Links 10/10/2025

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Japanese Farmers Send Out Automated Laser Drones to Defend Chickens Futurism

Why Are So Many Pedestrians Killed by Cars in the US? Construction Physics

The Hitchhikers Guide to Building A Lot of Subways The Transit Guy

‘Bluetoothing’: Blood-Sharing Drug Trend Fuels Alarming Global H.I.V. Surge New York Times

Powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes off southern Philippines, tsunami warning issued Straits Times

Climate/Environment

Amazon fires cause record-breaking CO2 emissions Climate and Capitalism

Cost of Europe’s extreme weather doubled this decade – and could hit €126 billion by 2029 Euronews

Scientists seek to turbocharge a natural process that cools the Earth WaPo

The cooking pot that changed the world New Climate Reality

Has the Anthropocene Been Canceled? Monthly Review

Pandemics

Long COVID Linked to Surge in POTS Cases Neuroscience News

Evidence of clinical and brain recovery in post-COVID-19 condition: a three-year follow-up study Brain Communications

India

Sir Creek comes alive from slumber Indian Punchline

China seeks India’s assurance on no heavy rare earths diversion to US Economic Times

China?

Coalition Urges Trump To Reverse US Shift Away From Strategic Ambiguity on Taiwan Antiwar

Ahead of plenum, party mouthpiece likens China’s economy to ‘unsinkable’ aircraft carrier South China Morning Post

The silencing of prominent influencers China Translated

Why America Builds AI Girlfriends and China Makes AI Boyfriends ChinaTalk

Syraqistan

Hamas gets guarantees of end to Gaza war, Israel approves ceasefire Al Jazeera

Is Trumpanyahu’s peace plan being implemented? GeoPolitiQ

Witkoff, Kushner join cabinet meeting on Gaza deal after meeting with PM in Jerusalem Times of Israel

“Keep the Champagne corked.” Patrick Lawrence, The Floutist

Israel rules out Marwan Barghouti’s release as Hamas says Netanyahu seeking to ‘blow up truce’ The Cradle

U.S. sending about 200 troops to Israel to help support and monitor ceasefire deal in Gaza AP

Ben-Gvir warns will topple Netanyahu’s govt over Hamas Al Mayadeen

Timeline: Phony Biden “Ceasefire” Sabotaged ICJ Orders. Hamas “Welcomed” the Move. Sam Husseini. ‘Is Trump “Peace” Deal Designed to Undermine Uniting for Peace?’

Germany calls for UN Security Council Resolution to provide legal basis for Gaza peace plan Anadolu Agency

***

Iran warns of Israeli ‘deception, breach of commitments’ after Gaza ceasefire deal Press TV. ““The beginning of the ceasefire in Gaza may be behind the scenes of the end of the ceasefire elsewhere,” [Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution] wrote on X on Thursday using the hashtags #Iraq, #Yemen, and #Lebanon.”

***

How a Scottish maritime museum ended up in Israel’s 3D propaganda videos +972 Magazine

US approves AI chip exports to UAE, as talks progress with Saudi Arabia: Report Middle East Eye

Old Blighty

Massive data leak linked to Online Safety Act security measures The Canary

European Disunion

EXCLUSIVE: European Investment Bank ready to invest in drone defence Euractiv

In Germany’s Depressed East, Tanks Are the Lesser of Two Evils New York Times

Google to invest $5.8B in Belgium’s AI, cloud infrastructure in next 2 years Anadolu Agency

U.S. Turns to Finnish Expertise to Jump-Start Icebreaker Production gCaptain

New Not-So-Cold War

Zelensky Says Ukraine Will Nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize If He Sends Tomahawk Missiles Antiwar

NATO Goes Mad American Conservative

Smart “gas station,” Or how Russia became a maritime power Marat Khairullin Substack

Russia marches forward with safe and convenient biometric IDs for schoolchildren Edward Slavsquat

Putin says Russian air defenses were to blame for Azerbaijani jet’s crash last year, killing 38 AP

South of the Border

Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado wins Nobel peace prize The Guardian

Dina Boluarte Ousted from Peruvian Presidency by Unanimous Congressional Vote Telesur

