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

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

“[New U.S. sanctions are] an unfriendly act toward Russia, and it doesn’t strengthen relations between Russia and the United States that only began to get restored,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday. Putin added that Ukraine’s push to receive long-range Tomahawk missiles “is an attempt at escalation.” Ivan Nechepurenko and Anton Troianovski report for the New York Times.

Chinese national oil companies have suspended purchases of seaborne Russian oil following U.S. sanctions on Moscow’s two biggest oil companies, multiple sources said yesterday. Reuters reports. 

Engineers have repaired a damaged high-voltage line and restored external power to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in Ukraine, the facility’s Russian-installed management said. The plant – Europe’s largest nuclear power station, consisting of six reactors – was seized by Russian troops in 2022. It currently produces no electricity, but needs external power to cool the nuclear fuel and avoid the risk of a meltdown.

Russian President Vladimir Putin remained defiant after United States President Donald Trump hit Russia’s two biggest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, with sanctions to pressure him to end the war in Ukraine.  Putin derided the sanctions as an unfriendly act, saying they would not significantly affect the Russian economy and talked up Russia’s importance to the global market. “No self-respecting country and no self-respecting people ever decides anything under pressure,” Putin said.

Deputy chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, said Trump’s decision to cancel a summit in Budapest and impose sanctions on Russia showed Washington was “on the warpath” with Moscow."

Monday Middle East update:

"Egypt sent a team of experts to Gaza this weekend to help locate the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages, according to a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. The spokesperson added that Netanyahu had approved a purely “technical team” and that its members were not connected to the Egyptian army. Egyptian state media reported that logistical support and earth-moving equipment had been sent to Gaza. Senior Hamas Official Khalil al-Hayya said on Sunday that Hamas has started searching in new areas of Gaza for the remaining 13 hostages. Isabel Kershner reports for the New York Times; Samy Magdy and Melanie Lidman report for AP News.  

The U.S. military is operating surveillance drones over the Gaza Strip to ensure that both Israel and Hamas adhere to the ceasefire agreement,Israeli and American officials said on Friday. The sources added that the surveillance missions are operating to support the new Civil-Military Coordination Centre in southern Israel. Natan Odenheimer and Eric Schmitt report for the New York Times.

“We have […] made it clear regarding international forces that Israel will determine which forces are acceptable to us,” Netanyahu said yesterday. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the international force would be made up of “countries that Israel’s comfortable with.” Steven Scheer reports for Reuters. "

Tuesday Middle East update: (Slow day...that's a good thing.)

"Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday that the United States does not view Israel’s strike on an alleged member of Islamic Jihad in Gaza as a violation of the ceasefire. Rubio said that Israel has not surrendered its right to self defense, adding “they have the right if there is an imminent threat.” Trevor Hunnicutt reports for Reuters.

Lebanon’s army is experiencing an explosives shortage after using up their resources to blow up Hezbollah arms caches as per the ceasefire deal agreed with Israel, two sources told Reuters. One source said that the army is now sealing off sites instead of destroying them, as they await U.S. deliveries of explosive charges and other military equipment. 10 sources, including Lebanese officials, security sources, and a Hezbollah official, told Reuters that the army expects to complete its sweep of Hezbollah’s weaponry in southern Lebanon by the end of the year. Maya Gebeily and Laila Bassam report."

Wednesday Middle East update:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday ordered the Israeli military to conduct strikes in Gaza. A spokesperson for Netanyahu said that “Hamas have violated the framework by not returning hostages and attacking our forces.” Hamas has denied any involvement in an attack on Israeli forces and insisted that it is working in good faith to return the bodies. Netanyahu’s office said that President Donald Trump had been informed “before the action was taken.” Liam Stack, Aric Toler, and Arijeta Lajka report for the New York Times.

Israeli airstrikes killed 104 people in Gaza overnight, including 46 children, according to local health officials at the time of writing. In response to the airstrikes, Hamas said it would delay handing over the body of another hostage. Israel’s military said today that the ceasefire in Gaza has resumed following the airstrikes overnight. Wafaa Shurafa and Josh Boak report for AP News.

Trump said yesterday that the ceasefire was not at risk despite the Israeli strikes on Gaza. “As I understand it, [Hamas] took out an Israeli soldier,” and “the Israelis hit back, and they should hit back. When that happens they should hit back.” Jana Choukeir, Emily Rose, and Nidal Al-Mughrabi report for Reuters."

Thursday Middle East update:

"Israel released a 15-minute drone video on Tuesday, allegedly showing Hamas members staging the discovery of a deceased Israeli hostage on Monday. The New York Times confirmed that the video was filmed in the Tuffah neighbourhood of Gaza City, and satellite imagery confirmed that dirt was moved from that area between Monday and Tuesday. It is unclear why the bag with the body inside was reburied and unearthed as shown in the video, or how that was explained to Red Cross representatives. Aric Toler, Arijeta Lajka, Monika Cvorak, and Liam Stack report for the New York Times.

Israel has erected nearly 1,000 barriers in cities and towns across the occupied West Bank since the beginning of the war in Gaza, according to an official Palestinian governmental body. The barriers include metal gates stationed at village and town entrances, which block access in and out, with the Israeli military sometimes stationed at them. The U.N. documented the installation of 18 gates in the West Bank at the beginning of September. Israel says the gates are to “manage and monitor.” Sam Mednick and Jalal Bwaitel report for AP News."

