hamas’s decision to launch the Oct. 7 attack was incorrect, according to a new poll published yesterday by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. Ali Sawafta reports for Reuters."

Edit to add:

Yemen’s Houthis shot down two U.S. drones in under a week, the U.S. military said today. Jon Gambrell reports for AP News.

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Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

A partial evacuation has been ordered in Russia’s Tver region after a “massive” Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire there, the governor has said. Authorities did not say how many people were being evacuated or whether there were any casualties. Jaroslav Lukiv reports for the BBC News.

A long-awaited plan to help Ukraine rebuild using Russian funds is faltering as the United States and Europe grapple with how to create a $50 billion loan from Russia’s frozen central bank assets while complying with their own laws. Alan Rappeport reports for the New York Times.

Russian state-run RIA news agency and pro-Russian war bloggers reported that Russian forces had captured the town of Ukrainsk in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. The General Staff of Ukraine’s military did not confirm Russia taking Ukrainsk in its evening update, saying only that it was one of several areas under Russian attack. It said 34 assaults had been recorded near the strategically important town of Pokrovsk.

Russia said it had repelled five new attempts by Ukrainian forces to push through its border into the Kursk region, bringing the total number of reported attacks on the border to 26 in the past six days. Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into Kursk on August 6, taking swaths of Russian territory.

Russia said it destroyed multiple Ukrainian drones targeting several western Russian regions, including Smolensk near the Belarus border and Bryansk. Local governors reported no damage or casualties. Kyiv says it targeted military, energy and transport infrastructure seen as key to Moscow’s war efforts."

And the below on long range cruise missles:

What places could Ukraine target?Storm Shadow missiles would enable Ukraine to hit targets deep inside Russian territory with enough force to penetrate bunkers and ammunition stores.

Ukraine could potentially target locations such as Kursk, Millerovo and Rostov-on-Don.

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This just in: Russia-Ukraine-

A large Russian ammunition depot erupted in a remarkable series of explosions early Wednesday around 3:30 in the morning. Regional earthquake monitors even picked up the blast, which registered as a “light magnitude” 2.8 quake.

 Location: The Toropets Northeast Ammunition Depot, in the Tver region of Russia, which is about 300 miles from the frontlines of Russia’s Ukraine invasion. Six Ukrainian kamikaze drones were allegedly used in the attack, which appears to have caused several intense burn zones that NASA sensors picked up in the agency’s Fire Information for Resource Management System.

In video: Here is some footage taken moments after impact showing the initial blast wave followed by a smaller series of secondary explosions and their waves rolling across the illuminated horizon. 

“We’re likely looking at the loss of thousands of tons of explosive materials, shells, and rockets,” one former Ukrainian officer said, noting, “In events of this magnitude, replacement can't be quick.”

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Thursday Middle East update:

"Israel yesterday detonated thousands of two-way radios used by Hezbollah members in a second wave of an intelligence operation that began Tuesday with the explosions of pager devices, two sources told Axios. At least 20 people were killed and 450 others injured. Israel has not commented, but Defense Minister Yoav Gallant yesterday declared a “new phase in the war.” Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to give a televised speech today. Barak Ravid reports; BBC News reports. 

The exploding pagers used in the attack were never in Hungary, a Hungarian official said yesterday. Three intelligence officials said that the Hungary-based company, as well as two other shell companies, were part of an Israeli front. Separately, the Japanese manufacturer of the two-way radios that detonated said that it was investigating the allegations, but early signs suggest the walkie-talkies were counterfeit. Seb Starcevic reports for POLITICO; Julia Mio Inuma reports for the Washington Post; Sheera Frenkel, Ronen Bergman, and Hwaida Saad report for the New York Times.

Israel says its war focus is “moving north,” a tacit acknowledgment of its role in the shock attacks on Hezbollah this week. Lebanon’s foreign minister said he fears the attack indicates an “introduction to war.” Meanwhile, Iran vowed to respond to Israel after its ambassador to Lebanon was wounded by the pager explosions. CNN reports. 

Israel bombed southern Lebanon today and said it had foiled an Iran-backed assassination plot. Israel security services said an Israeli businessman had been arrested last month on suspicion of plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. James Mackenzie reports for Reuters.

U.S. alarm that Israel is close to launching a ground war in Lebanon has intensified since this week’s attacks. U.S. officials say they have not seen indicators that a major offensive is imminent, but one official said Israel could order a smaller operation more quickly, without any major military moves. Alexander Ward, Nancy A. Youssef, and Lara Seligman report for the Wall Street Journal."