Trump 2.0

Trump’s war on the left: Inside the plan to investigate liberal groups Reuters

New York AG Letitia James indicted for alleged bank fraud Axios

TRUMP SACRIFICES ALASKA WILDERNESS TO HELP AI COMPANIES The Intercept

Sean Duffy Says He Wants to Fire ‘Problem Children’ Air Traffic Controllers NOTUS

Judge temporarily blocks Trump National Guard deployment to Chicago area The Hill

Reverse Marbury Balkinization

Democrats en déshabillé

Weimar Republic

He Wrote a Book About Antifa. Death Threats Are Driving Him Out of the US Wired

Police State Watch

CoreCivic prison company will rake in $300 million from new ICE contracts Stocktonia

US prison population rises for second straight year Ohio Capital Journal

Immigration

Arrested for being Iranian: How a war in the Middle East gave ICE new targets at home Prism

Exclusive: Apple Made ICE Agents a Protected Class Migrant Insider

Economy

Mass Deportations Drain Economic Growth Dollars & Sense

First Brands’ implosion is ripping through private credit – and lenders are scrambling to contain the fallout CNBC

Imperial Collapse Watch

How Acquisition Reform Could Make Military AI More Expensive and Less Safe Lawfare

AI

McKinsey wonders how to sell AI apps with no measurable benefits The Register

AI models can acquire backdoors from surprisingly few malicious documents Ars technica

Groves of Academe

Trump’s University Compact demonstrates weakness, not strength Programmable Mutter

Healthcare?

No Surprises, But Plenty of Abuses: How Insurers Are Pulling the Strings on the No Surprises Act HEALTH CARE un-covered

Amazon to start offering prescription drugs through vending machines CBS News

Supply Chain

Chocolate prices set to remain high this Halloween in the US, report says Reuters

Our Famously Free Press

How Journalists Grease the Skids for Worthless Corporate Handouts Boondoggle

The Bezzle

Overshooters N+1

Class Warfare

Investors are making up the highest share of homebuyers in 5 years CNBC

Taking the Reins: Story Updates Working Class Storytelling

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.

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46 comments

  1. leaf

    https://x.com/Sino_Market/status/1976544907323113592
    “CHINA’S MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT: STARTING OCTOBER 14, 2025, SPECIAL PORT CHARGES WILL BE IMPOSED ON VESSELS OWNED BY U.S. COMPANIES, ORGANIZATIONS, OR INDIVIDUALS.
    SPECIAL PORT CHARGES TO BE LEVIED ON VESSELS OPERATED BY U.S. ENTITIES, VESSELS OWNED OR OPERATED BY ENTITIES WITH 25%+ U.S. EQUITY OR CONTROL, VESSELS FLYING THE U.S. FLAG, AND VESSELS BUILT IN THE U.S.”

    https://x.com/tphuang/status/1976300183043363065
    https://x.com/tphuang/status/1976363581479477492
    It appears the export controls are very extensive and ironically appear to follow the US’s controls on China. I seem to recall that the WTO had previously slapped down China for attempting RE controls previously and they complied but America blowing up the WTO by blocking the appointment of new judges has made it possible now

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-10/china-opens-antitrust-probe-of-qualcomm-s-autotalks-deal (https://archive.is/ZtQKl)
    China anti-trust probe on Qualcomm

    Now will this just be part of negotiations for the APEC meeting and extracting concessions over Taiwan and the other garrisons in the Pacific or a divorce? Also curious on how Trump will attempt to spin all of this as a win in his usual style

    Reply
  2. The Rev Kev

    “Sean Duffy Says He Wants to Fire ‘Problem Children’ Air Traffic Controllers”

    Sean Duffy says too that if there are not enough Air traffic Controllers to man all the positions needed, then he will simply go down to McDonalds and hire a bunch of them by offering $2 an hour more.

    Reply
    1. Ben Panga

      >if there are not enough Air traffic Controllers to man all the positions needed

      AI will solve it. What could go wrong?

      Reply
    2. Louis Fyne

      As “white noise”, I put on yotube livestreams of the air traffic (overlaid with the live air traffic control chatter).

      If you listen enough times, you recognize the voices of the impeccable controllers (cadence, clarity, efficiency) and the occasional the sloppy controllers.

