Poised,
Breaking the ice by revising and renewing New START would be widely welcomed, a good opening to broadly discussing European security balances, which must include Russia. Top Russia-US diplomats hold phone call before Trump-Putin Alaska meet
Russia says both sides affirm intention for Putin-Trump meet in Alaska on Friday, where Ukraine war set to be discussed. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/12/top-russia-us-diplomats-hold-phone-call-before-trump-putin-alaska-meetHere’s a brief recap of the day’s main events:
European leaders held a phone call with Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, discussing a series of issues before Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
Zelenksyy expressed his desire to be present for future meetings between Trump and Putin, with several European leaders echoing his insistence that Ukraine should be present during discussions over its future.
Trump said the call went well, rating it “a 10” and saying there could be a “quick second meeting” with both Putin and Zelenskyy if the initial meeting with Putin “goes OK”.
The UK, France, and Germany issued a joint statement saying that a deal must include a “robust” security guarantee for Ukraine and that tougher sanctions should be applied against Russia if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire on Friday. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/8/13/live-ukrainian-european-leaders-to-speak-to-trump-before-putin-summit
European leaders held a phone call with Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, discussing a series of issues before Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
Zelenksyy expressed his desire to be present for future meetings between Trump and Putin, with several European leaders echoing his insistence that Ukraine should be present during discussions over its future.
Trump said the call went well, rating it “a 10” and saying there could be a “quick second meeting” with both Putin and Zelenskyy if the initial meeting with Putin “goes OK”.
The UK, France, and Germany issued a joint statement saying that a deal must include a “robust” security guarantee for Ukraine and that tougher sanctions should be applied against Russia if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire on Friday. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/8/13/live-ukrainian-european-leaders-to-speak-to-trump-before-putin-summit
Big Serge says that Ukrainian units are down to 30% of their designated manpower, consisting of new recruits or exhausted veterans, and without adequate tanks, armored personnel carriers or artillery. They are stretched very thinly along over 1000 kilometers of front, with gaps left when men are pulled to meet Russian assaults. Russia has exploited such a gap north of Pokrovsk, opening it through unmanned Ukrainian defensive trenches, and now preparing to hold it against Ukrainian counterattack by an Azov battalion, which is already tired and depleted. Scraping the Barrel: Attrition and Cannibalization - Russo-Ukrainian War: Summer, 2025 https://bigserge.substack.com/p/scraping-the-barrel-attrition-and
I was pleased to be one of the respondents to Sputnik on this issue. To what they have quoted here, I add the point they did not put up: that just as Joe Biden’s sanctions and encirclement policies drove together Russia and China, Russia and Iran, so Donald Trump perversely is strengthening greatly the alliance in BRICS of India, Russia, China and South Africa by his bullying. https://gilbertdoctorow.substack.com/p/sputnik-globe-putins-master-move
After meeting Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff — and before the much-anticipated summit — President Vladimir Putin called key Global South leaders. India’s Narendra Modi, China’s Xi Jinping, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, and Brazil’s Lula da Silva were all briefed on the latest Ukraine talks.
"President Putin has taken a very important step which will into the future set a precedence," Prof. Fulufhelo Netswera from Durban University of Technology in South Africa tells Sputnik. This lets him act confidently with BRICS backing — while equally empowering other members in similar cases. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250812/putins-master-move-how-brics-has-become-the-worlds-new-control-room-1122599591.html
"President Putin has taken a very important step which will into the future set a precedence," Prof. Fulufhelo Netswera from Durban University of Technology in South Africa tells Sputnik. This lets him act confidently with BRICS backing — while equally empowering other members in similar cases. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250812/putins-master-move-how-brics-has-become-the-worlds-new-control-room-1122599591.html
Nobody else is saying that Zelensky will cede territory. Ukraine ready to give up lost territories to settle conflict
Ukraine may give up the territories it had already lost in order to end hostilities and receive security guarantees in the form of arms supplies and NATO membership, The Daily Telegraph wrote.
According to the newspaper, Vladimir Zelensky softened his stance in the run-up to the Russia-US summit. It says that the Ukrainian government is ready to freeze the conflict along the current line of combat engagement. At the same time, Kiev is not ready to cede territories that it controls in the people’s Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk (DPR and LPR), and the regions of Zaporozhye and Kherson.
