SMH, news comes in surges.
Globalism / Great Reset –
(CNN) — The US Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to release strict new proposed federal emissions standards for light-duty vehicles that, if implemented, would move the US car market decisively toward electric vehicles over the next decade.
The EPA is considering emissions standards that could make up to two-thirds of new passenger vehicles sold in the US electric by 2032, according to a source familiar with the proposal.
If implemented, the new greenhouse gas performance standards would start for light-duty vehicles that are model year 2027 and gradually increase through model year 2032.
By 2032, the rules would ensure that 64% to 67% of all new-car sales in the US would be electric vehicles, according to the source.
OBSERVATION – I think I noted this move recently. Basically a reset of the automotive industry and an elimination of a large portion of the population from owning an automobile.
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New Zealand – dubbed the Saudi Arabia of milk for its dominant role in global dairy trade – wants its farmers to pay a world-first levy on agricultural emissions by 2025 to help reduce agriculture’s climate footprint.
OBSERVATION - Globalists going after farmers and ranchers again. Starve the world into population reduction.
**
The Federal Ministry of Economics, headed by Robert Habeck (Green party) has “GROSSLY MISCALCULATED” the cost of removing oil and gas heating systems from homes and buildings, and installing heat pumps in their place by 2045. Instead of 132 billion euros cost by 2045 for citizens, the real price tag will be a whopping 621 billion euros! The total real price tag for all buildings will be 776 billion euros.
OBSERVATION – This is in part why there will be a global ‘reset’ as all these initiatives are designed to kill the global economies with totally unrealistic mandates. You can’t reset something until it is broken.
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The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), similar to the private Federal Reserve here in the United States, has launched 14 different central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot programs in an effort to shift the country entirely to a cashless society.
The Australian and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) reportedly partnered with Grollo Carbon Ventures (GCV) to launch the trading of so-called Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), which are tokens backed by “nature-based and real-world assets,” according to Reclaim the Net.
“When applied to carbon markets, tokenization has the potential to improve efficiency and transparency, reduce risk and preserve the unique characteristics of underlying projects to incentivize investment in climate solutions,” announced Nigel Dobson, ANZ’s banking services head about the venture.
OBSERVATION – The movement towards a global, CBDC programmed currency moves forward in incremental steps. In the land down under, they are more aggressive – having stronger WEF trained minions. Here they appear to be accelerating the merger of the digital currency with carbon credits, only a step away from monitoring carbon footprint of the individual and individual social credit scoring. Some have been noting that the WEF minions are tackling the CBDC issue on a regional basis, working to eventually bring all into a common, global system. Remember back in the Before Years of the efforts to bring the Americas into a common economic pool. The EU has already been working that side for a while. Now BRICS is being formed to tackle other aspects of economic unity.
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In a broad sense, much of Europe is moving away from its ties with the US and drifting towards what French President Macron calls “strategic autonomy” . This move is also coupled with a move towards increasing ties with China and a reluctance to get involved with any Taiwan-related disputes.
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The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday trimmed its 2023 global growth outlook slightly as higher interest rates cool activity but warned that a severe flare-up of financial system turmoil could slash output to near recessionary levels.
The IMF said in its latest World Economic Outlook report that banking system contagion risks were contained by strong policy actions after the failures of two U.S. regional banks and the forced merger of Credit Suisse. But the turmoil added another layer of uncertainty on top of stubbornly high inflation and spillovers from Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The IMF is now forecasting global real GDP growth at 2.8% for 2023 and 3.0% for 2024, marking a sharp slowdown from 3.4% growth in 2022 due to tighter monetary policy.
OBSERVATION – WEF/GGR minions will be examining this info for more ways to manufacture their global shut down of the economy in order to implement their reset.
Wuhan virus –
A federal appeals court ruled Monday that three individuals who sued the Kentucky governor for their right to assemble for worship during COVID-19 must be paid over $270,000 in attorney’s fees.
Randall Daniel, Theodore Roberts, and Sally O’Boyle sued in August 2020 after they received notices logging their attendance at Maryville Baptist Church’s Easter Service and informing them they must quarantine or face “further enforcement measures.” The group alleged Democratic Governor Andrew Beshear’s bans on religious gatherings and interstate travel violated their constitutional rights, which the Sixth Circuit affirmed in May 2020, according to court documents.
