Watching the World in a Dark Room: The Early Modern Camera Obscura Public Domain Review
Someone keeps stealing, flying, fixing and returning this man’s plane. But why? Los Angeles Times
Why blow up satellites when you can just hack them? The Register
Women in Trees Creative Fuel
Climate/Environment
The ‘King of the Great Plains’ is dying. Drought is killing giant oak trees in the Midwest KCUR
What happens to net zero if the trees don’t survive? New Climate Reality
Another 2025 day, another record flash flood event Balanced Weather
Colorado prison evacuated as wildfire becomes one of largest in state history AP
Firefighters tackle large gorse blaze on Arthur’s Seat BBC
Canyon Fire ignites in Southern California, echoes January’s devastating Los Angeles wildfires WSWS
Wildfires close Dardanelles gateway to Black Sea Intellinews
Pandemics
The Koreas
South Korea’s military has shrunk by 20% in six years as male population drops Channel News Asia
India-Pakistan
ThePrint Exclusive: Asim Munir’s India nuke threat from US ballroom—‘will take half the world down’ The Print. Also says if India builds dam on Indus River as planned, Pakistan will bomb it.
India Cancels Planned Purchase of P-8I Anti-Submarine Warfare Jets Amid Rising Tensions with U.S. Military Watch
India’s existential angst to confront Western imperialism Indian Punchline
China?
China pushes for looser chip controls in US trade talks Semafor
Nvidia and AMD reportedly agree to pay 15% of China chip sale revenues to US Reuters
How the U.S. Installs “Backdoors” in Chips CCTV (Translation)
CIA maps reveal the legacy of the planned economy in Chinese cities Sinocities
China to sustain top-down, debt-fueled investment in major projects and security capacities, ex-official says Pekingnology
Will the new judicial ruling in China bankrupt small businesses? China Translated
Philippines, Poland find common ground in deterring China, Russia South China Morning Post
Syraqistan
Israel allows for 430,000 reservists to be called up amid Gaza takeover plan New Arab
Despite What Netanyahu Wants You to Think, an Israeli Conquest of Gaza Remains Far Off Haaretz
Senior Israeli Commanders Openly Contradict Netanyahu Claim On Gaza Destruction Drop Site
Anas al-Sharif among five Al Jazeera journalists killed by Israel in Gaza Al Jazeera
As Sisi Accuses Israel of Genocide, Egypt Signs Record $35 Billion Gas Deal with Israel Drop Site
Germany’s Merz defends partial weapons halt to Israel DW
‘Civilisation is no longer the norm.’ Patrick Lawrence, The Floutist
***
Another excerpt from Pezeshkian’s “despair” speech:
The state of revenues and expenditures is clear. When we create expectations (for the people), we must also ask where we will get the means to meet those expectations.
Industry has faced problems (budgetary) and was bombed.… https://t.co/4cEy8BPFRF pic.twitter.com/eK6Xl3i4l8
— The Middle Eastern (@TMiddleEastern) August 10, 2025
Iran says deputy chief of UN nuclear watchdog to visit Tehran on Monday Anadolu Agency
Old Blighty
London police arrest at least 450 protesters at rally against Palestine Action ban Middle East Eye. A new record for the Met.
The UK:
Throwing a Nazi salute: “Free Speech.“
Protesting against Genocide: “Not ‘Free Speech’, Criminal Offense, Arrested.“ pic.twitter.com/YMc0RT1hFx
— John O’Connell (@jdpoc) August 10, 2025
European Disunion
TRIESTE PORT MOVES CLOSER TO THE SILK ROAD GeoPolitiQ
New Not-So-Cold War
Vance tells Europe to step up in Ukraine, even though it lacks the strength The Times
Europe urges Trump to use sanctions pressure ahead of Putin summit FT
Crazy Spin About Upcoming Summit by Collective West Karl Sanchez
Is Vladimir Putin Naive in Pursuing a Meeting with Donald Trump? Larry Johnson
🇺🇸🇷🇺NEW VIDEO: US-Russian Presidents to Meet: US Prepares Dagger of Betrayal (Again)
On YouTube: https://t.co/xEt1m4u45B
▪️Nothing has changed fundamentally within the US power structure to change the overall objectives of US special interests in regards to pursuing primacy…
— Brian Berletic (@BrianJBerletic) August 10, 2025
THE RUSSIA I DREAM OF FORGETTING; WHAT PEOPLE ARE DYING FOR IN UKRAINE Marat Khairullin Substack
How Nazi Collaborators Are Celebrated in Wartime Ukraine The New Paradigm
South of the Border
Wargaming Scenario: MAGA Versus The Cartels Un-Diplomatic
How Mexico Doubled the Minimum Wage Phenomenal World
Spook Country
When counterculture and empire merge All-Source Intelligence
“Liberation Day”
Goldman’s latest (still very early) analysis of tariff effects thru June 2025:
-Foreign exporters absorbed 14% of US tariffs
-US companies ate 64%
-US consumers ate 22%
-Protected US companies also raised prices
-Consumers will see bigger price increases (70%) thru the Fall pic.twitter.com/0S0fVnEvQp— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) August 10, 2025
Why is ASEAN planning a rare joint meeting of foreign and economic ministers? Channel News Asia
Trump expands use of tariffs to reach national security goals WaPo. Not new.
Trump 2.0
DONALD TRUMP IS MOSTLY A CRYPTO BILLIONAIRE NOW, GROUP SAYS The Intercept
Donald Trump exposes US retirees to new world of risk with 401k order FT
Trump warns homeless to leave Washington, D.C., ‘immediately’ CNBC
GOP Funhouse
Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani Must Build Power, Not Bridges America’s Undoing
Antitrust
Monopoly Round-Up: Back-to-School Inflation Stories Crop Up on TikTok BIG by Matt Stoller
AI
AI Designs Super Safe Sub for Billionaires to Ride Into the Depths of the Ocean Futurism
Imperial Collapse Watch
Foreign investors disappear from US Treasury auctions, as China borrows at the lowest rates ever Kevin Walmsley
Accelerationists
Sports Desk
The Bezzle
Big Tech is building AI in the desert. The water may not last Rest of World
Class Warfare
Public Money, Private Benefit Working Class Storytelling
Ride-sharing apps are bad, actually Edward Ongweso Jr. “Or why Matthew Yglesias has no clue what he’s talking about.”
Fragile Movements Crumble Hamilton Nolan
Labor’s Strategy Must Lean Into Synergies Convergence Mag
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
