The final frontier of empathy: why we have a hard time seeing ourselves as animals Guardian (Kent Y)
Why don’t people return shopping carts? (Somewhat) Scientific Research Behavioral Scientist (resilc). This says a lot about America…
What’s in the junk? London Review of Books. Anthony L.: “The idea that there is a gene for intelligence is a categorical error. It’s like thinking there’s a gene for ‘handsomeness.'”
#New Coronavirus Infection/Pandemic
⚠️Latest information on Japan’s mutant H3N2 influenza:
The number of seasonal influenza infections in Kawasaki City has been increasing vertically, and is now deep into the “large-scale/explosive” epidemic zone, and is still accelerating.
This is much higher than what we have seen in the past few years.
HPAl activities are ongoing in Japan (mainly H5N1,… pic.twitter.com/ynrUQsUde5
— Dr. Richard Hirschson (@richardhirschs1) November 16, 2025
#H5N5 #H5N1 #H3N2 @CDCgov @USDA
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Latest News: What we know about the WA H5N5 incident
Here’s an overview of what we know for sure about H5N5 cases in Washington and what we speculate. There are some real red flags here. 🚩
Public health… pic.twitter.com/5Je8Zl0ITZ
— K-in-CT 😷😷😷 (@KinCONN) November 18, 2025
It feels like it’s only a matter of time before a Marburg disease outbreak occurs.
This 21-day incubation period is the key. pic.twitter.com/NmVhZzsSwn
— Turn (@1goodtern) November 16, 2025
Climate/Environment
It’s not new, but it was still shocking.
👉 The half-life of carbon in the atmosphere is 50 years, so 📈 1👇 points to rich countries responsible for pushing the world to the brink of catastrophic warming
👉 📈2 shows that rich countries have made progress, but emerging countries must now make the bulk of the cuts… pic.twitter.com/hPNTHwbo6B
— Richard Baldwin (@BaldwinRE) November 18, 2025
Tyson agrees to settle climate-smart beef claims The New Lede
China?
One Chinese component that Tesla is having trouble replacing is lithium iron phosphate batteries. China’s Hyundai Amperex Technology (CATL) is a major supplier of batteries, known as LFPs, to Tesla.
— Paul Triolo (@pstAsiatech) November 17, 2025
BYD, Xpeng and competitors race to boost growth as investors grow skeptical of Nikkei Shimbun
China has only purchased 332,000 tons of U.S. soybeans since President Trump struck a deal with Xi Jinping pledging 12 million tons by the end of the year.
Journalism Crafts Disappearing in China Peking Studies
Japan
Japan’s Takaichi has few options to stop China’s retaliation Bloomberg
Japan protests against Chinese ship intrusion near Senkaku NIPPON
Japan’s economy shrinks as U.S. tariffs hit exports Independent
South Korea
South Korea faces longest sustained decline in youth employment rate since 2009 global financial crisis Korea JoongAng Ilbo
India
India’s October trade deficit widens on gold, silver rush despite strong overall outlook NDTV. In parallel, India’s US exports surge despite 50% tariffs as trade tensions ease BBC
Explosive linked to Delhi blasts explodes at Kashmir police station, killing 9 people Independent
Deadly blasts in Delhi and Islamabad raise tensions between India and Pakistan w/John Helmer Dimitri Liskaris, YouTube
bangladesh
Protests erupt as verdict against Bangladesh’s ousted leader Sheikh Hasina begins on BBC
Africa
Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of violating territorial integrity DNE Africa
RSF burns more bodies, Sudanese army captures two areas of North Kordofan Al Jazeera
Jailed Tunisian politician goes on hunger strike to protest presidential crackdown Financial Times
south of the border
Will Ecuador allow US troops to be stationed there? D.W.
