Alcohol consumption abundant in the natural world, study finds Guardian
Starbucks’ sales decline for 3rd consecutive quarter Anadolu Agency
Climate
Models downplay wrath of what they sow Arctic News
Climate Clarity: The Biggest Problems, The Best Solution Exposed by CMD
Water
Climate graphic of the week: Blackouts and water rationing as South American drought worsens FT
Syndemics
Bird flu found in a pig in U.S. for the first time, raising concerns about potential risks to humans STAT
Referral: SCI AM – A Bird Flu Vaccine Might Come Too Late to Save Us from H5N1 Avian Flu Diary
China?
China’s factory activity returns to expansion, ‘positive sign’ after stimulus South China Morning Post
Explainer: How will China’s new monetary policy tool support capital market development? Xinhua
Muted Public Response to State Council’s New Slate of Policies to Promote Parenthood China Digital Times
Why China Won’t Give Up on a Failing Economic Model Foreign Affairs
India
A History of Diwali JSTOR Daily
Mattel releases first Diwali Barbie doll The Hill
Walking Phnom Penh Chris Arnade
The Koreas
Seoul to Squeeze The New Inquiry
Africa
‘Ready to die’: Protesters face bullets for political change in Mozambique Al Jazeera
French court sentences ex-doctor to 27 years in Rwanda genocide trial France24
Syraqistan
U.S. gaining confidence ceasefire in Lebanon can be reached soon Axios
US draws up draft Israel-Lebanon ceasefire plan FT
New Hezbollah chief threatens Netanyahu, but opens door for ceasefire in first speech Times of Israel
Hezbollah drone hits aviation factory in northern Israel Anadolu Agency
Illegal Israeli settlers uproot hundreds of centuries-old olive trees in northern West Bank Anadolu Agency
UK urged to share Gaza spy planes footage with ICC war crimes probe Middle East Eye. Commentary:
NEW: ‘A Cartography of Genocide’. Since October 2023, we have collected and analysed data related to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Our findings indicate that Israel has systematically targeted all aspects of civilian life. https://t.co/UUxYqpTF72 pic.twitter.com/lpqv78S5c4
— Forensic Architecture (@ForensicArchi) October 29, 2024
Members of Congress have taken hundreds of AIPAC-funded trips to Israel in the past decade Politico
European Disunion
Can the United Kingdom and France Team Up in the Third Nuclear Age? War on the Rocks
Volkswagen is in crisis again. Can it be reformed? FT
Corporate Europe Observatory – Uncovering Big Tech’s hidden network Brave New Europe
Dear Old Blighty
Car finance market in chaos after shock court ruling: Lenders pause vehicle loans following Court of Appeal judgement on dealers’ commissions Daily Mail
New Not-So-Cold War
Ukraine’s frontline is ‘crumbling’ against Russian advances, says general The Telegraph
Ukraine: Compromise or Collapse The Nation
Don’t Let Russia Win the Ukraine War The National Interest
US Warns North Korean Troops May Widen Russia’s War on Ukraine Bloomberg
Russian units in Kaliningrad may be preparing sabotage in Baltic states and Poland Ukrainska Pravda
Chinese sanctions hit US drone maker supplying Ukraine FT
How North Korean Artillery Supplies Saved Russia’s War Effort: 6 Million Rounds Left Ukraine Tremendously Outgunned Military Watch
European Commission ready to open first negotiation clusters with Ukraine, but conditions possible Ukrainska Pravda
Global financial watchdog FATF once again refuses to include Russia on its black list – Reuters Ukrainska Pravda
As Georgians Protest Election Results, What Next? Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
An unfortunate rush to judgment in Georgia elections Responsible Statecraft
50/50: How referendum results will shape Moldova’s path to the EU JAM News
South of the Border
Bolivia president calls for end of blockades, says costs exceed $1.7 billion Reuters. Video (2020):
Local union members are coming together to lay stones to help block the highway connecting Cochabamba to Santa Cruz. Blockades demanding elections are being erected by communities across Bolivia and won’t be easily lifted. #BloqueosBolivia pic.twitter.com/sTtLfsseAM
— Kawsachun News (@KawsachunNews) August 3, 2020
Mexico Supreme Court justice announces resignation, more expected Reuters
Biden Administration
Lawsuit claims ICE withheld $300M in bond payments from immigrants AP
2024
Biden bites three babies at White House Halloween party Daily Mail
Elon Musk ordered to attend Philadelphia hearing; DA asks for more security 6ABC
The Final Frontier
Largest Commercial Satellites Unfurl, Outshining Most of the Night Sky Gizmodo
China wants to make its Tiangong space station bigger and better Space.com
Halloween
Cop ‘attacked’ by giant inflatable runaway Halloween pumpkin in middle of the street ABC
Forget witches and zombies, Chinese youths are dressing up as celebs and memes this Halloween Channel News Asia
The Past as Prologue: Caliban & the Witch – a Review MR Online
Why Horror Needs Humor Literary Hub
Sports Desk
Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman (4 HRs, 12 RBIs) named World Series MVP ESPN
Snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan gets Hong Kong residency as part of quality migrant scheme South China Morning Post. Video:
[embedded content]
How Public Stadiums Keep Some Profits Private Defector
Imperial Collapse Watch
The U.S. Air Force Could Buy Over 200 B-21s: Major Expansion of Long Range Stealth Bomber Fleet Considered Military Watch
Math Might Be the B-21 Raider’s Biggest Enemy The National Interest
Does foreign interventionism make America safer? Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun
Class Warfare
Consolidation Threatens to Rip ‘Service’ Out of Postal Service Labor Notes
The Billionaire Is the Threat, Not the Solution 404 Media
Fandom has toxified the world Anarchist Library
Antidote du jour (Ken Thomas):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.