Air pollution linked to higher suicide risk, international research suggests Guardian
#COVID-19/Pandemics
As the Ebola crisis hits the Democratic Republic of Congo hard, foreign aid is also now critically low.
Sky’s Stuart Ramsay saw firsthand how infected patients get fed in the Ebola red zone
🔗https://t.co/LzGb7d7OIv pic.twitter.com/GJNr395Oo5
— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 19, 2026
A new BMJ investigation finds that US health officials knowingly relied on a compromised algorithm to detect signals of harm from mRNA covid-19 vaccines.
Investigative journalist David Willman explains how FDA officials were aware this system was “blind”https://t.co/qu2JHKtPqc pic.twitter.com/iI1LYctqNC
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) September 18, 2026
Four years ago today, President Biden said, “The pandemic is over. We still have a problem with COVID.”
At the time, we were in the 5th COVlD wave. We’re now in the 13th.
pic.twitter.com/DzRnYtM2WX— Mike Hoerger, PhD MSCR MBA (@michael_hoerger) September 19, 2026
Bird flu has claimed its first Australian sea lion and dolphin. How does the virus get into these animals? The Conversation
Climate/Environment
Microplastics in soil pose global threat by acting like ‘Trojan horse’ to deliver toxins Guardian
Caffeine pollution could disrupt crustacean defenses against predators PhysOrg
The Atmosphere Just Set a Water Vapor Record The Climate Brink
Earth’s atmosphere is getting less dusty. That could be adding to global warming UCLA
Pezeshkian pushes for drafting Iran-China action plan to combat desertification Tehran Times
Monsoon failure leaves crops to wither in Tamil Nadu’s Salem New Indian Express
Water
As freshwater reserves shrink, countries must prepare for a new water reality UN
The Indian and Pacific Oceans Are Falling Out of Sync SciTech Daily
Nepal-Tibet floods may push up insurance costs for Himalayan roads, hydropower projects Money Control
The Colorado River crisis will be a defining moment in US history. The river supplies 40 million people; Mead and Powell, two of the nation’s largest reservoirs, are at record lows.
Filling them near full would take ~8 consecutive very wet winters, a statistical impossibility. https://t.co/IfgsHex83n
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) September 17, 2026
China?
Chinese oil prices hit record highs after attacks on Saudi pipeline Financial Times
China publicly names officials in ‘unprecedented’ hidden-debt crackdown. Can it work? South China Morning Post
China’s US Treasury holdings fall to lowest level since 2008 Financial Times
Japan
Bank of Japan raises rates to 31-year high of 1.25% as inflation rises Aljazeera
The Carry Trade Explained: Why the Yen Is Losing Its Appeal Bloomberg
South of the Border
Trump Allies Secure Venezuela Resource Concessions as ExxonMobil Eyes Return Venezuelanalysis (Robin K)
European Disuion
On the Cusp of Energy Shortage and War Olivier Boyd-Barrett
Von Der Leyen’s Defense Plans Place Europe On The Path To War With Russia Andrew Korybko
* * * European carmakers warn EU-UK tariffs could be ‘catastrophic’ Financial Times
Europe’s Biggest Independent Solar Operator Just Went Bankrupt OilPrice
As Europe heads into winter, electricity markets are flashing their strongest warning since the energy crisis.
Wholesale power for January in Germany, the region’s biggest economy, is trading above €180 a megawatt-hour on the European Energy Exchange, up more than 60% from a…
— Giovanni Staunovo🛢 (@staunovo) September 19, 2026
Macron to hold emergency meeting on worsening international situation Caliber
Blockades spread across southern France as fuel shortages continue Connexion France
Merz could lose his job after this weekend Ukr Media
* * * Trump announces Greenland deal with Denmark giving US ‘permanent control over security’ New York Post (Micael T)
The agreement is cut: “A spectacular defeat” Aftonbladet via machine translation (Micael T). On Greenland.
* * * Heatwave triggers potato shortage in Europe Financial Times
EU to launch climate insurance scheme after summer of extreme weather Reuters
Old Blighty
Extreme weather exposes growing gaps in farm insurance Farmers’ Weekly
RAC warn of even more potholes after the record hot UK summer NetWeather
Iran War. Note we are including the Saudi-Ansar Allah conflict because even though these are independent operations, they have the effect of dovetailing to pressure the Gulf States, US, and Europe.
Houthis target Riyadh for first time since escalation against Saudi Arabia Jerusalem Post (resilc)
ESCALATION: Just tonight, Ansarallah (Houthis) have responded to the Saudi targeting of the Yemeni capital of Sanaa with their own targeting: Riyadh.
MBS will now be likely forced to respond. He can’t stand by as the Saudi capital gets hit by Ansarallah. His grip on power is already fragile, to not respond now would be devastating.
But now Saudi is trapped in escalation just like the United States. Increasingly severe steps up the escalation ladder, or historically embarrassing defeat.
