Axios article

Hamas on Sunday rejected an updated U.S. proposal for a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza

...

More specifically, Hamas objects to the fact that the proposal doesn't include a permanent ceasefire

b asks: "There is no ceasefire deal. How then could Hamas reject a ceasefire deal?"

The firepower imbalance might prove decisive as the battle rages on. Sensing an opportunity and apparently feeling confident in their chances, Russian commanders have shoved the 15th and 74th Motor Rifle Brigades into the salient along with elements of the 90th Tank Division and some special forces.

At least seven Ukrainian brigades and a separate battalion are fighting back: the 23rd, 25th, 47th, 100th and 115th Mechanized Brigades, the 25th Air Assault Brigade, the 3rd Assault Brigade and the 425th Assault Battalion. The brigades typically deploy just one battalion at a time.

It’s apparent the Russians have, in all, more than 10,000 troops in or near the salient. Just 3,000 or so Ukrainians oppose them, if the Center for Defense Strategies’ estimate is accurate.

2nd one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10A12WGrviQ

People tell me that because I don't vote I don't have a right to complain. I think the opposite: those who vote play the game (legitimise the system) and shouldn't be salty that their preferred candidate didn't win; they should say ggwp and vote harder next time.

Just throwing that out there so people don't feel pressured into becoming voters. "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal" said someone once.

If I could vote in a place where invalid votes were counted as invalid and if most votes came in as invalid it would invalidate the election I'd be crossing out the ballot in every election. Unfortunately in most places invalid votes don't count (they're simply a statistic) or they get counted as part of the winning party/candidate's vote (fuck that).

That said, I like how the DPRK chooses candidates. (Ideally) they're chosen through discussion and then a Yes/No vote is done to confirm there is an overwhelming consensus. Hence the Western propaganda against DPRK saying they have one candidate on the ballot and the candidate gets over 90% of the vote.

Remember, choice to keep the Soviet Union won the most votes and they dissolved it anyway.

No one asked me if I want to live in a capitalist system, until they do, I have no reason to go out and vote.

Before their arrival, the Western warplanes had been held up by some as a potential war-winner that could turn the tide of the conflict in Kyiv’s favour.

“Often, we just don’t get the weapons systems at the time we need them – they come when they’re no longer relevant,” a Ukrainian high-ranking officer told the Politico news website.

“Every weapon has its own right time. F-16s were needed in 2023; they won’t be right for 2024.”

L M A O

Good analysis (as always) from b on Moon of Alabama.