https://english.almayadeen.net/news/economics/sri-lanka-under-29-billion-condition-to-remedy-economic-cris

Sri Lanka under $2.9 billion condition to remedy economic crisis

The country has been overpowered with months of lack of food, fuel, and medicine, extended power cuts, and inflation following a foreign exchange crisis that left importers unable to pay for vital goods and a turn of events with the island's President chased from the country and bankruptcy filed with mounting foreign debt.

July witnessed huge protests in the country, and an angry crowd entered the official residence of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who as a result fled the island and issued his resignation from Singapore.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) board will need to agree on Thursday's staff agreement, which depends on Sri Lanka finalizing a deal to restructure its $51 billion in foreign debt with creditors. The IMF has set a $2.9 billion bailout amount for the revival of the country's economy.

In a statement after talks in the capital Colombo, the IMF stated that "Sri Lanka has been facing an acute crisis… disproportionately borne by the poor and vulnerable…. the objectives of Sri Lanka's new Fund-supported program are to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability," adding that a "good faith agreement" with creditors alongside debt sustainability was considered crucial to be met before the lender provides the funds.

The country's biggest bilateral lender, China, which accounts for approximately 10% of borrowings, confirmed it is ready to maintain close contact with Sri Lanka and "meet the challenges together," commenting that "we will together maintain a healthy and stable development of relations under our trade agreement [China-Ceylon Rice Rubber Pact signed in 1952]," according to the Chinese Commerce Ministry Spokesperson Shu Jueting.

According to IMF, Sri Lanka agreed to increase revenue and remove subsidies, while ensuring a flexible exchange rate and rebuilding its foreign reserves, which had hit rock bottom.

Price increases of 64.3%

After his predecessor escaped, President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced additional tax increases and drastic reforms as part of efforts to bring debt under control, as his policies and government had already bumped up prices on fuel and electricity more than thrice and removed energy subsidies, a key pre-condition for the IMF bailout.

Sri Lanka's unforeseen economic crisis began when the country ran out of foreign exchange to buy the goods and services needed to maintain its import-reliant economy running.

Against the greenback this year, the Sri Lankan rupee has also lost more than 45% of its value.

The coronavirus pandemic was a hard hit to the island's tourism industry, drying up foreign remittances from Sri Lankans working abroad who are both considered key foreign exchange earners and producers.

Rajapaksa's former government was condemned for introducing unsustainable tax cuts that bolstered government debt and aggravated the crisis, whereby inflation hit a monthly record in August with the country's main standard showing price average rises of 64.3%.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-ksa-and-israel-to-build-a-fleet-of-drones-against-iran:-w

US, KSA, and 'Israel' to build a fleet of drones against Iran: WSJ

The US Navy, along with "Israel," Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern countries, is working to establish a network of unmanned drones to limit Iran's military in the region; a program that the Pentagon hopes will serve as a model for operations around the world.

US commanders declined to reveal the number of airborne and marine drones deployed by the US and its partners or to provide data on where and how they are employed, citing secret information. However, they claim that unmanned vessels and aircraft are providing them with improved visibility over the region's seas.

The Navy plans to have 100 tiny surveillance drones operating from the Suez Canal in Egypt to waters off the Iranian coast by next summer, relaying data to a command center in Bahrain, the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet.

“I think we are truly on the cusp of an unmanned technological revolution,” said Capt. Michael Brasseur, who heads the US Navy task force working on the drone fleet in the Middle East.

The drone effort, now in its sixth month, is part of a growing cooperation partnership between the United States, "Israel", and normalizing Gulf nations. It is similar to another US-led initiative to bring "Israel" and its Gulf neighbors together to form a regional air-"defense" network.

What are the drone capabilities?

US Navy officers and private contractors monitor the drones' movement from the Robotic Operation Center in Manama. When the drones locate "dark targets" or "suspected threats", video screens flash red.

The drones, which can float for up to six months at sea, can send back detailed photographs and data. Analysts examine the photographs to see their depictions.

It is claimed that the drones being tested right now are unarmed. Defense analysts, however, expect that the Navy will eventually arm some of its ships, which will undoubtedly cause fierce debate.

Concerns have been expressed by US senators about the Navy's ambitions to create larger unmanned ships, which might cost billions of dollars. And the military must still figure out how to employ smaller drones, shield them from attack, and act on the data they transmit.

