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☆ Armies will be able to maneuver on battlefields again, but it's going to be difficult and bloody
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-29 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The Ukraine war raises a difficult question: Can armies maneuver to win anymore? Advertisement"Firepower kills," warned the French General Philippe Pétain just prior to the First World War. By temporarily suppressing the defensive drone-artillery combo that has proven so devastating in the Russo-Ukraine War, armies can again maneuver to defeat their enemies. ISW sees three problems with trying to maneuver in Ukraine, lessons that broadly apply to modern battlefields. AdvertisementArtillery and machine guns were so deadly in World War I that armies fought from trenches.

Persons: it's, —, Philippe Pétain, Pétain, ISW, That's, Michael Peck Organizations: Artillery, Service, Getty, Ukraine, Air Force, BAI, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Russo, Washington, Russia, Russian, Kursk, Ukrainian, Russians, Forbes

☆ The battle of Irpin narrowly saved Ukraine. Here's how it went down.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-28 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Ukraine narrowly won the battle of Irpin in the war's earliest days. That's the conclusion of American and British experts who examined the fighting along the Irpin River northwest of Kyiv. "The Battle of Irpin River was a close-run thing," wrote Richard Sladden, Liam Collins and Alfred Connable in an article in British Army Review, a British military magazine. An attack in the east and south of Ukraine was the most likely course of action, therefore Ukrainian forces were primarily arrayed against this." Russian forces weren't prepared to rapidly deploy pontoon bridges to replace those across the Irpin River that Ukrainian troops had blown up.

Persons: —, Richard Sladden, Liam Collins, Alfred Connable, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Collins, weren't, Oleksii Chumachenko, Carl von Clausewitz, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, British Army, Paratroopers, Hostomel Airport, Ukrainian 72nd Mechanized Brigade, Kyiv, Airport, 5th Company, 72nd Brigade, Hostomel, US Army Special Forces, Getty, 72nd Mechanized Brigade, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Irpin, Kyiv, Russia, Ukrainian, —, British, Russian, Belarus, Dnipro, Hostomel, city's, Holland, Germany, Forbes

☆ America sort of likes Kamala Harris – and that might just be enough
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-21 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The 2024 White House race remains too close to call, but Vice President Kamala Harris' momentum is evident when you look just a little past the horse race. Earlier this week, Harris' favorability emerged above water for the first time since shortly after President Joe Biden took office. Soltis Anderson discussed a poll that the interest group commissioned, which found Harris has expanded Biden's once-meager lead over women voters aged 50 and over. Unlike Clinton, Walsh pointed out Harris hasn't spent decades in the spotlight and isn't faced with assuaging voters' fears of a potential political dynasty. Harris' favorability was up slightly in both Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, favorability, Joe Biden, She's, Kristen Soltis Anderson, Soltis Anderson, Debbie Walsh, Tim Malloy, Likability, Barack Obama's, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump's, Nikki Haley, Gabe Fleisher, reexamined, Trump, Nate Silver's, Walsh, There's, Clinton, Harris hasn't, isn't, Clinton's favorability, Obama's, Mark Robinson, Robinson, Sen, JD Vance, he's, Malloy Organizations: Service, AARP, Business, Center for American Women, Politics, Quinnipiac University Poll, Democratic, Research, Pew Research, State, Rutgers University, Gov, CNN, Republicans, Trump Tower, Trump Locations: North Carolina, Nazi, Nebraska, FiveThirtyEight's, Trump, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin

☆ Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system almost didn't get built
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-21 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Some of the IDF brass feared that missile defense would lead to a defensive mentality, rather than taking the war to the enemy. Ran Kochav, the former head of Israel's air and missile defense system. Indeed, there were similar criticisms in the US as to whether President Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" missile defense would work. Israel's missile defense system faced its most difficult test in April, when Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel. Ultimately, the virtue of missile defense may be that it is the least bad alternative.

