good books so far this year Chia Talk
Anna has grown 600 meadow plants this year – here are her tips Naturisdan via machine translation (Micael T)
1.4-million-year-old footprints reveal a surprisingly large human relative Science Daily (Kevin W)
Why CDs May Be Making a Comeback, According to a Vinyl Industry Expert – Interview LoudWire (Micael T)
Climate/Environment
Earth’s oceans just hit their hottest temperature ever—it’s only going to get worse Scientific American
Study suggests that climate change is intensifying El Ninos Independent
Permafrost in rapid decline across the globe Environment Journal
Siberia’s methane emissions have surged, and wildfires are only half the story Earth
‘Everything is covered in ash’: Indonesia wildfires leave people in crisis Aljazeera
Extreme weather has cost California farmers over $800 million this year Fortune
Water
Tanker pays record $5.3m to transit Panama Canal amid El Niño drought Euronews
Nepal
Nepal-China flood disaster death toll tops 1,000 CNN
Nepal floods expose risks to hydropower in a warming Himalayas Associated Press
China?
Will US threats over Iran be the last straw for Beijing? South China Morning Post
* * * China’s three biggest airlines post heavy first-half losses as fuel shock bites Reuters
China’s economy has come under mounting strain, as soft domestic demand and a prolonged property slump continue to weigh on activity CNBC
Repeated Typhoons Deepen Congestion at Shanghai and Ningbo Ports Beckchoice
Pacific Summit opens amid Taiwan row France24
Japan
Japan 10-year bond yield hits 3%, highest in 30 years Nikkei
Koreas
Shin warns Korea’s financial risks nearing crisis threshold AJP
Southeast Asia
Pattaya made its name as the sex capital of Asia by welcoming sailors in the Vietnam War. Thailand which is now trying to move up market has mixed feelings about that now (it has been trying to rebrand Pattaya as “family friendly”). Having said that, Walking Street is the main venue for finding ladies and men of negotiable affection, but Soi 6 and 7 are also hot nightlife areas.
A long-standing resident said: “Who made this decision? Somehow I can’t see the Thais doing this as it’ll just end up forcing the bar girls onto Beach Road.”
Pattaya bars US Navy personnel from Soi 6
Pattaya authorities have designated Soi 6, Soi 6/1 and Soi 7 as off-limits to US Navy personnel during the USS Abraham Lincoln’s port visit to Chon Buri from 2–6 September.
More than 5,000 US Navy personnel are expected to visit the… pic.twitter.com/aRnZQFxcGN
— Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) September 1, 2026
What to do with Myanmar? Asean has limited options against its rogue member Straits Times
India
India: Data centers boom as water supply runs low DW
Africa
People fleeing Sudan civil war face ‘dire and deteriorating’ conditions in refuge city Guardian
Attempted Coup: Niger junta still in control, but situation remains tense Premium Times
Delayed Rains, Broken Promises: Why political choices could turn Tigray’s drought into famine yet again Addis Standard
South of the Border
Even Cuba’s stray cats are feeling the heat as crisis deepens Reuters
Venezuela’s Delcy Rodríguez defends ‘endless’ benefits of her oil deal with Trump Guardian. A friend with diplomatic contacts says that Venezuela intends to let the US pay to build infrastructure and then seize the assets.
⚡️NEW: Elements of Venezuelan Government Loyal to Chavismo Warn of Possible U.S. Assault
Leaders of the 23 de Enero parish, a stronghold of Chavismo resistance in Caracas, fear the U.S. will try to dismantle their grassroots democracy.
Story for Drop Site News by @AChavezAlava…
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) August 27, 2026
What do current US military ops in Latin America actually look like? Responsible Statecraft (resilc)
O Canada
Trump demands all Canadian companies doing business with the US move to America ‘immediately’ Independent
‘Doomspending’ is driving Canadian consumer debt to a new record — and wealthier borrowers are leading the charge Money
European Disunion
Gas crisis threatens to blow up Germany’s fragile recovery Telegraph
Strict rules on French cheesemaking relaxed as farmers battle record heat and drought Euronews
France is becoming the ‘poster child’ of sovereign debt problems as government borrowing costs hit near 2008 highs CNBC
Used Google Translate at work – becomes a legal case Arbetsvarlden via machine translation (Micael T). For once, someone takes privacy seriously.
Old Blighty
Forget more reservoirs; should the UK just build desalination plants instead? Hannah Ritchie (Micael T)
In case anyone had any remaining illusions the UK is a democracy.
It is a zionist highly authoritarian state. https://t.co/cDQybJXXnT— Craig Murray (@CraigMurrayOrg) August 31, 2026
Israel v. The Resistance
These Generals Fought for Israel. Now They See ‘Jewish Terrorism’ as the Threat. New York Times (resilc)
Zionism is Nazism with Jewish supremacist characteristics https://t.co/RVE0MWgAvb
— Joe Emersberger (@rosendo_joe) August 31, 2026
74% of US undergraduates say Israel is committing genocide TRT World (resilc)
Board of Peace using Gaza reconstruction funds to erase evidence of Israel’s genocide The Cradle (Kevin W)
A new searchable database, Who Funded Genocide, maps pro-Israel political funding in the US, including 11,168 named donors, 523 members of Congress, 165 candidates, and 105 recipient committees.
