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Links 9/13/2025

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Why Blue Eyes Aren’t Really Blue (And What Makes Green So Rare) ScienceAlert (Chuck L)

The Da Vinci Bloodline: Living Descendants Provide Clues to the Genius’s Genetic Secrets SciTech Daily (Chuck L)

The Earliest Known Appearance of the F‑Word Open Culture (Micael T)

#COVID-19/Pandemics

U.S. Officials to Link 25 Child Deaths to COVID Shots, Report Says MedPage

Climate/Environment

Is Earth’s climate in a state of ‘termination shock’? New Scientist (Dr. Kevin)

The Ocean’s Most Abundant Life Form May Not Survive Global Warming SciTech Daily (Chuck L)

Water Crisis in Asia: Why the World Cannot Afford Inaction Earth.org

How Europe Lost an Area the Size of Cyprus to Wildfires This Year Insurance Journal

China?

Chinese Supercarrier Makes First Transit Through Taiwan Strait During Sea Trials Military Watch

a href=”https://asiatimes.com/2025/09/chinas-dual-use-asteroid-collision-research-threatens-satellites/” rel=”nofollow”>China’s dual-use asteroid-collision research threatens satellites Asia Times

Philippines protests China’s plan for a nature reserve at a hotly disputed shoal ABC

China’s Ministry of Commerce has warned Mexico of countermeasures as the country plans to hike tariffs on Asia-made cars to 50% CNBC

India

India rupee sinks to record low, US tariffs keep outlook fragile Reuters

“That’s A Big Deal. It Caused Rift With India”: Trump On 50% India Tariffs NDTV

Koreas

Please click through to read entire tweet:

Myanmar

Wars, disasters, displacement, hunger’ continue to burden Myanmar UN

Nepal

Military curfew brings an uneasy calm to Nepal’s capital after violent protests Sky

From Discord To Bitchat, Tech At the Heart of Nepal Protests France24

Africa

Ebony and ivory: why elephants and forests rise and fall together in the Congo Basin The Conversation

Ebola cases in Congo rise as authorities race to contain spread of outbreak, health agency says Independent

South of the Border

US vs Venezuela: a new Caribbean Crisis Black Mountain Analysis

European Disunion

European are mostly against Ursula and Trump International Affairs (Micael T)

Germany’s army needs to more than double in size, commander says Reuters (Micael T)

France’s Financial Misery Is a Bad Omen for Other Countries Daily Economy

Brussels Bans Hungary from Building Paks II Nuclear Power Plant Reactors with Russia’s Participation TopWar (Micael T)

Here it is, Swedishness – if it doesn’t suit you, you can leave Arbetsvarlden via machine translation. Micael T: “Relevant for all countries where the nationalists are rising.”

Old Blighty

U.K. economic growth flatlined in July, according to data published Friday, adding to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ headache ahead of the Autumn Budget CNBC

Why Labour and Sir Keir Starmer May Have the Last Laugh Russia in Global Affairs (Micael T)

Israel v. the Resistance

Qatar to hold emergency summit with Arab countries after Israeli strike on Doha Independent. Not holding my breath.

Qatar to ‘re-evaluate security ties’ with Washington after Israeli attack: Report The Cradle (Kevin W)

Strikes on Media Offices Kill At Least 25 Journalists in Yemen Antiwar.com (Kevin W)

Amid Gaza war, Israeli filmmakers battle international condemnation and isolation Times Of Israel (Kevin W)

New Not-So-Cold War

Brief Frontline Report – September 12th, 2025, Marat Khairullin and Mikhail Popov

A Better Way for Europe to Guarantee Ukraine’s Security: How European Forces—and NATO Resources—Can Make the Country Stronger Foreign Affairs (Robin K)

Sikorsky admitted drones arrived in Poland from Ukraine Vzglyad via machine translation (Micael T)

Armenia Refused to Be Russia’s “Little Brother” Vzglayd via machine translation (Micael T)

Trump 2.0

Feds allege Bolton mishandled classified info and was hacked by “foreign entity” Axios. Sounds like very weak tea.