Friday Middle East update:

"U.S. officials intend to present a plan for the international force in Gaza in the next few weeks, three sources told Axios. “If we don’t have reliable security and governance in Gaza that the Israelis agree to, we will get stuck in a situation where Israel is attacking all the time,” one source said. Another source said, “The Israelis are nervous and skeptical because they are not in control and they don’t have the cards anymore.” A key issue concerns Turkey’s participation in the force. “The Turks were very helpful in getting the Gaza deal, and Netanyahu’s bashing Turkey has been very counterproductive,” a U.S. official said. Barak Ravid reports.

The United States notified Hamas that they had 24 hours to evacuate their fighters from areas of Gaza under Israeli control to the western side of the ‘yellow line’ through a proposal conveyed to Hamas on Wednesday by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, U.S. and Israeli officials told Axios. The proposal intended to stabilize the ceasefire and clear the Israeli-controlled areas of Hamas fighters. A U.S. official said that once the 24-hour window lapsed, Israel would be able to engage Hamas targets east of the yellow line. A senior IDF officer said no one had crossed over as of yesterday evening, adding that the Israeli army is “working on a thorough and systematic clearing of these areas.” Barak Ravid reports."

In view of the lack of response and cut and paste nature of this thread I have decided to stop with the posts effective immediately.

Pardon the pause only in the ether.. Game on continues. I figure the value add is worth it.  

Monday Middle East update:

“The violations [of the ceasefire] are happening every day,” Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani told CNN yesterday, adding “we work together very closely with [Egypt and the United States] to make sure that the ceasefire stay intact.” David Cohen reports for POLITICO.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to meet with foreign ministers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and next steps today in Istanbul. Fidan is expected to urge that concrete arrangements be made without delay to ensure both the security and effective administration of Gaza, a Turkish foreign ministry source said. Tuvan Gumrukcu reports for Reuters.

Netanyahu said yesterday that Hezbollah was seeking to rearm and Israel would “act as necessary” if Lebanon failed to disarm the militant group. The Israeli military said in a statement yesterday that it had killed four Hezbollah members in an airstrike in southern Lebanon. Tala Ramadan reports for Reuters.

Detained U.N. staff will face trial in Yemen on suspicion of links to an Israeli airstrike that killed top Houthi leaders in August, including the prime minister of the Iran-backed Houthi government, the acting Houthi foreign minister told Reuters. Of the 36 detained U.N. employees, it is unclear how many would stand trial. The U.N. has repeatedly rejected Houthi accusations that U.N. staff were involved. Abdulrhman Al-Ansi and Khaled Abdullah report."

Tuesday Middle East update:

"The United States yesterday sent a draft resolution to several U.N. Security Council members for the establishment of an international security force (ISF) in Gaza until the end of 2027, according to a copy seen by Axios. A U.S. official said that the draft resolution will be the basis for negotiations over the coming days, with a goal to vote in the coming weeks and deploy troops to Gaza by January. The ISF would be an “enforcement force and not a peacekeeping force,” the official added, and would work with the Board of Peace tasked with governing Gaza through the transition period. The draft resolution says the force will be empowered to “use all necessary measures to carry out its mandate consistent with international law, including international humanitarian law.” Barak Ravid reports."

Wednesday Middle East update:

"Aid agencies are in “a race against time” to get food and other supplies into Gaza, a U.N. World Food Programme spokesperson said yesterday, adding “we need everything to be moving fast… the winter months are coming.” WFP said that they are severely limited in their operations because only two crossings into Gaza are currently open. The Norwegian Refugee Council said that Israeli authorities have rejected 23 requests from nine aid agencies to bring in essential shelter material since the ceasefire took effect on October 10. Al Jazeera reports."

A new one-US Southern Command update:

"The Trump administration has prepared several possible plans for military action in Venezuela, including direct attacks on military units that protect Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and moves to seize control of Venezuelan oil fields, according to several U.S. officials. Officials said that Trump had yet to decide on how to proceed, adding that he is reluctant to place U.S. troops at risk. Some officials expect that upcoming guidance from the Justice Department on the legal basis for further military action will argue that Maduro and his security officials are central figures in the Cartel de los Soles, a U.S.-designated narco-terrorist group. David E. Sanger, Tyler Pager, Helene Cooper, Eric Schmitt, and Devlin Barrett report for the New York Times."

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Poland, Romania, and Denmark are deploying the American Merops system to defend against Russian drones. NATO Col. Mark McLellan said the new system is “able to target drones and take them down at low cost as well. … It’s a lot cheaper than flying an F-35 into the air to take them down with a missile.” Emma Burrows reports for AP News.

The Russian Ministry of Defence said encircled Ukrainian troops in the cities of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk should surrender as they have no chance to save themselves otherwise.

Russia said its forces were advancing north inside Pokrovsk in a drive to take full control of the Ukrainian city, but the Ukrainian army said its units were battling hard to try to stop the Russians from gaining new ground.

Ukraine has acknowledged its troops face a difficult situation in the strategic eastern city, once an important transport and logistics hub for the Ukrainian army, which Russia has been trying to capture for more than a year.

Russia sees Pokrovsk city as the gateway to its capture of the remaining 10 percent, or 5,000 square-kilometres(1,930 square miles), of Ukraine’s eastern industrial Donbas region, one of its key aims in the almost four-year-old war."