Persons: Sidharth Kaushal, Ran Kochav, Israel Defense Forces —, Critics, Kochav, Ronald Reagan's, Yitzhak Rabin, Saddam Hussein, Israel, JALAA MAREY, RUSI, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Israel Defense Forces, Royal United Services Institute, Business, Cricket, Israeli Air Force, General Staff, Getty, Arrow, Israel, Iron, IDF, Forces, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Israel, British, Iran, Brig, Lebanon, Israeli, AFP, Gaza, Hezbollah, Britain, Jordan, Ukraine, Russia, Forbes

☆ TikTok says it's not spreading Chinese propaganda. The U.S. says there's a real risk. What's the truth?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Dilanianmug.Jpg | Ken Dilanian | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

Is TikTok trying to secretly influence Americans at the behest of the Chinese government? And an analysis of the ownership structure of TikTok parent company ByteDance, obtained by NBC News, argues that the company is deeply entangled with some of China’s major government propaganda organs. The most recent one, published last month, found that TikTok suppresses anti-China content compared to YouTube and other social media platforms. In recent years, according to media reports, Chinese government entities have increasingly taken golden shares in technology companies. “This report establishes that TikTok algorithms actively suppress content critical of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) while simultaneously boosting pro-China propaganda and promoting distracting, irrelevant content,” the researchers wrote.

Persons: —, TikTok’s, China —, ’, TikTok, ” Democratic Sen, Mark Warner, — Casey Blackburn, National Intelligence —, ”, ByteDance, Blackburn, Strider, ” Strider, Wu Shugang, “ Organizations: Congress, D.C, Justice Department, NBC News, Network, Research, Rutgers University, YouTube, Department, U.S ., Appeals, District of Columbia, Supreme, Strider Technologies, Communist Party of China, ” Democratic, U.S, of Economic Security, Emerging Technology, National Intelligence, TikTok, Chinese Communist Party, CCP, Net Investment, Technology, Communist Party, China Central Radio, Television Station, Beijing State, Administration, Investment, China’s Ministry of Education Locations: United States, Washington, U.S, China, Tibet, TikTok, People’s Republic of China, Tiananmen, Hong Kong, ”, Xinjiang, Beijing

☆ Microplastics found in nose tissue at base of brain, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Tiny plastic shards and fibers were found in the nose tissue of human cadavers, according to a small new study. The threads and microplastic pieces were discovered in the olfactory bulb, the part of the nose responsible for detecting odors that sits at the base of the brain. Microplastics are polymer fragments that can range from less than 0.2 inch (5 millimeters) down to 1/25,000th of an inch (1 micrometer). However, an April 2023 study found that microplastics made of polypropylene appeared to exacerbate the advance of breast cancer. The nose is one of many ways through which microplastics can enter the body, experts say.

Persons: ”, Luís Fernando Amato, Lourenço, Amato, Lourenço, Phoebe Stapleton, “ I’m, ” Stapleton, “, Betsy Bowers, ” Bowers, ” Sherri “ Sam ” Mason, ” Amato, microplastics, Julian Ward, Leonardo Trasande, don’t, Trasande Organizations: CNN, Free University of Berlin, Rutgers University, Industry Alliance, Penn State, JAMA, US Environmental Protection Agency, Getty, American Academy of Pediatrics, NYU Langone Health, Natural Resources Defense Council, Invest Locations: Piscataway , New Jersey, Erie , Pennsylvania

☆ Iran wants Israelis to worry that Hezbollah has a rare and powerful EMP weapon
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-08 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Nuclear EMP pulses can travel hundreds of miles depending on their altitude of detonation, while NNEMP devices only have ranges of about 5 miles. AP Photo/Mohammed ZaatariIran does have a nuclear program, and probably could build a nuclear EMP weapon if it wanted to. But a non-nuclear EMP weapon might enable Iran to sidestep any red lines. But this raises another question: would Iran give EMP weapons to Hezbollah, its most important proxy? Giving EMP weapons to Hezbollah would risk the possibility that Israel and other nations would hold Iran responsible.

Persons: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps —, Mohammed Zaatari, Trump, Israel, Joseph Votel, Votel, Israel —, It's, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Hezbollah, Lebanese, Quds Force, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Kuwaiti, Al, Force, National and Homeland Security, AP, Iranian, American, US Central Command, Middle East Institute, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Israel, Lebanon, Iran, The, Tehran, Russia, Europe, Mohammed Zaatari Iran, Iranian, Jerusalem, China, North Korea, Washington, New Jersey, Northern Israel, Beirut, Forbes

☆ The battle of Kursk hinges on the Russian railroad
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-08 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Related storiesExactly how overloaded the Russian rail network may be isn't clear. Despite the humiliation of foreign troops occupying Russian soil, Russian forces continue to grind forward in bloody attacks at places such as Pokrovsk, in the Donetsk region. Relying on trucks would require an extraordinary number of vehicles, so it seems likely that Russian forces at Kursk will require multiple railheads that depend on a limited number of railroad bridges. However, Ukraine has captured data about the Russian railway system, which will make it easier to disrupt operations, Fraser noted. Barros believes that Ukraine could seriously disrupt Russian rail traffic and logistics if the US would lift those restrictions.