      Both can be true…shortage of controllers and controllers who are im the job who shouldn’t be there—-particularly at the busiest airports.

      it’s all in public record, and there is a cottage industry of youtube channels that highlight the highs and lows of ATC and pilots

      Reply
    3. MT_Wild

      I have a friend who is a ATC at our local regional airport. Four out of four recent air traffic school grads assigned to our airport failed their field training at the airport. These will be the only trainees they receive this year. The airport is chronically understaffed, with everyone working at least one day mandatory overtime each week.

      His impression is that this is the norm across the country, and that they are getting fewer and fewer trainees that can pass training, and under immense pressure from both the union and the FAA to lower standards.

      There has also been a marked increase in missed shifts due to illness since the start of the shutdown.

      Reply
      1. Kurtismayfield

        This sounds like a compensation issue.. if you can’t attract people capable of the job then increase the pay.

        Reply
  3. ChrisFromGA

    Re: US to send 200 troops to Gaza

    A clear violation of the War Powers Act of 1973.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Resolution

    provides that the president can send the U.S. Armed Forces into action abroad by Congress, “statutory authorization”, or in case of “a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces”.

    The War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30-day withdrawal period, without congressional authorization for use of military force (AUMF) or a declaration of war by the United States.

    Unfortunately, we have a derelict and weak Congress that will not do anything about it. Heck, the House is not even in session, with the weakling Speaker Mike Johnson in hiding to avoid the Epstein files discharge petition from getting the 218th vote.

    Reply
  4. Mikel

    “The Nobel prize in literature went to an anti-Arab eugenicist, and the prize in peace to a far-right CIA plant advocating for American invasion, sanctions, and regime change. If anything, this shows the reactionary cultural turn. This is a capitulation to Trumpism.”

    “Trumpism”? This is what the wealthy, GLOBAL elite are paying for.

    Reply
    1. vao

      I must admit I had never heard about László Krasznahorkai before. I knew about Satantango, but only as a movie by Béla Tarr.

      “The Nobel prize in literature went to an anti-Arab eugenicist”

      Any pointers to some exposition corroborating that judgement? The information about his Weltanschauung is pretty scarce in Wikipedia.

      Reply
    2. lyman alpha blob

      Can’t be long now before all these global institutions put up “Arbeit Macht Frei” signs at the entrances of their buildings and stop pretending.

      Reply
  5. LawnDart

    Re; Police State Watch

    What a disturbing video.

    So why were those ladies targeted? What was the “probable cause,” or is having brown skin cause enough?

    Reply
  6. The Rev Kev

    ‘Sina Toossi
    @SinaToossi
    🚨Putin says today that Israel told Moscow to relay a message to Tehran that “Tel Aviv is not seeking confrontation” and wants a “peaceful resolution” with Iran. He adds that Russia remains in close contact with both sides and backs a diplomatic path on Iran’s nuclear issue.’

    Israel also told Iran that they can take a solid run at a football that they will be holding on the ground so that they can kick it away and promise not to pull it away.

    Reply
    1. ChrisFromGA

      Why would Putin let himself be used as a stooge to trick Iran into a false sense of complacency?

      I smell a rat here … what is the actual source for this rumor?

      Reply
      1. Afro

        Honestly I don’t understand the problem.

        Putin just passed along a message. It doesn’t mean that he believes it nor that he expects others to believe it.

        He may simply be pretending that he believes it.

        Reply
        1. ChrisFromGA

          First of all, we need to be skeptical of such rumors and look for a reputable source. We know that we live in an age of all-out propaganda and information wars. Who actually heard Putin say that, was it an actual written statement that can be corroborated?

          Don’t be naive! there are plenty of bad actors inside the Trump and Netanyahu administrations who will resort to all kinds of treachery, as seen in the corruption of the IAEA inspectors to spy for Israel, pager attacks, etc. It would fit their style to make false attributions of Russian statements as part of a pre-war info-space shaping campaign.

          Reply
          1. Ben Panga

            The source is TASS, as a few seconds googling indicates.

            https://tass.com/politics/2027655

            Israel has indicated that it is not interested in confrontation with Iran and is committed to a settlement: “We continue to maintain trusting contacts with Israel and receive signals from the Israeli leadership asking to convey to our Iranian friends that Israel is committed to a further settlement and is not interested in any kind of confrontation.”

