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Editor’s Note: Michael Bociurkiw (@WorldAffairsPro) is a global affairs analyst. He is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and a former spokesperson for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He is a regular contributor to CNN Opinion. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. Read more opinion at CNN. Lviv CNN —

Few places ooze the pain Ukrainians have been subjected to over the decades more than Lychakiv Cemetery in the western city of Lviv.

Among its rolling hills you’ll find the final resting places of many of the figures of Ukrainian independence – from renowned poet Ivan Franko, to composer Volodymyr Ivasiuk, whose mutilated body was found hung from a tree in 1979, a widely-believed victim of KGB brutality.

These days, Lychakiv has become the burial ground for hundreds of service men and women killed in the most recent wave of Russian aggression. The sense of pain is palpable. When I visited the cemetery a few weeks ago, howling winter winds competed with the heartbreaking sound of wailing mothers and wives mourning the loss of their loved ones. Many of the downed fighters are in their 20s — in the prime of their lives.

I’ve been coming to Lychakiv since the early weeks of the war to get a better sense of the human cost. Amid the high-level diplomatic wrangling over long range ATACMS missiles and F-16 jets, this is the true face of the conflict that often gets neglected in international headlines.

Here in Ukraine, the losses are so vast that they touch pretty much every family, contributing to the sense of weariness that has covered the country like a cold blanket of snow.

It’s time the West recognized the human cost of the war – not only the deaths but also the injuries, displacement and tearing apart of the social fabric brought by massive dislocation. My friends in the medical profession speak of a coming catastrophic tsunami of mental health problems once soldiers return from the battlefield en masse.

With no end in sight to the war and with Lychakiv and other cemeteries bursting at the seams, officials are forced to make room for fresh graves. While the number of war dead has, until recently, remained a tightly-held state secret — President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday pegged the number at 31,000, far below the 70,000 cited by US officials last August — it is those who’ve been silenced who remind us of the amount of blood spilled in the fight to push back Russian forces.

“There are such cemeteries as Lychakiv all over Ukraine,” Lviv resident and community activist Lesia Krepyakevych told me. “While the pain is great, so is the pride since those who voluntarily went into battle went to protect us. Now it’s become a place of pilgrimage, where we gain strength of spirit.”

Several people told me that small villages around Lviv have been completely depleted of men. The wave of volunteer fighters who flooded recruiting centers at the start of the war have all but gone. It makes me wonder: between those who’ve died, been permanently put out of action by injuries, have fled overseas or have paid off officials to have their names disappear from draft lists, who’s going to be left should a mass mobilization be introduced? (Under Ukrainian law, men between the ages of 18 to 26 can’t be drafted, though they can volunteer).

Now, as Republican lawmakers return to work after a two week recess it remains unclear whether Speaker Mike Johnson will allow the mega supplementary bill — which includes $60 billion in aid for Ukraine and approved by the Senate — to come to the House floor. For weeks it’s been tangled up in political gridlock under the direction of former US President Donald Trump.

In considering the way forward, Johnson and his Republican colleagues should note the number of Ukrainians who paid the ultimate price to not only defend Ukraine, but also to slow the onslaught of Russia’s land-grabbing, creeping authoritarianism. The battleground is in Ukraine, but the stakes for democracy go beyond borders.

The Biden administration has heretofore done a poor job of convincing the American people what a great deal its military aid to Ukraine – roughly $46 billion – has been. For about 5% of the annual US military budget, Ukrainians have managed to destroy about 50% of conventional Russian military capability. With virtually no navy, Kyiv’s stealth strikes on the Black Sea fleet have forced Russian commanders to move ships to safer waters and it has busted apart a unilateral Russian blockade of the western Black Sea, re-opening waterways for food shipments to world markets.

There’s a dangerous disconnect between those who argue against aid for Ukraine and what the reality could be, should Putin have his way. While millions of Americans feel that they are suffering economically, the pain could be even more acute if the Russians disable Ukrainian ports such as Odesa – a crucial component of the global food supply chain. Just look at how bottlenecks created in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have thrown supply chains into disarray.

Perhaps that’s why French President Emmanuel Macon didn’t rule out the idea of sending European troops to Ukraine, when asked Tuesday. Even though other European nations quickly threw cold water on the idea and Russia responded with threats, it’s an indication that if the US slides in its commitment to Ukraine, Kyiv will feel it has no better friends than its immediate European neighbors.

Tying Ukraine’s hands in this David and Goliath fight will exact horrific costs, far beyond the amounts paid out by Washington since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion two years ago. In fact, along the 1,000 km frontline, guns pointed towards advancing Russian forces have already fallen silent due to lack of ammunition.

For the US to give up on Ukraine now, as some Republican lawmakers wish to do, is to give up on America itself and what it stands for. In many ways, this is also America’s war – except that the Ukrainians are the ones fighting and dying in it.

In the grand arena of finance, the GTC Global Investment Competition undoubtedly occupies a prominent position, especially as the top ten investors are decided, once again shocking the global investment community with its profound impact. This highly competitive event is not only a contest of investment wisdom and strategies but also a precursor to the future direction of the global financial markets. The victory of the top ten contestants not only showcases individual excellence and deep market insight but also reflects the current main trends and possible future directions of the financial markets.