If Saudi responds, Ansarallah will hit back even harder…
Saudi oil infrastructure is going to get crushed.
— Brett Erickson (@BrettErickson28) September 19, 2026
Ansarullah targeting is always strategic, supporting predefined objectives.
Last night’s strikes on royal palaces near Riyadh and Al-Ula, and coastal military radars, are consistent, whether we know their objectives or not. https://t.co/HBEzjnHep0
— Kathleen Tyson (@Kathleen_Tyson_) September 19, 2026
* * * More U.S. troops have died amid Iran war than Pentagon has disclosed publicly Washington Post
IRAN LAUNCHES A MASS MOBILIZATION AS TRUMP VOWS TO “WIN” THE WAR – w/ Trita Parsi Mario Nawfal, YouTube
Also from Trita’s Substack: Recording of Sep 18 Private Q&A – Why A Third Round of War May Force Chinese Intervention
🇺🇸🇮🇷 Iranian oil exports through the world’s most contested chokepoint have dropped to zero.
Ex-U.S. Navy Intel officer Malcolm Nance breaks down why the numbers being reported are misleading, and why Iran is letting it happen on purpose.
“The Iranians are playing long ball on… https://t.co/hj0AfvrF5c pic.twitter.com/sVcMFZC9aI
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 19, 2026
New Not-So-Cold War
Russia’s global fuel customers push back against US sanctions bill Politico
Given the Chance, Ukrainians Would Give Zelensky the Boot American Conservative (resilc)
Poland shuts airports and scrambles fighter jets over Russian drone threat Telegraph
Big Brother is Watching You Watch
Flock Offers Employees Buyouts as Customers Flee Wired (resilc). BWAHAHA
Imperial Collape Watch
UN mission finds evidence signaling U.S. war crimes in Iran; Washington rejects report CNBC
Pentagon weighs pulling at least 25,000 US troops from Europe: Report Anadolu Agenc
Exclusive: US military had close call after using AI for false intelligence report, sources say CNN
The BRICS bank — an alternative that wasn’t CADTM (Micael T). As we have been saying…
Our No Longer Free Press
Trump says he’s ‘banning’ CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House CNN
FCC lets Paramount sell 49.5% equity stake to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar ars technica (resilc)
Trump didn’t get Greenland, but he was allowed to take a victory lap on social media Politiken via machine translation. Micael T:
DK has let US have military presence on Greenland since 1950. DK media employees now try to make it as if permanent military presence and build-up won’t lead to ownership. Iraq and Venezuela may have another take on the matter. Since the 50s somerhing has also changed. Nowadays USA openly rob other countries of respurces. The Danish Epstein class has sold out DK.
Assange Returns To Public Commentary, And Other Notes Caitlin Johnstone (Micael T)
Economy
Global Economy Is Running Out of Wiggle Room New York Times
Two things broke overnight. Saudi Aramco told European refiners they get zero crude next month – the first outright term-contract cancellation of the war – and Ansar Allah put ballistic missiles over Riyadh for the first time, shutting the capital’s airport and setting off sirens at Al Kharj, where US forces sit. Everything else compounds: the US 10-year closed the week at 5%, diesel set another record at $6.45, and the BoJ hiked to a 31-year high while the yen fell anyway.
Ukraine Hits Refinery as Moscow Prepares to Extend Diesel Export Ban OilPrice
Russia Halts Sulphuric Acid Exports Through Year End Deep Dive
Grain exports grind to a halt as attacks empty Ukraine’s Black Sea ports Lloyd’s List
The Coming Fertilizer Wars Multipolar Press (Micael T)
Mr. Market is Chewing His Knucles
Rising oil, rates and yields brew up stagflation cocktail for markets Malaysia News
Antitrust
Breaking Up Big Medicine vs. Single-Payer: An Analysis of Competing Health Care Reform Proposals Institute for New Economic Thinking
AI
How DraftKings Uses A.I. to Target the Gamblers Likeliest to Lose New York Times (resilc)
AI Is an Elite Crime Spree Matt Stoller
The Bezzle
We Bought a $500 Counterfeit Luxury Watch. Nobody Could Spot the Difference Wired (resilc)
Class Warfare
How the Threat of an ‘Educated Proletariat’ Created the Student Debt Crisis Best Colleges (Paul R)
Antidote du jour (via):
A bonus:
Who can figure out their game rules? 😅 pic.twitter.com/vSesy1msPJ
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) September 18, 2026
A second bonus:
New cat alert! A call from a wildlife sanctuary about a “weird cat” has led to the first new cat species discovered in over 100 years in Bolivia’s Yungas forest ecoregion. Learn more about this feline surprise: https://t.co/crffXvPqH4 pic.twitter.com/USo7rI3Y5q
— National Geographic (@NatGeo) September 17, 2026
And a different sort of bonus (mike r):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
