| Time |
Event |
| 4:37a |
Arrests of climate protesters in Australia
Hundreds of climate protesters have been arrested in Australia recently
for disruptive but nonviolent protests against the fossil fuel juggernaut
of death.
</l> |
| 4:37a |
Putin continues his nuclear panic campaign
Putin continues his nuclear panic campaign by firing an experimental
hypersonic missile at Kyiv without a warhead.
We are supposed to be terrified because, as Putin reminded us
repeatedly, that model of missile could have been launched with a
nuclear warhead (though it wasn't).
The message Putin communicates this way is, "Be afraid! If I really
were crazy, I might fire a nuclear weapon at you. Hey, aren't you
afraid yet?"
Hypersonic missiles have a practical advantage: that they are hard to
intercept. Aside from that, they are not much different from an
ordinary ballistic missile.
</li> |
| 4:37a |
Banks trading highly leveraged assets
Banks are finding ways to trade highly leveraged assets that cause
a risk of global financial crash.
The laws passed around 2009 to try to prevent this were not as strong
as the depression-era Glass-Steagall law that was partly repealed in
1999. When bankers get powerful enough to repeal the protections
meant to stop them from crashing society, it shows their corrupting
influence has prevailed.
</li> |
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Accused of firing on Imran Khan supporters
*Pakistan army and police accused of firing on Imran Khan supporters.*
I don't know enough about this situation to draw any conclusion
about which side — if any — supports human rights and democracy.
Both sides are using force, but the army is shooting and seems
to be covering up the casualties.
</li> |
| 4:37a |
Musk wants to eliminate CFPB
Why would Musk care if the CFPB continues to protect Americans?
He surely owns shares in some large US banks, and if the CFPB were
eliminated, those banks would squeeze some additional billions out of
their non-rich customer. Must would get some of that.
But I doubt that is enough money to move Musk to have an opinion about
the question. I think he must have some other kind of motive,
more emotional than financial.
I conjecture that he has come to hate people who advocate regulating
businesses. That he wants to eliminate anything that could limit his
power to make people obey.
</li> |
| 4:37a |
Cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel
Biden has brought about a cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel.
Israel has achieved its war aims in Lebanon, which were simple: an end
to attacks by Hezbollah in support of HAMAS. In effect, Hezbollah has
accepted a substantial decrease in its power and territory, but has
not lost anything really crucial. The Lebanese army is supposed to
maintain control in southern Lebanon.
The previous agreement, which Hezbollah broke in Oct 2023, likewise
said that the Lebanese army was to maintain control in southern
Lebanon and keep Hezbollah from dominating that territory. The
Lebanese army unable to do that, as Hezbollah was stronger. Hezbollah
is now weaker, so perhaps the agreement can establish peace. Or it
might fall apart.
This Lebanon agreement does nothing to prevent the killing of
additional tens or hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza.
</li> |