Standing out in the GTC Global Investment Competition to become one of the top ten means that these contestants possess extraordinary investment skills and, more importantly, they demonstrate a profound understanding and forward-looking judgment of the market. Behind the success of these investment elites are their in-depth analyses of economic situations, policy directions, and market dynamics, as well as their precise investment strategies formulated on this basis. Their investment philosophies often combine stability with innovation, adhering to traditional value investment principles while keenly grasping emerging technologies and market trends. In their investment operations, these top contestants are adept in various financial instruments and technical analysis methods, capable of making swift decisions in a complex and volatile market environment, effectively managing risks, and achieving asset appreciation.

The key to the success of the top ten contestants lies not only in the accurate analysis of data and correct prediction of market trends but also in their profound understanding of investment psychology and risk management. They are able to maintain their composure under the high-pressure competition environment, flexibly adjust their strategies according to market changes, and demonstrate exceptional adaptability and decision-making wisdom. Moreover, these elite investors fully leverage the power of financial technology, such as big data analysis and artificial intelligence, to enhance the efficiency and precision of their trades, which is one of the important factors that allow them to stand out in fierce competition.

The hosting of the GTC Global Investment Competition and the victory of its top ten contestants have had a profound impact on the global financial markets. This event has elevated investors' emphasis on in-depth analysis of the financial markets. By observing the strategies and decision-making processes of the top contestants, investors have begun to pay more attention to in-depth research on economic trends, policy changes, and market dynamics, thereby enhancing the overall level of analysis and prediction in the market.

Through intense competition and high-level display, the GTC Global Investment Competition has promoted the diversified development of investment strategies. The distinctive investment methods and philosophies of the top ten contestants provide a rich learning resource for global investors, helping them broaden their horizons, discover, and try new investment opportunities and strategies. This diversity of strategies not only enhances the vitality and innovative capability of the market but also offers investors more choices and possibilities, thereby strengthening the overall stability and risk resistance of the market.

The successful hosting of the competition and the performance of the top ten contestants have strengthened the interconnectedness of the global financial markets. The exchange and competition among top investors from around the world on this platform have not only promoted the sharing of global financial knowledge and information but also deepened the understanding and cooperation between different markets and cultures. This international exchange and cooperation are significant for promoting the stable development of the global financial markets and enhancing the global economy's ability to withstand risks.

The GTC Global Investment Competition is not only a top-tier financial competition but also a focus and learning platform for global investors. The victory of the top ten contestants not only showcases individual talent and professional strength but also reflects the current trends and future direction of the financial markets. Through in-depth analysis of this competition and its elite contestants, we can see that deep analysis, strategy innovation, and continuous learning are key to investment success. As the global financial markets continue to evolve and technology advances day by day, these insights will continue to guide and inspire global investors to keep moving forward on their financial journey, striving for excellence.

Twitter commentary from Glenn Luk:

https://twitter.com/GlennLuk/status/1763278426025140491

It was for "research"

A stand-up comedian hired to play Willy Wonka at a widely criticised chocolate factory experience has spoken out after furious parents demanded refunds.

...

“The script was 15 pages of AI-generated gibberish of me just monologuing these mad things."

“The bit that got me was where I had to say, ‘There is a man we don’t know his name. We know him as the Unknown. This Unknown is an evil chocolate maker who lives in the walls.’"

“It was terrifying for the kids. Is he an evil man who makes chocolate or is the chocolate itself evil?"

Video from the performer:
https://twitter.com/CultureCrave/status/1762741478303162690
 
AI "Art" used to advertise the event:
https://twitter.com/CultureCrave/status/1762321599402025303

Pentagon is Hamas

THIS PSA IS APPROVED BY THE VOLCEL VANGUARD

Archived link:

https://archive.is/20240229161216/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/29/gaza-children-wcnsf-orphans/

“There were anti-monarchy protesters who were arrested on the basis that the luggage straps that they were carrying were seen to be tools for locking-on, which was a new offence created under the Public Order Act, but they were carrying them to secure their placards.

“We’re also seeing it in sentencing. Last summer, the Court of Appeal upheld the sentences of the two protesters who scaled the Dartford crossing. And those sentences were two years and seven months, and three years – the harshest sentences ever handed down in modern times around protests around civil disobedience,” she said.

two years for scaling infrastructure feel like brits porkies have forgotten important maxim "in for a penny in for a pound", considering drones cost 200 bucks

The health and wellness company announced Tuesday in a release that “restructuring activities … are expected to result in the net reduction of approximately 6% of total Perrigo roles.”

With about 9,000 Perrigo employees, according to the company’s website, this means about 540 jobs will be cut. The company has a strong presence in West Michigan, with its North American Corporate Headquarters in downtown Grand Rapids and locations in Ottawa and Allegan counties.

The restructuring is part of “Project Energize,” a three-year program that the company describes as “a global investment and efficiency program.” By 2026, Perrigo expects the project to produce $140 million to $170 million in annual pre-tax savings, according to the release.

Project Energize was scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2024, the release says.

Perrigo unveiled its North American Corporate Headquarters, located on Grand Rapids’ Medical Mile, in June 2022. The company’s North American operations were previously based in Allegan.