On Monday, the Sixth Circuit upheld a district court ruling awarding the congregants $272,142.50 in attorney’s fees, rejecting the governor’s challenges.
https://dailycaller.com/2023/04/11/governor-shut-down-church-pay-fee-kentucky-andrew-beshear/
OBSERVATION – Excellent news. Govt allowed Walmarts to be widely open, but restricted clearly established constitutional rights otherwise. More and more of these lawsuits are coming out against city/state gvts for their abuse of religious rights. It may or may not serve as a deterrent to future rights grabs.
Economy –
The Biden administration proposed actions Tuesday that would significantly reduce water supplies in seven western states amid severe drought conditions that stretch back decades.
The Department of the Interior (DOI) released a draft proposal that highlighted two potential actions it could take to combat the Colorado River Basin’s deteriorating water levels. The two proposals would each consist of federally-mandated supply reductions for states that are dependent on the river system which provides water for more than 40 million Americans and is vital for western states’ economies.
OBSERVATION – The proposals being looked will impact numerous economic sectors in varying degrees. Kalifornia could either benefit or have its agriculture smacked hard – depending on the proposal implemented. Urban dwellers will see their sunny oasis’s forced to cut way back.
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Small business credit availability is reportedly dropped to 20 year lows. Analysts are linking this to a potential commercial real estate collapse and its impacts on small banks.
OBSERVATION – I’m not a financial wiz, but clearly if small businesses are seeing credit drying up, then if/when the recession hits they will be the first to go and that will suck the air out of a large segment of the economy. Some could associate that with an effort to force people to rely on the big box store economic model – similar to the wuhan lockdowns that shut these same small businesses down, but permitted the biggies like Walmart to stay open. The rumbling are out there
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The CPI rose 0.1 percent in March, lower than the expected 0.2 percent. The largest contributor to the rise was the shelter index, offsetting a decline in the energy index.
OBSERVATION – The energy index is on the rise now in April, with spot reports of increases in natural gas and gasoline.
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Walmart is closing four stores in Chicago. Walmart said that the stores have never been profitable and that their Chicago area operations are losing tens of millions each year.
OBSERVATION – Not that any of the attendees of the DNC Nat Con will be visiting walmarts during their bash. Most likely the cause of the losses are theft – reason Walmart and other chains are closing stores in democrat strongholds like Portland and San Fran.
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U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen attempted to reassure Americans about the state of the global economy at a press conference on Tuesday. While acknowledging the possibility of an economic downturn, she said she did not anticipate one and believes that the U.S. banking system remains strong.
“I’ve not really seen evidence at this stage suggesting a contraction in credit, although that is a possibility,” Yellen said. “I believe our banking system remains strong and resilient; it has solid capital and liquidity.”
“So I’m not anticipating a downturn in the economy, although of course that remains a risk.”
OBSERVATION – Cannot grant much credibility to her claims, remembering just how far off the mark she was when she said inflation was only ‘transitory’ a couple of years ago, and we are still suffering thru its impacts.
Biden / Harris watch –
Biden in Ireland for no apparent reason.
CW2/Domestic violence –
House Republicans said Monday they have new information showing the FBI has been trying to develop undercover sources inside Catholic Church parishes throughout the U.S. in search of radical elements within the religious faith. The allegation follows a former FBI agent recently revealing a since-retracted field office memo, characterizing Catholics with a devotion to the traditional Latin Mass as possible domestic threats.
OBSERVATION – Connect this with the VA cancelling Catholic priests from serving parishioners at VA hospitals and you see where this regime is headed. Cut off one pieces at a time.
Domestic / International Terror (modified)-
Situational awareness as Ramadan continues.
POLITICAL FRONT –
The Democratic National Committee announced that their 2024 national convention would be held in Chicago from 19 to 22 August after a concerted lobbying effort by Illinois politicians.
OBSERVATION – Less than two years for Chicago’s uber leftist mayor to get crime under control – or not.