            Reply
      2. Polar Socialist

        The source is besides a press release with a direct quote by Kremlin, a bunch of journalist present when Putin made that statement to Central Asian leaders during second Russia – Central Asia summit in Dushanbe yesterday.

        The context was Russia being a stabilizing and peaceful force in Central Asia and close proximity (read: West Asia).

        Reply
        1. ChrisFromGA

          Thanks. I had some “Twitter/X” posts in my feed with the same claim, but none of them cited any source, at least a reputable one.

          I really worry about Putin. I think he has a huge blind spot – his desire to be seen as a “good guy”. It is quite possible Israel is feeding him false info and using him as a stooge. That is a material risk he should have at least considered.

          He ought to know better, but this is the same guy who doesn’t get it that the West hates Russians, will never accept them as equals, and wants to destroy his government and replace it with a compliant stooge regime.

          The rulers of all NATO countries will never see Putin as a “good guy.” It doesn’t matter if he stabilizes Central Asia, brings peace to India/Pakistan, or drops out of politics and becomes a monk.

          Putin could save 1000 kittens from being runover by a steamroller, and the headline in the west would be, “Putin blocks road construction in vital artery, imperiling delivery of food to needy chil’ren!”

          In other words, he has lost the plot and needs to step down for the good of Russia as he is no longer the right man for the job.

          Reply
    2. ambrit

      Expect the attack on Iran to happen very soon. This is an example of, “don’t believe something until it has been officially denied.”

      Reply
  7. Louis Fyne

    >>>building a lot of subways….

    the problems that the article mentions were just as true and apparent before the NYC/MTA Second Av subway was even built—and that took decades and still isn’t complete.

    Silicon Valley has been on the map for 50+ years; and still no BART connection.

    Even in blue-state (ostensibly pro-transit) supermajorities, it’s a train wreck to get any major infrastructure done—road, train, port. Many similarities to Pentagon procurement

    Reply
  8. The Rev Kev

    “McKinsey wonders how to sell AI apps with no measurable benefits”

    Looks like the results in and AI proves to be yet another iteration of “vapourware.” McKinsey are doing the numbers and it looks like there is little gain to be had from deploying it. The dreams of bosses to fire most of their workforce and replace them with AI is just not going to happen-

    https://builtin.com/hardware/vaporware

    Reply
    1. ChrisFromGA

      One of the main use cases seems to be mass firings of workers … which leads to a problem for the Federal reserve.

      Their mandate is to balance risks between unemployment and inflation, but how can monetary policy possibly compensate for mass unemployment due to technology adoption? With Trump packing the Fed with stooges, the captured Fed will likely go for a return of ZIRP, along with QE.

      Of course, the promise of “AI agents” could be another big fail from Silicon Valley, like the metaverse.

      Reply
      1. chris

        O M F G

        That is insane. It looks and sounds so much like Dr. Hudson in those videos. But his AI avatar is shilling for Crypto and less regulation! That has to be lawsuit bait.

        What’s next? “Prof. Mark Blythe” explaining to his followers online that, actually, low lying beaches are an ideal investment opportunity right now?

        Reply
        1. ChrisFromGA

          How about Kamala Harris in the Oval Office, launching a war with Russia while cackling?

          I find it ironic that the AI pimps push productivity as a potential perk, yet these time-wasting apps and garbage videos have the proclivity to turn us all into un-productive primates, staring at our phones for hours.

          Reply
      2. lyman alpha blob

        I don’t understand why this is not illegal. But this is what you get when you allow a bunch of elderly, out of touch, sclerotic and venal assclowns to set policy. Same reason the ride share and short term rental companies were allowed to run roughshod over the laws.

        Reply
    2. ilsm

      Informed humans must thoroughly check all AI. The AI’s probabilistic suppositions roll up making big errors.

      Medical insurers that use AI deny too many claims; almost 100% denials are reversed!

      Costs more than benefit, not considering adoption miscues, faults and fails.

      Would you trust a seller using AI?

      Too err is human, to really mess up apply AI.

