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☆ Ukraine is expanding its bridgehead along the Dnipro River and have taken across armored vehicles for the first time, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine is expanding its bridgehead along the left bank of the Dnipro river. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine is expanding its bridgehead along the left bank of the Dnipro river, putting Russian defense forces under pressure. Earlier this week, it was reported that Ukrainian armored vehicles had crossed the river for the first time. The bridgeheads are not believed to be connected, but Ukrainian forces are expanding them, British newspaper The Telegraph reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine's forces are attempting to push forwardElite Ukrainian naval forces raiding a Russian-occupied island in the Dnipro river.

Persons: —, Forbes, Krynky, Konstyantyn Mashovets Organizations: Ukrainian Marines, Service, Kyiv Post, British, The Telegraph, for, Russian, Elite Ukrainian, Command, Special Operations Forces of, Armed Forces of, Facebook Locations: Ukraine, Dnipro, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Krynky, Kherson, Russian, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Poyma, Oleshky, Kherson Oblast

☆ Global EV battery supply chain puzzles over China graphite curbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Graphite powder, used for battery paste, is pictured in a Volkswagen pilot line for battery cell production in Salzgitter, Germany, May 18, 2022. China dominates the global EV battery supply chain including production of graphite - the single largest component. Graphite companies in the country process both the natural material mined domestically and overseas, as well as synthetic forms. Under the new rules, China will require export permits starting Dec. 1 for high-end synthetic graphite, as well as key forms of natural graphite. NATURAL GRAPHITE HITGlobal companies using natural graphite include Hitachi Chemical, part of Japan's Resonac Holdings Corp (4004.T), South Korea's POSCO Future M (003670.KS) and Japan's Mitsubishi Chemical, which produces natural graphite at two plants in China, according to research firm CRU Group.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Sunit Kapur, Zhang Yan, Siyi Liu, Brenda Goh, Satoshi Sugiyama, Heekyong Yang, Seoul ， Paul Lienert, Jing Xu, Dominique Patton, Tony Munroe, David Evans Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Rights, EV, Qingdao, Reuters, China's Ministry of Commerce, Gotion High Tech, BTR, Material Technology, Hitachi Chemical, Japan's Resonac Holdings Corp, Mitsubishi Chemical, CRU Group, Mitsubishi, Resources, Materials, Thomson Locations: Salzgitter, Germany, Beijing, China, Japan, South Korea, United States, U.S, Shanghai, Ningbo Shanshan, Indonesia, Finland, Japan's, Australia, Mozambique, U.S ., Louisiana, North Carolina, Toyko, Seoul ，, Detroit

China's decision may escalate trade disputes globally and spur other countries to prioritize research into alternative sources and materials, industry executives said. "We see China's move as a potential catalyst to highlight the urgency of improving (U.S.) graphite supply," said John DeMaio, president of Graphex Group's (6128.HK) graphene division. It has graphite supply deals with Syrah Resources (SYR.AX) and is looking for other sources, DeMaio said. Synthetic graphite could account for nearly two-thirds of the EV battery anode market by 2025, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence estimates. Chief Operating Officer Hans Erik Vatne told Reuters recently that developing synthetic graphite production is costly, but that is the price to pay to reduce reliance on China.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, John DeMaio, Graphex Group's, DeMaio, Tesla, Hans Erik Vatne, Rob Anstey, Alvin Liu, Akash Sriram, Ernest SCheyder, Nick Carey, Christina Amann, Marie Mannes, Gilles Guillaume, Ilona Wissenbach, Ben Klayman, Josie Kao Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Syrah Resources, Magnis Energy Technologies, Mineral Intelligence, Reuters, EVs, BMO Capital Markets, BMW, Volvo, Renault, General Motors, Ford, Thomson Locations: Salzgitter, Germany, China, Warren , Michigan, West, U.S, Europe, Oslo, Norway, Bengaluru, Houston, London, Berlin, Stockholm, Paris, Frankfurt

☆ Russian troops who failed to retake a Ukrainian town were sent into battle in obsolete Soviet-era armored vehicles: reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russian troops tried to retake the Ukrainian town of Andriivka, near Bakhmut last week. They used Soviet-era armored vehicles for the offensive, according to reports. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussian troops, who failed to retake a Ukrainian town last week, were sent into battle in Soviet-era armored vehicles that ceased production in 1970, reports suggest. At least 36 Russian tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed in the first 24 hours of the offensive, according to the Kyiv Post. Russia first started deploying the BTR-50 armored personnel carriers in Ukraine in March this year, according to British intelligence.

Persons: —, Forbes Organizations: Service, Avdiivka, Kyiv Post, BTR Locations: Andriivka, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast, Soviet, Russia, Russian, Kyiv, Ukraine

☆ Tanks and their big guns get all the attention, but Russia's smaller cannons are wreaking havoc against Ukrainian troops
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Tanks have big guns, but medium-caliber cannons on other armored vehicles can be just as deadly. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile tanks and their big guns have been getting the lion's share of attention in Ukraine, another weapon is proving equally deadly. Medium-caliber cannon — the 20-mm to 40-mm cannon found on infantry fighting vehicles, air-defense vehicles, and other platforms around the world — have been wreaking damage against infantry and other targets. Personnel load the gun of a BMP-2 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle during an arms exhibition Russia in September 2013. The effectiveness of medium-caliber cannons suggest that as armored vehicles evolve, those guns will remain part of their armament.

