Paris zoo unveils the “blob”, an organism with no brain but 720 sexes Reuters
‘Bingo!’ In a remarkable first, humpback whales spotted using their fins to scoop up fish Science (guurst).
People are reporting sightings of the Tasmanian tiger, thought to be extinct CNN
Humans Will Never Live on Another Planet, Nobel Laureate Says. Here’s Why. Live Science. Eat your heart out, Elon.
Yahoo Groups is shutting down and deleting all content on December 14, 2019. Reddit/r/Archiveteam (EM).
Brexit
UK and EU on verge of Brexit deal Politico. “While accepting a customs border down the Irish Sea, the proposed deal would keep Northern Ireland within the U.K.’s customs remit when it comes to trade, diplomats say.”
Boris Johnson heads to crucial Brussels summit TODAY: Last-ditch talks go down to the wire after DUP scuppered Brexit draft – but PM and EU remain confident agreement CAN be ‘finalised’ within hours as even hardliners hail ‘great progress’ Daily Mail. “Downing Street confirmed the government will now table a motion for the Commons to sit on Saturday – the first Saturday sitting since the Falklands War. If there is a deal at the summit today MPs will be asked to approve it on Saturday, but if not Mr Johnson is expected to stage a vote on whether to delay Brexit or go for No Deal. ”
Brexit: madder and madder EU Referendum
Saturday’s gonna be a busy day….
We believe the Government’s proposed Withdrawal Agreement is contrary to section 55 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 https://t.co/oZ5Jrkn9PR
— Jo Maugham QC (@JolyonMaugham) October 16, 2019
On a lighter note, thread:
A thread on the historic roots of why it’s difficult for the UK and the EU to agree a deal. European culture is notoriously averse to compromise, largely because of the legacy of the warring tribes that historically dominated this region of the world.
— Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) October 9, 2019
Europe’s Margrethe Vestager Takes a Rare Step Toward Big Tech NYT
Syraqistan
Trump wrote letter to Erdogan telling him ‘don’t be a fool’ CNN. Contrarian view, and note the source:
I am impressed. The economic weapon is a much, much more effective one than the military one. We are no longer in 1936. Trump got it. https://t.co/WNpjHWaQP3
— Nassim Nicholas Taleb (@nntaleb) October 16, 2019
Pelosi: Trump had ‘meltdown’ during White House meeting on Syria – as it happened Guardian. House votes against stopping a war they never voted to start.
Exclusive: U.S. carried out secret cyber strike on Iran in wake of Saudi oil attack: officials Reuters (WB).
The Unholy Mess of US Middle Eastern Strategy Valdai Discussion Club
Khmer Riche Reuters
The Koreas
Policy shift anticipated as North Korea’s Kim rides white horse on sacred mountain Reuters
A terrible pandemic is killing pigs around the world, and U.S. pork producers fear they could be hit next WaPo. No worries. We can sell to the UK after Brexit.
China?
Xi vows to shatter Hong Kong rebellion that is of his own making Nikkei Asian Review
Inside the battle for Hong Kong FT
Jimmy Sham, leader of Hong Kong democracy group Civil Human Rights Front, attacked on Mong Kok street South China Morning Post. Good old-fashioned police work:
Just in: This video is circulating online. It shows that a police officer is stepping on the bloodstains which CHRF convenor, Jimmy Sham, allegedly left on the scene. Police confirmed 6-7 people took part in a fight in a public space at 7.40 pm in Mong Kok. #antiELAB #AntiMaskLaw pic.twitter.com/sOe27WfNjE
— Ezra Cheung (@ezracheungtoto) October 16, 2019
* * *
China Makes A Move On OPEC’s No.2 OilPrice.com
Convivial War: How Wall Street Recolonized Brazil. Part Three. Brasil Wire
Haiti and the Convenience of Imperial Amnesia Black Agenda Report
Trump Transition
“There Is Definite Hanky-Panky Going On”: The Fantastically Profitable Mystery of the Trump Chaos Trades Vanity Fair. Looks like the deplorables aren’t the only volatility voters? Comments from traders welcome.
Top US think tank criticized for taking $12 million from a Russia-tied oligarch Quartz. CFR isn’t a bottom-feeder like CAP (UAE) so this is pretty shocking.
T-Mobile and Sprint get FCC approval to merge in 3-2 party-line vote Ars Technica
Obama endorses Justin Trudeau’s re-election bid just weeks after blackface scandal The Week
Impeachment
Protecting the ‘Whistleblower’ & Other Preposterous Pranks Consortium News. (But see Snowden, Ellsberg on “the whistleblower”).
2020
Historically accurate election model shows Trump on his way to reelection The Hill (WB) (Original from Moody’s, which has an interesting discussion of methodology).
Sobering:
With a number of 2020 Democrats spending more than they took in this summer, having plenty of money to spend isn’t too common https://t.co/dQd6Zo5ho1 by @StellaYu_Mizzou pic.twitter.com/jiAm5jwCGt
— OpenSecrets.org (@OpenSecretsDC) October 16, 2019
After 184 years, Cherokees seek House delegate seat promised in treaty Roll Call. Elizabeth?
Big Brother Is Watching You Watch
The US military is trying to read minds MIT Technology Review (EJ).
CISA’s Request for Subpoena Power Lawfare. DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Google exec says Nest owners should probably warn their guests that their conversations are being recorded Business Insider (KW). Never, ever buy a device that’s marketed as being “smart.”
Well, well, well. Fancy that. UK.gov shelves planned pr0n block The Register
Huge Child P**n Ring Busted as Authorities Cite Ability to Crack Bitcoin Privacy Gizmodo
Health Care
737 MAX
Airlines Split on How to Inform Customers Once Troubled 737 Jets Return to Skies Sputnik News (KW).
‘Hunter killer assassins’: Why the Boeing saga is the story of our times Seattle Times
Pontifications: Muilenburg loses chairman’s title; are his days numbered? Leeham News and Analysis
Our Famously Free Press
Flacks and Figures The Baffler
Class Warfare
Details revealed: What’s in the tentative UAW GM contract? WXYZ
UAW & GM Have an Agreement. Will Strikers Vote Yes? Labor Notes. Explanation of “tiers.”
Aging, thin pipe likely cause of Philadelphia refinery fire Patriot-News. “Philadelphia Energy Solutions.” Never eat at a place called Mom’s….
Want To Know Whether A Psychology Study Will Replicate? Just Ask A Bunch Of People British Psychological Society
Antidote du Jour (via):
Bonus antidote:
A year-long timelapse showing all the wild life that gathers around a single tree pic.twitter.com/GrJNf7jbYd
— Nature is Lit🔥 (@NaturelsLit) October 15, 2019
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