After Mexico’s Gen Z march, Trump cites ‘big problems’ south of the border, sparking conflict between government and critics Los Angeles Times
US invades Mexico, digital nomads tear apart neighborhoods
discord in europe
Despite €30 billion investment, concerns about France’s industrial crisis persist – Le Monde
German Economic Socialism in Machine Translation (Micael T)
Denmark’s push to draft teenage girls: ‘We’re pretty scared’ The Times
old blighty
Mahmoud: Bring back immigrants or face visa ban
Gang buys shipping company to steal truckloads of goods BBC
israel vs resistance
UN Security Council approves President Trump’s Gaza peace plan, green-lighting future US-Israeli control of Mondwais, Gaza Strip
Deaths of Palestinians in Israeli custody have been revealed. Prison guard talks about rampant abuse Associated Press (Ghast)
Tensions rise as Israeli forces attack UN forces in southern Lebanon Arab Weekly
Why doesn’t the “progressive international” support unity for peace?Sam Husseini
* * *
What is the shadowy organization that brings Palestinians from Gaza to South Africa? Al Jazeera
🇿🇦 South Africa’s Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said the recent transfer of Palestinians from Gaza to his country appeared to be “clearly an orchestrated operation”.
▪️ “Appears to represent a broader agenda of moving Palestinians out of Palestine and into various positions… https://t.co/JXENDXKny8
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) November 18, 2025
* * *
Global Zionist Organ Trafficking Conspiracy Kit Klarenberg
Violence escalates after Iraq vote as parliamentarian’s security raids Peshmerga home Arab News
Iran says there is no prospect of talks as Western pressure increases over nuclear issue Al Jazeera
A new war that’s not so cold war
From Politico’s European Morning Newsletter. Note that this discussion omits two issues that Alexander Mercouris mentioned in a recent broadcast. One is that Euroclear is threatening to sue the Commission if it attempts to proceed with its asset theft plan, and the other is that the Commission has not included stopping funding to Ukraine as an option.
One month left to save Ukraine: European leaders will arrive in Brussels on December 18 for the last European Council summit in 2025. The stakes couldn’t be higher. They must find a way forward with their troubling proposals, lest Ukraine run out of money in the middle of next year and endanger its security and very existence.
Bad memories: Kiev’s allies hope to avoid a repeat of the EUCO in October, when Belgium opposed a plan to use €140 billion of frozen Russian assets to underwrite reparations loans, citing legal concerns. Diplomats have since accused the committee of failing to proactively address concerns. In a letter obtained by POLITICO on Monday, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned the capital that the alternative to the move was expensive national or EU borrowing and urged them to agree on a solution going forward.
It’s not just Belgium. Other countries are also increasingly critical of Berlaymont’s failure to put forward concrete proposals, instead focusing on convincing people that Russia’s wealth plan is the best of many bad options. “There is no real option here but to use frozen assets,” said one diplomat from the central European country.
Let’s do it: In an interview with Playbook, Ukraine’s Ambassador Vsevolod Chentsov said a “quick agreement on reparation financing is essential” and would provide predictable funding from early 2026 at no cost to taxpayers…
Finland’s view: In an interview with Playbook’s Nick Vinokulu in Brussels on Monday, Finland’s President Alexander Stubbe said the EU may ultimately have to compromise on the three options on the table: the use of Russian assets and a “combination” of both domestic and EU borrowing.