The US drone operations amid mounting US concern about Iran’s expanding influence in one of the world’s most important economic thoroughfares, right in Iran's backyard. And to this end, Tehran deployed ships and submarines equipped with aerial drones and has warned it is prepared to use them against any imminent danger threatening its interests in the region.

“If the enemies make a mistake, these drones will present them with a regrettable response,” Abdolrahim Mousavi, an Iranian army commander, told reporters during a recent visit by President Biden to the region thousands of miles away from home.

Red Sea exercises

Earlier this year, the US Navy confirmed that it carried out maritime maneuvers, called the International Maritime Exercise (IMX), in which 9,000 people from 60 countries participated. The 18-day biennial exercises were launched on January 31.

The exercises, which took place in the Red Sea, were led by the Israeli forces, as well as many other countries that do not have official diplomatic ties with "Israel", including Pakistan.

The US Navy is testing a range of unmanned craft, including one that looks like a speedboat and can reach speeds of nearly 90 miles an hour. It is also working with Predator-style aerial drones and the Saildrone, which can stay at sea for six months.

The true test of the drones will be whether they provide intelligence that leads to action—such as the seizure of contraband cargo.

“Just watching alone might limit Iran’s behavior,” said Stacie Pettyjohn, director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security. “But if they realize that they are not going to follow through and do anything, it may not be much of a deterrent,” she claimed.

The Israeli occupation forces confirmed on June 2 that "Israel" has concluded its "Chariots of Fire" exercises in the Red Sea, which included a Dolphin-class submarine and Sa’ar corvettes.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-highly-prioritizes-israeli-lebanese-maritime-border-dispu

US 'highly prioritizes' Israeli-Lebanese maritime border dispute

The Biden administration regards as a "key priority" that Beirut and "Tel Aviv" come to an agreement regarding their dispute over the Lebanese-Israeli maritime borders, a White House official said on Wednesday.

US mediator in the file of the maritime border dispute Amos Hochstein is set to go to Beirut and occupied Al-Quds next week, Israeli officials have said, to continue the efforts aimed at bridging the gap between the two and striking a deal that would help prevent an escalation.

President Biden raised the maritime border dispute during a call with Israeli occupation Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Wednesday and said Hochstein would arrive in the region in the coming days, an Israeli official said.

Hochstein landed in Paris earlier in the week for talks with French officials about the issue between Beirut and "Tel Aviv".

Officials within the Israeli occupation said the US mediator was expected to meet with Total executives, the French energy conglomerate, as the corporation will have a stake in any future agreement struck about the maritime borders.

Though Hochstein has held calls with several Lebanese and Israeli officials, the latter said the process of drafting an agreement is yet to start.

"We continue to narrow the gaps between the parties and believe a lasting compromise is possible," a White House official said, noting that Hochstein is holding talks on a daily basis with Lebanese and Israeli officials.

The Israeli Channel 14 website reported, earlier, that the ongoing indirect negotiations between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation regarding the demarcation of the maritime borders indicate the possibility of reaching a "permanent settlement," although "several parties in Israel believe that there will be painful concessions, particularly regarding details in the agreement."

The Israeli occupation had given in July the United States an updated proposal regarding "Tel Aviv's" maritime borders with Lebanon, Israeli newspaper Walla! said on Wednesday.

Israeli media quoted last week a senior Israeli official in the gas sector as saying that the maritime border demarcation agreement that is taking shape with Lebanon is a complete surrender by "Israel", noting that "Israel's" submission is a great victory for Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Hochstein last visited the region in early August, meeting with Lebanese officials in Beirut and then heading down to occupied Palestine for meeting with their Israeli counterparts.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/pentagon-must-speed-up-on-military-research-efforts:-us-dod

Pentagon must speed up on military research efforts: US DoD

The US must accelerate and streamline its defense research programs in order to meet the challenges posed by evolving threats, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said on Wednesday.

"But today, we have to evolve faster than the threats evolve - which means our capabilities must be designed and built to be flexible, adaptable, and interoperable from the beginning," Hicks said during remarks at a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) event. "We have to shrink that ‘lab-to-fab’ timeline from decades to years, or even months - which means we’ve got to be thinking early and often about what happens after DARPA proves a concept and prototypes a capability."

Hicks cited so-called threats from strategic competitors such as China, Russia, DPRK, and Iran as challenges met with innovation. For that reason, the Biden administration’s defense budget request for the coming fiscal year includes the largest-ever investment in research and development, Hicks said.