The report says European officials believe that Zelensky "has leeway with a growing number of voters who would stomach surrendering land to Moscow as the price for the end" of the conflict. The Daily Telegraph writes that Zelensky "would also have to perform a juggling act as he would be blocked by his country’s constitution from ceding territory without a nationwide referendum."
According to the publication, Kiev will only agree to a peace settlement that offers "robust security guarantees in the form of weapons deliveries and a path to NATO membership." https://en.mehrnews.com/news/235304/Ukraine-ready-to-give-up-lost-territories-to-settle-conflict
The Russian Ministry of Defense has issued a warning alleging that Ukrainian authorities are preparing a provocation targeting civilians in the Kharkiv region, aimed at disrupting the upcoming Russia–United States summit between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, scheduled for August 15 in Anchorage, Alaska.
According to the statement, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) allegedly transported a group of foreign journalists to the city of Chuhuiv on August 11 under the pretext of reporting on civilian life near the front lines. Moscow claims these journalists are being positioned to document the aftermath of a planned strike on a densely populated residential area or hospital, which would then be blamed on Russian forces to generate negative media coverage and undermine bilateral cooperation on resolving the war in Ukraine. https://www.telesurenglish.net/russia-accuses-ukraine-of-planning-provocation-ahead-of-trump-putin-summit-in-alaska/ Sunday, Israeli forces killed five Al Jazeera staff, including Al-Jazeera correspondents Anas Al-Sharif and Mohammed Qareqa, as well as photographers Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Nofal, in a targeted strike on their media tent outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. This deadly attack highlights the mounting threats against journalists trying to cover the unfolding crisis. https://en.mehrnews.com/news/235308/Israel-place-journalists-name-on-army-list-for-assassination
The United States on Tuesday declined to criticize Israel over the killing of five Al Jazeera journalists in the Gaza Strip, referring questions to its ally.
The Israeli military alleged that Anas Al-Sharif, a prominent face on the Qatar-based network covering the violence, headed a Hamas “terrorist cell” and was “responsible for advancing rocket attacks” against Israelis.
“What I will tell you is that we refer you to Israel for information regarding Al-Sharif,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2611650/world
The Israeli military alleged that Anas Al-Sharif, a prominent face on the Qatar-based network covering the violence, headed a Hamas “terrorist cell” and was “responsible for advancing rocket attacks” against Israelis.
“What I will tell you is that we refer you to Israel for information regarding Al-Sharif,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2611650/world
How Netanyahu’s political survival depends on the genocide in Gaza
Netanyahu may view this war as essential to his survival, but the cost of that survival is becoming increasingly unsustainable for both Israel and the United States. Israel grows more isolated and vulnerable each day; the US is increasingly seen as complicit in war crimes; and Palestinians are being driven deeper into despair and radicalisation. This is the very formula that turned America’s endless wars in Afghanistan and Iraq into disasters: an enemy that multiplies with every bombing, an ever-receding horizon of victory, and a legacy of destruction that will last generations.
If Washington wants to break this cycle, it must change its policy: end unconditional military aid, apply real pressure for a ceasefire, and initiate a political process centered on Palestinian rights. Without such a shift, Haaretz headlines will keep counting: “Israel at War, Day 700… Day 800…” and the deadly queues for food aid will continue to tell the same truth—that this war continues not for security, but for politics. And as the Afghanistan experience showed, no war designed for domestic politics ever ends with honor. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250811-how-netanyahus-political-survival-depends-on-the-genocide-in-gaza/
If Washington wants to break this cycle, it must change its policy: end unconditional military aid, apply real pressure for a ceasefire, and initiate a political process centered on Palestinian rights. Without such a shift, Haaretz headlines will keep counting: “Israel at War, Day 700… Day 800…” and the deadly queues for food aid will continue to tell the same truth—that this war continues not for security, but for politics. And as the Afghanistan experience showed, no war designed for domestic politics ever ends with honor. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250811-how-netanyahus-political-survival-depends-on-the-genocide-in-gaza/
A medical source says Muhammad Zakaria Khudr's weight dropped from 26 kilograms (26 pounds) to 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) before his death. https://trt.global/world/article/c5f0ab604e6c
