Trade War Reignites

After Beijing tightened rare-earth export controls, President Trump announced a new 100% tariff on all Chinese imports and potential U.S. tech export bans.

Stocks: S&P 500 −2.7%, Nasdaq −3.6%, Dow −1.9% — worst day since April; Tech and semiconductors hit hardest.

Oil: Brent $62.7 (−3.8%), WTI $58.9 (−4.2%).

Bitcoin: Fell 8–10% to ≈$105 K.

Markets erased up to $1.65 trillion in value within minutes of Trump’s post.

China has not yet issued an official response.

A simple diagram of what's going on between the main political parties in Japan, following the collapse of the LDP-Komeito coalition. DPFP, CDP, Ishin, and Komeito emerge as key players in the upcoming PM designation vote expected on October 20 or 21.

🔗 Rintaro Nishimura | 西村凜太郎 (@RinNishimura)

White House says President Donald Trump underwent a semiannual physical at Walter Reed and was found to be "in exceptional health."

His physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, reported strong heart, lung, and neurological performance, noting that Trump’s “cardiac age” is roughly 14 years younger than his actual age of 79.

Minor findings included mild leg swelling from venous insufficiency and hand bruising attributed to frequent handshakes and daily aspirin use.

The Gaza Municipality has begun clearing the main streets of rubble

Trump and Zelensky spoke about possibly giving Ukraine Tomahawk long-range missiles

No final decision has been made. Zelensky called the 30-minute call “positive and productive,” thanking Trump for support on air defense.

https://www.axios.com/2025/10/11/zelensky-trump-tomahawk-missiles-ukraine

Tony Blair met Jeffrey Epstein in Downing Street in May 2002 while still Prime Minister, after Lord Peter Mandelson lobbied for the meeting.

Mandelson described Epstein as “safe” and said Bill Clinton wanted to introduce him to Blair.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yk16gpxj0o

MIT has become the first school to reject the Trump administration’s proposal that offered a select few universities preferential access to federal funds in exchange for agreeing to a set of demands

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/education/mit-rejects-trump-agenda-funding-benefits-rcna236894

Remember, kids, there are only three AI futures: Universal love, everyone dies or +0.3% RGDP growth for 10 years.

BREAKING: A traffic accident about 50 km from Sharm el-Sheikh killed three members of Qatar’s delegation heading to Gaza peace talks and injured two others.

The victims were reportedly Qatari diplomats.

Egyptian authorities are investigating the accident.

https://x.com/AlHadath/status/1977132474745413754

The US, under Trump, has been quietly helping Ukraine carry out long-range drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure by providing detailed intelligence and target data.

The goal: to weaken Russia’s economy and pressure Putin into negotiations.

Since midsummer, coordination has intensified, enabling Ukraine to hit major oil refineries and cut Russia’s fuel output by up to 20%.

https://www.ft.com/content/f9f42c10-3a30-4ee1-aff7-3368dd831c8c

Kremlin:

The issue of Tomahawks is a matter of extreme concern for us; Putin has already spoken about this.

This is a special weapon; it can have a non-nuclear or a nuclear configuration.

Recall the reports from our special services a year and a half, two years ago, based on information that the Ukrainians could create a so-called 'dirty bomb.'

So imagine a long-range missile takes off and is flying, and we know it could have a nuclear payload.

However, it cannot change the state of affairs on the front lines.

Daily Mail UK released photos of Katy Perry and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau kissing on her yacht in California

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15183675/Eye-popping-pictures-Katy-Perry-Justin-Trudeau-kisses-roaming-hands.html

Hamas is ready to hand over the Israeli hostages today

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/hamas-says-its-ready-to-hand-over-20-living-israeli-hostages-8bf40741

LA FRANCE DE MACRON C’EST TROOOPPPP

Zelensky spoke again with Trump today, the second talk in two days. Strengthening of Ukraine’s air defense, long-range capabilities, and energy issues were discussed.

JD Vance to Maria Bartiromo:

We're going to find out a lot in the weeks to come about whether China wants to start a trade war with us or be reasonable.

Trump has far more cards than the PRC.