90%: The share of the world’s young people who live in developing countries.
AI + Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the use of artificial intelligence in the fighting in Ukraine was advancing “the most destructive arms race in human history.”
With his pivot on Ukraine, Trump may be washing his hands of the war: President Trump has shown dwindling interest in mediating a peace accord, joining European “security guarantees” for Ukraine or providing aid and intelligence to the Ukrainians. NYT
European officials fear Trump is preparing to blame them for Ukraine failure: FT reports Poland’s Tusk warns new US posture conceals a ‘shift of responsibility.’
Trump says Ukraine can win back all its land. It’s not that simple. While Ukrainian officials say a massive influx of arms and technology is crucial to a major offensive to retake territory, analysts do not foresee that happening. WP
Trump gives Russia a dotted red line: Will a tougher message to Putin on Ukraine and flights over NATO territory be backed up with action? David Ignatius
Trump’s blast toward Russia is a ‘negotiating tactic,’ White House says: WP reports the president’s escalation in rhetoric is a marker of Trump’s frustration toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a senior White House official.
Russia hits back at Trump after his abrupt swing toward Ukraine: WP reports Trump’s statement that Ukraine could retake all of its territory lost to Russia with NATO’s help was a dramatic change in US rhetoric on the war.
Denmark says new drone flights over military base, airports are ‘hybrid attack’: WSJ reports drones were spotted over at least four airports, including a military air base housing most of Denmark’s F-16 and F-35 jet fighters.
The NATO dilemma: when is it right to shoot down a Russian drone? As aircraft encroach into allied airspace, frontline states call for tougher action, while others fear that one wrong move could trigger World War III. The Times
Alexus Grynkewich, top NATO commander in Europe: 'Russia has always tried to maneuver for advantage over the alliance': As the repercussions of the war in Ukraine increasingly impact Europe, NATO's new supreme allied commander Europe explains the measures aimed at countering any actions that target NATO member states. Le Monce
Yulia Navalnaya on why Europe needs a better Russia strategy: Despite all the sanctions and strong words, thinking has been lamentably short-term, writes Alexei Navalny’s widow. Economist
Starmer can’t afford to wait for reckless Reform to implode: Farage’s path to power is strewn with landmines planted by his own side. Robert Shrimsley
Britain is slowly going bust: Even with a huge majority and plenty of time, Labour is drifting towards a fiscal crisis. Economist
Reuters: Former French President Sarkozy handed 5-year jail term in stunning downfall
Sarkozy gets five-year prison sentence in Gadhafi funding case: WSJ reports trial examined whether former French leader’s 2007 presidential campaign received money from the regime of Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi.
Nicolas Sarkozy to be jailed for five years over Gaddafi election money: The Times reports the ex-French president criticised the judiciary, which he accused of hatred towards him, after he was found guilty of criminal conspiracy.
Sarkozy given five-year sentence in Libya case, will be incarcerated even if he appeals: Le Monde reports Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty of criminal conspiracy at his trial over the alleged financing of his 2007 presidential campaign with money from the government of Muammar Gaddafi. He was acquitted of other charges, including corruption.
The billionaire politician making a Trump-like comeback in the Czech Republic: Former prime minister Andrej Babiš is seeking a second tilt at power, with potentially serious ramifications for Europe. FT
Bloomberg: Trump’s steel tariffs are triggering counterstrikes from US neighbors against China
There are more robots working in China than the rest of the world combined: China has embarked on a campaign to use more robots in its factories, transforming its manufacturing industries and becoming the dominant maker. NYT
China wants a ‘super-embassy’ in London — sparking anger and spying fears: China’s proposal for a large embassy by the Tower of London, near critical communications cables, has led to espionage concerns. China describes the claims as “slander.” WP
Every nation wants to copy Iran’s deadly Shahed Drone: Militaries around the world are seeking low-cost, easy-to-make ways to exhaust an enemy’s air defenses. WSJ
Displaced residents in southern Lebanon fear return of large-scale war: Le Monde reports tens of thousands of Lebanese people are still displaced after two months of conflict in the autumn of 2024 between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel launched the offensive on September 23, 2024.
