Noema, the last yak herder in Ladakh
DNA mutations found in children of Chernobyl workers Science Alert
Instagram chief says using 16 hours a day is a ‘problem’, not an addiction BBC
Climate/Environment
Can the clean energy revolution save us from climate catastrophe? Nature
New study identifies a set of critical thresholds for Antarctic ice basins Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Satellite records confirm northward movement of boreal tree cover
Europe is ‘not ready’ for 4 degrees of warming, EU advisers warn Euractic
Claims that AI can help solve climate change are dismissed as greenwashing The Guardian
We can save the climate by going beyond the capitalist model – here are the first three steps Jason Hickel and Yanis Varoufakis, The Guardian
pandemic
When the ruling class easily persuaded everyone to infect themselves with a new virus that damages the vascular system “every year,” they learned that their influence finally overwhelms self-interest. And they’ve been making that fact clear ever since.
That’s why everything went wrong.
— Amanda🥀 (@smelltouchfeel) February 14, 2026
South Korea
Racist accusations fly as fan war exposes rifts in K-pop world Intellinews
China?
China remains undeterred as US reclaims globally important mineral resources Asia Times
Responsible Nation Strategy: US seeks to expand control over Pacific compact nations
Vietnam gives green light to Starlink satellite internet service
India
India seizes three US-licensed tankers linked to Iran New Arab
syrakistan
Exclusive: Hamas says it will not unilaterally disarm as Trump and Netanyahu threaten return to full-scale war zone
Strategic Struggle for Gulf Leadership Following the Abraham Accords Fissure Dispute Forum
The growing number of attacks on Francesca Albanese portend a new dark age Chris Hedges
Indonesia prepares 1,000 troops as potential peacekeepers in Gaza in early April The Straits Times
🇺🇸🇮🇱US Senator Lindsey Graham: “Future wars are being planned right here in Israel.” pic.twitter.com/MVk54Bsc6c
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) February 16, 2026
Escape of ISIL-linked detainees from Syrian camp raises security concerns Al Jazeera
US-Iran dialogue live: second round of nuclear negotiations begins on Geneva Al Jazeera
Africa
Western Sahara: The law of the strong returns to the United Nations African Political and Economic Review
old blighty
Algorithms vs Welfare State Red Pepper
“There’s nothing to fear except Kia herself” American conservative
discord in europe
How working-class dining experiences in Paris are reshaping France’s restaurant economy The Conversation
Dutch police arrest man for accidentally sending confidential files
A new war that’s not so cold war
Ukraine creates F-16 squadron with Ukrainian, American and Dutch pilots Ukraine
Dear John… Julian Macfarlane. A response to John Helmer’s article on alleged fighting between Kremlin factions.
Poland in preparation for Reparations Charter No. 97 lawsuit against Russia
Estonia faces firewood shortage due to prolonged cold weather Bartias Vals
south of the border
The Trump-Rubio administration is orchestrating a humanitarian crisis in Cuba.
I’ve talked to several friends on the island this past week, and they call it “Gaza without bombs.”
A medieval-style siege in the United States has forced schools to close. Transportation is becoming increasingly scarce. pic.twitter.com/JhMWPxpySZ
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) February 17, 2026
Venezuela: Late game Michael Roberts
Lafaire Epstein
It’s pure coincidence that the Justice Department completely withheld all Epstein documents right before, during, and after 9/11, right? pic.twitter.com/KGgzAm7Zq4
—Chris Martenson (@chrismartenson) February 16, 2026
Epstein tipped biometric scanner tested in Israel’s Gaza Strip to Nigeria’s UAE drop site port transaction
Files reveal that Jeffrey Epstein was a guest at Conrad Black’s lavish 60th birthday party for Barbara Amiel. The Department of Justice just removed it. Dougald Lamont
After the Gnome Anti-Empire Project
spook country
Back Brief: The “Ground Branch” video game is very focused on weapon and tactical details.
“Liberation Day”
Republican Congress calls for repeal of Trump tariffs as companies plan to raise prices A common dream
Democrats are the worst
The original “Wine Mama” is located in Ohio. They are rallying to support the Haitians of Springfield. ohio capital journal
How did wine moms become vanguards of the anti-Trump revolution?Labor politics. Or do they just want Trump gone so a kinder face can return to the West Wing, erase all poverty and war, and enjoy some wine?
police state surveillance
FBI won’t provide Minnesota investigators with evidence in Alex Preti’s murder, says Minnesota reformer
Building a deportation device Boston Review
ICE operations increasingly resemble the Israeli occupation. It’s no coincidence +972 Magazine
Manufacturers are firing back against ICE Wired
A.I.
Monopoly Recap: Written by Matt Stoller “Stop telling me AI is sentient when you’re just taking something big away from me.”
Exclusive: Pentagon threatens human punishment Axios
Death is not the end: Meta receives patent for AI that allows non-serious Business Insiders to keep posting
accelerationist
Chinese boxing robot wins fans in San Francisco “Down to Earth”
imperial collapse watch
What you need to know about the tragic Potomac sewage spill The Hill
Guns, Money, and Opium London Book Review
US military airlifts small nuclear reactor into operation for the first time in history: Anadolu Agency report
harmful balloons
After Sunday scramble, F-16s spot balloons, not UFOs: NORAD The War Zone
“Maha”
Vaccine makers scale back research, cut jobs New York Times
supply chain
Used laptop market becomes mainstream amid memory shortage The Register
basil
It’s crazy – hyperscaler credit default swap demand is on fire pic.twitter.com/UxNXCWw5iu
— High Yield Harry (@HighyieldHarry) February 15, 2026
Today my Tesla tried to drive me into a lake! FSD version 14.2.2.4 (2025.45.9.1)@Tesla @aelluswamy pic.twitter.com/ykWZFjUm8k
— Daniel Milligan (@lilmill2000) February 16, 2026
Nation Casino
Prediction markets are drawing huge numbers of young people into futuristic gambling
guillotine watch
Wall Street banks are paying CEOs like it’s 2006 again Business Times
class war
Ireland announces new scheme to provide basic income to artists Irish Central
Payday Pulse: Record 5,000 years of wages in one giant timeline Visual Capitalist
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