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Manhattan’s district attorney has sued Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), alleging the top Republican member has launched a campaign meant to intimidate. Jordan, a Republican, has launched “a transparent campaign to intimidate and attack District Attorney Bragg, making demands for confidential documents and testimony from the District Attorney himself as well as his current and former employees and officials,” Bragg, a Democrat, claimed in the new suit, lodged in federal court in New York.
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, shot back at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Tuesday over what the lawmaker said was a naked effort to obstruct congressional oversight.
“First, they indict a president for no crime,” Jordan tweeted after Bragg sued to block House GOP subpoenas of prosecutors who might have conflicts of interest with their office’s efforts to hang charges on former President Donald Trump.
“Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it.”
OBSERVATION – Key pivot point of congressional leverage is that Bragg is prosecuting a federal level offense and has reportedly spent federal funds in his investigative and prosecutorial efforts. Both actions place him squarely within the purview of federal oversight by Jordan’s committee.
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The Biden administration involved itself in the raid of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home despite reports that its officials were “stunned” to find out about the news on social media, according to the group America First Legal, which obtained internal government documents related to the raid through a Freedom of Information Act request.
“The evidence further suggests that Biden officials in the Executive Office of the President and the Department of Justice unlawfully abused their power and then lied about it to the American people,” said Reed D. Rubinstein, America First Legal senior counselor and director of oversight and investigations, in a post on social media Tuesday. “This government, it seems, acknowledges no limits on its power to harass, intimidate, and silence its political opponents.”
Rubinstein’s comments come after a Freedom of Information Act request by America First Legal found the FBI initially obtained access to Trump records through a “special access request” from the Biden White House.
OBSERVATION – biden et al LIED, who would have thought.
China –
See Iran on rumored secret talks.
North/South Korea –
Eyes on Saturday for any military parade and missile/nuclear test as it is the Day of Sun - the founder of North Korea’s Birthday (Kim Il Sung, grandfather of Kim Jong Un). USAF ISR aircraft active in the region again this week. Increasing indications North Korea may be about to conduct further missiles or nuclear tests. Communications have gone dark between the North and South despite routine diplomatic calls from the south. A USAF RC-135V is currently up over the region on ISR.
OBSERVATION – in the past, NK would do something spectacular like this, but recent parades have not resulted in major weapons tests. With NK refusing to pick up the hot line and other factors, this may change this time. Needless to say a lot of intel eyes are watching.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT
Russian forces have initiated an offensive who’s declared goals are to reach and secure the Luhansk and Donetsk oblast borders — an objective that Russian Chief of General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov had also outlined on December 22, 2022. Troop and equipment build up is being noted
This offensive action is focused on several fronts –
1) the Svatove-Kreminna front,
2) Bahkmut region,
3) Donetsk region and
4) Zaporizhizhia Oblast around the town of Vuhledar.
Analysts are noting that the Russian offensive operations are winding down. Some offensive operation will continue to be attempted, however, a lot of assessment indicates they’ve lost the capability to sustain a credible offensive to try to capture the Donbas region having frittered away resources against Bahkmut.
Russia is also capable of launching cruise/ballistic missile attacks directed against Ukrainian infrastructure - primarily its power grid, but massively reduced inventories of such missiles means these barrages will be further apart.
While Russia has nuclear capability, the probability is low that any will be used in the near future.
********
NUCLEAR THREATS –
Russia launched an ICBM carrying dummy warheads into Kazakhstan, according to Russian media.
Logistics –
See Iran on secret talks.
Russian Personnel Issues –-
- Russian State Duma approved a law on electronic register of military eligible men. Those who were summoned to military enlistment office will be banned from traveling abroad and driver’s license will be suspended.
- Russia’s only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, currently doesn’t have a crew. This adds another hurdle to getting the ship, which finally departed its drydock at the Sevmorput Naval Shipyard in Russia’s northwestern Murmansk region in February, into any kind of real service. Since 2017, Admiral Kuznetsov has been undergoing a labored overhaul effort, during which time it has suffered multiple fires and a drydock sinking.
The Russian newspaper Izvestia first reported on April 10 that Admiral Kuznetsov’s crew is in the process of being reformed. According to a machine translation of the article, anonymous sources within the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed to the newspaper that preparations for the formation of Admiral Kuznetsov’s new crew have begun, although when exactly this started remains unclear. It’s also uncertain when this process will be finalized, owing to the significant challenges of finding and training the personnel needed to man the vessel.
