Alessandro Ponzetto

"I give you the Light of Earendil, our most beloved star. May it be a light for you in dark places when all other lights go out."

From Kyiv in three days to anti-drone cages on Red Square.

A Russian telegram channel shows a previously damaged Ukrainian drone through the eyes of an interceptor drone and complains that they've continued to fly despite being struck several times. Where have I seen this image before?

Of a war that shouldn't have started, and whose political career is done the moment the turn ends (even without taking into account the corruption shenanigans)

Literally this

NASA HAS RELEASED OVER 12,000 IMAGES OF THE ARTEMIS II MISSION. Unbelievable perspectives captured by the Crew! The aurora on the eclipse is incredible.

RFK Jr: “Il #vaccino per la #polio ha ucciso molte più persone di quante ne abbia salvate”. Disse colui che sniffava la cocaina dall’asse del water. Vergognoso e ignorante

The mathematician's lazy path: principle of least action in action. Oxford's Philip Maini drops the truth bomb: "To be a really good mathematician you have to be lazy."

On S&P 500 Rule Changes: “The S&P 500 is removing long-standing profitability requirements — the “enshittification” of the index. This change potentially turns the index into a “dumping ground” for Private Equity to offload unprofitable, highly leveraged companies onto retail index investors.” Interlude “The S&P500 has indeed “sold out.” By proposing to kill the long-standing “profitability” requirement for the S&P500 (already weakened by the use of operating vs GAAP earnings), the S&P500 has offered itself up as the dumping ground for private equity.” As posted by @profplum99 from his pithy & witty subStack 🎩

@mercoglianos @JusDayDa But they are pirates, so all is fine

@JusDayDa We shot at a ship with a 5 inch gun. Yes, they were inert rounds...but they we hit them with, basically, cannonballs.

Acting AG of the United States “It’s just a non-hostile, naval blockade…” @mercoglianos is there such thing as a non-hostile blockade ?

After 39 Days of War, Iran Thinks It’s Winning Reading Iran’s latest proposal, one conclusion is hard to avoid: after 39 days of war, Tehran believes it has the upper hand. This is not a document from a regime under pressure or seeking an exit. It is a proposal from a government that sees the war as an opportunity to reshape the strategic landscape in its favor. Iran is not just asking for an end to hostilities, it is demanding guarantees against future attacks, along with compensation and a structured mechanism to secure it, rooted in its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz. That strait, it is worth recalling, was open before the war began. Even more troubling is what the proposal does not prioritize. The nuclear issue, ostensibly a central justification for the conflict, is largely deferred. A comparison between Iran’s current terms and its prewar proposal reveals minimal substantive differences, aside from a willingness to extend the duration of a nuclear freeze. Meanwhile, the most effective tool of pressure on Tehran, the maritime blockade, is expected to be lifted before serious nuclear negotiations even begin. This puts Washington in a bind. If the administration accepts the proposal, it will face an immediate and uncomfortable question: what was the war for? The likely outcome would be a stronger Iranian regime, newly enriched by sanctions relief, and a nuclear framework that closely resembles earlier proposals, essentially a return to the familiar formula of the #JCPOA -constraints in exchange for economic benefits. But rejecting the proposal offers no easy alternative. It raises a different question: can additional military pressure realistically force Iran into a more favorable position? At this stage, the answer appears extremely doubtful. One more point worth noting: has anyone heard recently about meaningful restrictions on Iran’s missile program or its network of proxies? There’s a simple reason for that is there aren’t any. And there likely won’t be, at least not if the United States is seeking a diplomatic resolution. In practice, this means that even under a potential agreement, some of Iran’s most consequential sources of power like its missile capabilities and regional proxy network, would remain largely untouched. That reality only reinforces the broader concern: the possible emerging framework does little to fundamentally alter Iran’s strategic posture. The result is a strategic dilemma with no clear off-ramp. Either the United States moves toward an arrangement that largely reflects Iran’s terms, or it continues escalating in ways that are unlikely to change Tehran’s calculus but are almost certain to deepen global economic instability. Iran’s proposal sends a clear message: it does not intend to concede. The harder question is what Washington intends to do about it. #IranWar‌

Rome’s most famous keyhole. It offers a perfectly framed view of St. Peter’s Basilica, seen through the gardens of the Priory of the Knights of Malta.

Or Jet Blue would have filed for Chapter 11 or worse after getting slammed in the same way while trying to absorb Spirit (they too aren't exactly in calm waters)

UKMTO WARNING 050-26 Click here to read the full warning⤵️ ukmto.org/-/media/ukmto/… #MaritimeSecurity #MarSec

Or that a barrel today is much more valuable than a barrel in the future, and who knows why that is *sarcasm*

"These party-state actors, especially MOFA and MSS, further extend their reach to university campuses by establishing research centers focused on American studies and foreign relations. China’s party-state power structure does not always align with global norms in conducting diplomacy, which has led the Chinese regime to establish these groups that present as academic and NGOs to facilitate international engagement, especially in people-to-people diplomacy, public diplomacy, and Track 2 and Track 1.5 dialogues , where think tanks play a critical role. These policy centers, located on university campuses, have become increasingly important for China’s America watch, as they offer many advantages: they are often viewed in the West as being more academic than other Chinese policy research institutions and are better able to develop connections, cooperation, and exchange with a wide range of U.S. counterparts. They are also perceived as lacking state affiliation, although this is in fact not the case."

Of course, there is no additional oil, beyond the SPR release—just the rest of the world still willing to pay more than Americans for American barrels, at least for now. So long as that’s true, more steep stock draws cometh.

NASA admin Jared Isaacman confirmed to Congress that Dragonfly will launch to Saturn's moon Titan in 2028 The nuclear-powered octocopter will hunt for signs of life in -290°F temperatures

Tehran appears increasingly confident that it holds the upper hand in the negotiations, based on what it views as its achievements during the war. More concerning from Washington’s perspective is the apparent ineffectiveness of the maritime blockade in shifting Iran’s position. As a result, the U.S. administration may soon face a strategic decision: either escalate in an effort to break the current deadlock, or show flexibility and engage with Iran’s demands, namely, ending the war and opening discussions on the future of the straits before addressing the nuclear issue. Given the relatively low likelihood of the second option, and in light of the ongoing concentration of U.S. forces in the Gulf, the situation could evolve toward a military move. However, even such a step is unlikely to significantly alter the strategic balance, while its economic consequences would almost certainly intensify. #iran

PM Takaichi delivered a foreign policy speech on Saturday in Vietnam on the updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific. mofa.go.jp/s_sa/sea1/vn/p…