The Risks of Russian Attacks near Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Plants

People around the world watched via livestreamed security camera as Russian forces attacked and took over Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant—the largest in Europe—on Friday morning local time. Amid the shelling and gunfire, a fire broke out at a training facility in the complex and was later extinguished, according to news reports. The incident raised… Continue reading The Risks of Russian Attacks near Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Plants

70% Of Russian Crude Trade Is Frozen As Surgut Again Fails To Sell Any Urals In Big Tenders

As discussed yesterday in “Buyers Balk At Russian Oil Purchases Despite Record Discounts, Sanction Carve Outs” the bevy of Russian sanctions have had the unintended consequence of also freezing Russian oil exports – despite explicit carve outs in terms set by Western nations – as buyers balk and boycott Russian crude sales amid fears that… Continue reading 70% Of Russian Crude Trade Is Frozen As Surgut Again Fails To Sell Any Urals In Big Tenders

Why China Is Intensifying Its Military Flights Against Taiwan

On Jan. 23, China repeated its familiar pattern of sending warplanes into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone—in this case, 39 advanced air assets including fighter jets, nuclear-capable bombers and surveillance and transport aircraft. Although highly provocative, it was in many respects just another day in January. For the whole month, Beijing only refrained from threatening… Continue reading Why China Is Intensifying Its Military Flights Against Taiwan

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Making COVID Tests Better at Detecting Infectious People

Two months before the Super Bowl, the Omicron surge was decimating NFL rosters as players tested positive for COVID. In mid-December, the NFL postponed a game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks because the Rams, who would go on to win the Super Bowl, had 29 players out with COVID. The number… Continue reading Making COVID Tests Better at Detecting Infectious People

Greg Abbott To Face Beto O’Rourke In Texas Governor Race After Primary Wins

Authored by Isabel van Brugen via The Epoch Times, Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will face Democratic former Congressman Beto O’Rourke in the November general election for governor after the pair won their respective primaries. Abbott, who received endorsement from former President Donald Trump and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, easily won his party’s nomination for governor,… Continue reading Greg Abbott To Face Beto O’Rourke In Texas Governor Race After Primary Wins

The False Choice Between China and Russia

As the drums of war beat louder in Ukraine, an unlikely voice has emerged calling for restraint—China hawks. Members of Congress have expressed an openness to making concessions to Russia, with some arguing that any U.S. response to Russia would detract from our ability to deter China. Similarly, prominent China defense analysts warned not to… Continue reading The False Choice Between China and Russia

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Love Is Biological Bribery

In an episode of the satirical comedy The Great, the reign of the reason-and-science-loving Russian empress Catherine nearly collapses when her husband Peter, the deposed emperor, storms into her private quarters, determined to imprison her. But seeing her tearful and in despair, he forgets his vindictiveness and hugs her. Later, he tells her, “I wanted… Continue reading Love Is Biological Bribery

A Test of How Effective Sanctions Are

U.S. President Joe Biden’s threatened sanctions far exceed previous measures to curb Russian President Vladimir Putin, but they have not stopped Putin from ordering Russian forces into rebel-held territory in Eastern Ukraine. This begs the question whether the severe measures the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have threatened to take are… Continue reading A Test of How Effective Sanctions Are

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