The project says its data is supported by FEC filings, methodology, and source… pic.twitter.com/eHe5IiBUGJ
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) August 31, 2026
Ben Gvir to release children’s book glorifying his racist ‘achievements’ in power Middle East Eye
Ben Gvir films Palestinian women in cells, boasts of worsening prison conditions Middle East Eye (resilc)
As Paul R said, “Not the Onion”:
BREAKING: Israel unveils plans to develop weapons capable of striking targets on Earth from space, including “laser beams,” with Defense Minister Katz directly tying the space-weapons push to preparing for possible renewed conflict with Iran, per Jerusalem Post.
Katz says “as of…
— The Hormuz Letter (@HormuzLetter) August 27, 2026
Almost all of Israel’s desalination plants shut due to weather; source denies cyberattack The Times of Israel (Kevin W)
Iran War
US turned down Saudi Arabia’s request to lead military campaign against Yemen PressTV
Iran got the U.S. to a point where helicopters grounded for maintenance are sitting ducks… needing to be evacuated on trucks
Even if they are 1000km away from Iran and protected by layers of air & missile defenses
➡️ Probably many cases of grounded aircraft destroyed inside… pic.twitter.com/rijNRewqGv
— Patarames (@Pataramesh) August 31, 2026
IRGC announces to have shot down an MQ-9 Drone over the Strait of Hormuz a few moments ago.
The second loss in 24 hours. https://t.co/3ZhGIH6Cgk pic.twitter.com/vePCbDp0Rs
— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) August 31, 2026
⚡️🚨 Digest — 15:21–18:21 UTC
LEAD: Axios/US official: an Iranian air-defense missile was fired at a US F-35 escorting Gulf shipping in the Strait of Hormuz days ago, forcing the jet to divert to western Saudi Arabia; Washington may resort to periodic strikes on Iran to keep…
— Middle East Observer (@ME_Observer_) August 31, 2026
BREAKING: New satellite imagery has now confirmed a direct impact and damage to a hangar at the US Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, struck by Iran last night and houses a large chunk of US air assets and personell.
Last time Muwaffaq Salti Air Base was hit by Iran, three U.S.… pic.twitter.com/8fHYylOHTN
— The Hormuz Letter (@HormuzLetter) August 31, 2026
Iran showcases huge naval bunkers as tensions explode in Strait of Hormuz The Sun
Breaking News: Iran Demonstrates Fajr-5 Rocket Launcher for Sea Mine Laying Threatening Global Maritime Security Army Recognition. From 2025 but germane
* * * Per the SINGLE MOST RELIABLE SOURCE @TankerTrackers:
“Over the past 28 days, Arab states shipped out 6.92M barrels of crude oil per day via the U.S. Navy blockade line”
That’s impressive until you consider that it is still 55% lower than the pre-war export levels. https://t.co/krkz0NeIA7
— Brett Erickson (@BrettErickson28) August 31, 2026
* * * Yemeni govt says forces destroy Houthi explosive-laden boat in Red Sea China Daily
New Not-So-Cold War
Putin ‘fears being hanged’ for failing in Ukraine and is planning to escalate war, insider claims amid Kremlin warnings Britain is in the crosshairs Daily Mail (resilc)
“The assessments of Western governments regarding the war in Ukraine were wrong.” Nachdenkseiten via machine translation (Micael T)
“‘Russia is running out of steam.’ Really?” The Floutist
Russia planning ‘massive strikes’ on Ukraine’s power plants days after its deadliest attack of the year Guardian
Ukraine’s Maritime Jugular: The Black Sea Ports and the Cost of Severing Them Larry Johnson
🇷🇺 THE ATTACK ON UST-LUGA AND THE BALTIC GAMBIT 🇷🇺
Does NATO want RUSSIA to start a WAR into the BALTICS ?
The port of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region has again been hit. Damage in the port area. Fire. That is the official picture from the governor. NATO fighter jets then rose… https://t.co/jYjOUjLY5L pic.twitter.com/Bjndu85kgR
— 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐙 🇷🇺🇮🇪 (@SMO_VZ) September 1, 2026
Lady Loomer’s Love Events in Ukraine
Big Brother is Watching You Watch
ICE’s Robot Dogs; WNBA Does Counterterrorism; Flock and Awe Ken Klippenstein
How Cyber Sleuths Tracked a Nigerian Scammer to His Doorstep 404 Media
Imperial Collapse Watch
From Kakistocracy to Cheatistocracy Paul Krugman
How The Mighty Have Fallen indi.ca (resilc)
This Marine Died in the Iraq War. His Mother Asks, ‘What Was It For?’ New York Times (resilc)
Trump 2.0
Over Two-thirds of Americans Disapprove of President Trump’s Handling of Iran War, as 4 in 5 Say the War Has Increased Food and Gas Prices UMass Amherst. resilc: “Richard Nixon’s job approval rating was 24% just before he resigned from office in August 1974.”
