Lambert and I, and many readers, agree that Ukraine has prompted the worst informational environment ever. We hope readers will collaborate in mitigating the fog of war — both real fog and stage fog — in comments. None of us need more cheerleading and link-free repetition of memes; there are platforms for that. Low-value, link-free pom pom-wavers will be summarily whacked.
And for those who are new here, this is not a mere polite request. We have written site Policies and those who comment have accepted those terms. To prevent having to resort to the nuclear option of shutting comments down entirely until more sanity prevails, as we did during the 2015 Greek bailout negotiations and shortly after the 2020 election, we are going to be ruthless about moderating and blacklisting offenders.
–Yves
P.S. Also, before further stressing our already stressed moderators, read our site policies:
Please do not write us to ask why a comment has not appeared. We do not have the bandwidth to investigate and reply. Using the comments section to complain about moderation decisions/tripwires earns that commenter troll points. Please don’t do it. Those comments will also be removed if we encounter them.
The Utterly Engrossing Search for the Origin of Eels Smithsonian Magazine
NASA’s DART Spacecraft Slams Into Asteroid in Effort to Alter Its Orbit WSJ (J-LS)
Chess world champion Magnus Carlsen explicitly accuses rival Hans Niemann of cheating CNN
Putin grants Russian citizenship to former US security contractor Edward Snowden Firstpost (J-LS)
The Many Lives — and Credit Suisse Accounts — of Gaddafi-Linked Lobbyist Hassan Tatanaki OCCRP
Chasing Steel LRB (J-LS)
The Uber Hack Exposes More Than Failed Data Security NYT (DL)
Leading economies sliding into recession as Ukraine war cuts growth, OECD finds The Guardian (KW)
Climate
Al Gore Calls Out ‘Greenwashing’ Risks as Funds Quit Green Club Bloomberg (DL)
#COVID19
“…several studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 can attack the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, which could lead to development of type 1 diabetes. It’s also possible that inflammation caused by the virus may lead to exacerbation of already existing autoimmunity.”” https://t.co/Oqrz3YPLxi
— Dr David Berger, aBsuRdiSTe cROnickLeR (@YouAreLobbyLud) September 24, 2022
China?
The End of Senior Politics in China The Diplomat
China growth to fall behind rest of Asia for first time since 1990 FT
Former Chicago college student convicted of spying for Chinese intelligence service Chicago Tribune
Blinken urges Pakistan to seek China debt relief after floods Dawn
Myanmar
Japan to Abandon Controversial Training Program for Myanmar Cadets The Diplomat
Why Bangladesh shouldn’t fall into trap of war with Myanmar Independent Australia
Japan holds a divisive state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe NPR
The Koreas
North Korea launches ballistic missile before US Vice-President Kamala Harris visits South Korea ABC (Australia)
Seoul says North Korea, China reopen freight train traffic Hellenic Shipping News
TV network started by Marcos-allied tycoon raises concerns about politicisation of media Straits Times
India
US Funds Website on Arunachal Tribes in Overt Sign to Counter Chinese Claims on Region The Wire
‘You’re not fooling anybody…’ Jaishankar responds to US F-16 package for Pakistan Times of India
NavIC: India’s Push for Homegrown Navigation System Jolts Smartphone Giants/a> The Wire (J-LS)
No more 3rd party agents, RBI tells Mahindra Financial after pregnant woman dies under tractor by recovery agents MintGenie
Rupee Plunges 58 Paise to Close at All-time Low of 81.67 Against US Dollar The Wire (J-LS)
India Unwilling to Relent on Tax Stance for Debt Index Inclusion Bloomberg
Syraqistan
IMF condemns Lebanon ‘very slow progress’ on reforms Al Arabiya
US to relax restrictions for tech companies in Iran The Register
Iranian army attacks Kurdish militants in Iraq amid protests DW
Al-Aqsa: Israeli settlers storm the compound on Jewish New Year Middle East Eye
It cannot get anymore dystopian that this.
The Israeli army is now using an AI-powered automatic weapon, called Smart Shooter, at a military checkpoint in the old city of Hebron.
(video via @abierkhatib) pic.twitter.com/oEVrGcag4b
— Marwa Fatafta مروة فطافطة (@marwasf) September 24, 2022
Kahanists consistently poll at double digits so within weeks Israel’s parliament will include #7 on its Knesset slate, Almog Cohen, who’s openly called to carry out pogroms against the country’s non-Jews, or in his own words: “Kristallnacht, Negev version” https://t.co/3CTArrBPdA
— David Sheen (@davidsheen) September 23, 2022
Türkiye denounces foreign military buildups in Greece Anadolu Agency
European Disunion
Fascism returns to Europe’s centerstage Indian Punchline (KW)
EU, US question Serbia’s EU commitment after Russia deal Al Jazeera
As SA teeters on the brink of full-blown energy disaster, it’s vital the right decisions are made – now Daily Maverick
Old Blighty
Pound plummets as UK Tory government and Labour fight over how to protect profits WSWS
Crispin Odey and other hedge fund managers profit from sterling tumble FT
Plan to pay Liz Truss’s chief of staff through firm is dropped after criticism The Guardian
‘No place to hide’: CAR rebel leader claims innocence in brutal war crimes DW
New Not-So-Cold War
What If Russia Uses Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine? The Atlantic (KS)
NATO, EU chiefs hold talk on war in Ukraine Anadolu Agency
UK sanctions Russians linked to ‘sham’ referendums in Ukraine Reuters
Venezuela Joins Mexico’s Initiative for Ceasefire in Ukraine teleSUR
The U.S. Is Winning Its War On Europe’s Industries And People Moon of Alabama
EU Countries Plan to Delay Russian Oil Price Cap Amid Divisions Bloomberg
Thousands of people in Gera in Germany against Olaf Scholz’s policy and the explosion of energy and gas prices. They demand an end to sanctions on Russia and the reopening of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Demonstrations also in other German cities but EU media censors them. pic.twitter.com/dmTMLY11jn
— RadioGenova (@RadioGenova) September 26, 2022
Colombia Reopens Border With Venezuela in Bid to Mend Ties With U.S. Adversary WSJ
Artsakh Foreign Minister Discusses Karabakh Conflict with Rep. Schiff Asbarez
Biden Administration
White House Student Loan Forgiveness Could Cost About $400 Billion NYT (KW)
The Best Journalists Are Persecuted And Despised: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix Caitlin Johnstone
Girls Who Code book series banned in some US classrooms The Register (CL)
The Bezzle
NY bank ordered to share client user data in IRS crypto tax probe Protos
Imperial Collapse Watch
Navy bribery fugitive ‘Fat Leonard’ seeks asylum in Venezuela Stars and Stripes
Class Warfare
Billionaire Monopolist Jeff Bezos Is Buying Up Single-Family Homes to Rent-Trap Humanity Forever Surviving Tomorrow (DL)
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
