US to send Ukraine $725M in new military aid, including land mines targeting N. Korea, Russia infantry

 The US will send Ukraine another $725 million in military hardware — including rockets, land mines and counter-drone systems — as Kyiv clamors for more arms to fight Russia’s heightened offensive.

The American shipment will include munitions for Ukraine’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, US officials told The Associated Press — which could mean the weapons package includes more of the long-range missiles that are used by an HIMARS.

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A machine gunner with the 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade’s firing team holds an American FIM-92 Stinger man-portable air defense missile system.Getty Images

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The US will send Ukraine another $725 million in military hardware. The weapons package includes more of the long-range missiles that are used by an HIMARS.AP

Ukraine has sought more of the missiles to strike deep into Russian territory — as it did late last month after the Biden administration gave it the green light to hit the Russians on their own land.

Two US officials who discussed the package with AP before it was announced would not confirm whether the new weapons shipment includes rockets for the long-range system.

The move to increase US arms to Kyiv comes as lame-duck President Biden works to spend every dime of the military-assistance money that Congress approved for Ukraine earlier this year — especially because it’s not clear whether the incoming Trump administration will support the country in its existential battle against Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

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Ukraine will receive rockets, land mines and counter-drone systems from the US.REUTERS

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Two US officials who discussed the package with AP before it was announced would not confirm whether the new weapons shipment includes rockets for the long-range system.REUTERS

The new weapons package also includes land mines, which Ukraine needs to try to slow Russian and North Korean infantry as they attempt to retake parts of Russia’s Kursk region, which Ukraine seized this summer.

Trump has promised to end the conflict in “one day.” But he has never said how.

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Ukraine has sought more of the missiles to strike deep into Russian territory.AP

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The new weapons package also includes land mines, which Ukraine needs to try to slow Russian and North Korean infantry as they attempt to retake parts of Russia’s Kursk region, which Ukraine seized this summer.24TH MECHANIZED BRIGADE PRESS SERVICE HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Ukraine on Monday for the first time in more than two years and promised to support Kyiv in its battle for survival — an important message since Germany is Ukraine’s second-largest military backer, behind only the US.

The war between Ukraine and invader Russia is nearly at the three-year mark.

Last week, in a major policy shift, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled that “the hot stage of the war” could end if NATO offered membership to the territory that Kyiv is still in control of.

https://nypost.com/2024/12/02/world-news/us-to-send-ukraine-725m-in-new-military-aid-including-land-mines-targeting-n-korea-russia-infantry/

Iran-Backed Iraqi Militias Pour Across Border Into Syria To Bolster Assad

 Widespread reports, including observers on the ground, have indicated that Iran-backed Iraqi militias have been pouring across the border into eastern Syria to assist Damascus in repelling the Islamist militant advance after Al Qaeda splinter group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham took over Aleppo this weekend.

A Syrian army officer has told Reuters that Iraqi militia forces crossing the border are "fresh reinforcements being sent to aid our comrades on the frontlines in the north."

Many of the fighters have been identified as belonging to the Kataib Hezbollah and Fatemiyoun groups. The US has long been in an internecine conflict with Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, with over the years periodic rocket fire even targeting the US Embassy in Baghdad, as well as various bases which host remaining American troops.

The Iraqi militias have been staging in the area of Abu Kamal overnight. There were rumors that US warplanes attacked their positions, but these reports turned out to be untrue.

But these forces have been fully aware that the Pentagon could attack their convoys at any moment, and so have reportedly been crossing the border in small groups and using concealed roads.

"At least 300 fighters, primarily from the Badr and Nujabaa groups, crossed late on Sunday using a dirt road to avoid the official border crossing, two Iraqi security sources said, adding that they were there to defend a Shi'ite shrine," Reuters reports.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Monday that with regard to new fighting in Syria, "resistance groups will help and Iran will provide any support needed." Russia has been assisting with aerial bombardments.

To recap via a note from Rabobank:

On the geopolitics front the swift dismantling of Hezbollah by Israel, and Russia’s preoccupation with its war on Ukraine appears to have come at great cost for Syria’s Bashar al-Assad. 'Rebel' forces recaptured the country’s second largest city of Aleppo as regime troops were left somewhat stranded by Russian, Iranian and Hezbollah allies and were consequently overwhelmed by the Turkish-backed rebels.

In a situation similar to Yemen, civil war has been raging in Syria for 13 years without attracting a great deal of mainstream interest in Western media. In the case of Yemen, that all changed once the civil war impacted upon freight transits through the Suez Canal, while in Syria the ongoing competition for spheres of influence by Great Powers (Russia, USA, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, Israel etc) provides a useful microcosm of the new global paradigm, but only if one cares to look.

NEW: Iran-backed militias, including Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah and Fatemiyoun groups, entered Syria overnight from Iraq.

Dozens of Hashd al-Shaabi fighters crossed near Al Bukamal, with reinforcements heading to northern frontlines. pic.twitter.com/k73GFAZ23Z

— Clash Report (@clashreport) December 2, 2024

In Lebanon, interestingly Hezbollah has said it does not plan to send its fighters "for now" to northern Syria to help Assad forces regain territory. Lebanese Hezbollah has of course been bogged down in over a year of fighting with Israel's military, which has included the last two months of an IDF ground offensive in the south.