Ukraine -
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures with highs now reaching the 60’s with rain/snow over continuing over most of the forecast period.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Fighting around Avdiivka and Bakhmut. The head of Russia’s Wagner Group paramilitary organization, Yevgeny Prigozhin, claimed on Tuesday that his fighters controlled over 80% of the Ukrainian city Bakhmut. I expect that he is overstating his success for PR purposed, Russia has progressively been eating away Ukraine control of the town. Remember too, Russia has been trying to take this small town for nearly 9 months now. Russia has been using its tactics of heavy artillery and aerial bombardments to clear sectors of the cities. However, to do so they have stripped artillery from other sectors of the front, thus their offensives in Svatove-Kreminna and Zaporizhizhia Oblast have gotten no where.
It appears that Russian effort is shifting to Avdiivka with reports of Russian attempts to squeeze around the city from the north and south to cut it off. Also renewed operations south of the city to push further on the M-04 highway.
Russian telegram channels spread a video showing a Ukrainian soldier being beheaded live. The video is associated with forces from the Wagner Group.
The Svatove-Kreminna, Zaporizhizhia and Crimean fronts were relatively quiet, with mostly scattered and sporatic Russian artillery strikes.
OUTLOOK –
Expect fighting in Avdiivka and Bakhmut to continue. Widely spread video of russians beheading an Ukraine POW is generating blowback and may harden the resolve of the west to support Ukraine.
Iran –
Politico reports China and Russia are in advanced secret talks with Iran to replenish the Islamic Republic’s supply of ammonium perchlorate, which could also help Moscow replenish its depleted stock of missiles and would violate UNSCR 2231
Armenia/Azerbaijan –
WAR WATCH
Fire was exchanged between Azerbaijan and Armenia forces, mortar fire has been reported as well. 6 Azeri forces have reportedly been killed. Azerbaijan has reportedly deployed additional forces near the border.
Globalism / Great Reset –
A federal judge granted a request Wednesday from a coalition of 24 states and several industry groups to block environmental regulations redefining how water sources are protected.
Judge Daniel Hovland of the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota ruled that the so-called Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in late December poses “great” risks to states. The judge also ruled that the federal government should wait until the Supreme Court soon rules on a related case pending before it.
“A balancing of the harms and an analysis of the public interest supports a finding that the risk of harms to the States is great,” Hovland wrote. “There is little public interest or any efficiency gained by implementing a new rule which codifies the ‘significant nexus’ test before the United States Supreme Court issues a decision in Sackett.”
OBSERVATION – WEF stated goals are to reduce agriculture. One way is to restrict how the land can be used. Reality is regulators want to call any piece of land that essentially has a mud puddle or trickle of water at any time a ‘waters of the US” and subject to highly restrictive uses. They have been going after this for decades now and have ruined the lives of many in agriculture.
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One of the parties that makes up Poland’s conservative government has proposed an “anti-bug law” that would require food products containing insects to be labelled with a special warning. “Dried mealworm larvae, powdered cricket – these are among the insects that the eurocrats and Rafał Trzaskowski [the opposition mayor of Warsaw] call new food,” said Janusz Kowalski, a deputy agriculture minister, while unveiling the plans in parliament yesterday.
In January this year, the European Commission approved products made from mealworm larvae and house crickets as safe for consumption. They were not the first insect products approved by Brussels, and the commission emphasized at the time that “nobody will be forced to eat insects”.
OBSERVATION – Oh yes they will eventually be forced to eat bug, you can bet your bars on that.
Economy –
US Core Inflation (Core CPI YoY) rose to 5.6% in March
Energy prices were down, but shelter is up 8.2% YoY and food is up 8.5% YoY.
OBSERVATION – Uncertainty in fuel and housing has the potential to light the inflation fuse this summer. Fed outlook are for a couple smaller (25 point) raises in the prime rate, but according to the way they do math, it won’t slow inflation down.
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FWIW, news releases say 5 billion but more up to date analysis shows Anheiser – Busch has lost 7 billion since going woke.