Persons: —, Sam Cranny, Evans, Vladimir Pesnya, Cranny, Sergei Karpukhin, Keith Anderson, Winifred Brown, Cannon, Michael Peck Organizations: Tanks, Service, Security, Defence, Victory Day, Getty, Royal United Services Institute, REUTERS, M4, Bradley, US Army, Staff, M2A3 Bradley, Fort Bliss Public Affairs, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russian, Square, British, Russia, Soviet, Lithuania, Iraqi, Britain, Afghanistan, Mali, New Mexico, France, NATO, China, Forbes

☆ Factbox: Few suppliers of synthetic graphite for EV batteries
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A sign directing towards electric vehicle charging points is seen in a car park in Manchester, Britain, September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 12 (Reuters) - Although synthetic graphite has been around for more than 100 years, few companies are supplying the material to makers of electric vehicle batteries and battery electrodes. Here’s a short list of public and private companies engaged in the development and production of synthetic graphite, regarded as higher purity and offering better performance, for EV batteries:Anovion (USA)Founded: 2022Partners: Forge Nano, American Battery FactoryOperations: USABTR New Energy Materials (China)(835185.BJE)Founded: 2000Investor: Syrah Resources (SYR.AX)Partner: CNGR (300919.SZ)Operations: China, IndonesiaKuntian New Energy Technology (China)Founded: 2018Investors: Sinopec (600028.SS) , SK China, A123 Systems, Eve Energy (300014.SZ) , BTR New Energy Materials (835185.BJE) , SvoltOperations: ChinaNovonix Group (Australia)(NVX.AX)Founded: 2012Investor: Phillips 66 (PSX.N)Partners: LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) , Kore PowerOperations: Australia, Canada, USAResonac Holdings (Japan)(4004.T)formerly Showa DenkoFounded: 1939Operations: JapanShanshan Technology (China)(SSHOLG.UL)Vianode (Norway)Founded: 2020Investors: Elkem (ELK.OL) , Norsk Hydro (NHY.OL)Operations: NorwaySources: Felixwire, PitchBookReporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit; Editing by Timothy GardnerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Phil Noble, Paul Lienert, Timothy Gardner Organizations: REUTERS, EV, American Battery Factory, BTR, Energy Materials, Syrah, Indonesia Kuntian, Energy Technology, SK China, Systems, Eve Energy, BTR New Energy Materials, Svolt, China Novonix Group, LG Energy, Power, USA Resonac Holdings, Japan Shanshan Technology, Norsk Hydro, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Britain, China, BJE, Indonesia, Australia, Canada, Japan, Vianode, Norway, Detroit

The focus is shifting to a new front: Synthetic graphite, an element developed in the late 19th century, but only redirected toward EVs in the past decade. Synthetic graphite could account for nearly two-thirds of the EV battery anode market by 2025, estimates Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. "It’s easier to set up a synthetic graphite production facility than it is to commission new mining sites for natural graphite” because producers can take advantage of incentives in last year's U.S. Inflation Reduction Act to build synthetic graphite capacity in the U.S. or Free Trade Agreement partners, she said. Other experts note synthetic graphite is generally higher purity and offers better and more predictable performance than natural graphite. Still, the construction of new production facilities for synthetic graphite, even with federal incentives, requires a staggering investment, said Novonix's Burns.

Persons: Simon Dawson, ”, Victoria Hugill, It's, Chris Burns, Norway's, Vianode, Hans Erik Vatne, Vatne, Bob Galyen, China’s CATL, Novonix's Burns, “, Fastmarkets, Burns, Paul Lienert, Nick Carey, Timothy Gardner Organizations: REUTERS, Mineral Intelligence, EV, U.S, Trade, Infrastructure Investment, Jobs Act, Norsk Hydro, Hydro, Galyen Energy, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, United States, Europe, China, U.S, Bainbridge , Georgia, Chattanooga , Tennessee, North America, Detroit

☆ Ukraine's allies are shifting focus from donating weapons to fixing them as Western-supplied armor proves resilient to Russian fire, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine's allies are shifting focus from donating weapons to repairing what is already there, a report says. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. The US-made mine-resistant armored fighting vehicles have also been hailed by Ukrainian troops as being "almost indestructible." The group coordinates repair facilities and has helped Ukraine set up a supply support effort to help track high-demand spare parts. Since the beginning of the war, scores of countries have committed to sending billions of dollars worth of equipment to Ukraine.

