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DJT calls Macron and Starmer "nice guys," but guys who did nothing to end the Ukraine war. He says the effort for a minerals deal with Ukraine was made in the context of Europe making loans to Ukraine and the US having given outright aid and the need for the US to be treated same as the Europeans. 

CDU's candidate for Chancellor in next week's German election says Germany should consider taking a stake in the British and French nuclear arsenal, now that NATO Article 5 may not be honored by the US under DJT. Offers were made by the French for this to happen many years back.

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The Editorial Board of the WSJ points out the differing opinions on the Ukraine conflict in the Republican party. It says the benefits to the US far outweigh any costs. It also describes the oversight over use of the funds given as military or humanitarian aid assistance.

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The Russian central bank under Elvira Nabiullina raises interest rates by 3.5% to 12%. In the first 5 months of 2023 the Russian government spent 50% more in rubles than in the same period in 2022. The increase in spending meant increase in wages and more hiring for production of goods including production for the war effort. The policy was to carry on the war effort without the effects of the war being felt by ordinary Russian citizens. The result has been higher inflation at 7.6%. Nabiullina faces a unique set of challenges to control inflation, maintain the economy even as Russia continues the war effort in Ukraine. 

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The German response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine is to increase its spending on defense to over 2% of GDP.  An emotional Scholz told an extraordinary session of the German parliament - We have to ask ourselves: "What capacities does Putin's Russia have? And which capacities do we need to counter his threats?" "Putin wants to establish a Russian Empire... the question is... whether we can summon the strength to set boundaries to warmongers like Putin," said Scholz. Scholz said he would immediately invest 100 billion euros or $113 billion in weaponry. Mr. Scholz also announced concrete arms procurements including the decision to buy state-of-the art drones from Israel and F-35 warplanes from the US, which he said would be used to amplify NATO's nuclear deterrent against Russia. 

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The DJT Putin talks in Alaska lead to both sides agreeing that there would be another meeting and the goal would not be a ceasefire but an effort to reach a peace settlement. The media NYT, WSJ, Washington Post and others present it as a failure to reach a ceasefire. Yet ceasefires can be broken and with a better understanding and mutual respect after personal discussions, US and Russian leaders can help setup a lasting peace. Principal stumbling blocks of Ukraine after a long bruising fight is wary and skeptical of Russian intentions and Russia after suffering huge losses seeks to present its side and make some gains. Also emerging from the talks is abetter understanding of what the Russian side wants and is willing to accept. Putin accepts the need for European troops in Ukraine to ensure a lasting peace. The US does not want to get involved in a European war and the European peacekeeping force would have US military support but no US troops on the ground, something the Russian side is willing to accept. ...

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Daniel Yergin, expert on international oil markets, says the oil price cap set by the US and EU at $60 and the European prohibition on Russian oil imports after Dec. 5, means the end of the global oil market. That global oil market came into place with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the industrialization of China. In its place comes a partitioned oil market shaped by not only economics and logistics but also by geopolitical strategy, says Yergin. This means Russia no longer sends 4 million barrels a day to Europe. The price cap is a US strategy to prevent a price surge with Russia cutting production to raise prices. It is working. with a slowing world economy, and shipping companies reluctant to take on unknown liabilities from government penalties, the price of Russian oil is now at mid $40's, about 45% below the benchmark price and 33% below the $70 price of oil on which the Russian budget is based, says this report. This has an unintended effect of enabling India to support its modernization drive with oil imports at reasonable prices coming just after a pandemic. ...

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 Edward Jenner invented the small pox vaccine in 1796. Before this a method called variolation was used. Pieces of fabric or threads moistened with a sick person's small pox postules were pulled through incisions in a person's arm. This was effective until Edward Jenner invented the vaccine itself for mass vaccination efforts. Tom Parfitt of The Times writes about how Catherine Empress of Russia invited Dr Dimsdale from Britain to give her the inoculation against smallpox. She became the first person to be inoculated in Russia and had the courage to do so after this method had been tried and successfully tested in Britain. Catherine writes in this letter to Count Rumyantsev that she had only mild discomfort. She then championed smallpox inoculation for the Russian people and says "it does not call for huge expenditure." Today the Russian government is making its best efforts to vaccinate the Russian people, yet only 38% are fully vaccinated. The example of a medical revolution 200 years ago and how it was handled in Europe is new inspiration for renewed efforts. ...