Interagency work and collaboration across sectors and borders will be critical to innovation within the commercial and technological ecosystems of other aligned countries, according to Hicks.

The Pentagon is in a "persistent competition for advantage," Hicks said.

Hicks’ remarks were part of a "DARPA Forward" event at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. The conference is part of a DARPA-sponsored series of conferences at universities across the country in an effort to spur innovation and help deliver US technological advantages, according to the agency.

Mounting tensions between the two blocs have been on the rise due to the Russian-Ukraine war that is further exposing the West's ambitions of establishing a unipolar world.

This tension has likewise surfaced in a number of other issues, such as the Russian-Chinese Arctic Cooperation and the provoking visits of US officials to the island of Taiwan.

UK officials have also warned that China and Russia of weakening the global security architecture due to the use and development of space and cyber technologies and called for a need of reestablishing a balance of power so as to avoid uncontrolled conflict.

Russian and Chinese officials have been quick to respond to the West's criticism. Recent comments delivered by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg regarding the Sino-Russian arctic cooperation were slammed as "irresponsible" by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, calling Stoltenberg out for instigating "dangerous thinking" and exporting a Cold War mentality that would recreate bloc confrontation.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has also several times accused the US of irresponsible behavior and lack of remorse for misdeeds. In a letter sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Lavrov called attention to his responsibility to require the US to "behave decently" after the UNHRC attempted to suspend Russia's membership in the sub-organization per US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's request.

Lavrov also said earlier this month that attempts by the US to establish dominance in every corner of the globe are futile and reflect Washington's policy of impunity. This was made in reference to "the policy of lawlessness demonstrated by the US colleagues who are seeking to establish their dominance" on the global stage.

He also criticized the US and its allies for providing a racist division of the world through the Western-imposed "rules-based order".

"We categorically reject the neocolonial rules-based order’ being imposed by the US-led West. This order provides for a racist division of the world into a privileged group of countries who a priori have the right of any action and the rest of the world, obliged to follow the tracks of thisgolden billion’ and service their interests." - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/un-renews-unifil-mandate-for-one-year

UN renews UNIFIL mandate for one year

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday renewed the mandate of the UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon for one year, asking the UNIFIL to continue providing logistical support for the Lebanese army for another six months.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been in the Lebanese South since 1978 as a "buffer" between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation as the two parties are technically still in a state of war.

The Security Council decided, at the request of Beirut, to extend the 10,000-strong force's mandate until August 2023.

The resolution was adopted by the council's 15 members, who stressed in particulate the "risk that violations of the cessation of hostilities could lead to a new conflict that none of the parties or the region can afford."

The Israeli occupation is notorious for continuously sending drones violating Lebanese airspace, bugging the Lebanese people and disturbing the silence of their nights for their reconnaissance operations.

The Israeli occupation also violates Lebanon's sovereignty by continuously using its airspace to launch aggression against Syria.

But the resolution stressed that the support was "temporary" and "should not be considered as a precedent… nor a long term solution." The resolution was extended until February 28, 2023.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-kiev-planned-counteroffensive-to-stop-overextending-force

US, Kiev planned counteroffensive to stop overextending forces

The United States and Ukraine collaborated to plan Kiev’s alleged counteroffensive in the country's south to guarantee they did not overextend forces and get stuck fighting on multiple fronts, CNN reported on Wednesday.

According to US, western and Ukrainian sources, Pentagon conducted so-called “war-gaming” with Ukraine to help the country understand how to muster and apply the forces needed to be effective in various situations.

At first, Ukraine was considering a larger counteroffensive but reduced the scope of its mission to the south in the Kherson region, the report said.

The Ukrainian armed forces lost some 1,700 soldiers over the past two days during Kiev's attempts to resume counteroffensives in Ukraine's south, the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday.

Ukraine launched the counteroffensive against the areas that came under the control of Russian and Donbass forces.

"During the two days of unsuccessful attacks on the Mykolaiv-Kryvyi Rih and other directions, Ukrainian troops lost four combat aircraft — two Su-25s, one Su-24, and one MiG-29. Three Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters were shot down in the air," Moscow's ministry said.

Just two days ago, Russia's military repelled an offensive launched by the Ukrainian armed forces in Mykolaiv and Kherson, which they carried out at the behest of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"Today, during the day, on the direct orders of Zelenskyy, Ukrainian troops attempted an offensive in Mykolaiv and Kherson regions in three directions," the Russian defense ministry said on Monday.