Persons: —, We've, George Barros, ZwsdIWSBwg, — Rob Lee, Ben Hodges, Kyiv's, Barrow, Oleg Palchyk, Callum Fraser, Fraser, Biden, Barros, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Business, Belarusian, Moscow Railway, Moscow Railways, Russian Railways, Study, UR, 101st Airborne Division, US Army, Interior Ministry, FSB, Kremlin, Getty, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Ukraine, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Los Angeles, Russia, railheads, Kursk, Russian, Orel, Belarus, Smolensk, Moscow, Ukrainian, Washington, Belgorod, Europe, Ukraine, Donetsk, Bryansk, Russia's Kursk, Kharkiv, Leningrad, Oryol, Voronezh, Forbes

☆ Hedge fund turned to a wargame to plan for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-07 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Related storiesIn the second phase of the game, soon after the Chinese invasion began, US forces were said to have engaged and stopped the Chinese amphibious assault, though China continued to bombard Taiwan. Daniel Ceng/Anadolu via Getty ImagesThis caught the hedge fund players by surprise: they had assumed EU sanctions were unlikely because of the depth of China-Europe trade, which reached $815 billion annually in 2023. The hedge fund "agreed that any room for avoiding a total divestment from China and the South China Sea was now completely lost, and market re-entry was probably many years away." The hedge fund responded by choosing to invest heavily in semiconductors manufactured in regions not affected by the war. "This would provide potential opportunities for new players to emerge in the Global South, particularly if loans can be collateralized," Knightsbridge noted.

Persons: Finley Grimble, liquidating, KSG, Daniel Ceng, Knightsbridge, Grimble, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Business, Knightsbridge Strategic, Getty, Treasury, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: British, China, Taiwan, South China, Europe, South America, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Anadolu, South, Ukraine, Africa, East, Southeast Asia, Zimbabwe, Forbes

☆ The battle of Kursk has unchained Ukraine from a failing war strategy
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

At the start of August, Ukraine seemed doomed to remain on the defensive, slowly but relentlessly being ground into retreat by Russian onslaughts. But its successful new Kursk offensive has done more than seize 480 square miles of Russian territory and humiliate Putin. After nearly a year of a grim defensive battle, the Kursk operation has also allowed Ukraine to seize the initiative and force Moscow to dance to Kyiv's tune. The Russians no longer hold the initiative across the entirety of the theater, like they have for most of last year." Which means Ukraine has to find some economical way of keeping up the pressure on Russia, without losing more territory of its own.

Persons: Putin, George Barros, Barros, Vladimir Putin, " Barros, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Kursk, Moscow, Donetsk, Russia, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Polohy, Zaporizhia, Zabrama, Bryansk, Belgorod, Forbes

☆ Human brains contain surprising levels of plastic, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Human brain samples collected at autopsy in early 2024 contained more tiny shards of plastic than samples collected eight years prior, according to a preprint posted online in May. “Compared to autopsy brain samples from 2016, that’s about 50% higher,” Campen said. Nanoplastics are the most worrisome plastics for human health, experts say, because the minuscule pieces can take up residence inside individual cells. In that report, the consortium determined plastics are associated with harms to human health at every single stage of the plastic lifecycle. A March 2024 study found 1 liter of bottled water — the equivalent of two standard-size bottled waters typically purchased by consumers — contained an average of 240,000 plastic particles from seven types of plastics.

Persons: ”, Matthew Campen, ” Campen, Phoebe Stapleton, Philip Landrigan, “, Landrigan, You’re, Nanoplastics ‘, Campen, ” Landrigan, Svetlozar, — Organizations: CNN, University of New, Rutgers University, Program, Global Public Health, Global, Planetary Health, Boston College, American Chemistry Council, US Environmental Protection Agency, “, – Monaco, Plastics, Human, ”, Toxicity Program, International Agency for Research, Cancer, EPA, Endocrine Society, Invest, Natural Resources Defense Council Locations: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, that’s, Piscataway , New Jersey, United States

☆ When my son died from an overdose, my husband and I grieved differently. But we were determined to keep our marriage intact.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Patricia A. Roos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewMy husband Chip and I were sociology professors at Rutgers University, enjoying life in our small town in busy central Jersey. We were a typical suburban family, but we were not immune to the hurricane forces of misery that addiction brings. My husband and I were determined not to let Alex's death destroy us. Alex's anxieties led to addiction, and our family was in chaosThrough high school, Alex self-medicated with alcohol and marijuana. My husband and I grieved differentlyChip and I went through all that together.