Persons: William LaPlante, Bradley, Serhii Ivanov, Leon Neal, Carl Court, Ukraine's, LaPlante Organizations: Service, Pentagon, Politico, sustainment, German, The, Times Locations: Wall, Silicon, Europe, Ukraine, Russia, London, British, Poland, Nyzhche Solone, Kharkiv oblast

☆ The US is short on homes. Here’s how builders are still offering the American Dream
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

This relatively new and growing segment of the housing market is called “build for rent” or BFR (or “build to rent” or BTR). Often constructed in suburban areas with low crime and near good schools, BFR homes attract those who want the lifestyle of a house — but the affordability or convenience of renting. Over the past few years, however, large investment groups — like Home Partners of America or Invitation Homes — have got into buying up existing single-family homes to rent. Miller said demand for BFR homes is strong and suit a modern way of living involving remote work, lifestyle moves and delayed homeownership. Even as a small portion of the market, those BFR homes that are being built are not the smaller, more affordable homes that middle-income earners are looking for.

Persons: ”, David Howard, Howard, “, Ben Miller, ” Miller, Miller, Donald Trump’s, homeownership, Bruce McNeilage, ” McNeilage Organizations: DC CNN, National Rental Home, National Rental Home Council, Urban Institute, Home Partners of America, Research, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University, Kinloch Partners, Survey Locations: Washington, Texas , California , Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, BFR, United States, Nashville, Greenville , South Carolina, Yardi

“Today our task is training and cleaning the trenches,” a Ukrainian soldier with the call-sign Jenia says. The strikes Podolyak mentions are often referred to as shaping operations – so-called because they aim to ‘shape’ the battlefield – in this case, in Ukraine’s favor. And despite the clear signs that a counteroffensive is coming, Podolyak also refuses to commit to specific dates. Vasco Cotovio/CNNBack on the training grounds, the Offensive Guard’s commander, call sign Kyiv, shares a similar combat philosophy. “We improve our fighting skills in special combat training every day to liberate our lands,” he says.

☆ How Ukraine's artillery is doing more damage than Russia's, even with fewer rounds
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( David Hambling | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

While Ukraine has fewer guns firing fewer shells, it appear to be doing more damage than Russia. But while Ukraine has fewer guns firing fewer shells, they appear to be doing more damage even though, with some notable exceptions, they are using the same weapons as their Russian opponents. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated in February that Russia was firing around four times as many shells as Ukraine. This suggests an improvement of a factor of 7-10, which is roughly what we see in the ratios of artillery shells: casualties above. A vast number of Ukrainian drone videos show this process in operation.

☆ UK diplomat criticizes Russia for 'astounding levels of incompetence' in Ukraine, labeling it a 'so-called superpower'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A British diplomat has described a series of catastrophic failings by Russia in Ukraine. Russia has threatened to respond to the UK arming Ukraine with armor-piercing weapons. "With support from their partners, Ukraine has shown that agility and ingenuity can have a devastating effect against a so-called superpower," Stubbs said. "Try as they might to present an alternate reality to the ground truth with an increasingly ridiculous carpet of disinformation, the astounding levels of incompetence in Russia's military leadership that have eroded Russia's military reputation are clear for all to see," he said. Russia's President Vladimir Putin recently said Russia would "respond accordingly" if UK plans to deliver armor-piercing shells to Ukraine go ahead.

☆ How a tank the Soviets tried to keep secret became an icon of Ukraine's resistance against Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Sebastian Roblin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

An Afghan soldier fighting for the Soviets sits on a Soviet-made T-64 tank near the Salang Pass on August 17, 1989. However, these systems were mostly exported, and it's unclear whether either is currently operational on Ukrainian tanks. Defending Ukraine, 2014-2015A Ukrainian tank in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk in July 2014. A burned Ukrainian tank in Uglegorsk, on the frontline near Debaltseve, in February 2015. A pro-Russian separatist stands guard near a T-64 tank in Donetsk in July 2014.

Desfășurat în Stepanakert, comandamentul contingentului rus, împreună cu părțile armene și azere, precizează parametrii operațiunii de menținere a păcii în Karabahul de Munte. În total, în zonele de responsabilitate “Nord” și “Sud” urmează să fie create 16 posturi de observare. O viață cotidiană durăÎn următorii cinci ani (cel puțin), operațiunea de menținere a păcii va necesita niște eforturi semnificative. Oricât și-ar dori partenerii turci, acordul trilateral nu prevede participarea militarilor turci la misiunea de menținere a păcii. Proporțiile sarcinilor, care urmează să fie realizate în Karabah, ne permit să afirmă că Rusia din nou și-a asumat o grea povară și o responsabilitate serioasă – de dragul păstrării păcii și stabilității în Caucazul de Sud.

Persons: Aleksandr Hrolenko, Rusiei Organizations: Sputnik, Statelor Independente, ONU, OSCE, Organizației Locations: MOSCOVA, Rusiei, Ulianovsk, Caucazului, Sud, Siria, Azerbaidjan, Armenia, azere, Rusia, Statelor, Shanghai, Nord, Orientul Mijlociu, Caucazul, armean, Turcia, MAE, Karabah, Caucazul de Sud

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