* * * Trump designates protesters terrorists. How far will it go? Responsible Statecraft (resilc)
* * * Army Secretary Driscoll resigns after months-long turf war with Hegseth The Hill. Seriously not good.
“The Pentagon is careening offtrack under a secretary of defense who is firing or forcing the resignations of officers and civilian officials, not because they are unqualified but because he believes they are insufficiently loyal to him, personally.”https://t.co/e5FwJnnb74
— Jeffrey Goldberg (@JeffreyGoldberg) September 1, 2026
Not great:
“Trump was surprised when Driscoll told him how many generals and other top officers had been fired, pushed out, or passed over for promotion under Hegseth….”https://t.co/bgpxOtHpj0— Jeffrey Goldberg (@JeffreyGoldberg) September 1, 2026
Prior to his resignation Monday, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll brought his concerns about the future of the Army under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directly to President Trump, during a closed-door meeting last week at the White House, four people familiar with the conversation… pic.twitter.com/D8gvJkIIif
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 1, 2026
* * * Trump’s plan to sell off a part of Yosemite is what oligarchy looks like Guardian (Kevin W). I said even before Trump 2.0 that the US was following the track of Russia in the 1990s. Trump has been an accelerant.
Trump knocks ‘highly conflicted’ judge in Kennedy Center case The Hill
Trump official faces inquiry over claims he diverted wildfire resources to his own property Guardian
Sell Thy Neighbor: Trump Official Howard Lutnick and the Clandestine Deal to Sell NYC’s Glamorous Pierre Hotel Vanity Fair (Micael T)
Democrats Suck
Democratic socialists notch another win in the Oklahoma Senate primary runoff NBC (Paul R)
The Dismal Science
Why textbook economics is wrong about money Steve Keen
Economy
Russia Extends Diesel-Export Ban as Ukraine Ramps Up Attacks Bloomberg
🗣️“A lot of this is just fiddling while Rome burns.”
Veteran oil analyst Paul Sankey, founder of Sankey Research, told Bloomberg that Trump’s Venezuela deal misses the immediate crisis: The U.S. is not short of crude oil. It is short of refining capacity and diesel.
With diesel… https://t.co/0KGeBHo9If
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) September 1, 2026
Diesel Crunch Will Get Worse as Brazil’s Farmers Begin Planting Bloomberg
Mr. Market is Edgy
Global Bond Selloff Sends Yields to the Highest Level Since 2008 Bloomberg. Current archived version is a bit out of date.
European central bankers fear US moves could jolt markets Nation Thailand
AI
The AI capex boom, 2-3 years in, has brought no labor productivity or TFP boom, no product price deflation, no killer consumer apps, no household employment gains, no real GDP acceleration (it all bleeds out through imports) and massive equity price appreciation. Nice one. https://t.co/GKJMLeqmhq
— Robert Parenteau, CFA (@MacroEdge1) August 28, 2026
The White-Collar Canaries in the AI-Job-Loss Coal Mine Are Wide Awake, Feeding, & Chirping to Themselves: CHART OF THE DAY Brad DeLong
AI Has Human Doctors Asking: What’s Left for Us? Wired (Dr. Kevin)
Americans Agree on Almost Nothing. Except Data Centers. New York Times (resilc)
Trump Mocks Data-Center Opponents as Wanting to Stay ‘Backwards and Poor’ New York Times (resilc)
Dwarkesh Patels’s wildly popular but dangerously misleading account of the OpenAI Hugging Face incident Gary Marcus
potentially MUCH more serious than the OpenAI Hugging Face incident — but lacks the vivid “civilizational” drama.
so few people are paying attention. https://t.co/mt6SASkcZJ
— Gary Marcus (@GaryMarcus) August 31, 2026
The Music Industry Can’t Agree On AI Music | Tidal’s Royalty Ban, Sony’s $4.5B Udio Lawsuit, And The $6.1M In AI Music Earnings Vinyl Culture (Micael T)
ChinaVoice | Beyond the AI Race: China’s Approach to Global AI Governance ChinAffairs + 1
The Bezzle
Poor Dad Author Goes Bust: How Robert Kiyosaki Went Into Debt, to the Tune of $1.2 Billion Vanity Fair (Micael T). I never read his books, but at a remove, I inferred he liked leverage.
Guillotine Watch
British Museum hosted Palantir founder Peter Thiel in private viewing of Bayeux tapestry Guardian (Micael T)
Class Warfare
Private Equity Turned Apartments Into Profit Widgets—Then Tenants Paid the Price Egberto
Antidote du jour (via):
And a bonus:
A baby elephant named Ellie was discovered alone in the wild in South Africa, having been rejected by his herd due to a severe umbilical abscess and hernia.
Ellie remained lethargic and deeply depressed, showing no will to live. Recognizing that elephants are intensely social… pic.twitter.com/DHXkWVQ8gC
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) August 31, 2026
A second bonus:
An orangutan babysits tiger cubs after learning to feed them by watching his human caretakers. pic.twitter.com/llDqUCODOU
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) August 29, 2026
And a different sort of bonus (Robin K):
— Rev. Bosco Peters (@Liturgy) August 31, 2026
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here
By
