Thursday 24 September 2026 · Edition of the day

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The Skeptic's Daily

The day's biggest stories, taken apart. For each one: what is actually established, what is only asserted, the questions worth asking — and a plausibility score for the central claim, given everything currently known.

Stories
3
Average plausibility
76%
How to read the score
It rates how well the core claim is evidenced — not how important the story is, nor whether it is good or bad news.
RegionAllGlobalAfricaNorth AmericaSouth AmericaAsia-PacificEuropeMiddle East
TopicAllPoliticsConflict & SecurityBusinessScienceHealth
01BusinessSouth America

World's largest copper mine halts operations after a worker's death in Chile

BHP suspended Escondida following a fatal accident, adding pressure to global copper supply.

BHP said on 23 September 2026 that it had suspended operations at its Escondida copper mine in northern Chile after a worker died in an accident. The company did not detail the cause. Escondida is a major contributor to global copper supply, and past disruptions there have moved international prices. The length of the suspension is unclear.

What holds up

  • ✓The suspension and fatality are confirmed by BHP, as reported by Reuters.
  • ✓Escondida's status as the world's largest copper mine is well established.

What doesn't yet

  • ?The cause of the accident has not been made public.
  • ?The suspension's length and market impact are speculative.

Ask before you share

  • →What caused the accident, and does it point to wider safety issues?
  • →How long will operations stay suspended?
  • →Will Chilean regulators demand safety reforms?

Sources & original reporting

  1. [1]Mining Technology (citing Reuters) · Published 24 Sept 2026 · mining-technology.com
  2. [2]La Tercera · Published 23 Sept 2026 · latercera.com
02PoliticsSouth America

Trump holds first face-to-face talks with US-backed Venezuelan leader Rodríguez

The two met at the UN General Assembly months after a US raid removed Nicolás Maduro from power.

President Trump met Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez at the UN General Assembly, their first in-person encounter since Washington backed her to succeed Maduro. Her government has signed an agreement giving a US-led company 100-year concessions over 17 oilfields covering more than 65 billion barrels. Opposition leader María Corina Machado has been unable to re-enter Venezuela despite several attempts.

What holds up

  • ✓The meeting took place in New York, attended by Marco Rubio and Susie Wiles.
  • ✓Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president after a US raid on Caracas; US sanctions on her were lifted in April 2026.

What doesn't yet

  • ?Whether the oil concession terms serve Venezuelan interests is disputed by the opposition and critics.
  • ?Reasons for blocking Machado's return have not been officially given.

Ask before you share

  • →What democratic mandate does the interim president have?
  • →What oversight exists over 100-year oil concessions?
  • →Why is Machado, a Nobel laureate, being kept out of her own country?

Sources & original reporting

  1. [1]BBC · Published 23 Sept 2026 · bbc.com
  2. [2]UPI · Published 23 Sept 2026 · upi.com
03Conflict & SecuritySouth America

UN expert says US drug-boat strikes may amount to crimes against humanity

A UN special rapporteur counts 223 people killed in 68 strikes on suspected trafficking vessels over the past year.

UN special rapporteur Ben Saul concluded that US strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific violate international law and may constitute crimes against humanity. The report says 68 vessels were struck between September 2025 and August 2026, killing at least 223 people. Washington calls the strikes self-defense against designated narco-terrorist groups.

What holds up

  • ✓The report was published by the UN human rights office under Ben Saul's name.
  • ✓The Pentagon has released videos of several strikes.

What doesn't yet

  • ?The identities and alleged trafficking links of those killed are unverified; the Pentagon has disclosed little evidence.
  • ?The US claim of an 'armed conflict' with cartels is disputed by the UN and rights groups.

Ask before you share

  • →What evidence ties individual targets to drug trafficking?
  • →Will the US accept any independent review?
  • →What legal consequences could follow from the finding?

Sources & original reporting

  1. [1]Al Jazeera · Published 22 Sept 2026 · aljazeera.com