Rights group says families from Ain Ayoub near Ramallah fled due to arson attacks, livestock poisoning, and harassment by illegal Israeli settlers under army protection https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/illegal-israeli-settlers-attacks-army-raids-force-30-palestinian-families-out-of-west-bank-/3656944
The president told Axios that it's up to Israel what to do next https://news.antiwar.com/2025/08/11/backing-netanyahu-trump-suggests-israel-needs-to-ramp-up-military-pressure-on-hamas/
Is the ICC also banned for such statements? Grok AI Briefly Suspended On X After Gaza Genocide Posts https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/grok-ai-briefly-suspended-x-after-gaza-genocide-posts
There's a particular type of lie that reveals more about a system than any policy document or mission statement ever could: the lie about lies. This is when pointing out logical contradictions gets labeled as ‘dangerous misinformation’ — when the act of exposing mutually exclusive claims becomes treated as more threatening than making mutually exclusive claims in the first place. https://escapekey.substack.com/p/the-lie-about-lies
'If we find six of 68 government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history,' Greens co-leader Chloe Swarbrick tells parliament https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/new-zealand-opposition-co-leader-ejected-from-parliament-for-seeking-support-for-bill-to-sanction-israel/3657725
Celia Farber, American MD Returns From Gaza, Gives Detailed, Shocking Account Of Day To Day Life,With Photos, To Theo Von, Including A 30 Year Old Woman Whose 15 Week Fetus Was Shot Through The Neck In The Womb
Muslims Are Forbidden From Suicide; Some Who Lost Their Whole Family Often Go To GHF Sites In Hopes Of Being Killed. Advanced AI Weapons Being Tested On Palestinians, Palantir Central To Operations https://celiafarber.substack.com/p/american-md-returns-from-gaza-givesHey, that's Israel's "Samson Option": Pakistan's military chief 'warns "we'll take half the world down with us" in nuclear weapon threat' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14990011/Pakistans-military-chief-warns-half-world-nuclear-weapon-threat.html
The Philippine military has blamed China for the collision of two Chinese navy and coast guard ships while trying to drive the Philippine coast guard and fishermen from a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. https://www.euronews.com/2025/08/12/philippine-military-blames-china-for-ships-collision-in-disputed-south-china-sea
'Ma'am, it is long past time to be honest with the American people' https://www.wnd.com/2025/08/denied-my-urgent-requests-former-u-s-capitol/
"The Union agrees that crime is spiraling out of control, and immediate action is necessary to restore public safety." https://www.dailywire.com/news/immediate-action-is-necessary-d-c-police-union-backs-trumps-capital-takeover
White House says homeless people in DC will be forced into shelters or put in jail. Advocates say ‘that should terrify everyone’
Trump is criminalizing homelessness while doing ‘nothing’ to make housing more affordable https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-homeless-washington-dc-police-b2806411.html
Trump is criminalizing homelessness while doing ‘nothing’ to make housing more affordable https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-homeless-washington-dc-police-b2806411.html
Escape Key, Test Case for Global Control [Individual "rights" are "selfish" and "immoral" when they oppose what must be done for the good of the earth.]
Because if you're a Danish farmer, happiness is in short supply these days.
While the world focuses on alleged 'far-right' movements across Europe, something more sinister is brewing in the home of Lego, Carlsberg and Hans Christian Andersen. Under the cover of environmental protection, the government is planning to confiscate huge chunks of farmland and destroy the agricultural industry that feeds the nation.
This is not ‘conspiracy theory’. It's all documented in obscure official government reports — reports that somehow ‘forgot’ to ask the farmers what they think about being put out of business.
In 2022, world leaders signed the Convention on Biological Diversity Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, an agreement which commits countries to 'protect' 30% of all land and sea by 2030. But what 'protect' actually means is taking land away from the people who use it productively and placing it in ‘biodiversity reserves’ or similar programmes.
The Netherlands feels the pain already. Dutch farmers have been protesting for years because their government needs to seize 3.5% land territory to hit their 30% target. But Denmark has a much bigger problem — they need another 15% of the entire country. https://escapekey.substack.com/p/danish-land-grab
The Netherlands feels the pain already. Dutch farmers have been protesting for years because their government needs to seize 3.5% land territory to hit their 30% target. But Denmark has a much bigger problem — they need another 15% of the entire country. https://escapekey.substack.com/p/danish-land-grab
Sasha Latypova re-posts this still urgent article, with a petition to sign: PREP Act Brief: "License to Kill" must be repealed.