Persons: —, Chip, Alex, Dunkin, Suboxone, Alex —, Chip's, We'll, Patricia A, Roos Organizations: Service, Rutgers University, Business, Rutgers University Press Locations: Jersey, New Jersey, Washington ,

☆ Israel's urban warfare tactics in Gaza offer lessons for NATO armies
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Urban warfare in Gaza has revealed a painful truth for NATO: Many of its armies are ill-prepared for fighting in crowded cities. There is good reason for concern: urban warfare has become a fixture of warfare on a rapidly urbanizing planet, from Fallujah in 2003 to Bakhmut in 2023. Israeli troops and their vehicles have faced challenges operating in sections of Gaza that the Israeli Air Force shattered. The biggest lesson of Gaza is the importance of firepower in urban warfare, according to RUSI. Related storiesFirepower played a decisive role "in determining initiative during the fighting in Gaza," RUSI said.

Persons: RUSI, Jack Watling, Nick Reynolds, Watling, Reynolds, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, NATO, Israel Defense Forces, British Army, Business, Royal United Services Institute, US Army, IDF, Israeli Air Force, Anadolu, Getty, Fighters, Hamas, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Gaza, British, Fallujah, Bakhmut, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Forbes

☆ Jill Stein recruiting Palestinian Americans for her running mate position
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Alex-Seitz-Wald-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Alex Seitz-Wald | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Green Party nominee Jill Stein has been recruiting Palestinian Americans to be her vice presidential running mate as the left-wing presidential candidate looks to exploit the community’s frustrations with Democrats' support for Israel during its war in Gaza. Stein is planning to announce her running mate next Friday. Arab and Muslim voters have typically voted Democratic. But President Joe Biden’s steadfast support for Israel turned off many Arab and Muslim voters, who comprise sizable portions of several battleground states, especially Michigan. Tim Walz, who has a good relationship with Muslim and Arab voters in his state, as the Democratic vice presidential nominee.

Persons: Jill Stein, Stein, Abdullah Hammoud, Hammoud, Noura, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s, Israel, Erakat, Harris, Rashida Tlaib, Abed Ayoub, “, ”, “ It’s, She’s, Ayoub, Biden, Tim Walz, Amer Zahr, ” Zahr, ‘, Donald Trump, Trump, Cornel West Organizations: Green, Israel, NBC, Democratic, Rutgers University, Muslim, Democrats, Detroit, Rep, Palestinian, Minnesota Gov, Trump, American Locations: Gaza, Dearborn , Michigan, Detroit, Michigan, Palestinian American, Washington, American, U.S, Israel, Arab, Dearborn

☆ Three Rings, Two College Students and One Big Risk
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Kaitlin Menza | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Meeting someone from a dating app no longer seems like the perilous concept it once did — for most people. The risk assessment was different for Arya Channeng Singh, who was born with spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, a neuromuscular disorder that affects motor neurons and, in her case, requires the use of a wheelchair. Ms. Singh, 24, connected with Logan Alexander Mundy, 25, on Hinge right before Christmas in 2020, when both were on winter break from their undergraduate studies. She was then a junior at Yale pursuing a degree in the history of science, medicine and public health, while he was a sophomore at Princeton studying politics. With pandemic safety in mind, Mr. Mundy suggested they meet for an outdoor date in the botanical gardens of Rutgers University, a midpoint between Ms. Singh’s family home in New York City and his in Howell, N.J.

Persons: Arya Channeng Singh, Singh, Logan Alexander Mundy, Mundy, Singh’s Organizations: Yale, Princeton, Rutgers University Locations: New York City, Howell , N.J

☆ Japan's latest strategy review names the growing threats it faces
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-04 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Japan's newest strategic review names China, North Korea and Russia as threats to Japanese security. Clearer explanations of the threats to Japan's national security will prove critical as the government seeks public support for an ambitious defense spending plan." The review is part of a reconsideration of Japan's needs in the face of growing threats from its well-armed neighbors, especially China. China has "conducted joint bomber flights and naval navigations with Russia in the vicinity of Japan," the paper said. AdvertisementBesides external threats and new equipment, the paper highlighted a critical need for the Japan Self-Defense Forces: more people.

