Kyiv says Russia suffered more than 2,000 casualties in 24 hours
Ukraine’s military announced on Friday, Nov. 29, that Russia suffered 2,030 casualties in a 24-hour period, which would be the first time since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine that the casualty count among Russian troops reached a number that high. Ukraine did not reveal whether those numbers included Russian soldiers killed, captured or missing.
The casualty total reportedly breaks the previous 24-hour record of 1,950, which Kyiv said happened on Nov. 12. Ukraine said that it calculated the Russian losses through leaked data and published Russian intelligence reports.
Despite the losses for Moscow, Russian troops, along with the help of thousands of North Korean troops, have reportedly continued to advance, sparking fears that Ukrainian forces do not have sufficient manpower to hold them off. U.S. researchers reportedly found that Moscow has captured territory at a rate of nearly nine square miles per day over the past month.
Ukrainian officials warn that its 600-mile frontline is now at its highest risk of collapse since February 2022.
Earlier this week, the Biden administration reportedly pushed Ukraine to lower the age of draft eligibility to counter Russian gains. Ukraine estimates that it will need around 160,000 more troops. However, according to the report, the United States believes that number is higher than Ukrainian estimates.
The Biden administration is also rushing aid to Ukraine amid concerns the incoming Trump administration could limit U.S. aid. President Joe Biden recently announced that he is forgiving $4.7 billion in Ukrainian debt.
N Korea ballistic missile facility growing as revealed by new satellite images
U.S. defense experts revealed on Monday, Nov. 25, that they believe that Pyongyang may be ramping up its production of weapons for Moscow to use in its war in Ukraine. Researchers said new satellite images reveal North Korea is expanding a crucial weapons manufacturing complex that produces short-range missiles.
The California think-tank behind the findings noted that the plant is the only one known to produce a certain class of ballistic missiles used by Russia to strike Ukrainian forces.
Known as the KN23, the rockets are reportedly capable of evading missile defense systems by flying at low altitudes, which makes them useful for Russian forces trying to penetrate Ukrainian air defenses.
The satellite images show what reportedly appears to be an additional assembly building under construction and a housing structure for workers near North Korea’s east coast.
North Korean missiles allegedly account for only a fraction of Moscow’s strikes in Ukraine. However, the developments stoked fears among South Korea and the United States because both countries have long sought to prevent North Korea from expanding its production of ballistic missiles.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang denied that North Korea is supplying weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine, despite the countries signing a mutual defense treaty in June 2024 and vowing to boost military ties.
Meanwhile, thousands of North Korean troops are reportedly being deployed to help Russia in its war efforts.
Ukraine says Russia fires intercontinental ballistic missile
Ukraine has accused Russia of launching intercontinental ballistic missiles. The FBI says it thwarted an attack on the New York Stock Exchange. And the Pacific Northwest is experiencing a one-two punch as a “bomb cyclone” combines with an atmospheric river. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.
Ukraine says Russia fires intercontinental ballistic missile
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile during a morning attack Thursday, Nov. 21. If confirmed, this would be the first time Russia has used the powerful long-range weapon since the start of the war.
Russia’s actions follow Ukraine reportedly firing U.S. and British-made missiles at targets inside Russia this week. Russia has said Ukraine’s use of western weapons to strike inside the country would be seen as an escalation in the war.
Ukraine said Thursday’s attack from Russia targeted critical infrastructure. Ukraine’s air force said it shot down six cruise missiles during the attack.
‼️ The Ukrainian city of Dnipro became the first city in human history to be struck by an intercontinental ballistic missile. It is a historic turning point. An intercontinental ballistic missile used not on a firing range, but against a city of a million people. pic.twitter.com/TyXjY3TjFz
Florida man charged in plot to blow up New York Stock Exchange
A Florida man is facing charges after being accused of planning to blow up the New York Stock Exchange. The FBI said agents arrested Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, 30, on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
The investigation started in February after the FBI received a tip that Yener was keeping bombmaking supplies in a storage unit. Investigators said they found bombmaking sketches, watches with timers, electronic circuit boards and other electronics that could be used for building explosive devices in Yener’s Coral Springs storage unit.
Court documents indicate Yener also told undercover FBI agents he wanted to set off the bomb the week before Thanksgiving. He’s also quoted as saying “tons of people” would support an attack on the stock exchange and that his goal was to “reset” or “reboot” the U.S. government.