A collection of articles for ease of educating your friends, family, doctors and legislators. Please sign the petition to repeal the PREP Act linked in the post. https://sashalatypova.substack.com/p/prep-act-brief-license-to-kill-must A Thanksgiving 2025 heads-up from Jessica Rose, Ph.D. The new pending "plandemic" - is it scheduled for November?
What it might involve and when it might be 'declared' https://jessicar.substack.com/p/the-new-pending-plandemic-is-it-scheduledPhysicist and longevity researcher, Josh Mitteldorf, Insulin: Keeping your insulin levels down is the most accessible path to longevity https://mitteldorf.substack.com/p/insulin
Officials insist no mass cull is planned.
But farmers are concerned that it’s part of a growing push to reduce livestock levels, which could sacrifice traditional grazing and damage the fragile ecosystems it supports.
The UK’s net-zero policies go further than those of the European Commission, where cattle farms remain outside regulatory crosshairs until next year.
In February, the UK’s independent adviser on climate action, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), whose advice strongly guides government policy, recommended a 27 percent decrease in cattle and sheep numbers by 2040 in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the UK government, agriculture is the country’s largest source of domestic methane emissions, accounting for 49 percent of total emissions. Of this, around 85 percent of agricultural methane comes from cows and other ruminant animals through enteric fermentation and is released as mostly burps but also flatulence...
But farmers are concerned that it’s part of a growing push to reduce livestock levels, which could sacrifice traditional grazing and damage the fragile ecosystems it supports.
The UK’s net-zero policies go further than those of the European Commission, where cattle farms remain outside regulatory crosshairs until next year.
In February, the UK’s independent adviser on climate action, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), whose advice strongly guides government policy, recommended a 27 percent decrease in cattle and sheep numbers by 2040 in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the UK government, agriculture is the country’s largest source of domestic methane emissions, accounting for 49 percent of total emissions. Of this, around 85 percent of agricultural methane comes from cows and other ruminant animals through enteric fermentation and is released as mostly burps but also flatulence...
..Britain’s livestock farms, which are mostly grass-based, are integrated into the iconic patchwork countryside, with sheep and cattle grazing in open fields divided by hedgerows and stone walls as part of a complex natural ecosystem.
Alan Hughes, a fourth-generation tenant farmer who is part of the Farmers to Action agricultural rights campaign, told The Epoch Times that wider net-zero proposals on livestock ignore the ecological function of grazing. https://www.zerohedge.com/political/push-cut-livestock-climate-goals-due-burping-farting-worries-uk-farmers-ecologists
Alan Hughes, a fourth-generation tenant farmer who is part of the Farmers to Action agricultural rights campaign, told The Epoch Times that wider net-zero proposals on livestock ignore the ecological function of grazing. https://www.zerohedge.com/political/push-cut-livestock-climate-goals-due-burping-farting-worries-uk-farmers-ecologists
Climate Physicist, Anastassia Makarieva explains that neither the questions nor the "answers" are straightforward. Is Extra CO2 Good/Food for Plants?
Reflections on the latest DOE climate report: If we shrugged off anthropocentrism, we would see that CO₂-enhanced growth is not proof of a thriving biosphere, but a sign of its fever. As a result, a biotic sink for anthropogenic carbon formed, so atmospheric CO₂ now accumulates not at 10 GtC per year as we burn fossils, but at a significantly lower rate. I’ve covered these processes in detail in two earlier posts, which I invite you to read:
New Global Carbon Data Revives the "Missing Sink" Problem
Nature is trying to fix our mess—it’s time to recognize its power
Here, it’s enough to note that many people — including the DOE report authors — take this as evidence that “CO₂ fertilization” has made the biosphere bigger. Dr. Craig Idso, for instance, illustrates his point with photos showing plants grown under elevated CO₂ concentrations becoming larger (see below).
But a recent study by Bar-On et al. (2024) in Science — unmentioned in the DOE climate report — shows that global plant biomass has not increased over the past thirty years. This means something else is happening on a planetary scale: plants don’t grow bigger but are producing extra material that the rest of the biosphere does not consume, so it accumulates somewhere — likely in soils or in dissolved form in the ocean. https://bioticregulation.substack.com/p/is-extra-co2-goodfood-for-plants
Carbon Processor (pictured with black eyed pea row)