Persons: Nicholas Szechenyi, Ryo Hinata, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Business, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Ministry of Defense, South China, Japan Self - Defense Forces, Forum, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: China, North Korea, Russia, Japan, South China, South, Korea, Yamaguchi, Honolulu, Forbes

☆ In the battle between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, clothing says a lot
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Alice Tecotzky | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewIf Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump ever stand next to one another on the debate stage, viewers watching from their living rooms will notice — even if subconsciously — what the two candidates are wearing. AdvertisementTrump has tailored the traditional masculine suit to fit both his body and his brand. Guy said that Trump often wears navy blue Brioni suits, which are reminiscent of 1980s power silhouettes. Related storiesTrump's campaign celebrated his styling choices, as spokesperson Steven Cheung said, "President Trump has the most style of any President in history." Given his background in reality television, Saha said that Trump understands the game of quick visual communication and knows that clothing can send signals about values.

Persons: —, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Harris, Derek Guy, Guy, Trump, Sparsha Saha, Shauna Shames, Shames, Steven Cheung, pantsuits, Manolo, she'll, Saha, Joseph Altuzarra, It's, Rachel Tashjian, I've Organizations: Service, Democratic, Business, Trump, Harvard, Rutgers University, Converse, New York Times, Vogue, Republican, Washington Post Locations: American, Washington

☆ Chinese scientists claim Star Wars-like laser submarines can blast US satellites
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewChinese scientists claim that it's possible to destroy satellites — including SpaceX's Starlink system — using lasers mounted on submarines. Chinese researchers envision the solution as flotillas of mass-produced laser subs that could be dispatched to oceans around the world. They would wait for tracking data from other non-submarine platforms to determine when a target satellite is overhead. In addition to destroying satellites, these subs could also blast aircraft or land targets such as radars and oil refineries. Laser subs could also shield China's ballistic missile submarines from detection.

Persons: —, Chris Carlson, Carlson, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, navy's Submarine Academy, Business, China Morning, US Navy, Defense Intelligence Agency, Communications, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: China, Hong, Russia, Ukraine, Forbes

☆ Canada's 'shoestring' navy needs drastic changes to buy the new submarine fleet it wants
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Submarines could be very useful for defense of Canadian territory, or asserting a presence in contested Arctic waters. But tripling Canada's submarine fleet will require more than buying new boats. AdvertisementThough Canada acquired its first submarine in 1914, its recent experience with undersea boats has not been a happy one. In 1998, the Royal Canadian Navy bought four used British Upholder-class diesel-electric subs that became surplus as Britain switched to an all-nuclear submarine fleet. Several foreign shipbuilders have expressed interest in selling subs to Canada, including South Korea's Hanwha Ocean and Sweden's Saab.

Persons: —, Paul Mitchell, Mitchell, Refits, Sweden's, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Royal Canadian Navy, NATO, Business, Canadian Forces College, Canada's Department of National Defense, East, Pacific, RCN, Britain, Sweden's Saab, Canada, Shipbuilding Strategy, Royal Canadian Air Force, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Canada, Britain, Germany, Victoria, Canadian, Russia, China, Pacific, Davis, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Barents, West, British Columbia, South, Forbes

☆ Xi wants the world to know China's military is totally loyal despite the purges
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

China's military is loyal and will faithfully execute the policies set down by the Communist Party. In June, Chinese Leader Xi Jinping reminded the Central Military Commission — the country's top political-military body — that the military reports to the Communist Party. "Xi stressed that political work is always the lifeline of the country's military. "Xi stresses PLA's political loyalty at crucial meeting held in old revolutionary base," read the Global Times headline. Beyond military corruption, Xi also is concerned about what he sees as decadence in Chinese society — especially among young people — which is undermining Chinese military power.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, Mei, he'd, he's, Stalin, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Communist Party, Central Military Commission, Global Times, Business, Party, Times, People's Liberation Army, PLA, RAND Corp, Taiwan, PLA Rocket Force, CMC, Soviet Union, Political, Red Army, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: China, US, China —, Germany, Soviet Union, Forbes

☆ In a Taiwan war, the US could find itself fighting China without its top allies
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-21 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The study excluded nations that already faced a risk of direct conflict with China, the US and their respective allies. On the other hand, America's top allies don't share American fears that a massive Chinese military buildup and Chinese leader Xi Jinping's avowed determination to "reunify" Taiwan with China are steps toward war, but rather may be nationalistic posturing. AdvertisementYet if Japan, Australia, Britain and Canada are reluctant to confront China, there are actions they can take to help Taiwan. In addition, the four middle powers could play a role in mediators to prevent a Taiwan war from happening. "To build credibility with both great powers, the four middle powers need to rebuild and bolster their strategic autonomy, material power, and commitment to the Asia-Pacific region."

