Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 31, 2025

Rosneft reported a steep 68% drop in first-half 2025 net income as falling oil prices, widening discounts on Russian crude, and a stronger ruble weighed heavily on earnings, despite steady production and continued investment in flagship projects like Vostok Oil.

For the 1st time, religious 1st-graders in Israel outnumber secular ones by thousands

Turkey Halts Trade With Israel, Shuts Ports to All Shipping Links

Haiti: Over two days in December, more than 200 elderly men and women living in Wharf Jérémie, a gang-controlled area by the bay, were massacred after the “chef” in the area, known as Micanor, decided they should be sacrificed as part of what locals said was a voodoo ceremony.

Cuba has been experiencing an energy crisis that has led residents to experience almost daily blackouts and gas cuts.

Can vitamin D supplements really slow aging, as a recent study suggests?

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 30, 2025

This Is How Ukrainian Yak-52 Crews Hunt Russian Drones

Israel Targeted Iranian Regime Leadership By Tracking Bodyguards’ Mobile Phones

The Wall Street Journal’s Silence on Jimmy Lai: The WSJ News Team Makes a Deal with the Devil.

And of course, the answer is more regulations and more fines even though it is a government run facility that caused the issue just like last time although the article does not spell out that the last time it was an OMH facility. NYC Legionnaires’ outbreak linked to two city-run buildings, including Harlem Hospital

I HOPE WE’RE NOT TOO MESSIANIC, OR A TRIFLE TOO SATANIC:

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 29, 2025

Appeals Court Rules Numerous Trump Tariffs Are Illegal

Ford and the Birth of the Model T

Federal agents arrest firefighters working on WA wildfire

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 28, 2025

IDF Commandos Destroy Turkey’s Spying Installation in Damascus Raid

Trump Extends Steel and Aluminum Tariffs to Hundreds of Products. Manufacturers like Ford have reported multimillion-dollar cost surges due to the tariffs.

How well did Katrina reconstruction go?

Leninist Technocracy with Grand Opera Characteristics

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 27, 2025

Russia extends ban on gasoline exports through October

Chris Roberts hopes Squadron 42 will be “almost as big” as GTA VI next year

Police Identify Robert ‘Robin’ Westman as Suspect in Minneapolis Catholic School Shooting

In 2023, artificial intelligence (AI) data centers consumed 4.4% of electricity in the United States, which could triple by 2028.

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 26, 2025

Ukraine allows men aged 18–22 to leave country for the first time since full-scale invasion began

Turkey to build bomb shelters across the country

Misinformation over JICA’s Africa ‘hometown’ initiative sparks controversy

Pakistan is undergoing an energy revolution fuelled by a sharp rise in solar-plus-battery systems. In 2024, Pakistan’s solar imports more-than tripled compared to 2023, reaching nearly $2.1 billion. Based on current growth trends, solar-plus-battery systems could provide over a quarter of Pakistan’s peak energy demand as well as most daytime electricity needs by 2030.

YouTube Using AI To Secretly Alter Creators’ Videos Without Their Knowledge

Flesh-eating parasite found in US patient for first time in decades

Framework Laptop 16 update brings Nvidia GeForce to the modular gaming laptop

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 25, 2025

Ukraine Will Receive First Of Thousands Of New U.S. Made Standoff Missiles In The Coming Weeks

Drone Strikes on Refineries Push Russia’s Gasoline Prices to Record Highs

Turkey implements barriers to prevent shipping to and from Israel

French government risks collapse after Bayrou calls high-stakes confidence vote. One government adviser, who was granted anonymity to speak freely, raised the specter of France being put under the supervision of the International Monetary Fund or the Troika, the trio of institutions that enforced austerity measures during the eurozone crisis, if nothing were done.

4 African countries get official hometowns, special visa category in Japan under migration deal

The Price Increases That Should Cause Americans More Alarm

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 24, 2025

Nord Stream sabotage: Arrest raises difficult questions
Israel Strikes Near Yemen Presidential Palace After Houthi Missile Launch

The German welfare state is no longer financially sustainable, Friedrich Merz said on Saturday. The chancellor argued for a fundamental reassessment of the benefits system as spending continues to soar past last year’s record of €47bn (£40bn).

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 23, 2025

Inside Russia’s Shadow Military Sustaining the War

Trump says US will take 10% stake in Intel because CEO wants to “keep his job”

South Carolina blasted seven times by earthquake swarm

Texas adopts new Trump-approved electoral map aimed at keeping GOP grip on Congress