Transnational Thursday is a thread for people to discuss international news, foreign policy or international relations history. Feel free as well to drop in with coverage of countries you’re interested in, talk about ongoing dynamics like the wars in Israel or Ukraine, or even just whatever you’re reading.
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Notes -
News on my mind this week:
Trump/China trade war intensifying. S&P 500 breaks. I was regretting not buying the dip. Trump/China trade war intensifying
Trump threatens Iran if talks don't go well
Iran and the US having talks on the nuclear file through Omani mediation
Satellite imagery shows US aircraft carrier in proximity to Iran
90% of Rafah's residential neighborhoods destroyed by Israel, Gaza authorities say
Trump to not prosecute crypto fraud
Treasury imposes sanctions on enablers of Iran's nuclear program
New Sanctions Targeting Iran's Nuclear Program (another gov source)
Custom AI malware?
Israel would be 'leader' of strike if Iran doesn't give up nuclear weapons program, Trump warns
Israel's Ambassador Expelled from African Union Conference Amid Tensions Over Gaza Conflict
Israel's Smotrich says 'not even a grain of wheat' will enter Gaza
B-2 Stealth Bombers Deployed To Diego Garcia Have Been Striking Targets In Yemen
Houthis attack US and Israeli forces, mostly ineffectively
INDOPACOM boss warns PLA is conducting 'dress rehearsals' for Taiwan invasion
Taiwan fears that PLA drills may escalate into real attack 'with no time to respond'
US to revoke all South Sudan visas over failure to accept repatriation of citizens: Rubio
Zelensky says at least 155 Chinese citizens are fighting for Russia in Ukraine
Bangladeshi court sends 70 pro-Awami League lawyers to jail, on seemingly trumped up charges
Ethiopia on the brink of war?
Is War Between Ethiopia, Eritrea Brewing In Tigray?
US producing new nuclear weapons faster
Squirrels might be natural reservoirs for mpox
RFK Jr. endorses measles, mumps and rubella vaccine
Petraeus: A US strike on Iran wouldn’t stop at nuclear sites
US Space Command wants orbital weapons for 'space superiority'
Republika Srpska, the Serbian part of Bosnia , might try to secede again and join Serbia.
Islamic terrorists kill over 300 villagers in Burkina Faso
Cleaned up version of this comment into a brief here: https://blog.sentinel-team.org/p/global-risks-weekly-roundup-152025
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Anti-vaxxer gets mugged by reality? Better late than never.
I'm also curious about to what extent he changed his mind vs got pressured to make noises he doesn't agree with.
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Or you've been misled about his true stance on the issue?
Was RFK not on the side of the "vaccines cause autism"/homeopathy memeplex? I thought he was on that wagon even before COVID.
Yes, which is why it's interesting that he has backpedaled on this.
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Certainly that's what the people that hate him say -- I don't know myself though; it's entirely possible that his position is more nuanced than "all vaccines are bad".
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