"As a result of the active defense of the grouping of Russian troops, units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces suffered heavy losses," the ministry added. "Another attempt at offensive actions by the enemy failed miserably."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/russia-launches-vostok-2022-military-exercises-in-primorsky

Russia launches Vostok 2022 military exercises in Primorsky region

The grand opening of the Vostok-2022 strategic military exercises took place at the Sergeevsky training ground in Russia's Primorsky Region on Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"On August 31, the opening ceremony of the Vostok-2022 strategic command post exercises [SCPE] took place at the Sergeevsky training ground in the Primorsky Region. In a solemn atmosphere, during the general construction of military contingents participating in the SCPE, the flag of the Vostok-2022 exercises was raised," the ministry told reporters.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Col. Gen. Yunus-Bek Evkurov declared the drills open in the presence of leaders of foreign military contingents.

"These exercises … help to develop a common understanding of the organization of troop training, their command, and interaction at the operational and tactical levels, strengthen friendship and camaraderie between our servicemen," Evkurov said during the ceremony.

Representatives of Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Syria, and Tajikistan also delivered welcoming speeches, after which servicemen of the countries participating in the drills marched solemnly.

The strategic Vostok-2022 military exercises will take place in Russia's Eastern Military District from September 1-7. The drills will involve members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, as well as other partner states. Over 50,000 people, and more than 5,000 units of weapons and military equipment, including 140 aircraft, 60 warships, boats, and support vessels will be involved in the maneuvers.

In particular, more than 2,000 Chinese soldiers and 300 units of Chinese automotive military equipment will take part in the Vostok-2022 exercises, the Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday, citing China's command and control task force.

US remarks

Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder on Wednesday, commenting on the Russia-led 2022 Vostok drills, said all nations have a right to conduct exercises but the United States will keep an eye on this particular one given the nature of the countries participating.

"Certainly, it is the right of all militaries and all nations that have militaries to conduct exercises… It’s certainly something that we’ll keep an eye on given the nature of those nations," Ryder said during a press briefing.

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said earlier today that the US must accelerate and streamline its defense research programs in order to meet the challenges posed by evolving threats.

Hicks cited so-called threats from strategic competitors such as China, Russia, DPRK, and Iran as challenges met with innovation. For that reason, the Biden administration’s defense budget request for the coming fiscal year includes the largest-ever investment in research and development, Hicks said.

Tensions fueled by polarization

Mounting tensions between the two blocs have been on the rise due to the Russian-Ukraine war that is further exposing the West's ambitions of establishing a unipolar world.

This tension has likewise surfaced in a number of other issues, such as the Russian-Chinese Arctic Cooperation and the provoking visits of US officials to the island of Taiwan.

UK officials have also warned that China and Russia of weakening the global security architecture due to the use and development of space and cyber technologies and called for a need of reestablishing a balance of power so as to avoid uncontrolled conflict.

Russian and Chinese officials have been quick to respond to the West's criticism. Recent comments delivered by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg regarding the Sino-Russian arctic cooperation were slammed as "irresponsible" by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, calling Stoltenberg out for instigating "dangerous thinking" and exporting a Cold War mentality that would recreate bloc confrontation.

Part 1

>>17476898

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has also several times accused the US of irresponsible behavior and lack of remorse for misdeeds. In a letter sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Lavrov called attention to his responsibility to require the US to "behave decently" after the UNHRC attempted to suspend Russia's membership in the sub-organization per US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's request.

Lavrov also said earlier this month that attempts by the US to establish dominance in every corner of the globe are futile and reflect Washington's policy of impunity. This was made in reference to "the policy of lawlessness demonstrated by the US colleagues who are seeking to establish their dominance" on the global stage.

He also criticized the US and its allies for providing a racist division of the world through the Western-imposed "rules-based order" while highlighting that his country has been expanding and deepening "fruitful cooperation with the overwhelming majority of members of the global community who represent more than 80% of the planet’s population."

Part 2 - End

>> More 17 coms from Russia since yesterday.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/ship-run-aground-in-suez-canal-is-set-free

Ship run aground in Suez Canal is set free

Media sources reported, citing the canal's administration, that a tanker that interrupted navigation in the Suez Canal has been refloated after having been run aground for a few hours.

