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Photo by Stringer/Reuters
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The Biden administration recently authorized Ukraine to use U.S. weapons for limited strikes inside Russian territory. Some in Ukraine argue that this will derail Moscow's offensive in the Kharkiv region, or even turn the tide of the war. Russian officials, on the other hand, call the move a major escalation and have threatened to retaliate directly against the United States or its allies.
Both claims will likely prove hollow, say RAND's Samuel Charap and Jeremy Shapiro of the European Council on Foreign Relations. But as they write in the Washington Post, the U.S. authorization is consequential for a different reason: “Washington has yet again made a major policy change reactively—in response to Russia's military moves and not as part of a broader strategy.” This continues a “spiral dynamic” that raises the risks of a broader war without establishing a path to ending the current conflict.
Charap and Shapiro warn that this spiral of unrelenting Russian aggression and ever-increasing Western military support might go on for years to come—that is, until Ukraine and the West are ready to negotiate with Russia. And in the meantime, they say, Ukraine will continue to suffer, and the costs of the war to the West will continue to mount.
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To protect vulnerable renters from unsafe heat, Los Angeles County is considering establishing a safe maximum indoor temperature threshold for rental units. If the proposal becomes law, most landlords will respond by buying air conditioners. According to Hye Min Park of the Pardee RAND Graduate School and RAND's Flannery Dolan, the sudden use of so many new AC units could strain the electric grid and cause more blackouts in L.A. Even worse, the heat emitted from AC units intensifies urban heat island effects, further increasing cooling demand. That's why policymakers may want to consider other approaches, including passive cooling strategies, such as cool roofs, shades, and better-insulated windows. Read more »
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Civil war in Sudan has now entered its second year, and women and children are bearing the brunt of the crisis. For example, roughly 19 million children have been forced out of the classroom, an estimated 3 million children are malnourished, and soldiers have used sexual violence against women and girls. Amid this chaos, it is Sudanese women who are leading the humanitarian response and campaign to end the conflict. But they need help from NGOs, nonprofits, and other organizations, says RAND's Marie Jones. A boost of support could go a long way in creating space for women in Sudan to play a central role in the country's future. Read more »
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