Wednesday Night #2270

Another icon gone!
Robert Redford, Oscar-winning director, actor and indie patriarch, dies at 89
After rising to stardom in the 1960s, Redford was one of the biggest stars of the ’70s with such films as “The Candidate,” “All the President’s Men” and “The Way We Were,” capping that decade with the best director Oscar for 1980’s “Ordinary People,” which also won best picture in 1980. His wavy blond hair and boyish grin made him the most desired of leading men, but he worked hard to transcend his looks — whether through his political advocacy, his willingness to take on unglamorous roles or his dedication to providing a platform for low-budget movies. (See also Long reads)

The 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80 to insiders) opened on 9 September. The high-level session runs from 23–27 September. While the anniversary is being used as a catalyst for reform, unlike the 60th and 70th, the reforms now on the table are not about expanding the UN’s reach. Quite the opposite. As the UN turns 80, the agenda championed by Secretary-General António Guterres and many member states would shrink the institution—preparing it for an era in which it must do less with less.
Still, the high point for many observers must be the General Assembly vote to support a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and urge Israel to commit to a Palestinian state.
The resolution was sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, who co-chaired a high-level conference on implementing a two-state solution in late July, where the wording of the declaration was agreed.
The 193-member world body approved a nonbinding resolution endorsing the “New York Declaration,” which sets out a phased plan to end the nearly 80-year conflict. The vote was 142-10 with 12 abstentions. The United States was one of the 10 states that voted against -of course!

Israel, Palestine, Gaza
Hours before the vote, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “There will be no Palestinian state” as he continued to ramp up the obscene attacks on Gaza.
Palestinians under relentless attack as Israel steps up Gaza City assault (video)
This is what Palestinians in Gaza City are facing as Israeli forces relentlessly bomb the area as part of the ‘second phase’ of their plan to capture it.
Gaza death toll tops 65,000 as Israel continues genocidal war on Palestinians
Health Ministry says nearly 100 killed in past 24 hours; famine deaths rise to 432
Fanning the flames and certainly making the Trump empire happy: Smotrich: Gaza could be a ‘real estate bonanza’
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says there’s a “business plan” to turn Gaza into a “real estate bonanza.” Speaking at an urban renewal conference in Tel Aviv, the far-right minister said he is discussing with the Trump administration how to share the proceeds.

For those who care
What to know about President Trump’s historic second state visit to Britain
Likely a smart move by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, but Trump is not known for long-term fidelity to traditional allies. Of course the rest of our countries can’t seat him in a golden coach…

We are betting that Trump has not had a single thought about Charlie Kirk while being beguiled by the Pomp and Circumstance arranged for him (and Melania).
But Charlie Kirk, his legacy and political violence are on almost everyone else’s mind. From thoughtful analyses such as The Atlantic‘s David Graham’s The Irony of Using Charlie Kirk’s Murder to Silence Debate – The conservative activist couldn’t have risen to prominence without robust free speech. to the ravings of Stephen Miller and JD Vance:
‘We will do it in Charlie’s name’: Stephen Miller vows vengeance for Kirk’s murder
Vice President JD Vance, hosting the podcast once helmed by Kirk, also encouraged people to make trouble for those who were “celebrating” the conservative activist’s death.
and Sacking people who criticised Kirk or were accused of celebrating his death raises concerns about crackdown on speech.

The Americas
September 15 is Mexico Independence Day. For the first time the celebrations are led by a female leader. President Claudia Sheinbaum’s message is that she won’t accept foreign intervention, a significant statement as she negotiates pressure from the United States. became the first female leader to preside over Mexico’s independence celebrations in 215 years, with a message that she won’t accept foreign intervention, a significant statement as she negotiates pressure from the United States.
Meanwhile Trump continues to target boats allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela with military strikes.  Venezuela leader, Nicolás Maduro, said that the Trump administration was trying to start a war in the Caribbean

Freeland to leave cabinet, become Canada’s special representative for Ukraine
Chrystia Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent and speaks the language fluently, will remain an MP for at least six months
(Globe & Mail) Chrystia Freeland says she is leaving her cabinet post as Transport and Internal Trade Minister to serve as Canada’s Special Representative for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.
Ms. Freeland met separately Monday with Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Chief of Staff Marc-André Blanchard to discuss her future plans.
The Prime Minister said in a statement that Ms. Freeland served the country with great distinction.
“As a former G7 minister of Finance, Foreign Affairs and International Trade with deep relationships and understanding of Ukraine and its economy, Chrystia is truly uniquely positioned for this timely and essential work towards a better future for Ukrainians and peace in Europe,” he said.

The Fed and Bank of Canada both lowered the interest rate – collusion? Just good sense.
The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for the first time in nine months. Since the last cut, progress on inflation has slowed while the labor market has cooled. That means Americans are dealing with both high prices and a challenging job market.

