stratfor

Iraqi Forces Preparing Advance on South Mosul

Iraqi security forces are preparing to advance toward Mosul airport on the city’s southern edge to increase pressure on Islamic State militants fighting troops who breached their eastern defenses, officers said on Thursday.

MOSUL, IRAQ - NOVEMBER 7: Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government's peshmerga forces attend the

Tesla Model 3 Shines, But Lithium Price a Challenge

The glamour of the Tesla Model 3 premier this week created a huge surge in orders, but with commodity lithium prices used in Tesla batteries spiking 20 percent and expected to jump another 20 percent, inflationary costs may ruin Tesla’s electric car business.

Elon Musk and Tesla 3 (Justin Prichard / Associated Press)

Stratfor: Russia Economy Hits Perfect Storm

The Russian economy started stagnating in 2013, but the nation was never actually able to recover from the 2008-2009 recession, according to Stratfor Global Intelligence. The combination of the 2014 sanctions over the Ukraine and collapsing oil prices is a perfect economic storm that is grinding Russia to a halt.

Manta Putin (Mikhail Klementyev / AFP / Getty)