Media reported earlier that navigation in the Suez Canal was halted due to a stranded Singapore-flagged oil tanker.

Singapore-Flagged Tanker Runs Aground in Suez Canal

Media sources reported that a Singapore-flagged tanker has run aground in the Suez Canal and that tug boats were working to release the ship, which in turn impeded navigation in the canal.

The Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean and Red seas, carries about 10% of global trade, including 7% of global oil. The canal, which first opened in 1869, provides Egypt with both national pride and foreign currency. The unprecedented 2021 revenues came as the shipping industry is still reeling from the effects of a two-year coronavirus pandemic.

The canal, one of the world's most important waterways, was closed for six days in March after a massive Panama-flagged container ship, the Ever Given, ran aground in the waterway's single lane.

Technical problem was main cause

The Suez Canal Authority chief Osama Rabie said the reason leading to the grounding of a tanker was a technical steering problem.

"The AFFINITY tanker with a displacement of 64,000 tonnes, which ran aground… due to a technical malfunction in the steering system, has been successfully refloated," Rabie said.

George Safwat, a spokesman for the Suez Canal Authority, said the vessel sailed from Portugal and was en route to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port of Yanbu.

>> Not Again.

10% and then 7 % - that makes it a 17

Affinity V and in the previous post of Russian drills it was Vostok along with 17 in it as well >>17476898

Singapore also in Qdrops.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/polands-government-asked-germany-for-13-trillion-in-war-repa

Poland's government asked Germany for €1.3 trillion in war reparations

Poland's government on Thursday estimated the financial cost of World War II losses to be 1.3 trillion euros (dollars) and said it would "ask Germany to negotiate these reparations".

"It is a major sum of 6.2 trillion" zloty, Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, head of the ruling Law and Justice party, said, adding that receiving reparations would be a "long and difficult" process.

Kaczynski was speaking at a conference dedicated to the presentation of a report on Poland's losses in the 1939-1945 war.

Since coming to power in 2015, Poland's governing Law and Justice (PiS) party has often championed the issue of war reparations.

Work on the reparations report began in 2017 when the conservative government insisted that Germany had a "moral duty" in the matter.

Germany has often rejected Poland's claims, pointing to a 1953 decision by Poland to renunciate reparation claims against East Germany.

On Thursday, Kaczynski brought the issue back to front and center.

"We have not only prepared a report… but we have also taken a decision, a decision on further action," Kaczynski said.

"That action is to ask Germany to negotiate these reparations. And this is a decision that we will implement," he added.

"The Germans invaded Poland and did us enormous damage. The occupation was unbelievably criminal, unbelievably cruel, and caused effects that in many cases continue to this day," the PiS president said.

Germany FM: The issue of reparations to Poland is "closed"

Poland's World War II reparations are "closed," according to a spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry cited by RIA Novosti, and Germany's attitude toward them is unaltered.

"The position of the federal government is unchanged, the issue of reparations is closed. Poland refused further reparations a long time ago, in 1953, and repeatedly confirmed this refusal. This is a necessary basis for today's European order," the spokesman said.

He continued by saying that Germany was still morally and politically accountable for World War II.

>>17476953

Bad boys, Bad boys, what you gonna do, what you gonna do when they come for you.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-media:-hezbollah-show-of-force-brought-lebanon-achie

Israeli media: Hezbollah 'show of force' brought Lebanon achievements

The Israeli expert on Arab affairs, Yoni Ben Menachem, commented on the developments in the file of demarcating the maritime borders between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation.

On Twitter, Ben Menachem said Hezbollah's show of force against "Israel" secures major achievements for Lebanon in the ongoing negotiations on the maritime borders.

He underlined that this step is a dangerous precedent, stressing that "Israel" must take the initiative and not allow Hezbollah to change the rules of the game.

A few days ago, Israeli media reported that an agreement with Lebanon is very close after "Israel" accepted that the Qana field be completely controlled by Lebanon, in exchange for the entire Karish field.

However, Lebanese Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab slammed all the latest negative and positive reports about the course of negotiations, whether by Israeli or international media, as “mere speculations that are not based on any information or official stances.”

In the same context, Israeli media said that the Americans are very concerned about the possibility of the situation deteriorating between "Israel" and Hezbollah.

According to the media, it seemed that US President Joe Biden was not interfering in the border demarcation matter, but on Wednesday the White House entered with full force on the issue of the agreement with Lebanon.