Netanyahu’s plane avoids France in flight to meet Trump in US: FT reports Israeli prime minister, who is subject to an international arrest warrant, bypasses European allies following rupture over Gaza.
Can Israel go it alone? The secular Zionists who founded the state were desperate for allies. No longer. Simon Kuper
Syria’s new leader makes a star turn in New York: But his problems at home may undermine his relations with America. Economist
AP: Trump hosts Turkey's Erdogan at the White House as the US considers lifting a ban on F-35 sales
Mali suspended its counter-terrorism cooperation with France, days after its former colonial ruler said it would do the same following the arrest of a French envoy in Bamako.
Milei fixed half of Argentina’s inflation problem. He needs help with the rest. The country’s central bank no longer prints money to finance deficits, but a run on the currency could still cause prices to surge. Greg Ip
Can a US bailout save Argentina’s Javier Milei? Markets have calmed for now, but the libertarian leader faces deep political problems, say observers. FT
Washington’s quest for allies: Andrew O’Shaughnessy, a professor of history at the University of Virginia, is co-author of “Republic and Empire: Crisis, Revolution, and America’s Early Independence.” WP
MSNBC: Former FBI Director James Comey expected to be indicted soon
Justice Department officials race to charge James Comey as deadline looms: WSJ reports prosecutors are moving forward days after President Trump ousted the US attorney who voiced doubts about charging former FBI director.
US attorney races to present case against James Comey: NYT reports it remains to be seen whether a career prosecutor would be willing to present a case to a grand jury or whether jurors would bring an indictment.
+ “Even by Trump’s standards, it’s a stunning breach of presidential protocol and legal norms.”
For Trump, data is often ‘phony,’ unless it supports his views NYT
Inside the White House struggle to tame the Epstein crisis: Finger-pointing, disorganization, and unforced errors by Trump advisers made the problem worse; ‘Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?’ WSJ
Park Service removes statue of Trump and Epstein from National Mall: WP reports the statue, the latest installation by an anonymous group of artists critical of the president, was supposed to be on display until 8 pm Sunday.
RFK Jr.’s team wanted to tout an autism therapy. He went after Tylenol instead. A meeting with Tylenol’s maker convinced Kennedy to put the emphasis on acetaminophen. WSJ
A judge blasted the work of this researcher on autism, Tylenol. Trump elevated it. WP reports the company behind Tylenol had gained the upper hand in litigation alleging its use during pregnancy can cause autism. Now the Trump administration has breathed new life into research rejected by a federal judge.
White House to pursue mass firings if government shuts down: WSJ reports Office of Management and Budget director says reductions in employee counts will be permanent if a deal isn’t reached.
Bloomberg: White House tells agencies to prepare for job cuts in shutdown
White House directs mass firings if there is a government shutdown: WP reports the memo instructs agencies to consider firing employees working on any program that is not funded by another law, such as Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and that does not align with the president’s priorities.
Senators seek answers from Big Tech on H-1B workers, layoffs: Top lawmakers on the Judiciary Committee have sent letters to Amazon, Apple, and other major companies. WSJ
Schumer becomes a campaign trail punching bag for some Democrats: WP reports across the country, Senate candidates have distanced themselves from their Senate leader amid a growing appetite for newer leaders waging aggressive fights against Trump.
Tensions are high in a Utah redistricting fight that didn't start with Trump: NPR reports Utah is getting closer to redrawing its congressional boundaries in an unusual mid-decade redistricting process, but it's not yet clear what that map will look like. Unlike other Republican-led states redistricting this year, Utah's new map is expected to give Democrats more of a chance at winning at least one of the state's four congressional districts, which could help Democrats in the race to control the US House.
NJ-GOV: A new Emerson College Poll of New Jersey voters finds 43% of voters support Mikie Sherrill (D) and Jack Ciatarelli (R), with 11% of voters undecided.
