Kazakhstan has urged Ukraine to cease attacks on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal after a Ukrainian naval drone attack caused significant damage and halted operations. The CPC, a major pipeline handling over 1% of global oil, includes shareholders from Russia, Kazakhstan, and the U.S., with Kazakhstan being its primary oil exporter. Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry protested the attack on the civilian infrastructure, viewing it as harmful to bilateral relations and expecting preventative measures from Ukraine. Russia has labeled the attacks as terrorism, while Ukraine defends its actions as self-defense against Russian aggression.
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Thousands of Airbus A320 family aircraft were grounded globally for a software update after it was discovered that solar radiation could interfere with onboard flight control computers. The issue stemmed from a problem with software that calculates a plane’s altitude, potentially causing data corruption at high altitudes. While many aircraft could be updated with a simple software fix, older models required physical computer replacements, leading to potential delays. Airlines worldwide, including in the UK, US, and Australia, experienced varying levels of disruption, with cancellations and delays impacting some flights.
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The Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s marine terminal in Novorossiysk suspended oil loadings following a Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessel attack on November 29th, resulting in severe damage to the SPM-2 single point mooring unit. Cargo operations were halted, and tankers were moved out of CPC waters as a result. The attack triggered the shutdown of pipelines, preventing potential oil spills, and environmental monitoring is currently underway. This incident follows previous attacks on the terminal, and contributes to the ongoing disruption of Russian oil export infrastructure.
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On November 30, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) released footage detailing an operation in the occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The operation allegedly disrupted the sale of stolen diesel by Chechen fighters, known as “Kadyrovites,” in the Berdiansk district. In cooperation with partisans, HUR reported that two explosions were orchestrated at the site on November 29, targeting vehicles involved in the scheme. While the exact number of casualties is still being assessed, this action represents part of Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to diminish Russian military capabilities in occupied territories.
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In the Philippines, thousands of demonstrators, including members of the Roman Catholic Church, took to the streets on Sunday to demand the swift prosecution of officials implicated in a widespread corruption scandal. Protesters, also led by left-wing groups, called for the immediate resignation and prosecution of all implicated government officials, spurred by outrage over substandard flood control projects. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been working to quell public unrest while authorities have frozen assets and arrested several public works officers in connection to the case. Despite isolated calls, the Armed Forces of the Philippines rejected military intervention, while protesters demanded that officials be jailed and forced to return stolen funds.
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John Q. Hosedrinker