House Ethics Committee reaches ‘no agreement’ on release of Gaetz report
The House Ethics Committee was not able to come to an agreement Wednesday, Nov. 20, on whether to release the report on its investigation into former Congressman Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general.
Since 2021, the committee had been looking into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use against the Florida lawmaker, though, it paused its investigation for a time while the Justice Department conducted a probe of its own. The DOJ ultimately did not file any charges due to credibility problems with the witnesses.
The House committee ended its investigation last week after Gaetz resigned as a member of Congress following Trump’s nomination. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.
Wednesday’s closed-door meeting in Washington, D.C. lasted a little over two hours.
Republican Congressman Michael Guest of Mississippi, who chairs the committee, told reporters before the start of the meeting that some of the reservations he had about releasing the report were that it was not complete and had “not gone through the review process.”
Meanwhile, ranking Democrat Congresswoman Susan Wild of Pennsylvania said the decision came down to party lines with the five Republicans on the panel siding against releasing the report and the five Democrats voting in favor of it. Wild said the committee will convene again on Dec. 5 to “further consider the matter.”
Following the panel’s meeting, two Democratic congressmen each moved to compel a vote from the full House on the issue.
The Trump transition team has called the accusations against Gaetz “baseless.”
Vice President-elect JD Vance was at the Capitol Wednesday accompanying Gaetz to meetings with Republican senators. Vance was looking to shore up support prior to a confirmation hearing next year. Gaetz told reporters Wednesday night that senators have been “supportive,” and they have promised “a fair process.”
Deadly ‘bomb cyclone’ combines with atmospheric river to wreak more havoc
Parts of the west coast are now facing a new threat as a deadly “bomb cyclone” winds down: it’s now combining with an atmospheric river. The combination is expected to cause heavy downpours and lead to life-threatening flooding throughout the rest of this week.
Video from Bellevue WA of very strong wind gusts knocking down a tree onto powerlines and tree branches flying in the air.
At least two people were killed, and more than 200,000 homes and businesses remain without power in Washington state after hurricane-force winds from the bomb cyclone roared through, triggering mudslides, blocking roads and damaging homes.
Now, the atmospheric river is expected to bring up to 16 inches of rain and snow to parts of northern California and Oregon. It will turn into wet snow at higher elevations in the Cascade Mountains creating blizzard conditions there.
DOJ asks judge to force Google to sell off its Chrome web browser
The U.S. government wants to break up Google. The Department of Justice has asked a federal judge to force the sale of the Google Chrome web browser to keep the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine.
This comes after a landmark ruling earlier this year found Google violated U.S. antitrust law to maintain an abusive monopoly over the past decade.
In a 23-page document, the Justice Department also called for tighter restrictions to prevent Android from favoring Google’s search engine.
No. 2 ranked UConn defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 85-41, giving Auriemma his 1,217th career win in front of a sold-out hometown crowd, 60-plus former players, and a live goat — to signify he is now the GOAT.
US closes embassy in Kyiv over potential Russian air attack
The United States closed its embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, after officials received information about a possible air attack. This signals another twist in the escalation in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The embassy released a one-paragraph statement saying it was closing after it received specific information of a potential significant air attack on Nov. 20. The embassy instructed employees to shelter in place and be prepared in case an air alert is announced.
The message didn’t mention Russia by name. However, the Kremlin’s press secretary is quoted as saying the embassy closure is “about the course of the special military operation,” which is Russia’s formal term for its war with Ukraine.
This latest news comes after Russia accused Ukraine of firing American-made long-range missiles into Russia on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Russia said it intercepted five and destroyed a sixth.
Neither Ukraine nor the United States has commented on that Russian claim. However, the Russian foreign minister called the apparent attack an escalation by the West.
On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin lowered the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. He said the Kremlin may use nuclear weapons in the event of a critical threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as ally Belarus.
All of this comes after the Biden administration permitted Ukraine to begin using long-range missiles for strikes on Russia late last weekend.
IDF says a majority of weapons seized from Hezbollah are Russian
Israel uncovered large caches of advanced Russian-made weapons during a ground operation in southern Lebanon. The findings reveal the extent of Hezbollah’s growing arsenal, including weapons manufactured as recently as 2020, and raise concerns over regional security.