Government shutdown will boost Mike Duggan's campaign: If Michigan voters wake up next Wednesday to find their state government shut down, expect Mike Duggan to be knocking down the doors of the recording studio to cut more campaign ads about the destructiveness of political dysfunction. Nolan Finley
MI-GOV: Rep. John James, a GOP candidate to be Michigan's next governor, told a group Monday that he "was screwed" in his 2020 US Senate race and suggested he'll pursue "consequences" for those who had wronged Republicans five years ago.
Bill de Blasio thinks Mamdani is like a natural athlete NY Mag
Kimmel draws more than six million viewers for his ABC return: WSJ reports the comedian’s monologue also drew more than 15 million views on the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” YouTube channel.
CNBC: Starbucks to close stores, lay off workers in $1 billion restructuring plan
HSBC says quantum computing trial helps bond trading: Reuters reports that HSBC said on Thursday a trial using quantum computers to aid bond trading had produced promising results, marking a rare example of a major financial company finding early benefits from the emerging technology.
HSBC claimed it had achieved a “Sputnik moment” for quantum computing. The British bank stated that a pilot using a quantum processor built by IBM yielded a 34% improvement in calculating the likelihood of a bond trading at a given price.
+ The bank applied quantum processing to an anonymized set of European bond trading data and found it could significantly enhance the efficiency of the market, with a 34% improvement in predicting how likely a bond will trade at a given price.
Nuclear fusion: The race among start-ups to harness limitless, clean energy: Who will be the first to feed fusion power into the grid? From Germany to China, the United States to France, more than 50 start-ups are locked in a fierce race to control this long-sought energy source. Le Monde
How Intel’s $28 billion pledge left an Ohio town in limbo: New Albany was supposed to be the site of the chip maker’s most advanced semiconductor factory, but progress on the facility is slow. WSJ
Bloomberg: Alphabet is ‘most valuable company’ on AI atrength, Moffett says
AI just created a working virus. The US isn’t prepared for that. A stunning scientific accomplishment brings both great promise and great risk. WP
AI data centres will take 10% of power demand increase, says BP: The Times reports the oil giant’s World Energy Outlook report says the figure for the US could be 40% by 2035.
Artists are leaving Spotify to protest CEO’s military AI investments: WP reports several acclaimed groups have said they don’t want their music funding defense technology. The next step is less clear.
Zuckerberg and Altman move closer to Trump since Musk rift: White House officials remain sceptical of Meta and OpenAI chiefs as they seek to embrace US president. FT
Brunello Cucinelli shares suspended as short seller makes new Russia claims: FT reports Morpheus Research alleges luxury brand continues to trade in Russia and misled investors over its operations.
One nation under Tuckernuck: Who’s winning the culture war? A preppy clothing brand wooing women on both sides of the aisle. NY Mag
Relationship sex: Why many women still feel pressure to say yes: Many women have sex with their partners even when they do not want to, out of reluctance to say no, uncertainty about desire, or fear of offending. Together, these reasons sketch the contours of a gray zone of consent. Le Monde
WP: ‘One Battle After Another’: Paul Thomas Anderson’s timely masterpiece
'One Battle After Another' review: Dynamite with a lit fuse: Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson's masterwork lets an amazing ensemble, led by Leo DiCaprio and Sean Penn, shine brightly. Adam Graham
15 years into the boom, Iceland asks if it’s had enough of mass tourism: A volcanic eruption in 2010 put the island nation on millions of travelers’ maps. But is the country’s culture now at risk? NYT
The US has a Ryder Cup disadvantage: Their opponents are basically American, too: Europe’s recent domination of golf’s biennial showdown is best explained by the fact that most of their players are as familiar with American courses as the guys wearing red, white, and blue. WSJ
UEFA members in favour of banning Israel from European football next week: The Times reports pressure has ramped up on European football’s governing body after protests and the UN Commission’s declaration of genocide in Gaza.
A 58-year-old powerlifter is giving his college football dream one more try TA
Detroit News: Sinking Tigers fall out of first place with eighth straight loss
Detroit Free Press: Tigers' epic collapse occurs against mirror-image Guardians
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
A11. | September 25