Hezbollah was instrumental during the first ten years of proxy war in pushing out the US-Gulf backed jihadists; however, currently it looks like Assad's main help will come from Iran and Iraq.

President Assad was somewhat quiet throughout much of the Israel-Hezbollah war, and this could be at play in Hezbollah leadership's current reluctance to engage in the Syria theatre of the war. But it remains that the Lebanese Shia group is still desperately trying to rebuild its command structure and replenish its resources. 

via BBC

As for the Iraqi militia presence in eastern Syria, they are likely to clash with the US-backed 'Free Syrian Army' and 'Syrian Democratic Forces' (SDF) in the area. It remains possible that US warplanes could engage as well.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/iran-backed-iraqi-militias-pour-across-border-syria-bolster-assad

Cartels Demand Higher Border Crossing Fees After Trump Victory

 by Eric Lendrum via American Greatness,

Drug cartels and other human trafficking groups have begun demanding higher fees for illegals seeking to be smuggled across the border in the aftermath of President-elect Donald Trump’s comeback victory.

As Breitbart reports, illegals at an alleged “charity” shelter in Sonora, Mexico told a Mexican newspaper that the smuggling fee has doubled in recent weeks, with Trump’s victory and impending return to office being given as a major reason.

The previous fees of $5,000 have risen to at least $10,000, as illegals from all around the world, including Africa, Asia, and Central America, try desperately to sneak into the country before Trump returns to office.

The smugglers have also increased their fees for additional services, such as using vehicles to cross private property, with these fees increasing from $15,000 to $20,000.

Fees have also risen dramatically for certain illegals based on how far they have traveled to try to enter the United States illegally.

Chinese illegals are paying as much as $55,000 per person to attempt being smuggled into the U.S.

In fiscal year 2023, at least 24,000 illegals from China were apprehended trying to cross the southern border.

Other illegals paying increased fees include illegals from Africa and the Middle East, due to their designation as “Special Interest Aliens.”

President-elect Trump once again campaigned heavily on the issue of immigration, vowing to finish building the border wall that he started constructing in his first term, and to carry out the largest mass deportation operation in American history.

He has announced former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Tom Homan as his new Border Czar, with Homan repeatedly vowing to do whatever is necessary to deport as many illegals as possible.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/cartels-demand-higher-border-crossing-fees-after-trump-victory

Duke pauses assessment of US energy loan program ahead of Trump administration

 Duke Energy is pausing its assessment of certain U.S. energy infrastructure improvement loans, citing uncertainty over the future of funding under the Trump administration, according to a filing from last week.

The electric utility told North Carolina regulators in a letter on Nov. 27 that it would put on hold its work to determine the costs and benefits of tapping into the federal Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment Program.

"It is in the best interest of customers to pause any further efforts or expenditures until February, following the appointment of the new administration to gain clarity on the future of the EIR Program," Duke said in its filing with the North Carolina Utilities Commission.The EIR includes low-interest loans, under the Inflation Reduction Act, to help companies transition away from high-carbon-emitting power sources like coal to cleaner or more efficient energy systems.

The viability of the IRA, which has been a key driver in the development of low- and no-carbon power supply since being signed into law in 2022, has been thrown into question since the election last month of Donald Trump, who will be sworn in as president on Jan. 20.

In North Carolina, coal-fired power plants are expected to be phased out in the 2030s to meet state climate-focused goals. Duke has plans to shift some of its coal-fired power production to natural gas and renewable sources like wind and solar.

EIR loans could help lower Duke's infrastructure buildout expenses and lower costs to consumers, said Michelle Carter, clean energy campaigns director at the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters.

"There are many more possibilities for the existing coal plants that we have in the state that could use the EIR program to transition to cleaner and cheaper energy much faster than Duke is currently doing," Carter said.

Duke was not immediately available for further comment.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/duke-pauses-assessment-us-energy-190641491.html

GM to sell its stake in Michigan battery plant to LG Energy Solution

 General Motors said Monday it will sell its stake in its joint venture battery plant in Lansing, Michigan, to partner LG Energy Solution as the Detroit automaker trims its electric vehicle plans.

GM expects to recoup its investment in the facility, which a person briefed on the matter said is about $1 billion.

The deal, which is expected to close early next year, does not change its ownership stake in the Ultium Cells joint venture, which operates battery plants in Ohio and Tennessee.

The largest U.S. automaker said the plant, which is near completion, will serve an unidentified new customer. GM said the Lansing plant currently has nearly 100 employees and is on track to meet employment commitments.

"We believe we have the right cell and manufacturing capabilities in place to grow with the EV market in a capital efficient manner," said GM Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson.

The announcement comes amid uncertainty about the future of key EV battery production and consumer tax credits. President-elect Donald Trump's transition wants to kill the $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric-vehicle purchases, Reuters reported this month.

GM has been scaling back its EV plans over the last year.

In June, GM cut its EV production forecast for 2024 and in July CEO Mary Barra said GM would not produce 1 million EVs in North America by the end of 2025 "just because the market's not developing but it will get there."

In 2023, GM said it would delay production of electric pickup trucks at a Michigan plant by a year.

GM said separately the automaker and LG Energy Solution are extending their 14-year battery technology partnership to include prismatic cell development.

GM in August finalized a separate deal with South Korea's Samsung SDI battery factory in Indiana that will build prismatic cells, which could lower EV cost and weight.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gm-sell-stake-michigan-battery-210957557.html