AI and society
To understand how AI will reconfigure humanity, try this German fairytale
Artificial intelligence will replace creativity with something closer to magical wishing. The challenge for future generations will be dealing with the feeling of emptiness that leaves us with
… I can imagine that most people in the near future will be able to task an AI representative with all kinds of tiresome interactions – negotiating contracts on their behalf or acting as their agent, receiving and cushioning criticism, collating information, surveying opinions and so on. …
While the debate continues about AI’s influence over education, mores, and every other aspect of our society (except political), there is truly encouraging news with respect to AI and healthcare.
New AI tool can predict a person’s risk of more than 1,000 diseases, say experts
Delphi-2M uses diagnoses, ‘medical events’ and lifestyle factors to create forecasts for next decade and beyond
Every Cure
By harnessing our proven AI-approach to analyze the world’s knowledge of drugs and diseases, Every Cure identifies and advances the most promising drug repurposing opportunities to treat diseases without cures.

Varia
Albania Names AI “Minister” to Tackle Corruption in Public Tenders
The AI-generated entity, named Diella, meaning “sun” in Albanian, will manage all government tenders, which Rama pledged will now be “100% free of corruption.”
Diella, created in cooperation with Microsoft and depicted in a traditional Albanian costume, was initially launched as a virtual assistant on the state’s e-Albania platform earlier this year.
Analysts say the experiment could mark a turning point in digital governance if successful, but warn of risks around oversight, accountability, and manipulation.
Couple injured in bear attack after it entered their home in Nipigon, Ont.
Family’s dog contained bear until arrival of police, who killed it for public safety
The world’s tallest sunflower blooms in an Indiana backyard as a tribute to Ukraine
When Ukrainian immigrant Alex Babich stands in his Indiana backyard craning his neck to look 35 feet (11 meters) into the sky, he isn’t just staring at a sunflower. … The flower, confirmed Wednesday by Guinness World Records as the tallest sunflower ever measured, stretches as high as a telephone pole.
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards were announced in a starry televised ceremony on Sunday night, with Hollywood shows created by expat Canadians dominating the biggest night in American television.
The Studio won outstanding comedy. Its Canadian co-creator and star, Seth Rogen, won in every category he was personally nominated for, getting up on stage four times.
The more surprising win was for The Pitt, the HBO Max hospital drama (streaming on Crave in Canada) created by Ontario-born ER veteran R. Scott Gemmill, which triumphed in the outstanding drama category.

Montreal/Westmount
As the official start of the municipal election looms, some intriguing voices are joining contests
Leslie Roberts announced that he is “excited for my next chapter, in politics as candidate for Montreal councillor in my home Peter McGill district for @sorayamartinezferrada and @ensemblemontreal! I’m convinced Soraya is the leadership we need to address Montreal’s struggles and return our city to its full glory! Her experience in Montreal and in Ottawa, and her ideas for our city is what we need now”
and in Westmount, Lynne Casgrain  is campaigning to succeed the current Mayor who is not running again. Lynne is supported by former mayors Peter Trent and Karin Marks, along with many Wednesday Nighters.

Long reads
Robert Redford, Screen Idol Turned Director and Activist, Dies at 89
He made serious topics like grief and political corruption resonate with the masses, in no small part because of his own star power.
A wry, accurate, sad reflection on the state of US democracy
Apologies: You Have Reached the End of Your Free-Trial Period of America!
Want rule of law? That’s premium.
By Alexandra Petri
… “We were so excited to reach 340 million free users. But now it’s time to streamline our product so that it appeals more to paid subscribers, and that means some changes for everyone else. We are adding a lot of features no one asked for that will make your experience worse and also cost a lot of money! ”
Wrestling Over Charlie Kirk’s Legacy and the Divide in America
Historians say the lessons of this particular time will depend on Americans themselves, and what kind of a nation they want it to be.
Social media has us in its grip and won’t let go. The Charlie Kirk killing is a case study
Charlie Kirk’s mastery of social media was key to his rise as an influence in conservative politics. So the extent to which his death and its aftermath have played out on those forums shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Frank Bruni: The ‘Demonic’ Hypocrisy of Trump’s Plea for Peace
I hoped against hope — silly, stubbornly optimistic me — that he’d say something calming, something healing, something that not only recognized this profoundly dangerous juncture but also sought genuinely to move us beyond it.
His condemnation of “radical left political violence,” which touched off days of perversely lopsided and recklessly opportunistic jeremiads from him and his allies, was the opposite of that.
Not because such violence doesn’t exist. It does. Along with radical right political violence. And political violence that doesn’t fit neatly into either of those boxes. And violence divorced from politics. We’re a violent country through and through, a land where passions run disastrously high, disaffection spreads ever wider, communities are fractured, traditional support systems are crumbling, individuals are isolated and guns are everywhere.