The seized weapons include Kornet anti-tank missiles and guided systems, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Military officials said many of these weapons were transported from Russia through Syria to Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon.
Reuters
Israel has long been aware of Hezbollah’s possession of older Soviet-era weapons, but this operation marked the first opportunity since 2006 to assess the full scale of its arsenal.
Approximately 60% to 70% of the weapons seized in the operation were Russian-made, significantly more advanced than initially expected.
The Kornet missiles, in particular, have been used frequently against Israeli forces, posing a considerable threat along the border. Analysts say the newly uncovered stockpile highlights Hezbollah’s bolstered combat capabilities and the strategic challenges facing Israel.
Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range US missiles
With North Korea entering the war, the Biden administration is now allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles inside Russia. And President-elect Donald Trump returned to New York for a UFC showdown this weekend while also making more presidential picks. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Nov. 18, 2024.
Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range US missiles
It’s been nearly three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, and while the U.S. has supported Ukraine since the start, President Joe Biden is now easing limitations on how U.S.-supplied weapons can be used.
The policy shift comes as President Biden’s time in office winds down and President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to limit U.S. support for Ukraine. Trump has also promised to quickly put an end to the war with Russia but has yet to say how.
Biden’s decision comes as Russia unleashed a barrage of its own missiles in Ukraine Sunday, Nov. 17. Ukrainian authorities said 10 people, including two children, were killed and dozens injured in a Russian strike on a residential building in Sumy, near the Russian border.
Earlier in the day, Russia launched its largest attack against Ukraine since August, once again targeting power plants and energy infrastructure across the country. Ukrainian authorities said at least five people were killed in those strikes.
On the social site Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said about 120 missiles and 90 drones were fired into the country, with Ukrainian air defenses downing more than 140 targets.
Israeli strike in Beirut kills Hezbollah’s top spokesman
An Israeli strike on a neighborhood in Beirut killed Hezbollah’s top spokesman, according to the militant group.
Mohammed Afif was an adviser to the late Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, whom Israel killed in an attack on Beirut in September. Afif had been responsible for Hezbollah’s media relations since 2014.
Lebanon’s health ministry said no evacuation warning was issued before the strike, which happened in the middle of the day, and four people were killed.
🔴ELIMINATED: Chief Propagandist and Spokesperson of Hezbollah, Mohammed Afif
Afif was a senior Hezbollah military operative, in contact with senior officials and directly involved in advancing and executing Hezbollah’s terrorist activities against Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out a “precise, intelligence-based strike” that “eliminated the terrorist Mohammed Afif, the chief propagandist and spokesperson of the Hezbollah terrorist organization.”
Trump attends UFC event in New York City, makes more picks for 2nd term
Over the weekend, President-elect Trump returned to Madison Square Garden to see the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s pay-per-view event. It was the first time Trump was back at the New York City venue since his rally last month and he received roaring applause from the UFC crowd Saturday night, Nov. 16, including chants of “USA!”
Trump was joined by friend and UFC President Dana White, as well as some of the names he’s recently picked to join his administration, including Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump’s oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, were also in attendance.
The president-elect also shook hands with Joe Rogan, one of the commentators for the event. Trump was a guest on Rogan’s podcast in the days leading up to the election.
Trump’s weekend also involved filling more key positions in his administration, including nominating Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy. Wright is the chief executive of Liberty Energy, a Denver, Colorado based fracking company.
He also picked current FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr to be the agency’s chairman. Carr recently made headlines after claiming Vice President Kamala Harris’ appearance on Saturday Night Live violated FCC rules.
More nominations from the president-elect are expected to come this week.
Biden becomes first sitting president to visit Amazon rainforest
President Biden made history Sunday, Nov. 17, becoming the first sitting president to visit the Amazon rainforest.
While there, Biden met indigenous leaders and visited a museum at the gateway to the amazon. He also toured the drought-shrunken waters of the Amazon River’s greatest tributary and signed a U.S. proclamation designating Nov. 17 International Conservation Day, highlighting his commitment to the preservation of the region.
He also touched on concerns the incoming Trump administration might change U.S. climate policy.
“It’s no secret that I’m leaving office in January,” Biden said. “I will leave my successor and my country in a strong foundation to build on if they choose to do so.”
Today I issued an official proclamation to support the conservation of nature around the world.
That was the most that Biden publicly referenced President-elect Trump during his South American tour.
