🇷🇺🇺🇦 In the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces continued their offensive on Kupyansk and have reached the city centre.

Russian forces advanced in two areas. In the east, they pushed south down the highway, clearing houses on Lenina Street, while significantly advancing in the area of Michurina Street.

In the west, Russian forces cleared the rest of the western industrial zone, and crossed the Kupyanka River into central Moskovka, establishing a bridgehead on its western bank in two different residential streets.

Russian forces have rapidly reached the city centre from the north, and are now just 1.5km from the main bridge over the Oskil River connecting the Ukrainian bridgehead on its eastern bank - including in eastern Kupyansk - to the rest of Kharkiv Oblast.

Once this highway is cut, all supplies into the pocket will have to go via a bridge to the south in Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, or over pontoon bridges (although this brings its own separate issues). This creates a bottle neck that can easily be targeted, which will naturally result in the collapse of the bridgehead, the alignment of the front along the river, and a refocusing of efforts to complete the capture of the city and the surrounding areas.

Supply is already difficult for the AFU in the bridgehead, and the only thing preventing the current Russian assault operations there from achieving breakthroughs is the natural obstacles and significant fortification that lie in Russia's way.

While the fall of Kupyansk may not be imminent, there is a real threat of this northern bridge being cut, which will undoubtably create massive problems for Ukrainian forces in the area.

🔗 AMK Mapping

🇰🇷 How Excessive Use of C-Sections is Hurting Fertility in Korea and Around the World

In Korea, an incredible 59% of deliveries are by C-section. This is one cause of South Korea's low birthrates since C-sections significantly lower the number of births a woman will have.

These rates in Korea and other countries are far above international guidelines for best maternal and neonatal outcomes (around 10-15 C-sections per 100 births).

Where rates of C-section are high, fertility tends to be much lower, by ~ 1/3 birth/woman in advanced countries.

The same relationship holds for US states. Although the variation in the rate of C-sections is just 23% to 38%, we still see that a higher rate of C-sections is linked to fewer births.

Numerous studies have confirmed this relationship. But why?

Demographer Lyman Stone explains how C-sections reduce future fertility

First, studies find the ability to conceive is reduced after a C-section, likely because of scar tissue in the uterus.

Second, doctors advise women to avoid becoming pregnant again after 2-3 C-sections

But what is going on with Korea? Why are doctors performing so many C-sections in South Korea when they are so damaging to a woman's future fertility?

Is this medically necessary? Mostly no. The prevalence of C-sections in South Korea looks random.

The reason for excessive C-sections is money.

In Korea, doctors are compensated very little for vaginal delivery (one fifth to one third of similar countries). Combined with lawsuit risk, profitability for obstetricians was low.

Many OBs went out of business. Many others increased profitability through C-sections.

🔗 More Births

🇮🇳🇨🇳 No, India is not ready to deal with the consequences. That’s why migration is inserted into nearly every trade deal it negotiates. The West is seen not as a partner, but as a pressure valve for India’s surplus of unemployed youth.

The West, especially the US, has spent several decades as a safety valve for India and China's overproduced elites. Now our grad job market is coming to resemble theirs'. Not good.

@CIG_telegram

🇨🇳 It appears China has flown a 3rd type of 6th gen tailless fighter design.

It isn't clear if this is manned or unmanned.

Man or unmanned, it is clearly a supersonic, ultra-stealthy air combat aircraft.

🔗 Zhao DaShuai