Invasion of Illegals –
Border Patrol agents are seeing an increasing surge of illicit drugs coming across the northern border, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics and two agents who spoke with the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Border Patrol agents have already seized 1,500 pounds of drugs at the northern border between October 2022 and February 2023, surpassing the 1,300 pounds seized in all of fiscal year 2022, according to CBP data. Agents are not only dealing with a surge in drugs, but also an influx of illegal migrants.
OBSERVATION – Canada no longers works to stop southward illegal immigration and drug trafficking into the US apparently. As weather gets warmer, I expect this to increase.
Biden / Harris watch –
Arriving in Belfast, the Biden did not recognize the Prime Minister of Great Britain and pushed the “boy” away to salute the gray-haired military man.
CW2/Domestic violence –
AG Garland may have perjured himself before congress when he denied that the FBI attempting to plant informants inside a number of Catholic congregations. The House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government has released new details about the FBI’s targeting of Catholic churches that counters his testimony.
OBSERVATION – Our govt is at war with us. Garland may apply the plausible deniability tactic to say he didn’t know, but such efforts require his knowledge. They will call him out on it but nothing will be done except for a lot of chest beating and heavy grunting.
NOTE – not only the Catholic church, but all non-woke, non-progressive churches are in the DoJ’s cross hairs.
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) is offering no jail time for a transgender activist who vandalized a church and assaulted a woman after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, according to documents reviewed by Fox News Digital.
Maeve Nota, a 31-year-old who identifies as transgender, broke two glass doors and spray painted “rot in your fake hell,” “kid groomers,” and “woman haters” on the outside of St. Louise Catholic Church in Bellevue, Washington, in 2022 after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, according to the Daily Mail. Nota also assaulted a woman, spray painted another person in the face, attacked police and hit an officer’s vehicle with a bag of spray paint cans, but the Biden administration is planning on offering a plea bargain that would require no jail time, according to Fox News Digital.
OBSERVATION – Two tier justice system. Remember, the DOJ has prosecuted pro-life protesters in the past. Mark Houck was arrested in front of his family by the FBI in an October morning raid after being charged with assaulting an abortion clinic volunteer. Houck pleaded not guilty to the charges and was eventually acquitted in January after the jury deadlocked. DoJ was pushing for 11 years in jail for his ‘offense’.
Domestic / International Terror (modified)-
Situational awareness as Ramadan continues.
Strategic Activity / Deployments –
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said Wednesday that the U.S. would refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) this year if it is advantageous to U.S. taxpayers.
OBSERVATION – with oil prices expecting to reach $100/barrel, it is highly unlikely any effort will be made to replace the oil biden ordered removed last year.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s urgent request to enter a restraining order against Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) was rejected on April 11, the same day it was filed.
U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, a Trump appointee, turned down Bragg’s emergency request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Jordan.
“The Court declines to enter the proposed Temporary Restraining Order and Order to Show Cause,” Vyskocil said, noting that she hadn’t yet received several documents that were referenced in Bragg’s filings.
OBSERVATION – Bragg’s defensive tactics to avoid congressional testimony is not starting well. Some would say incompetently, which is not surprising given that it is apparent he is a very poor lawyer to begin with.
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Whatever the source and validity of the reportedly 100 + classified documents released through a gamers chat room, the reverberations are being felt globally as US allies and enemies alike respond. Damage control by the regime appears to be significant and ongoing. Worst case – if the documents are valid, decades of alliances between the US and other countries will be demolished. What better way to bring down the US is by stabbing itself in the back.
According to members of the original Discord server, the man behind the massive leak of U.S intelligence documents began to share classified information late last year to protect their small group from the troubles around them. While the Discord server was only 25 people, about half of the users were overseas.
**
Kalifornia’s Feinstein’s ongoing illnesses and mental decline has democrats pushing for her to resign soon. They are losing confidence in her ability to serve the remaining two years of her term.
China –
Initial analysis of China’s three days of large-scale combat drills that Beijing claimed was a response to the Taiwanese president’s recent high-profile trip to the U.S suggest it isn’t “ ready to risk an invasion” – yet. To avoid the high cost and losses of an invasion, this recent exercise focused on a blockade of the island. Still a dangerous course of action, but would not involve tens of thousands of invasion force troops and potential disaster as their ships are intercepted and sunk enroute to their invasion destinations.
