Below The Fold ...

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Officials issue warning amid concerning spread of toxic 'hammerhead worm': 'Don't squish or cut them'​

Simon Sage / Thu, September 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM EDT

The hammerhead worm is originally from Asia, but has been seen in America since the early 1900s.

What's being done about hammerhead worms?

"Don't squish or cut them. That's how they multiply!" warned the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Instead, they should be captured in a bag and frozen for 48 hours before being disposed of. They can also be drowned in soapy water. Witnesses are encouraged to report sightings to iNaturalist.

Officials issue warning amid concerning spread of toxic 'hammerhead worm': 'Don't squish or cut them'

"That's how they multiply!"

news.yahoo.com

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In traditional newsprint / newspaper journalism, headlines of lesser priority may have made the front page, BUT "below the fold".

 

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Opinion

The window for US-China nuclear weapons negotiations is shrinking​

Brian Simboli, opinion contributor / Sat, September 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM EDT

At an August meeting with South Korea’s president, Trump again expressed his vision for drawing down U.S., China and Russia nuclear stockpiles. A few days later, the Chinese foreign ministry balked at this goal.
Trump reportedly has been talking to China about the TikTok deal; perhaps this openness to talks can eventually lead to serious denuclearization talks.
As with Russia, there are many reasons to commence negotiation with China. Given China’s growing nuclear stockpile, the window of opportunity is quickly closing.
The history of nuclear deterrence suggests that entrenchment effects — strategic, economic, political — make significant arms drawdowns extremely difficult. It is, therefore, foresighted and proactive to negotiate now.

China’s foreign ministry claims that Trump’s goal is “neither reasonable nor realistic.” One reason is that “China’s nuclear capabilities are not on the same scale as those of the U.S.”
While China’s nuclear posture is not currently on the same scale, in 2024, the Defense Department said China “will have over 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030, much of which will be deployed at higher readiness levels.”
Assuming this assessment is correct, China’s trajectory belies its claim about not being involved in an arms race. This gives reason to negotiate with China before the odds of success in doing so diminish further.

Opinion - The window for US-China nuclear weapons negotiations is shrinking

At an August meeting with South Korea’s president, Trump again expressed his vision for drawing down U.S., China and Russia nuclear stockpiles. A few days later, the Chinese foreign ministry balked at this goal. Trump reportedly has been talking to China about the TikTok deal; perhaps this...

news.yahoo.com

 

[Shiftless2]

 

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How the U.S. Military Is Amassing Combat Power Near Venezuela
The Pentagon is moving some of its most advanced units and weapons closer to Venezuela as tensions run high between President Trump and Nicolás Maduro.


Not directly related to Venezuela, but potentially of more long term geo-political consequence:

Risks of Military Confrontation in Arctic Increasing, Say U.S. and Russian Officials
John Grady / December 25, 2024 3:41 PM
The Arctic is “where the confrontation of the world’s leading states is unfolding,” the head of the Russian Navy said at a recent forum in St. Petersburg where regional cooperation had traditionally dominated the agenda.

“In addition to political and economic measures to contain Russia in the Arctic, unfriendly states are increasing their military presence in the region,” said Adm. Aleksandr Moiseev, who took command of the Russian Navy in March.
He specifically mentioned the United States’ re-establishing the Second Fleet in 2018 and the 2021 creation of NATO’s Joint Force Command in Norfolk.
Moissev said one reason for the rise in tensions has been Moscow’s suspension from the eight-member Arctic Council, following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the placing of economic sanctions on Russian financial institutions, businesses and individuals.
The other seven nations in the forum are NATO members.

Risks of Military Confrontation in Arctic Increasing, Say U.S. and Russian Officials - USNI News

The Arctic is “where the confrontation of the world’s leading states is unfolding,” the head of the Russian Navy said at a recent forum in St. Petersburg where regional cooperation had traditionally dominated the agenda. “In addition to political and economic measures to contain Russia in the...

news.usni.org

Russia also seems to be preparing for legal / mining claims to international sea bed. This may be tending to appear less implausible as China attempts to fabricate and occupy "islands" in waters disputed by neighbors.

 

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Need ammo in a hurry? No problem.

A Los Angeles-based aerospace startup called Inversion Space has unveiled Arc, its first flagship spacecraft designed to deliver supplies from orbit back to Earth in record time. The reusable reentry vehicle can transport up to 500 pounds of mission-critical cargo to nearly any point on the planet in less than an hour.

Space startup unveils 1-hour orbital delivery system

Inversion Space unveils Arc, a reusable reentry vehicle that can deliver up to 500 pounds of cargo from orbit to anywhere on Earth in under an hour.

www.foxnews.com