The transition was briefly mentioned during Chinese president Xi Jinping’s remarks on Saturday, Nov. 16 during his final meeting with Biden. While he also did not mention Trump by name, Xi appeared to signal his concern over what the new administration could mean for China’s relationship with the U.S. During his campaign, Trump promised to levy 60% tariffs on Chinese imports.
Reports: WBD, NBA settle with 11-year deal; ‘Inside the NBA’ to air on ABC
Warner Brothers Discovery is back in the game when it comes to the NBA. Though the company will no longer be airing games on its TNT network after this season, the Wall Street Journal and other outlets report the two sides have come to an agreement to keep NBA programming in the Warner Bros. family.
The reports said the new deal will settle Warner Brothers Discovery’s breach of contract lawsuit, which it filed against the league after the NBA signed rights deals with Disney’s ESPN, Comcast’s NBC, and Amazon.
This 11-year agreement will see NBA content remain on Warner Bros. Discovery’s digital platforms Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. It also gives Warner Brothers Discovery the right to distribute games overseas in places such as northern Europe and parts of Latin America, excluding Mexico and Brazil.
Reports said Warner Brothers Discovery also struck a deal with Disney to license its popular TNT show “Inside the NBA,” featuring former-players-turned-commentators Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley starting next season. The show will air throughout the season on ABC and ESPN.
The deals are expected to be officially announced this week.
Netflix says 60 million households tuned in live for Tyson vs. Paul
Netflix also said 50 million households watched the co-main event that saw Katie Taylor retain her championship against Amanda Serrano. The streaming giant said that would make it the most-watched professional women’s sporting event in United States history.
Netflix said more information, like total viewers, will be released later this week.
Netflix’s future live sporting events will include NFL games on Christmas Day and WWE weekly programming starting next year.
Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force is getting pretty offensive. The JASDF flies a fleet of about 150 fifth-gen F-35 stealth fighters. Tokyo wants to ensure they’re properly armed, so it’s spending another $175 million or so to buy more Joint Strike Missiles.
The purchase marks Japan’s fifth order for JSMs since 2018. Norwegian-owned Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace designed the missiles. Kongsberg partners with Raytheon to build the JSMs, which are based on the already combat-proven Naval Strike Missile.
JSMs are stealthy, long-range, precision-guided standoff weapons designed to fit in the internal weapons bay of an F-35, thus maintaining the aircraft’s stealth capabilities as well.
Each JSM carries a 275-pound warhead, is accurate against targets on land or at sea and can hit moving targets thanks to advanced guidance and targeting systems that can even track a target automatically.
Like Naval Strike Missiles, Joint Strike Missiles use a low-altitude flight profile to avoid detection. Kongsberg said the JSM’s range is greater than 150 nautical miles, or just over 170 miles.
Because of that range, payload size and stealth characteristics, the Joint Strike Missile is considered a first-strike weapon. If Japan felt its security was imminently threatened, it may consider using these missiles to take out targets in China before Beijing has a chance to act.
China is acting ever more aggressively towards its neighbors in the Pacific.
In a nutshell, Taiwan wants independence. China doesn’t support this and may decide to invade and take the island by force, which could spark a regional conflict.
Japan doesn’t want this to happen, so it’s been heavily investing in its armed forces and has even changed some laws to make it easier to sell weapons to allies in the region.
The JASDF will be integral to heading off any Chinese aggression towards Tokyo. Japan has three air bases from which it operates its fleet of F-35As. The country owns approximately another 40 F-35Bs, which are designed for short takeoff and vertical landing from ships.
Japan recently drilled with the United States on these tactics using its new J.S. Kaga carrier, the second Japanese naval vessel capable of accommodating F-35Bs.
In a conflict, it can be assumed that these ships would operate near Japan.
F-35s have an operational range of around 1,000 miles before needing to refuel. The Nyutabaru Air Base, in southern Japan, is just 975 miles from Beijing, China’s capital.
The combination of fifth-gen stealth fighters armed with stealthy missiles makes it highly likely Japan’s jets could fly undetected just outside China’s airspace and target launchers, silos, trucks, shipyards, depots and more.
Japan isn’t the only U.S. partner in the Pacific with Joint Strike Missiles, either. Australia announced it’s buying some too and even plans to build a factory to build them. In fact, JSMs are in such high demand that Kongsberg is building another factory in Virginia to keep up.