Is Ukraine buying fighter jets with money it doesn’t have? alabama moon
breaking news:
🇷🇺🇺🇦 An assassination attempt at Moscow’s Troyekurovskoe cemetery was thwarted by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu. – Tas
Russian news agency TASS reported that two Russians tried to blow up Sergei Shoigu at Moscow’s Troekurovskoe cemetery. pic.twitter.com/2gbQtk2kt2
— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) November 18, 2025
events in ukraine
NATO becomes alarmed after Russia completes nuclear-powered Burevestnik missile Euronews
The US is scaring Russia with junk aircraft – B-52H nuclear bomber approaches Russia’s Arctic Circle over Finland international issues (Michael T)
Poland’s railway sabotage incident is highly suspicious Andrew Korybko
NATO faces Russian threat Le Monde and logistical challenges moving tanks across EU
syrakistan
Military escalation | Clashes reignite between National Guard and government forces in Syria’s Al-Suwayda HR
Relations between Pakistan and the Taliban hit a new low amid clashes due to ‘trade insults’ between the two countries News 18
Caucasus
‘Time is running out’: Serbia eyes winter energy crisis
big brother is watching over you
This app allows ICE to track vehicles and owners across the country 404 Media
I hacked a Flock safety camera in under 30 seconds on YouTube (Friend)
imperial collapse watch
Preparing for War: Advancing Industrial Preparedness CIMSEC. “Neither can I…” on multiple levels.
Trump 2.0
Trump’s grip on the Republican Party signals the first signs of the Wall Street Journal’s downfall. lead story. There is no archive version yet.
President Trump says America is in a ‘golden age’ and focused on addressing affordability, New York Times (resilc). President Trump has made it clear that he is less of a propagandist than Goebbels.
Trump ‘more likely to win the lottery’ than BBC lawsuit The Telegraph
Trump Justice Department’s James Comey lawsuit faces growing judicial backlash The Hill
President Trump ignores MAGA criticism and seeks to deepen US involvement in Saudi Politico
President Trump’s Saudi-first foreign policy continues Daniel Larison
Lafaire Epstein
President Trump makes shocking reversal on Epstein at 11th hour loss
‘National Security’ Blocks Release of Epstein Files Ken Klippenstein
Epstein was Summers’ ‘associate’ as he sought secret relationships with women he called mentees Harvard Crimson (resilc)
Larry Summers says he’s ‘very embarrassed’ after receiving new emails from Jeffrey Epstein, plans to suspend public activities CNN
mamdani
How Zoran Mamdani’s young voters convinced their parents to join Gothamist
economy
From boom to bust: The internal crash of the US boat market YouTube (resilc)
Fed Vice Chair Blames Tariffs for Lack of Inflation Improvement Michael Shedlock
Growing yttrium shortage sparks new rare earth crisis Reuters
Mr. Market is in a bad mood.
The Arrival of QE: The Roots of Fed Dominance Investment in 2008
Nuclear stocks plummet, with potential payoff still years away Oil prices
A.I.
Google’s boss warns BBC that “no company will be exempt” if the AI bubble bursts. lead story. It certainly sounds like a threat.
Construction spending on data centers, factories, power plants, and office buildings: boom on the one hand, bust on the other Wolf Richter
basil
Cryptocurrency market declines by $1.2 trillion as traders avoid speculative assets, Financial Times. lead story. There is no archive version yet.
Cryptocurrency’s riskiest coin plummets to lowest since pandemic Bloomberg
$28 Billion in Cryptocurrency Industry Is ‘Dirty Money’, New York Times. resilc: “It can’t be that small.”
US politicians and their net worth YouTube (resic)
class war
Fueling debt: How rising utility costs are overwhelming American families Century Foundation
Fascism Yesterday and Today: Rebellion through Machine Translation (Micael T)
Antidote (via):
It’s a bonus. Darwin Award Avoided:
Apparently this woman had approached the moose many times. It was enough for both the elk and the onlookers to see the bull preparing to charge and the onlookers yelling for the female to back off. pic.twitter.com/5emW5aAkGn
— Nature is amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) November 17, 2025
Second bonus:
An easy way to get your dog to take medicine…
— Tansu Yegen (@TansuYegen) November 17, 2025
And third:
The relationship between cats and birds has fascinated humans for centuries, both biologically and culturally. pic.twitter.com/drd9Z8wpOZ
— We are not qualified to own a cat 😺 (@catsareblessing) November 17, 2025
Click here for yesterday’s link and Antidote du Jour.