      Reply
  9. TomDority

    “Strategic Ambiguity”
    That looks like a great new term or not.
    Trumps peace plan looks to make President Donald Trump’s “Gaza Riviera” vision a reality.
    Of course, he will encourage Palestinians to stay because he is going to build them a better place to stay…..and insure his dominion in the areas to rebuild by putting himself in charge of contracts to rebuild…profits profits and with protection provided by the US troops standing by as human shields.
    So, as it works here in the USA, If your a Palestinian,(or whatever nationality, ethnicity or political bent in disfavor) you will not be afforded work, discriminated against, generally be unable to afford shelter or food in your area and, generally be declared a criminal, an animal, an other, them, they all, a terrorist etal. ect.
    So for the people in Gaza, what changes is they may get food and water and a ‘choice’ to stay or self-deport….,.but, because they will have to pay (speculating) some sort of reparations – they will be forced to give up any claims upon the bombed and bulldozed lands/ruins where a great number of their genocided family members lay buried, crushed, burned, obliterated and obliviated for all history.
    Well, I sincerely do hope for peace in the many places private profits motivate the many disruptions to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”

    Reply
      1. thrombus

        The only ambiguous thing about Blinken is the choice of guitar for the next gig. Everything else is easily predictable (which is why Putin preferred that administration to one of the capricious professional wrestler covered in gold).

        Reply
  10. Ksum Nole

    Ahead of plenum, party mouthpiece likens China’s economy to ‘unsinkable’ aircraft carrier South China Morning Post

    “unsinkable aircraft carrier” – airport

    “unsinkable, unbreakable and indestructible – undaunted by wind or rain, pressing forward relentlessly” – Titanic

    These phrases look too western to me. Maybe it’s retaliation for Trump
    stealing “paper tiger” from them.

    Reply
  11. Donaldo

    Amazon to start offering prescription drugs through vending machines CBS News

    They should put them next to ammunition vending machines, for convenience.

    Reply
  12. tegnost

    Am I wrong to look at silver and gold charts and think WTAF?
    Doesn’t seem like a sign of strength…
    I’ll take flyer on silver again(bought at 30, sold at 30 a decade later) when it goes below 10 bucks and not a moment sooner…and then it will only be because it has a good feel and makes nice sounds when you clink it together…

    Reply
  13. AG

    re: Germany rearmament aka “Sondervermögen

    via German Multipolar news blog

    a critical analysis

    machine-translation

    Creative accounting

    An analysis shows that the federal government is using the new “Special Fund for Infrastructure and Climate Protection” to reduce investments in the regular federal budget and thereby free up funds for other purposes. The “special fund” is thus becoming a general shadow budget. Expert politicians, including those in the opposition, are keeping quiet about this.

    KARSTEN MONTAG , 10 October 2025

    https://archive.is/lOkYE
    original German
    https://multipolar-magazin.de/artikel/kreative-buchhaltung

    Reply
  14. Expat2uruguay

    As of yesterday afternoon this site no longer conforms to mobile formatting. I have already rebooted my phone. Is anyone else having this problem?

    Reply
  15. Ben Panga

    Venezuela’s Maduro Offered the U.S. His Nation’s Riches to Avoid Conflict (NYT)

    Venezuelan officials, hoping to end their country’s clash with the United States, offered the Trump administration a dominant stake in Venezuela’s oil and other mineral wealth in discussions that lasted for months, according to multiple people close to the talks.

    The far-reaching offer remained on the table as the Trump administration called the government of President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela a “narco-terror cartel,” amassed warships in the Caribbean and began blowing up boats that American officials say were carrying drugs from Venezuela.

    Under a deal discussed between a senior U.S. official and Mr. Maduro’s top aides, the Venezuelan strongman offered to open up all existing and future oil and gold projects to American companies, give preferential contracts to American businesses, reverse the flow of Venezuelan oil exports from China to the United States, and slash his country’s energy and mining contracts with Chinese, Iranian and Russian firms.

    Reply
    1. lyman alpha blob

      Well isn’t that interesting. A bunch of unnamed sources claim Maduro was ready to give China the shaft and sell out to the US.

      A cynical person might think this article was a plant to weaken Venezuela by turning China and the Venezuelan people against Maduro.

      Reply

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