Month: April 2024
Use of Glide bombs in Ukraine
Russia has increasingly relied on glide-bomb strikes to hammer Ukrainian positions in recent months. These munitions are particularly difficult to intercept because they have short flight times, small radar signatures, and non-ballistic trajectories.Glide bombs have flight control surfaces and are known as standoff weapons, meaning that Russian warplanes can release them at a distance beyond
Growing Chinese Military Spending
In the last decade, Beijing’s self-reported defense budget has more than doubled. China also now boasts the largest navy in the world, alongside the biggest coast guard and maritime militia. It has the globe’s biggest army and sub-strategic missile force to boot. Many experts believe China’s public defense budget does not include other military relevant
The fall in BYD profits and sales
BYD has been competing with Elon Musk’s Tesla to be the world’s biggest seller of EVs. The US giant reclaimed the title earlier this month after losing out to its Chinese rival at the end of last year. BYD and its rivals have been involved in a price war in China, as they compete for
Propping Up the Yen
The yen has been falling primarily because of simple economic logic. The gap in interest rates between Japan and America is yawning. Although the Bank of Japan raised rates in February, it did so by only a smidgen: they increased from between minus 0.1% and zero to between zero and 0.1%. Rates in booming America,
Russian disinformation on Meta
The European Commission has opened formal investigation proceedings into Meta over its handling of political content, including a suspected Russian influence campaign. The probe will also examine whether Meta is being transparent enough over its moderation of political content and accounts. very large online platforms face fines of up to 6% of their annual turnover
EU rules against iPad
Apple is already subject to European gatekeeper obligations on iOS and in its app store and browser. But this move, telegraphed last fall when the European Commission launched a study of iPadOS, puts even more of the technology giant’s business under the EU’s microscope. Apple’s iPad will face heightened regulation in the European Union after
New “Hamas” attacks on Israel from Lebanon
The launches on Monday, although muted in their impact, highlighted Hamas’s continuing ability to threaten Israel with rocket fire despite more than 200 days of a devastating Israeli air and ground offensive that has decimated the group’s military capabilities in Gaza. Though Hamas is based in Gaza, many of its leaders are exiled in Lebanon,
Israel’s new ceasefire offer
Israel launched a military campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group’s cross-border attack on southern Israel on 7 October, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 253 others were taken hostage. More than 34,480 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli government
The cost of Getting out of Gaza
Until October 7th, Palestinians who wanted to leave Gaza had in theory two choices: a few could use the Erez crossing, in the north of the strip, monitored by Israel, or they could try the southern one at Rafah, overseen by Egypt. Erez is now closed to those leaving Gaza. The cost of getting through
Young Generation investing in Gold in China
Young people don’t have much spare cash. The youth-unemployment rate in cities is about 15%. Many companies are cutting salaries. So youngsters are hoping to make the most of what little savings they have. But traditional investments aren’t doing well. The stockmarket is slumping and house prices have fallen for ten months in a row.