Zelensky hikes taxes

"Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky signed into law an unpopular tax increase on Thursday to help remedy the country’s growing budget deficit. Rates will increase by between 1.5% and 5% starting December 1." RT

123 combat clashes, most fighting on Kurakhove front

"Ukrainian Defense Forces have engaged in 123 combat clashes with Russian invaders, with over half of the attacks occurring in the Kurakhove, Vremivka, and Pokrovsk sectors.
In the Kharkiv sector, two enemy assaults were repelled near Vovchansk and Tykhe, with one battle still ongoing.

In the Kupiansk sector, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian positions six times, with Ukrainians defenders repelling assaults near Kolisnykivka, Lozova, Pershotravneve, and Zelenyi Hai.
In the Lyman sector, clashes occurred near Hrekivka, Novoyehorivka, Terny, Yampolivka, Dibrova, Torske, Zarichne, Hryhorivka, and the Serebriansky Forest. Ukrainian forces have already repelled 16 attacks today.
In the Kramatorsk sector, two assaults took place near Chasiv Yar and Bila Hora, with both battles still ongoing.
In the Toretsk sector, Ukrainian forces thwarted an enemy attack near Druzhba, while Russian aviation struck Oleksandro-Kalynove and Oleksandro-Shultyne.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian troops made 21 attempts to displace Ukrainian defenders near Myroliubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Dachenske, Chumatske, Novyi Trud, and Zhovte. Of these, 19 attacks were repelled, with heavy enemy losses in manpower reported.
In the Kurakhove sector, the fiercest fighting has been reported, with 33 Russian attacks aimed at advancing near Sontsivka, Berestky, Novodmytrivka, Zoria, Kurakhove, Dachne, Dalnie, Yelyzavetivka, Hannivka, and Uspenivka. Ten battles are ongoing.
In the Vremivka sector, Russian forces launched 22 attacks near Veselyi Hai, Kostiantynopolske, Sukhi Yaly, Rozdolne, and Novodarivka. Eleven clashes are still underway; guided airstrikes hit Novosilka and Makarivka.
In the Huliaipole sector, enemy forces used attack aircraft, striking Huliaipole with unguided rockets.
In the Prydniprovske sector, a single assault on the Ukrainian positions was repelled." 

Ukrin

Chad Kicks French Troops Out, Abruptly Ending Defense Agreement

"The government of Chad announced on Thursday it has canceled its military cooperation pact with France, its former colonial ruler.
The decision, which took observers in both Chad and France by surprise, means the roughly 1,000 French troops stationed in Chad will have to withdraw.
“This is not a break with France like Niger or elsewhere,” Chad’s Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement posted to Facebook.
Koulamallah said France remains an “essential partner,” but the French “must now also consider that Chad has grown up, matured and is a sovereign state that is very jealous of its sovereignty.” Breitbart

Ceasefire Negotiator: Iran Will ‘Try’ to Re-Arm Hezbollah, But We’ll ‘Try’ to Ensure That’s ‘At Least Diminished’

"U.S. Special Envoy Amos Hochstein, who was the lead negotiator in the Lebanon ceasefire

negotiations, stated that Iran will try to re-arm Hezbollah in the wake of the ceasefire deal, but Iran has been weakened and “we’re going to try to make sure that the re-arming, which happens from Iran through Syria, is at least diminished, slowed down, if not eliminated.”
“PBS NewsHour” Foreign Affairs and Defense Correspondent Nick Schifrin asked, “What’s to prevent Iran from filling in those gaps that Hezbollah now has?”
Hochstein responded, “Well, they’re going to try. But I would say Iran is significantly weaker today, as well, than they have been. And part of this agreement is we’re going to try to make sure that the re-arming, which happens from Iran through Syria, is at least diminished, slowed down, if not eliminated.” Breitbart

NATO warships surround Chinese ship suspected of sabotaging undersea internet cables — ship allegedly dragged anchor 100 miles

"Two undersea internet cables connecting Finland and Sweden to Central Europe were cut last week, with authorities suspecting sabotage. According to the Wall Street Journal, investigators suspect that the Yi Peng 3, a Chinese bulk carrier traveling to Egypt from Russia and loaded with fertilizer, deliberately dropped its anchor in Swedish waters to sever the BCS East-West Interlink cable connecting it to Lithuania and then did it again the following day to damage the C-Lion1 cable between Finland and Germany. In total, they suspect the ship dragged its anchor for over 100 miles.

“It’s extremely unlikely that the captain would not have noticed that his ship dropped and dragged its anchor, losing speed for hours and cutting cables on the way,” said one of the investigators handling the probe. What’s more concerning is that the crew allegedly turned off the ship’s transponder during this time, making it impossible for the Automatic Identification System to track its movement. After the ship hit the second undersea cable, the investigators said that it zigzagged, raised its anchor, and continued underway.
Open maritime tracking sources put the Yi Peng 3 in international waters between Denmark and Sweden. However, it’s currently stopped and surrounded by NATO ships as the investigation is underway. According to one source, the ship’s anchor and hull have damage consistent with dragging and cable damage.
At the moment, Reuters said that Swedish authorities are talking with Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, the ship's owners, to sail it back into Swedish waters. However, since the Yi Peng 3 is anchored in international waters, NATO cannot force it to sail into any port under international maritime law for further investigation." MS

Putin Threatens Ukrainian Capital With New Hypersonic Missile

"Another day, another record-setting Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine at a moment the West is escalating its support to Kiev.

President Vladimir Putin announced to security officials at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in Kazakhstan that 100 drones and 90 missiles were launched at Ukraine over the last 48 hours "in response to strikes deep" inside Russia.
These have included attacks with US and UK-supplied long-range missiles, which Russia has acknowledged killed and wounded some personnel, and damaged a radar site in Kursk.
"We carried out a comprehensive strike," Putin said Thursday. "It was a response to ongoing attacks on our territory using [U.S.-supplied] ATACMS missiles." ZeroHedge