RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, OCTOBER 20, 2023

The dramatic debut of the ATACMS ballistic missile in Ukrainian hands may well result in Russia pulling back elements of its forces.

Young Adults’ Views on Middle East Changing Most

Some military experts believe Hamas’ attack and the scope of proposed US military assistance to Israel point to a vulnerability that is making Israel’s opponents rethink their positions.

With hundreds of thousands of troops amassed for an invasion of Gaza, Israel laid out a three-staged plan for the operation.

Hamas Release Two American Hostages, a Mother and Daughter From Chicago

An opinion from a member of the American elite— AMERICA’S FAILING IRAN NUCLEAR POLICY: TIME FOR A COURSE ADJUSTMENT

China To Curb Graphite Exports In Latest Trade Spat

Italy defending the important things.

US broadly eases Venezuela oil sanctions after election deal

Earth’s Core Appears to Be Leaking In the Arctic and Scientists Don’t Know Why

Statistics Norway, aka Statistisk sentralbyrå or “the national statistical institute of Norway and the main producer of official statistics”, has just published a paper “To what extent are temperature levels changing due to greenhouse gas emissions?” The awkward part isn’t trying to grasp the subtleties of Norwegian since it’s also available in English. It’s that the Abstract bluntly declares that “standard climate models are rejected by time series data on global temperatures” while the conclusions state “the results imply that the effect of man-made CO2 emissions does not appear to be sufficiently strong to cause systematic changes in the pattern of the temperature fluctuations.”

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, OCTOBER 19, 2023

USS Carney Shoots Down Missiles, Drones Fired From Yemen

Officials involved say admin indicated US military will join IDF if Hezbollah starts new front; Biden denies ever saying that but spokesman says we’ll protect Israel ‘if we need to’

‘Major expansion’: China now has more than 500 nukes, Pentagon says

Inside the Chinese-Run Crime Hubs of Myanmar that Are Conning the World

The decline in China’s US Treasury holdings isn’t as big as it seems

30-Year Treasury Yield Spikes Past 5%, 30-Year Mortgage Rates Hit 8%, Mortgage Applications Plunge

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 limited the profits of health insurers to between 15% and 20% of collected premiums, depending on the size of the health plan. But it imposed no restrictions on what physicians or other intermediaries can earn. The law created an incentive for insurers to buy clinics, pharmacies and the like, and to steer customers to them rather than rival providers. As with all things medical related that are posted on Marginal Revolution, you will get the most benefit out of this by going through the comments and reading all the ones by “Sure”.

In a Huge First, Scientists Transfer Alzheimer’s to Healthy Young Animals

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, OCTOBER 18, 2023

Destruction From Ukraine’s First ATACMS Strike Now Apparent

Almost this entire al-Ahli Baptist Hospital story is a massive lie started by Hamas and amplified by western media

Iran-backed Shia militias target 2 U.S. bases in Iraq

Dow drops 332 points as oil jumps and Treasury yields hit fresh 16-year highs

Comment on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Proposed Rule – Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, OCTOBER 14, 2023

We’re at war’ — Tensions crackle in East Jerusalem and the West Bank as Israel prepares assault on Gaza

China’s Birth Rate Plummets 10% To Lowest On Record

A surge in US biofuel demand will flip its domestic soybean oil trade and make it a net importer in MY 2023-24 (September-August) for the second consecutive year, the US Foreign Agricultural Service said Oct. 12

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, OCTOBER 13, 2023

The DoD and its allies are cobbling together parts to make new air defense systems for Ukraine, including one using the AIM-9L/M sidewinder.

The Perilous Tactical Realities Israel Will Face Fighting In Gaza

Rooting for Israel, Not a Good Word About Palestine: Modi Is Upending Indian Foreign Policy

Ukraine Invented the Drone War. The US Can’t Fight One Without Chinese Equipment

Microsoft completes $69B Activision Blizzard deal, its biggest merger ever

Starlink Direct to Cell Services Start in 2024

An age-old remedy that was prescribed by Hippocrates may be a cheap alternative to antibiotics for those with chronic wounds

Mathematical logic and the code of computer programs are, in an exact way, mirror images of each other.

The true story of Matthew Shepard:

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, OCTOBER 12, 2023

Ukraine Situation Report: Signs Russia’s Attempt To Encircle Avdiivka Is Stalling

Hezbollah’s expansive Iranian-supplied arsenal of rockets, drones, and missiles poses a major threat to all of Israel.

The EU is trying to outsource its migration problems and has entered into a partnership with Tunisia. But the situation there has grown dire, particularly for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. Now, even the Tunisians themselves want to get out.

T-Mobile switches users to pricier plans and tells them it’s not a price hike

A 21-year-old computer-science student has won a global contest to read the first text inside a carbonized scroll from the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum, which had been unreadable since a volcanic eruption in AD 79 — the same one that buried nearby Pompeii. The breakthrough could open up hundreds of texts from the only intact library to survive from Greco-Roman antiquity.

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, OCTOBER 11, 2023

Israel ordered Chevron to shut down a major natural gas field, which could send prices spiking further just before winter

Another Iraqi Shia militia threatens the United States over involvement in Israel

China’s Country Garden warns its first-ever default could come soon, as its September sales plunge by over 80% year on year

Afghanistan Hit By Second Major Earthquake in a Week

Cars exploding at Luton airport London: Huge fire causes partial collapse of structure

‘Not Proud At All:’ Japan’s Army Struggles to Recruit

Yields Spike After Ugly 10Y Auction Sees Biggest Tail Since April; Dealers Stuck Holding Most Paper In A Year

Giant Solar Storm 14,000 Years Ago Leaves The Carrington Event in The Dust

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, OCTOBER 10, 2023

Finland is investigating a potential sabotage to a Baltic Sea gas pipeline. Helsinki also reports a break in an undersea data cable…

Seized by Palestinian propaganda as symbols of Israeli weakness, Hamas atrocities from the southern kibbutz trigger despair, and resolve, in survivors. Related: Soldiers encounter unimaginable horrors as they remove the bodies of victims, including about 40 babies and small children — some with their heads chopped off

Terror group had Israel convinced it wasn’t interested in war; Hamas source says elite cell jammed signals at IDF base in 1st stage of assault

Top diplomat’s comments marks strongest condemnation by EU yet of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

For the third time in a year, Russian hardware on the space station is leaking

Blackouts are coming: Australian grid so fragile, expensive, cement giant already shuts down nearly every day

Facebook’s sexist, ageist ad-targeting violates Calif. law, court finds

Thousands of ‘special interest aliens’ from Middle East countries stopped at southern border since 2021