UK

Re insurance/CR: as of recent still ahead of BRK (good enough for me:)).

All this really starting to look like the second Prigozhyn moment:). Maybe Kerch bridge will be next... https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/08/16/ukraine-russia-soldiers-conscripts-kursk/ Nikolai and fellow prisoner Sergey, 19, said Ukraine attacked their military headquarters on Aug. 6 and their commanders left without giving instructions on what to do next. Fearing they would be killed if they stayed, the young men walked for three days through forests and swamps and “slept on the cold ground,” Nikolai said. While searching for safety, they came across a group of vehicles decorated with triangles — a symbol Ukraine has painted or taped on all its vehicles crossing into Russia in recent days. “I was trying to remember whether the triangle was our identification sign or not,” Nikolai said. Soon they were surrounded. Ukrainian soldiers grabbed them by the scruff of the neck, he said, checked them for weapons and then gave them food, water and cigarettes. “They came, chatted, told their stories, listened to ours,” he said. Then they tied their hands and covered their eyes and sent them over the border into Ukraine.

Perhaps...anyway, all this is well above my paygrade and, at least for now, it seems that because of Kursk, Russia is moving its troops from Kaliningrad and Saint Petersburg districts to Kursk, not the other way:)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/08/17/kursk-ukraine-russia-energy-ceasefire/ Ukraine’s offensive derails secret efforts for partial cease-fire with Russia, officials say The warring countries were set to hold indirect talks in Qatar on an agreement to halt strikes on energy and power infrastructure, according to officials.

+1 Often even with their long positions they end up being too smart and are attracted by unnecessary complex things and then get burned by some important but unknown risk or development. Definitelly some character/ego problems:)

This would be very interesting to watch, especially from the distance far enough:). Except for the fact, that since the start of invasion there is nothing else than a constant escallation, so many red lines are being crossed and still there is no much more clarity today on the final resolution possible, then it was two years ago. Most get used to all this, but seeing British tanks driving in Kursk:), I am not against this per se, but personally I am worried at such times a bit for some unforseen concequences / more escallation.

https://www.reuters.com/world/kremlin-aide-says-nato-west-helped-ukraine-attack-russia-2024-08-16/ https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-mp-says-ukrainian-incursion-could-lead-global-war-ria-reports-2024-08-16/

Interesting take: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/08/15/leon-cooperman-nothing-is-overvalued-with-bond-yields-where-they-are.html

https://tim.blog/2023/09/07/nassim-nicholas-taleb-scott-patterson/ "If you must panic, panic early"

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/15/warren-buffett-did-something-curious-with-his-apple-stock-holding.html

Since WB has closed his funds years ago, I am not giving my money for anyone else to manage:). But he (Kuppy) seems sometimes to have very high conviction on things and usually swings quite big. I find some of his thougts and ideas very interesting and with high variant perception. I like his thesis on JOE:). At the same time, sometimes I do not understand his writings at all, especially the macro/monetary/commodity scarcity or general "impeding doom" related. But it is not for me to understand everything and nobody is perfect, but I like to follow him.

https://13f.info/13f/000194987724000012/compare/000194987724000011 Also some recent 'culling' on display:)

https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/chinas-home-price-slump-deepens-july-new-9-year-low-2024-08-15/

"Why did Facebook stop Libra? They said they wanted to revolutionize the global financial system. The project ran in to fierce opposition from policymakers alarmed that Libra could give Facebook too much control over the money system, and infringe on users' privacy"

Thanks!

https://www.reuters.com/markets/summer-market-shock-not-quite-over-investors-brace-more-turmoil-2024-08-15/ "Money managers' risk mandates tend to prevent them from buying equities when prices are fluctuating widely."

Which Bitcoin ETF is the best? IBIT? And what would be the most important pros and cons of owning BTC via ETF? Thanks!

"The Åland Islands, or Åland, is an autonomous region of Finland"

https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/nord-stream-pipeline-explosion-real-story-da24839c

I have made some...betting against MW this year/recently:)

https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/weight-loss-drugs-ozempic-wegovy-side-effects-sex-0210c42b?mod=hp_trending_now_article_pos2 This is getting really serious!:)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-07/china-urges-officials-to-stop-playing-throwing-eggs-card-game

https://www.yahoo.com/news/watch-russian-drives-past-trail-114519189.html

Finished watching GoT. Great show, I think easily could be in my top 5 favourites. Greatest take away: chaos is a ladder, but do not overplay this, or you can get your throat cut:)))

https://www.barrons.com/amp/articles/dimon-buffett-recession-stocks-what-to-know-today-5d6803b5 “I was with Warren Buffett yesterday,” Dimon said in an interview on CNBC on Wednesday. “And we always talk about the resiliency of America. It is extraordinary.”