Persons: Rafiq Dossani, isn't, Xi Jinping's, China's, Dossani, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, America's, RAND Corp, RAND, Business, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Canada, Chinese Communist Party, NATO, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Taiwan, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, American, South Korea, India, Beijing, Asia, South China, Pacific, Okinawa, East China, Britain, Europe, Forbes

☆ Ukraine's Air Force must ditch its Soviet-style approach to get the most out of F-16s
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-20 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But only if the battered Ukrainian Air Force is capable and willing to drastically change the way it fights in the middle of the war. Finally, Ukrainian Air Force leadership must be incorporated into the Ukrainian General Staff to foster and facilitate integrated, all-domain concepts, planning, and employment." "The bottom line is that it will not be easy," Deptula, a retired US Air Force lieutenant general, told Business Insider. "It will take years for the Ukrainian military culture to shift from the model based on their Soviet military history, to Western military doctrine." For example, ground-based artillery and rockets can destroy Russian air defense systems, which enables Ukraine's air force to operate over the battlefield, and thus provide close air support to the army.

Persons: David Deptula, Christopher Bowie, Nichols, Goldwater, interservice, —, Mitchell, Deptula, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Ukrainian Air Force, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Mitchell Institute, Ukrainian, Staff, US Air Force, Russian Air Force, Goldwater, Navy, Joint Chiefs, Missions, Army, Marines, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Soviet, Grenada, Ukrainian, Forbes

☆ The British Army has shrunk to its smallest size since the Napoleonic wars
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The British Army has shrunk to its lowest level since the early 1800s. That's a far cry from the Chinese army of 2 million soldiers, Russia's 1.3 million, or the 460,000 active-duty troops of the US Army. "As things stand, the British Army is a one-trick pony," Nicholas Drummond, a British defense expert and former infantry officer, told Business Insider. AdvertisementIn 1989, the British Army had 156,000 soldiers, or more than twice its present size. "Right now, the British Army cannot generate a single division, let alone two," Drummond said.

Persons: —, Napoleon, Nicholas Drummond, Rudyard Kipling, Tommy, Chuck, Drummond, Keir Starmer, Conservative government's, It's, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, British Army, US Army, Business, Britain's Army, NATO, Royal Navy, Treasury, Army, Labor, Conservative, Royal Air Force, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Romania, Bangladesh, Canada, Armenia, Russia, Washington, DC, Ukraine, British, Forbes

☆ A detailed look at children’s brains might show how sex and gender are different, new study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Sex and gender are often conflated or equated in everyday conversations, and most American adults believe a person’s gender is determined by sex assigned at birth. But a new study of nearly 5,000 9- and 10-year-olds found that sex and gender map onto largely distinct parts of the brain. The researchers on the new study defined sex as what was assigned to the child at birth. They also hope to see how different cultures affect a person’s gender and their brain development. The study did not look at whether sex or gender were congruent or incongruent in any study participant.

Persons: ”, Elvisha, Dr, Dani S, Bassett, “, ” Bassett, ” Dhamala, —, Sanjay Gupta, Avram Holmes, Holmes, “ It’s, ” Holmes Organizations: CNN, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Zucker Hillside, University of Pennsylvania, Bioengineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Neurology, Psychiatry, Research, London, Conservative, CNN Health, Rutgers University Locations: Glen Oaks , California, United States

☆ I lost my dream job in the US because I couldn't get a work visa. In Canada, the pathway has been much smoother.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I worked with major US news outlets during and after college and wanted to keep working in America, but couldn't secure an H-1B work visa. I spent the next five years in India, working in journalism before pivoting into a brand and communications position. AdvertisementI couldn't get a work visa in the US, but there was a clearer and more stable path to getting one in Canada. My understanding is that it's become harder to get a work visa in the US since. My work visa expires in October 2024, and I'm open to options for settling in Canada beyond that.

Persons: —, Vaishali Gauba, Stephen Colbert, I've, isn't, Donald Trump Organizations: Service, Business, Rutgers University, CNBC, NBC, CBS, Toronto Metropolitan University Locations: Gurugram, India, New Jersey, America, Canada

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