Sayyed Nasrallah: ‘Israel’s’ threats regarding demarcation deal are worthless

It is noteworthy that Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah warned that "If Lebanon does not obtain the rights demanded by the Lebanese state, we are heading toward an escalation whether or not the nuclear agreement is signed."

Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that "the focus in Lebanon must be on Karish and the Lebanese [maritime] border, as well as the US mediator that is still wasting time amid a time constraint."

On August 9, the Lebanese leader warned that any attempt to plunder any of Lebanon's wealth will be thwarted, indicating that the party is waiting for the Israeli enemy's response to Lebanon's demands regarding border demarcation.

He also noted that it is necessary to prepare for all possibilities, adding that Hezbollah is serious about this file to the utmost.

Sayyed Nasrallah addressed the Israeli occupation by saying that Lebanon and its people will no longer accept the looting of their wealth.

The Lebanese leader affirmed that the Resistance is stronger than ever, warning the Israeli occupation against committing any mistake in Lebanon.

On the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Hezbollah, Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stressed that the Israeli threats are to no avail, adding that Hezbollah's decision and approach are clear and "we are waiting for the coming days to act accordingly."

Hezbollah's messages to the Israeli occupation

It is noteworthy that on July 31, the military media unit of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon published a video that displayed the coordinates of the Israeli occupation's gas rigs off the coasts of occupied Palestine in a clear message to "Tel Aviv".

The video displayed footage of the drillships and the floating production units alongside information pertaining to the specifics of their geolocation, giving their coordinates and information regarding the origin and details of the ships at sea based on the flags they bear. Moreover, the video displayed the exact distance of each ship from Lebanese shores.

The video was entitled: "[You are] in our crosshair… stalling is not beneficial."

Similarly, Hezbollah sent out three UAVs on a recon mission over the Karish gas field before they were shot down by the Israeli occupation forces, stressing that "the mission was completed and the message was delivered."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/germany-will-expand-military-presence-in-indo-pacific:-defen

Germany will expand military presence in Indo-Pacific: Defense Chief

The German Defense Chief, General Eberhard Zorn, told Reuters that Germany will expand its military presence in the Indo-Pacific by sending additional warships and joining drills with allies as it keeps an eye on the "enormous" build-up of China's armed forces.

Zorn told Reuters that the German Armed Forces planned on sending troops to participate in training exercises in Australia next year, while the navy would send a fleet of additional ships to the Indo-Pacific region in 2024.

"This is how we want to consolidate our presence in the region," Zorn indicated during an interview at the Defense Ministry in Berlin.

In recent years, Germany's partners have called on the country to show more leadership, in line with its role as Europe's largest economy and most populous country.

In 2020, Germany - which became China's top trade partner in 2016 - published a new Indo-Pacific strategy, focusing on strengthening alliances in the region. Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged in February a dramatic hike in spending on the military after the start of the war in Ukraine.

Tensions are already prevailing in the Indo-Pacific following mutual military drills between China and Taiwan after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's provocative visit to the island despite Beijing's warning to both Washington and Taipei against such trip.

Asked whether his country might send a warship to sail through the Taiwan Strait, the German general indicated that it was a sensitive matter decided upon at the highest political level.

"We do not want to provoke anyone with our presence but rather send a strong sign of solidarity with our allies," Zorn claimed, adding that "we stand for the freedom of navigation and the safeguarding of international norms."

Zorn explained that China's military strength once depended on its number of soldiers, but now its armed forces are technologically well-equipped.

"We are observing an enormous buildup of Chinese forces," he pointed out.

It is noteworthy that last year, Germany sent its first warship in almost 20 years to the disputed waters of the South China Sea. This month, it sent 13 military aircraft to joint exercises in Australia.

>> ZORN. Kek!

>>17476988

Time magazine cover from FBI picture from Mar-a-Lago, from yesterday, it had the same idea of Potus in Oval office, while the swamp is lurking from outside via the windows. Does Dan want us to dig into this? Why highlight it?

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/13-eu-countries-completely-or-partially-cut-off-from-russian

13 EU countries 'completely or partially' cut off from Russian gas

Thirteen EU nations have either ceased getting Russian gas entirely or are only receiving a portion of it due to the temporary blockage of the Nord Stream pipeline 1, according to Russia's state-run Tass news agency.

