Russian forces ordered to intensify attacks across Ukraine

"Russia’s defense minister on Saturday ordered his forces to intensify attacks “in all
operational sectors” of Ukraine, days after President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia had not “started in earnest yet” its efforts as the war approaches its five-month mark." WP

Ukrainian cargo plane crashes over Greece: Residents were 'hearing explosions' for hours

"A cargo plane operated by a Ukrainian carrier has crashed in Northern Greece, officials said.

Greece’s Civil Aviation authorities said residents of Kavala, Greece heard loud explosions and saw a fireball in the sky after an Antonov cargo plane heading from Serbia to Jordan went down on Saturday.

The Greek aviation authorities just before the crash they made contact with the pilot, who reported a problem in one of the plane's engines and requested an emergency landing." FOX

 

Russia strikes south Ukraine city, presses attacks in the east

"Russian missiles hit industrial facilities at a strategic city in southern Ukraine Sunday as
Moscow continued efforts to expand its gains in the country’s east.

Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych said that the Russian missiles struck an industrial and infrastructure facility in the city, a key shipbuilding center in the estuary of the Southern Bug river." CNBC

Rockets fired from Gaza soon after Biden visit

"Multiple rockets have been launched into Israel from Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces, which shared footage of the attack in progress, just hours after US President Joe Biden departed the country." RT

Ukrainian Military Uses Kamikaze Drone at Residential Area in Energodar, Zaporozhye

"Around 2:20 p.m [11:20 GMT], the Security Service of Ukraine [SBU] used the kamikaze
drone on the residential area in Energodar," the spokesman said.

He added that the SBU attempted to deploy one more kamikaze drone at the residential area." Sputnik

Biden says Saudis will help lower gas prices — after denying he’d beg for more oil

"Biden told reporters in Saudi Arabia that gas prices are likely to come down in ‘the next
couple of weeks” after he discussed oil production with killer crown prince Mohammed bin Salman — despite claiming 15 days ago that the issue had nothing to do with his visit.

Biden mentioned energy prominently while describing a private meeting with bin Salman — as high pump prices and the worst inflation in 41 years have sent the president’s approval rating as low as 33%." NYP

Russia’s defense minister pays surprise visit to Ukraine

"Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has inspected Russian troops involved in the ongoing military operation in neighboring Ukraine, the ministry revealed.

Shoigu met the commanding officers of the ‘South’ and ‘Center’ troops, Army General Sergey Surovikin and Colonel General Alexander Lapin, as well as other senior commanding officers." RT

WaPo Condemns Biden For "Shameful" MBS Fist-Bump; "Worse Than A Handshake"

"Biden on Friday that Saudi Crown Prince MBS said he wasn't responsible for the 2018
murder of WaPo columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

"He basically said that he was not personally responsible for it. I indicated I thought he was," said Biden.

"What happened to Khashoggi was outrageous," he added.

 The Washington Post, Jamal Khashoggi's former employer, has slammed President Biden for his "shameful" fist-bump with Mohammed bin Salman, writing in a statement that it "projected a level of intimacy and comfort that delivers to MBS the unwarranted redemption he has been desperately seeking." ZH

US House passes amendment to exempt India under CAATSA over Russia’s S-400 missile deal

"In a major shot in the arm of India over its purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile system, the US
House of Committee has passed a legislative amendment through voice vote that exempts New Delhi from the punitive CAATSA sanctions.

The CAATSA was introduced in 2017 to punish those countries with sanctions who engage in transactions with the Russian defence and intelligence sectors." WION

A new dominant omicron strain in the U.S. is driving up cases — and reinfections

"The BA.5 variant is now the most dominant strain of COVID-19 in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And while it's hard to get an exact count — given how many people are taking rapid tests at home — there are indications that both reinfections and hospitalizations are increasing. Dr. Bob Wachter, the chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, says BA.5 is highly transmissible and manages to at least partially sidestep some of the immunity people may have from prior infections and vaccinations." NPR

 

Russian forces destroy platoon of US M777 howitzers in Ukraine operation

"A battery of multiple launch rocket systems near Slavyansk and a platoon of multiple rocket
launchers in the area of Nikolayevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic were also destroyed in counter-battery fire." Tass

Germany Plans ‘Warm Up Spaces’ in Response to Gas Shortages

"Cities across Germany are planning to use sports arenas and exhibition halls as ‘warm up
spaces’ this winter to help freezing citizens who are unable to afford skyrocketing energy costs.

Bild newspaper reveals how the the nation’s Cities and Municipalities Association has urged local authorities to set aside public spaces to help vulnerable citizens in the colder months." SummitNews

"The Damage Could Be Huge": Chinese Banks Tumble, Swept Up In Mortgage Nonpayment Scandal As Borrowers Revolt

"Shares of China’s banks extended their slide to a two-year low amid fears widespread

mortgage non-payments would spark contagion within the banking sector even after the local banking and insurance regulator said it will maintain continuity and stability of financing policies for the real estate sector.

China Central Television said on its WeChat page that the regulator will guide financial institutions to participate in risk disposals based on market conditions, after researcher China Real Estate Information Corp. reported that home buyers had stopped mortgage payments on at least 100 projects in more than 50 cities as of Wednesday, spurring concerns that the quality of home loans is in rapid decline and could culminate in a 2007-like credit/housing bubble blow up.

The boycotts raise the risk of mortgage defaults, a new set of troubles for banks that are already squeezed by exposure to ailing property developers. Mortgages make up almost 20% of total bank loans outstanding, amounting to about $5.8 trillion." ZeroHedge

US crypto investor reported held by separatists

"The US state department has said it is aware of reports an American national living in
Ukraine is being held captive by pro-Russian separatists. 

Suedi Murekezi, 35, a Rwandan-born crypto investor, is said to have been arrested last month in the Russian-occupied port city of Kherson. Friends and family say the US Air Force veteran has been falsely accused of joining pro-Ukraine protests. He is reportedly in the same jail as two US fighters captured last month." BBC

Russians ‘destroying everything they see’ in the Donbas; many dead and wounded after missiles hit Ukrainian city

"Eastern Ukraine continues to see intense assaults from Russian forces, according to the
Ukrainian military, but the British Defense Ministry has questioned whether Russia has made any significant advances in the last 72 hours.

Russian forces have attacked the west-central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia, with at least 21 dead and 90 wounded, according to latest report from the emergency services on the scene." CNBC