Intel Talent Bleed Continues The Register

Tariffs

Coffee Prices Post Largest Annual Jump Since 1997 CNN

Immigration

Hyundai battery plant faces at least 2-3 month startup delay following US raid, CEO says Reuters

Trump’s Korean Ice Fallout Karl Sanchez

Memphis next US city to see National Guard troops, Trump says BBC (Kevin W)

In D.C., a moped on the ground, an SUV full of US marshals and a mystery Kansas Reflector (Robin K)

L’affaire Epstein

Epstein’s Inbox: A Trove of Emails Reveals Ghislaine Maxwell’s Secrets Bloomberg (Micael T)

Charlie Kirk

My right-wing-o-sphere news hound says there is widespread skepticism about the Tyler Robinson story and continued belief that the operative(s). I cannot verify any of these views, but they include 1. Netanyahu commented on the shooing before Trump did; 2. Even though the shot was technically easy, it usually takes a seasoned sniper to pull it off, since most are not cold blooded enough to control agitation, and Robinson was not that; 3. There was no ambulance at the site, when one is normally present at large events; 4. Those who heard the shot said it did not sound like a Mauser; 5. Men behind Kirk were making hand signals right before Kirk was hit; 6. (Yes, this one is circulating) If Kirk died from a shot to the neck, it would have been from hitting the carotid artery. That would have produced a big spurt of blood. That did not happen. The way he bled on camera more consistent with being shot from behind

But what matters is what Trump believes, not what big swathes of MAGA believe. And since he believes what he is told about Project Ukraine, I see no reason for him to doubt the official story, particularly since it justifies a purge of the left. And seeing Israel as having murdered Kirk would be extremely uncomfortable for Trump, personally and politically

Also as to why Kirk was important: he was responsible for Trump’s wins in Michigan and Wisconsin.

FWIW, Kirk is not one of the top three featured stories at Politico.

European ruling class mourns Charlie Kirk, embraces far-right WSWS (Micael T). Wellie, but not their own.

Why the Kirk shooting is being charged as a state, not federal, crime — and what that means for an eventual trial Politico

Utah governor Spencer Cox turns heads with Charlie Kirk address: ‘Choose a different path’ The Hill

* * *

Charlie Kirk refused Netanyahu funding offer, was ‘frightened’ by pro-Israel forces before death, friend reveals Grayzone (Chuck L)

Nothing about Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer Tyler Robinson seems to be adding up Ricky Hale and Council Estate Media

Is There Something More Nefarious Behind the Murder of Charlie Kirk? Larry Johnson

US Vice President JD Vance escorts remains of Charlie Kirk, flown to Arizona Nine News (Kevin W)

Our No Longer Free Press

Proton Mail Suspended Journalist Accounts At Request of Cybersecurity Agency Intercept

US Condemns Prosecution of Finnish Lawmaker Over Bible Verse Tweet Reclaim the Net

a href=”https://archive.ph/OtSRz” rel=”nofollow”>Absolute Values Point Magazine (Micael T)

Police State Watch

A General Air of Anxiety Boston Review

Economy

Subprime Auto Lender Collapse Delivers Blow to Risky Debt Market Bloomberg

Labor Hoarding Looks Close to a Painful End Bloomberg

Mr. Market is Moody

How government debt stress could roll across world markets Reuters

AI

What if the $3trn AI investment boom goes wrong? Economist

A.I. Valuations Reach La La Land Moon of Alabama (Kevin W)

a href=”https://erictopol.substack.com/p/is-ai-going-to-remedy-medicines-problems” rel=”nofollow”>Is A.I. Going to Remedy Medicine’s Problems? Eric Topol (Robin K)

How thousands of ‘overworked, underpaid’ humans train Google’s AI to seem smart Guardian (Kevin W)

Elon Musk Appears to Now Be Firing the People Behind Grok Futurism

Spotify Peeved After 10,000 Users Sold Data To Build AI Tools ars technica

Microsoft, OpenAI Reach Non-Binding Deal To Allow OpenAI To Restructure Reuters

The Bezzle

153 tons – that’s how big the garbage pile at Tesla became after the blockade Dagensarbette via machine translation. Micael T: “How Tesla-employees turned into garbage men.”

US EV sales smash records in August as Tesla loses ground Elektrek

Antidote du jour (via):

And a bonus (Chuck L):

A second bonus (Chuck L):

And a third (Chuck L):

See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.

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27 comments

    1. Steve H.

      > My right-wing-o-sphere news hound says there is widespread skepticism about the Tyler Robinson story

      > John Robb, The Red Tribe Activates

      The Robb interview from yesterday was still based on the assumption of a left-wing perp. (Even he didn’t see the Groyper thing coming.) He re-iterates the notion of open-source warfare, that someone can declare themself a part of a group and take action, ala The Pulse nightclub shootings.

      Thomas Matthew Crooks allegedly had multiple phones and was active on Discord. That implies communication. With who?

      I have to admit my perspective was influenced by some old spy thriller, where a government employee thought he was stealing documents for South African intelligence, but it turned out to be Russians, pretending. You don’t know who you’re talking to on the web without confirmation, and these young assassins could be easily gaslighted. FBI techniques involve finding a gullible activist and setting them up to do something stupid.