North Korea fires short-range missiles hours before US election
North Korea launched a series of short-range ballistic missiles early Tuesday, Nov. 5, marking its second missile test since late October, and occurring mere hours before the U.S. presidential election. The latest launch follows North Korea’s recent test of an advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), reportedly capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that several of the North Korean missiles traveled approximately 250 miles before landing in waters east of the Korean Peninsula. The launch appears to be a direct response to recent U.S.-led military drills conducted over the weekend.
As part of those drills, the United States conducted joint exercises with South Korea and Japan, deploying a B-1B bomber alongside South Korean and Japanese fighter jets. The exercise, intended as a show of strength, was aimed at reinforcing regional readiness. North Korea swiftly condemned the drills as hostile.
Kim Yo Jong, sister and key spokesperson for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, described the trilateral exercise as showing the “most hostile and dangerous aggressive nature of the enemy toward our Republic.” Pyongyang characterized the drills as a rehearsal for invasion.
During a recent U.N. Security Council meeting, U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood condemned North Korea’s ongoing missile development. Wood accused Russia and China of enabling Pyongyang by blocking international accountability efforts.
Russian officials defended North Korea’s missile tests, framing them as a response to U.S. “provocations.” Moscow could also stand to benefit from North Korea’s testing, as Russia has become one of North Korea’s largest weapons buyers.
Meanwhile, South Korea has requested additional military support from the United States to bolster its defenses. Washington approved a military aid package worth nearly $5 billion, which includes early warning and control systems to enhance Seoul’s missile detection capabilities.
North Korea fires ICBM; US, South Korea respond with simulated strikes
North Korea conducted a significant intercontinental ballistic missile test early Thursday, Oct. 31, with U.S. and South Korea responding swiftly through coordinated air drills, simulating strikes on North Korean missile targets. This marks North Korea’s first long-range missile test in almost a year, a launch that South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff suggest may be a display of strength ahead of the U.S. presidential election.
The missile, launched from near Pyongyang, reached a record altitude of 4,300 miles and stayed airborne for over 80 minutes — one of the longest North Korean missile flights to date.
Fired at a steep angle to avoid neighboring airspace, the missile’s trajectory aligns with North Korea’s recent strategy to showcase range capability without provoking further regional backlash.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch, describing it as “appropriate military action” in response to perceived threats, signaling his continued commitment to expanding North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.
This latest test, in clear defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting North Korea from conducting such long-range nuclear-capable missile tests, underscores the country’s growing missile advancements.
Japan confirmed the missile’s landing approximately 190 miles from Okushiri Island near Russia’s coast, with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani calling the launch a direct threat to both Japan and international stability.
In response to the North’s ICBM launch, U.S., South Korean and Japanese forces conducted joint air exercises involving over 100 aircraft, aimed at reinforcing their defense posture and deterring further North Korean provocations.
The drills simulated strikes on mock North Korean missile sites, underscoring the allies’ preparedness and commitment to regional security.
Experts say North Korea’s high-angle missile tests could potentially reach up to 9,300 miles on a standard, flatter trajectory, which would place the U.S. mainland within range. However, uncertainties remain regarding North Korea’s ability to accurately deliver a nuclear warhead over such distances.
Hezbollah launches more attacks as it announces new leader in wake of deaths
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah announced on Tuesday, Oct. 29, that it had selected Sheikh Naim Kassem to be its next leader. Kassem has been serving as the de facto leader of the Iran proxy group ever since an Israeli airstrike killed late leader Hassan Nasrallah and another Israeli airstrike took out Hashem Safieddine, who many believed would have been the next leader of Hezbollah.
Israel’s defense minister responded to the selection on the social media platform X, posting, “Temporary appointment. Not for long.”
Kassem has been the deputy leader of the group over the past three decades. He’ll now serve as secretary general.
After the announcement, the Iran proxy group vowed to continue Nasrallah’s policies until “victory is achieved.”
Shortly afterward, eight Australian soldiers in a United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon were reportedly slightly injured in a suspected Hezbollah missile strike. Australia’s Defense Ministry condemned the attack.
Hezbollah also fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel on Tuesday, killing at least one person, according to Israeli authorities.
The militant group has launched rockets into Israel since the start of Israel’s war against Hamas, which is also an Iran proxy group.