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China is threatening the US and Philippines over plans to significantly increase the US presence in the country. China claims it is a threat to its soverngnity - due to false claims of ownership of Philippine islands in the region.
North/South Korea –
North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile Thursday morning, according to Japan’s defense ministry, the first such launch in over two weeks. The missile was directed on a high angle transjectory and total flight time was estimated at about 40 minutes. The transjectory took the missile over the Japanese island of Hokkaido resulting in an island-wide alert to get to get to shelter. Details are still lacking on the launch and missile used.
OBSERVATION – This is likely another NK’s tests of a long range ICBM missiles given the flight time and trajectory over Japan. NK compensates for the lack of down range monitoring stations by shooting near vertical rockets. 40 minute flight time is adequate to reach the US. Launch may be related to this weekend’s celebrations.
Japan –
See North/South Korea RE NK missile test.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT
Russian forces have initiated an offensive who’s declared goals are to reach and secure the Luhansk and Donetsk oblast borders — an objective that Russian Chief of General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov had also outlined on December 22, 2022. Troop and equipment build up is being noted
This offensive action is focused on several fronts –
1) the Svatove-Kreminna front,
2) Bahkmut region,
3) Donetsk region and
4) Zaporizhizhia Oblast around the town of Vuhledar.
Analysts are noting that the Russian offensive operations are winding down. Some offensive operation will continue to be attempted, however, a lot of assessment indicates they’ve lost the capability to sustain a credible offensive to try to capture the Donbas region having frittered away resources against Bahkmut.
Russia is also capable of launching cruise/ballistic missile attacks directed against Ukrainian infrastructure - primarily its power grid, but massively reduced inventories of such missiles means these barrages will be further apart.
While Russia has nuclear capability, the probability is low that any will be used in the near future.
********
It has come to light that last September a Russian pilot had misinterpreted what a radar operator on the ground was saying to him and thought he had permission to fire. The pilot, who had locked on the British aircraft, fired, but the missile did not launch properly.
RUMINT-
Russia may be using other private military companies (PMCs) in an effort to replace Wagner on the battle lines. The quality of these PMCs is unknown, but some reports suggest that they are specialized in infiltration and development of exploitable penetrations of Ukrainian defensive positions. Most likely a effort by the MoD to reduce Wagner’s influence in the Kermlin and Russian politics.
Economic Impact –
Hague court orders Russia to pay Ukraine’s Naftogaz $5 billion in compensation for losses in Crimea. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has ordered Russia to pay $5 billion to Ukraine’s state oil and gas monopoly Naftogaz, the company said on April 13
Ukraine -
One year ago, the Russian Slava-class cruiser “Moskva”, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, was hit by two Ukrainian Neptune missiles. The extensive damage of the ship caused her sinking one day later.
The sinking of the Moskva eventually led to a total withdrawal of all Russian operations in the Western half of the Black Sea, most notably the liberation of Snake Island and the end of the naval blockade of Odesa.
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures with highs now reaching the 60’s with rain/snow over continuing over most of the forecast period.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Fighting around Avdiivka and Bakhmut continues with Bakhmut receiving most of the activity overnight. Growing concern over how long Ukraine can maintain Bakhmut.
The Svatove-Kreminna, Zaporizhizhia and Crimean fronts were relatively quiet, with mostly scattered and sporatic Russian artillery strikes and minimal ground attacks.
OUTLOOK –
Expect fighting in Avdiivka and Bakhmut to continue. Weather is expected to continue to delay any serious Ukrainian offensive until the soil dries out more.
Norway declares 15 intelligence officers working at Russia’s embassy in Oslo personae non gratae.
Black Swans
Interesting science news that the sun may be reaching its cyclic max a year earlier than normal. According to models and historical analysis, the sun spot activity could peak as soon as later this year or early next. Already, it has been a very active cycle with numerous sun spots harboring X-class solar flare potential, and some X class flares being kicked off. Though big, X class flares need to be in the X-15 range to begin to do some serious damage due to the associated CME they involve. The Ontario power grid shut down was due to an X-15 iirc. The go-to site to monitor solar activity is Spaceweather.com