      Which is why, even if Robinson aligned with his actions, the question is who wound him up? I saw a clip saw of Fuentes frantically repudiating use of violence, so he is concerned that his words led directly to the action, or at least that he could be held liable. Kirk was apparently considered insufficiently conservative by that faction. ‘Moderates from the perpetrators’ own group are most able to stop genocide, so are the first to be arrested and killed.’ [Gregory H. Stanton]

      Kirk saying he was worried about being killed by (a foreign government) will hang in the air like the dead space of Building 3. There will be those who will believe that’s what happened, regardless of the truth. The lack of disclosure about Crooks’ phones is an accelerant.

      Reply ↓
      1. The Rev Kev

        ‘some old spy thriller, where a government employee thought he was stealing documents for South African intelligence, but it turned out to be Russians

        That’s gotta be “The Fourth Protocol” by Frederick Forsyth where the best part was the agent proving the secret identity of the suspect and traveling to the high velds in South Africa to do so. Pure detective work. Now I want to read that part again.

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    2. Wukchumni

      The thing that got me, was the approx 20 foot drop from the roof onto the grass. First of all that’s a most excellent way to hurt yourself, and secondly if he had a rifle on him there would be a rather sudden jolt when he hit the ground, but I didn’t see bupkis.

      Reply ↓
    3. LateDoomer

      Kim Iverson has a youtube video in some of the same direction (Israel potentially). Useful to compare notes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYTPkLVTEbA

      I’d like to be able to wrap my head around the use of patsies more if anyone cares to elaborate. Why would a young man willingly be a patsy?

      As far as keeping up with Israeli Hasbara techniques, Indie Nile makes really interesting content, loads of references, history etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pppYfCzwYW0

      Reply ↓
    1. Wukchumni

      For Unlawful Consonant* Knowledge

      * yes Virginia, i’m aware there is a vowel movement in there, but acknowledging it would ruin the acronym.

      Reply ↓
  3. The Rev Kev

    ‘PROTECT ALL WILDLIFE
    @Protect_Wldlife
    #DidYouKnow 🤔
    When a Crow feels sick, it goes to an Ant nest and deliberately disturbs it. The Ants get angry and start climbing on the Crow.’

    Alright, I am seriously impressed here. Did it learn it in the nest on or is this some sot of ancestral memory here. Amazing.

    Reply ↓
    1. amfortas

      during my almost 7 year wait for a hip replacement, and after the compensating for dead hip had helped ruin my back, and exacerbated all the other injuries to my bones, i was compelled by penury to change my own oil,lol.
      so i crawled, shirtless under the truck…and right into a fire and bed.
      by the time i crawled back out, i had been stung all over my back and the back of my legs.
      what i immediately noticed was that my arthritis was suddenly a whole lot better…the many stings hurt like hell…but my bones felt remarkably better.
      i assume that this was Nerve Blocking…which is how things like Icyhot work.
      not a recommended treatment option.

      Reply ↓
  4. Michaelmas

    Re: ‘Why Labour and Sir Keir Starmer May Have the Last Laugh’ in ‘Russia In Global Affairs’

    Hah!

    In the first year of a purportedly Labour government purportedly committed to cleaning up UK government: –

    The Homelessness Minister Rushanara Ali has had to quit over rent hike claims as landlord on her house rental;
    ·
    The Anti-corruption Minister in the Treasury, Tulip Siddiq, has resigned over an anti-corruption investigation taking place against her in Bangladesh; ·

    The Transport Minister (ex-police) has resigned over lying to Police in a historic theft case;

    Angela Rayner, the Housing Minister, has been caught not paying sufficient stamp duty on a house purchase and resigned;

    Lord Mandelson, the BritIsh Ambassador to the USA has been fired because of his association with a convicted sex offender.

    This is alongside the constant grabbing of freebies by Keir S.,his family, and much of the Labour front bench; Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s flatlining of a UK economy that at least when Sunak and Hunt relinquished it was showing minor signs of growth; and the aggressive combination of incompetence and arrogance which the Starmer government consistently demonstrates when anyone questions it.

    So, while Labour is notionally in power till 2029, since the Starmer government particularly demonstrates its aggressive incompetence and arrogance towards the rank and file of its own party members in Parliament, who are consequently unhappy and increasingly rebellious to the point where they’ve failed only to settle on who Starmer’s replacement should be, it seems likely that Starmer will not be in 10 Downing Street when 2027 rolls around.

    Reply ↓
    1. The Rev Kev

      Frankly it won’t matter if Starmer goes before the end of this year. Rest assured that they have already chosen his replacement who waits in the wings and will be just as bad if not worse than Starmer. But the corruption that you listed is something to behold.

      Reply ↓
        1. Yves Smith Post author

          While I normally very much appreciate your comments, please read with greater care.