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Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The Ukrainian air force said it shot down 46 of 52 drones launched by Moscow against Ukraine and that Russia had used three guided air missiles which did not reach their targets.

Russia’s counteroffensive to retake Ukrainian-occupied territory in the Kursk region has been “stopped”, Oleksiy Dmytrashkivskyi, a spokesman from Ukraine’s military administration in Kursk, told the AFP news agency. Russia is engaged in an effort to take back territory seized by Ukraine since its surprise August 6 incursion across the border.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv had “fully prepared” its “victory plan” to end the war with Russia, and he would discuss the plan with United States President Joe Biden when he visits the US this month."

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Friday Middle East update:

"Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah yesterday vowed that Israel would face retribution for this week’s coordinated pager and two-way radio attacks in Lebanon. “The enemy crossed all rules, laws and red lines,” Nasrallah said, adding that the attacks were a “major aggression against Lebanon” that can be called “war crimes or a declaration of war.” Aaron Boxerman reports for the New York Times; the Washington Post reports. 

Israel said it carried out extensive airstrikes on southern Lebanon, hitting over 100 rocket launchers and a weapons depot used by Hezbollah. It was one of the largest bombardments in the fighting so far, Lebanese officials said. There were no immediate reports of casualties. BBC News reports; Aaron Boxerman and Euan Ward report for the New York Times.

A senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented the Biden administration a renewed proposed ceasefire and hostage deal, an Israeli official told CNN. Reactions have widely been that it will be a non-starter for Hamas. Eugenia Yosif, Mick Krever, and Jeremy Diamond report.

U.S. officials are conceding that while Washington is continuing efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, a deal is unlikely under the Biden administration. Alexander Ward reports for the Wall Street Journal."

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Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The Ukrainian air force said it shot down all 42 Russian drones and one of four missiles used in attacks on Thursday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s surprise offensive into the Russian border region of Kursk in early August had led to the diversion of about 40,000 Russian troops from eastern Ukraine, reducing its potential for attack there. Zelenskyy added that the situation on the eastern front remained “extremely challenging”.

Russia claimed to have taken control of the village of Georgievka, which lies about 30 kilometres (20 miles) west of Russian-occupied Donetsk city in Ukraine’s east.

The White House said Zelenskyy will have separate talks on September 26 with US President Joe Biden and with Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the Democratic candidate for president. The two will “emphasise their unshakeable commitment to stand with Ukraine until it prevails in this war”, Biden’s Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

Separately, Zelenskyy’s office said he will also meet Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. There was no immediate confirmation from Trump’s campaign team."

lousubcap

This just in on the Middle East:

"Israel, Hezbollah exchange attacks

After suffering two major device attacks this week, Hezbollah terrorists attacked northern Israel with 140 rockets on Friday—while Israeli jets targeted a Hezbollah leader again in Beirut, AP and Reuters report from the city formerly known as the Paris of the Middle East.   “120 missiles were launched at areas of the Golan Heights, Safed and the Upper Galilee,” while “20 missiles were shot at the areas of Meron and Netua,” according to the Israeli military, which didn’t say whether the attack caused any casualties.    As for the Beirut strike, at least three people were killed and 17 others wounded in the city’s southern suburbs, AP reports. "

Gulfcoastguy

Now for the exploding bidets.

lousubcap

Saturday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine’s air force said 61 out of 70 Russian attack drones and one out of four missiles across 13 regions of Ukraine were destroyed.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would regain control of its Kursk region “in a timely manner”, but declined to say how soon this could be achieved. Ukraine launched a surprise cross-border incursion into Kursk on August 6, taking swaths of territory.

Norway will increase civilian aid to Ukraine by five billion kroner ($475m) this year and extend its aid package by three years to 2030, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said.

The United States is preparing a $375m military aid package for Ukraine, two senior officials told the Reuters news agency. The aid package, expected to be announced next week, includes patrol boats, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, spare parts and other weapons, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity."

lousubcap

Sunday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine announced that it had hit two Russian munition depots overnight in the Krasnodar and Tver regions in attacks that illustrated its growing capability to strike targets deep inside Russia.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its air defence units destroyed 15 drones launched by Ukraine overnight targeting the Rostov region in the south, as well as Kursk, Astrakhan, Belgorod and Voronezh regions. There were no reports of casualties.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that the end of the war with Russia depended on the “resolve” of Kyiv’s Western allies in providing needed weaponry and permission to use it. He said his meetings next week in the United States were “crucial” to ensuring Ukraine’s defence capabilities."