"13 EU states are completely or partially cut off from Russian gas," the news agency reported citing a senior official from the Directorate General of the European Commission for Energy as saying on Thursday.

"As you know, Nord Stream 1 has been closed for maintenance since yesterday, that is, there are no Russian gas supplies to Germany and neighboring EU countries," the official said.

The Russian national energy company Gazprom revealed on Wednesday that Nord Stream 1 would be temporarily stopped for repairs from August 31 to September 3.

Gazprom, which cut the supply through the 1,224-kilometre pipeline to 40% of capacity in June and 20% in July, said the "only gas compressor unit" that was currently in operation had to undergo technical maintenance.

"Upon the completion of the maintenance operations, provided that no malfunctions are identified, the gas transmission will be resumed at the rate of 33 million cubic meters per day," the company said last month.

Officials stated on Wednesday that Germany, the biggest recipient of gas supplies via the pipeline, is prepared for the disruption.

"I assume that we will be able to cope with it," Klaus Mueller, president of the German network regulator told Reuters. "I trust that Russia will return to at least 20 percent from Saturday, but no one can really say."

Gazprom announced on Wednesday that it will suspend gas shipments to French energy giant Engie due to payment concerns, raising the prospect of a wider supply shortfall. However, France is less vulnerable to the rise in gas prices caused by Russia's decision to curtail deliveries to Europe following draconian sanctions on the country after its special military operation in Ukraine.

Italy and Germany are now the two largest European countries most exposed to a gas supply shock due to their extensive use of natural gas and significant reliance on Russia, according to S&P Global Ratings.

About 60% of Germany's natural gas supply was piped in from Russia in 2020, primarily under long-term contracts.

The Ukraine war has led to an energy crisis across Europe, with August emerging as the most month with surging prices on record for power tariffs in the bloc, Rystad Energy said this week.

Italy was the first market to record a monthly spot price above €500 ($500.15) per megawatt hour, with the average for August rising to €547 per MWh, followed by France at €492 per MWh, Germany at €465 per MWh, and the United Kingdom at €438 per MWh.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/russia-to-boost-military-if-nato-bases-set-in-finland-sweden

Russia to boost military if NATO bases set in Finland, Sweden: Lavrov

During a meeting with students, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced, "If bases are deployed on the territory of Finland and Sweden, or rather, if a decision to create bases is made for them, I am convinced that the Americans will have the main word … Depending on how all this materializes, of course, we will make a decision to strengthen our capabilities in northwestern Russia. In any case, the line of contact with NATO will radically increase."

Russia expects objective assessment of situation at ZNPP from IAEA

Speaking on the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP), Lavrov expressed Russia's expectation of an objective assessment of the situation at the site from experts sent by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He stressed, "We expect objectivity. Although all the others who are involved in this visit in one way or another, with its preparation and attempts to make it difficult, they clearly do not want the IAEA mission to draw objective conclusions," while adding that Russia considers all measures to ensure safety at the ZNPP and let IAEA experts do their work.

The IAEA experts mission, which is headed by Director General Rafael Grossi, arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday to inspect the power plant, which has been shelled over and over by the Ukrainian military. Last Tuesday, the Ukrainian forces launched a missile attack on Enerhodar near the ZNPP, using a minimum of 20 large-caliber artillery shells. The nuclear power plant is Europe's largest, and an accident will have dire consequences; a nuclear disaster whose effect will live on generations, to say the least.

A referendum regarding the status of Zaparozhye and Berdiansk, both of which have been liberated by the Russian armed forces over the Ukraine war, is set to be held in September. However, the exact date will be disclosed at a later time, Berdiansk mayor Alexander Saulenko told reporters on Wednesday.

Attack on Transnistria is an attack on Russia

Lavrov stressed that Moldova should understand that any action against peacekeepers in Transnistria will be considered an attack on Russia itself, "Everyone must understand that any action that will endanger the security of our military personnel will be considered, in accordance with international law, as an attack on the Russian Federation."

Russia should not close borders after EU’s decision on visas

According to Lavrov, Russia should not close its borders in response to the EU's decision to restrict the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens, as EU member states reached a unison agreement to suspend EU-Russia visa facilitation processes and convened to prepare on what to do with the existing visas for Russians.

To the students, Lavrov disclosed, "I believe that in response to these Schengen walls that are now being built, we do not need to close, we do not need to take reciprocal measures, collectively punish citizens of European countries."