          First, this post is almost a month old and is mainly about the dead horse of the US providing security guarantees, which was na ga happen, yet has still been flogged by UK and European leaders for over six months.

          Second, the BlackRock comment is one UK person’s fantasy.

          Reply ↓
  5. The Rev Kev

    “Elon Musk Appears to Now Be Firing the People Behind Grok”

    What if, now stay with me here, what if Elon Musk himself asked Grok which members of the Grok team could be sacked? He is at the best of times kinda random with the people that he chooses to fires and the appeal of using Grok would have intrigued him.

    Reply ↓
  6. Wukchumni

    Gooooooooooooood Mooooooooorning Fiatnam!

    Our methodology in the platoon was strictly unorthodox, so we welcomed them into our ranks and promised we’d come up with camo that befitted their chosen black & white wardrobe, and even though penguins are seldom seen in the holy land, we bestowed that moniker on them-and nobody expects that color scheme in the desert, the element of surprise being on their side.

    Headgear was problematic, but we solved it by creating a shtreimel helmet made out of kevlar with mock fur covering the outside, you wouldn’t know the difference.

    Jheri curls was where we had the biggest issue, as how can you sight an Uzi when ringlets get in the way all the time and a hairnet just won’t encompass them?

    Solved that one by just letting ’em spray & pray…

    Reply ↓
  7. AG

    re: Korean brothels

    Anybody who paid attention to Classical Hollywood movies knew about this culture in that part of the world which had been the bone of contention in the Pacific Wars with Japan.
    In Germany you only did not find it addressed because they were Europeans (so it was pictured as “racially normal” even though the practice as such was as awful) and then there were those Russians who you could stick any lie to.

    Reply ↓
  8. MicaT

    Transponder.

    It’s possible to turn off, but you can’t just do it without telling ATC

    There will be enough people who actually follow this stuff to post if true. I have doubts

    Reply ↓
  9. Henry Moon Pie

    Some anecdata about the impact of tariffs. Our daughter’s fiance is a mechanical engineer who works for a company that manufactures machinery used in auto mass production. They laid off several long time employees yesterday because the bottom has dropped out of auto manufacturers’ demand. The company attributed it to the tariffs’ effects and future uncertainties. Our daughter’s beau escaped for now, but it was his fellow engineers getting the ax.

    Reply ↓
  10. Wukchumni

    Shades of Benedick Donald in the Central Park Five gig in getting it all wrong… does he just shrug it off, and turn the assassination into yet another chance to take away freedoms?

    Reply ↓
  11. William Beyer

    Regarding, “Why the Kirk shooting is being charged as a state, not federal, crime — and what that means for an eventual trial Politico”

    Question for any lawyers out there – The why was the murder of the Hortmans charged as a federal crime?

    Reply ↓
  13. Hank Linderman

    I maintain the F word has its roots in the very common Latin verb “facio, facere, feci, factus” – to make, do, drive, force, compel. “Facere” – to force YOU!

    WTF
    FU
    AreYyouFKM
    FThisS
    FYFF
    FYes, FNo

    Movie with the most F bombs, “The Big Lebowski”.

    Best…H

    Reply ↓
  14. Henry Moon Pie

    Eye color–

    I have green eyes. I also have AB+ blood. When the surgeon came by just before I was wheeled in to the OR to get my right adrenal removed because it contained a rare pheochromocytoma, I told him I was a trifecta of long shots.

    The article contained a surprise for me: eye color can change. Perhaps the old Crystal Gayle song wasn’t metaphorical.

    Reply ↓
  15. Carolinian

    From the Grayzone story

    According to Kirk’s friend, who also enjoyed access to President Donald Trump and his inner circle, Kirk strongly warned Trump last June against bombing Iran on Israel’s behalf. “Charlie was the only person who did that,” they said, recalling how Trump “barked at him” in response and angrily shut down the conversation. The source believes the incident confirmed in Kirk’s mind that the president of the United States had fallen under the control of a malign foreign power, and was leading his own country into a series of disastrous conflicts.

    While it’s true that Biden also let Netanyahu have his way, Trump is a different personality who surely wouldn’t be such a doormat unless Mossad truly has the Epstein goods on him. And while there’s no proof, we might as well proceed on that assumption until proven otherwise.

    And here’s suggesting that’s a much scarier prospect than the more popular lefty notion that Christian nationalists are taking over the US (which I don’t believe in the least). Of course it’s quite possible that the rapture preachers are themselves being bribed and controlled by a foreign govt, but they have little real power whereas Trump has the worst kind of power. Meanwhile the current Israeli leadership seems drunk with power and given the 12 day war result are clearly deluding themselves. How will it all end??

    Reply ↓

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